Immigrant rights groups are organizing a demonstration early Saturday afternoon in front of the Montreal office of Quebec’s Ministry of Immigration, Francis and Integration in response to a freeze on immigration programs announced by Ottawa.
In an effort to limit the number of permanent immigrants to Quebec, the CAQ government in October announced that it would reduce the graduate flow of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and the Permanent Skilled Workers Program (PSTQ). PRTQ) was announced to be frozen. ) – We will no longer accept new applications for Certificates de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) until June next year.
Additionally, the federal government announced in the same month that it would lower its targets for permanent residents and certain temporary immigrants, including international students and temporary foreign workers.
The organization Québec Sesto Nous Auxis (LQCNA) says the decisions by the two tiers of government, especially the provincial government, will undo all the progress immigrants have already made on Quebec soil. I am doing it.
In a press release issued on Saturday morning, LQCNA said the announced measures would make it “impossible” for thousands of people to renew their work permits and “obtain permanent residence.”
For immigrants, the process of coming to Quebec can take months, if not years, and in some cases represent a lifetime’s worth of investment, the group said. It is also likely to have a chilling effect.” I am thinking of studying and working in Quebec in the future. ”
“Today’s demonstration is really about highlighting the impact of the freeze on the permanent immigration program,” LQCNA president Claire Launay explained in front of the ministry’s offices.
“We understand that the government wants to reduce immigration, but what we want to make clear is that there are people already here who are affected by these issues. It really came out of the blue.”
The president, who is an immigrant herself and has lived in Quebec for nearly 15 years, reports that when her organization spoke with the ministry, it was told that immigration officials could not guarantee that regulations would return to the status they were in at the end of the freeze. .
This is in addition to the work permit freeze that has been closed for low-wage jobs in the Montreal area.
“There are many people whose work permits were about to expire and now not only can’t renew them, they don’t even have a path forward,” she lamented.
Federico Benavidez, a worker from Spain who has lived in Quebec for eight years, was also at the demonstration.
Immigrants were already despairing of the length of local bureaucracy and the difficulty of immigration procedures.
Now, he is forced into the country at short notice and is considering moving to Ontario, where he has been patiently studying French since arriving in Quebec.
He told the Quebec government: “We will cooperate, but we must play by the rules.”
Amir Azad said he spent a lot of effort and a lot of money moving to Quebec.
This young graduate studied in English, studied French and passed the language test which allowed him to apply for the CSQ. Previous regulatory changes allowed him to become eligible as of Nov. 23.
Azad added that he is also considering moving to another province to remain in Canada, adding that he does not trust the Quebec government.
All those present criticized the government for not taking into account those who have already started their immigration process, and for not applying the reforms only at a later date, beyond the first immigration process.
Therefore, LQCNA calls on the government to end the freeze on the issuance of closed work permits for graduates, the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), and the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and ensure that these programs are maintained. I’m asking you to. For the next five years.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 30, 2024..
