Quebec – Province promises to help businesses recruit temporary foreign workers

The government of Quebec has announced nearly $21 million to help private businesses recruit and integrate temporary foreign workers as the province struggles with a growing labour shortage.

Labour Minister Jean Boulet, said that “the funding will help cover the costs of companies’ recruitment missions and provide financial assistance of up to $1,000 per worker for relocation.”

Under the plan, Boulet told reporters on Monday he believes the province will aid 2,000 businesses in recruiting temporary foreign workers within the next two years.

Boulet said that “The recruitment of temporary foreign workers is an option that more and more businesses are turning to in their efforts to address labour shortages.”

As part of the plan, the government is also investing $34 million to improve the newcomers’ integration in Quebec.

The additional funding is also being cautiously welcomed by the Comité consultatif personnes immigrants (CCPI), a commission that looks into the labour problems facing immigrants.

The government says its immigration policies will ensure immigrants are properly integrated and that those admitted meet existing labour needs in the province.

Student Direct Stream available to international students coming from Senegal and Morocco

Starting September 9, 2019, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) will be expanded to support Francophone immigration. As a result, students from Senegal and Morocco will get access to a more efficient process for study permits.

By providing fast, reliable processing of study permit applications, Canada is better equipped to compete in attracting the best and the brightest from around the world.

The more efficient SDS process was launched in 2018 for students applying from China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam and Pakistan, with an average processing time of less than 3 weeks.

Canada is a top destination for students seeking both a high-quality international education and employment in their field of study once they graduate. With Canadian education credentials and skilled work experience in Canada, former international students are well positioned for success in applying for permanent residence through Express Entry.

Since 2017, Express Entry candidates with strong French skills have been able to earn additional ranking points. This provides more opportunity for them to successfully transition to permanent residence and contribute to the vitality and growth of Francophone communities outside of Quebec.

Expanding this faster and more efficient application process to prospective students from Senegal and Morocco supports the Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy to encourage more young French speakers to choose to study in Canada.

Quebec Introduces New Program to Help Newcomers Integrate

Immigration Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette stated that this program is a key piece to reforming Quebec’s immigration system. Adding that, Quebec is investing $20 million each year in its new “personalized support course” program to help newcomers successfully integrate into Quebec society.

The foreign national (FN) must first obtain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to immigrate which is issued by the Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI) ministry. The FN has to then apply to the federal government to become permanent residents.
Upon receiving the CSQ the FN has access to various resources and also has a designated immigration officer assigned to them. When the FN (now a newcomer) arrives in Quebec, they are greeted at the airport and invited to meet with a designated integration assistance officer within a week, and an individualized action plan is created for them.
Basically, there are four steps to this newcomer process:

1. Arrival

2. Francization

3. Integration into the job market

4. Community integration
   
   

Officers will monitor the progress of each immigrant and adjust strategies to provide services tailored to each applicant’s needs, said the government. Training will be offered in terms of francization, recognition of prior learning and information on all regions of Quebec.
Read more about the program here