Maple News reports that Quebec has officially launched two new permanent immigration pilot programs aimed at addressing key labor shortages in the province. The initiatives are part of a broader strategy to support Quebec’s economic recovery and meet the demand for skilled workers in critical sectors.
On March 31, Quebec’s Immigration Minister Nadine Girault announced the opening of the Orderlies Pilot Program. This five-year initiative will grant up to 550 principal applicants annually the opportunity to gain permanent residency. The program specifically targets temporary foreign workers who serve as patient care attendants, nursing aides, or healthcare support staff—roles currently in high demand amid challenges in the healthcare sector.
This program offers two streams: a ‘Work’ stream and a ‘Study-Work’ stream. To qualify under the Work stream, applicants must hold a one-year full-time diploma related to the profession and have at least 24 months of experience as an orderly within the past three years. Alternatively, those with 12 months of relevant experience abroad and 12 months of local experience in Quebec may also be eligible. In the Study-Work stream, eligibility requires a Quebec diploma in personal care assistance completed within the last two years, along with one year of full-time post-graduation work experience in the field in Quebec.
The second pilot program, launched on March 24, targets foreign workers in the food processing industry. Known as the Food Processing Workers Pilot Program, it also runs for five years and is open until October 31, 2021. This stream is designed for individuals with at least two years of full-time work experience in eligible food production jobs in Quebec. Applicants must possess a high school or vocational diploma and intermediate French oral proficiency.
Eligible occupations under this program include industrial butchers, meat cutters, food and beverage processing laborers, seafood processing workers, cleanup specialists, agricultural workers, and machinery operators in food processing.
Combined, these two new initiatives contribute to Quebec’s broader immigration strategy, which includes a third upcoming pilot program dedicated to high-demand tech talents—such as specialists in artificial intelligence, information technologies, and visual effects—scheduled to open on April 22.
Each year, Quebec will issue a maximum of 1,650 Quebec Selection Certificates (Certificat de sélection du Québec or CSQ) through these three pilot programs, including family members of the principal applicants. Candidates must demonstrate French language proficiency and meet specific educational and work experience criteria to be eligible.
These targeted pilots were initially announced in 2020 as part of Quebec’s efforts to resolve immediate and long-term labor shortages and ensure a resilient post-pandemic economic revival.