The Institut du Québec (IDQ) is proposing the creation of a new fast track to advance the settlement of immigrants in the regions and raise limits for immigration to Quebec. By setting up the Regional Program for the Quebec Experience, the Legault government could allow 10,000 temporary immigrants living in the regions to expedite the process of obtaining permanent residence.
To alleviate the labor shortage, which is greater outside the Montreal area, theIDQ suggests a more targeted approach, which will be more effective in helping regional businesses in need of labor. The Institute states that nearly half of Quebec’s population lives in the greater Montreal area and that nearly 85% of immigrants who come to Quebec first settled there.
The Legault government’s current policy, which aims to train immigrants in Quebec regions, is not working, the Institut du Québec said. This is a situation that undeniably slows down the economic development of some regions. […] There are many vacancies in the regions and the population there is aging.
10,000 temporary immigrants, who could benefit from the new program proposed byIDQ for the regions, will be added to the 50,000 immigrants admitted annually to Quebec under current programs.
This measure is found in a study presented by the Institut du Québec: Picture immigration in Quebec, economic integration on the rise … but needs as wellby researchers Daye Diallo, Mia Homsy and Simon Savard.
Long delays and improper immigration
Furthermore, the Institut du Québec is wondering about the processing times for permanent immigration files in Quebec by the federal government. More than 90,000 files are currently pending.
This slowness puts Quebec at a major disadvantage, as disproportionate administrative delays greatly prolong the period of uncertainty experienced by applicants and harm Quebec’s attractiveness and competitiveness, especially at the expense of Ontario, with longer delays.
It must also be said that a new phenomenon is occurring in recent years: the number of temporary immigrants is rising sharply. Between 2016 and 2019, the balance of non -permanent residents (called temporary immigrants) dropped from 12,671 to 61,668. […] while net temporary immigrants averaged 9% of net international immigrants between 2012 and 2016, this percentage climbed to 64% in 2019.
This change is unsatisfactory and has a detrimental effect, according to the Institut du Québec, which is requesting a deep thought on this issue. Temporary immigrants sometimes face social and economic difficulties not faced by indigenous and landed immigrants (work permit associated with an abusive or unfair employer, less favorable working conditions, ignorance of the rights associated with the work permit, etc.).
A solution that works
We often talk about this: Quebec needs to use all available solutions to try to alleviate the labor shortage, which hinders economic growth and the development of businesses and the region.
The labor shortage is growing. Fewer people are unemployed per vacancy and more and more people are leaving the labor market. Immigration is not the only solution, but it is one that already exists. From 2011 to 2021, the share of immigrants in total employment in Quebec increased from 12.4% to 19.2%, and even 30.7% in Montreal.
The immigration solution is even more effective: the unemployment rate for immigrants aged 25 to 54 dropped from 12.7% in April 2012 to 5.3% in April 2022. This is lower than in Ontario. And the employment rate of immigrants aged 25 to 54 is rising sharply. It was 69.9% in April 2012. It was 81.9%.
L ‘IDQ Quebec suggests:
relying more on recruitment missions abroad to attract more international students and temporary workers;
negotiating with the federal government new immigration powers to expedite the processing of files;
improves tuition tax credit for international students who have permanently resided in the Quebec regions after their education;
reduce French language and diploma requirements in certain permanent immigration pilot programs set in food processing, for beneficiary attendant positions and in certain permanent technology sectors;
offers affordable housing solutions for newcomers in consultation with local stakeholders.
Reducing population aging
In 2019, the Institut du Québec published a study that showed that an increase in immigration limits would lead to higher real GDP growth, but, in turn, would create a reduction in GDP per capita due to the fact that immigrants tend to earn lower incomes than natives.
GDP per capita could also fall, however, if companies reduce investment and growth due to labor shortages.
The increase in immigration, moreover, could increase Quebec’s demographic weight in Canada and lead to a decrease in the proportion of the population aged 65 and over. But the worker-to-retiree ratio will hardly change, dropping from 2.1 to 2.3 in 2040.
It seems clear that immigration will not solve the issue of population aging. But can we deprive ourselves of this part of the solution? The Institut du Québec says the number of people aged 70 and over increased by 20% from 2016 to 2021, while those aged 25-54 increased by only 0.6%.
Immigration, a wrong solution, according to Pierre Fortin
We should not exaggerate the value of the immigration solution, Pierre Fortin said in a study submitted to the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration of Quebec, May 6, 2022. Recognizing that immigration is the main cause of population growthPierre Fortin argues, in return, that being too open to accepting immigrants can have detrimental effects.
The new federal policy based on an ambitious permanent immigration target and widespread use of temporary immigration as a path to permanent immigration has resulted in three things: 1) major administrative congestion and confusion; 2) little convincing economic results; and 3) increased social risk of causing xenophobia and encouraging immigration denial.
Pierre Fortin affirms that Canadian policy is included for Quebec a demographic minority within Canadaloss of power over permanent immigration and possible decrease in francization of immigrants.
Contrary to what the Federal Advisory Council on Economic Growth headed by Dominic Barton suggested in 2016 and 2017, there is no scientific evidence that growth in the standard of living of Canadians will respond positively (or negatively) to accelerated immigration and population expansionwritten by economist Pierre Fortin.
He also added that the hope of fighting the aging population with immigration is contradicted by the research literature.
Since the average age of immigrants is younger than the host population, it is tempting to believe that increasing immigration will rejuvenate the population and ease the burden of aging. Unfortunately, this is a false hope. […] The aging momentum of the host population is too strong to go beyond the slight immigration counter. Immigrants often come with their elderly parents and then age themselves. Those who believe that immigration is a defense against aging and the pressure it puts on pensions and health care costs are wrong.
And we should not believe that immigration will help reduce the labor shortage. The shortage of labor which was initially alleviated by the increased supply of labor leads to a re-emergence at the other end of the economic circuit because it eventually leads to an increase in the demand for labor.-labor. […] It is possible in theory that the arrival of more people of working age will lead to an increase, rather than a mitigation, of the labor shortage.
Finally, Quebec must take full, effective and independent control over temporary immigrationin addition to regain direct control of permanent immigration.
Source: Radio-Canada
