Quebec restricts immigration access to students from non-subsidized colleges

Radio-Canada learned that on the initiative of the Legault government, Quebec and Ottawa decided to check access to post-graduation work permits. It is given to foreign students at the end of their training. It allows you to stay and work for several years in Canada.

The possibility of such a permit is one of the promotional arguments of some non-subsidized establishments and recruitment firms, which have been on Quebec’s sights for more than a year.

Following the revelations (New window) of Radio-Canada, especially about the massive increase in Indian students in Quebec and problems related to education, Quebec launched an investigation, which confirmed suspicious schemes on the arrival of these students.

The latter paid nearly $ 25,000 to take a short training course, exclusively in English, which gave access to this work permit. Subsequently, many of them may leave Quebec to settle, for example in Ontario.

To date, Quebec is the only province to provide this important document after successful completion of a vocational studies diploma (DEP) of at least 900 hours or an attestation of college studies (AEC).

A restriction in effect in September 2023

This restriction on immigration rules is not included in the action plan announced in June 2021 by the Minister of Higher Education, Danielle McCann.

But in the eyes of the Immigration Minister, cutting this attraction to recruitment is important. This is a key element. There were integrity issues. We agree on what is being done anywhere in Canadarecalling Jean Boulet, it is no secret that a complete cleanup of this network needs to be done.

Private schools without subsidies used this post-graduation work permit to recruit, attract people to benefit from our school system, then go elsewhere in Canadahe continued.

” The investigation revealed integrity issues in the ways in which some private institutions in Quebec recruit international students. It seems very important to me to ensure the better integrity of our system. “

This restriction on the rules, Jean Boulet explains, will take effect from September 1, 2023. All people who have completed their education before [cette date] will be able to access this permithe says.

After this date, only people who have graduated from a subsidized education program will have access to this permit, which opens the door to permanent residence.

” It will obviously help to ensure that the people who live here contribute to our job market, to our community, rather than using these programs as a gateway to go elsewhere in Canada. “

For the Legault government, which recently announced tuition reductions for foreign students going to the regions, this measure is to increase Francophone immigration.

International students are an extraordinary potential for Quebec, Jean Boulet said. Often, they come here, settle down, bring together our community or our job market.