Lowering immigration, but at what cost?

OpinionsEditorialThe Link — Published October 27, 2026 0 minutes

Last year, the Quebec government, led by the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), eliminated the Quebec Experience Program. 

The program lets immigrants obtain a Quebec selection certificate, which helps them apply for permanent residency. International students and foreign workers must provide proof of French proficiency or show they have worked in certain sectors in the province for at least two years. 

This viable path to permanent residency was stripped away from many immigrants who wanted to contribute to Quebec society and find a place for themselves. The reaction was swift, and people took to the streets to demonstrate their outrage. 

Under pressure as the CAQ's poll approval ratings plummeted, they reversed the decision for two years. This is one of many instances in which the Quebec government has made it difficult for immigrants to live in Quebec. 

Quebec has partial control over its immigration system, possessing more autonomy than any other Canadian province, though ultimate authority remains shared with the federal government. The federal government formally issues permanent resident visas, citizenship and entry permits. Though they take Quebec’s provincial requirements into account, federal authority has the ultimate call for the total number of immigrants admitted to the country in a year.

The Parti Québécois’ plan for Quebec immigration includes a reduction to the temporary immigration of non-permanent residents by half at the end of the four-year term, to have a threshold of 35,000 permanent residents a year, cap the number of international students at 50,000 to process family reunification for couples and families quickly, tighten the selection process for temporary foreign workers and require a higher level of French proficiency.

As important as protecting the French language is, what is expected of newly arrived immigrants who, for some, barely speak any French is idealistic and unrealistic. Six months is not enough for immigrants to become proficient enough in French to access government services comfortably unless they already have a background in the language. 

After this six-month period, public and civil administration services are provided exclusively in French, subject to specific legal exceptions.

French proficiency does help when living in Quebec, but learning it should not be a mentally draining task; it should be encouraged through Quebec culture and sense of community. While you don't necessarily need to speak French to live in Montreal, it makes everything much easier and helps you feel part of a community instead of socially isolated.

While many residents are welcoming, some visible minorities report facing microaggressions, social friction or systemic hurdles, especially outside major cities like Montreal. The most prevalent example is the rampant online discourse about the high percentage of East Asian Tim Hortons workers in recent years. Slang terms like "Singh Hortons" have circulated online amid criticism and calls for boycotts.

The tension coincides with the broader national conversations in Quebec and Canada regarding a post-pandemic immigration surge. 

The newly elected Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and his government will need to ensure there are enough resources to accommodate both Quebec's immigrant and non-immigrant populations in terms of housing, education, employment and healthcare. 

New immigrants in Quebec face several hurdles when trying to start their lives in the province. Education is a challenge, with mandatory French exams and the lack of flexibility around credit transfer making CEGEP and university difficult. Massive tuition hikes have targeted out-of-province and international students at English-language universities, making schooling even less accessible. 

Housing is also hard to come by, with half of all immigrant households in Quebec renting. The situation is even more taxing on asylum seekers, who have the hardest time finding housing in Quebec due to their precarious immigration status. 

Employment is another hurdle for immigrants, as financial stability depends on stable income and opportunities. Workers are welcomed when their labour is needed, but too often remain excluded from the security and protections permanent residents enjoy. Furthermore, Quebec employers and professional orders often discount or fail to recognize foreign diplomas, degrees and past work experience. This means that many highly educated and skilled immigrants end up in survival jobs or positions well below their training level.

Ultimately, Canada, with an aging population and low birth rate, needs immigrants to fuel its economy. Quebec is not excluded from this. With the current economic and social climate, we are all struggling with political polarization, rising costs of living and politicians who remain unaccountable. 

The Link also wants to remind its readers that, barring Indigenous people, we are all descendants of immigrants. Montreal has vibrant immigrant communities from all over the globe, and they all contribute to the culture and fabric of Quebec society. These communities should never be thrown under the bus during difficult times.

It is easy for those politicians to point to one group as the source of the problem, and it is easy for people to jump at the opportunity of a quick fix for society’s ills. But immigrants are not the source of these problems, and excluding them will only serve to weaken Quebec and Canada as a whole.

This article originally appeared in Volume 47, Issue 4, published October 27, 2026.