The Minister of Immigration for Quebec, Jean Boulet, plans to combine the efforts of the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) with those of other ministries and agencies, as well as with its partners, to implement the Ministerial Action Plan on the Regionalization of Immigration.
“There must be strong government leadership in the regions to mobilize all partners, including manufacturing companies, to attract and retain immigrants,” said Véronique Proulx, MEQ president and CEO. “Several actors play an important role in the reception and integration of immigrants in the region. Municipalities, RCMs and various ministries such as the MIFI, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation, the Ministère de l’Emploi and the Ministère de l’Éducation all have responsibilities in this area. Therefore, we must promote coordinated and harmonized action to mobilize all these players while ensuring clear division of roles.”
MEQ recommends favouring the regionalization of immigration by offering temporary foreign workers a priority access route to permanent immigration. This would ensure greater stability for businesses and those who choose to settle here.
“Temporary foreign workers are already employed, and most are settled in the region,” said Proulx. “They sometimes live here with their families, and their children go to school or are already in childcare. Quebec’s number of temporary foreign workers will increase with the low unemployment rate, the labour shortage, and the easing of regulations recently announced by the Quebec and Canadian governments. Let’s take advantage of these people, who our businesses need and who are already actively contributing to our economy, by establishing a bridge that would allow privileged access between temporary and permanent immigration.”
Manufacturing companies are not sufficiently aware of the regional ecosystem for welcoming and integrating immigrants. Manufacturers, especially SMEs, do not necessarily know where to turn for proper support, which is becoming a major obstacle to integrating immigrants into the region.
This is a significant obstacle to the integration of immigrants in the region. The services offered by the MIFI and the Ministère du Travail, de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale (MTESS), as well as those offered by regional reception and integration organisations, must be made better known.
To succeed in regionalizing immigration, the MIFI must set clear and quantifiable objectives to evaluate the success of its plan and better monitor the progress of its measures.
“Manufacturers are already contributing to the regionalization of immigration by offering quality jobs in all regions of Quebec, and they are ready to do more to put their shoulder to the wheel,” concluded Proulx.