Politics

Hoping to immigrate to Quebec? You’ll have to know French, premier says

Months after saying that accepting greater than 50,000 immigrants a 12 months can be “suicidal” for Quebec, the province’s premier is contemplating growing the variety of immigrants who arrive within the province to 60,000 a 12 months.

Premier François Legault stated that will likely be attainable after an immigration reform that may require the overwhelming majority of people that come via the province’s financial immigration system to talk French earlier than they arrive.

“From the second we’re in a position to, as a result of there’s actual openness on the a part of the federal authorities, say that the rise is barely francophones, or individuals who have mastered French, that fully adjustments the scenario,” he informed reporters Thursday in Quebec Metropolis.

Legault stated the potential rise in immigration would come totally from a rise within the variety of folks accepted via the Quebec-controlled financial immigration stream.

Sixty-five per cent of immigrants to Quebec come via the financial stream, which is managed by the province, with the remainder coming via the federally-controlled household reunification and refugee packages.

Legault stated that when he described elevated immigration as suicidal final 12 months, he believed that the federal authorities would require will increase in these two classes if Quebec accepted extra financial immigrants.

“I assumed, on the time, that the federal authorities wouldn’t allow us to extend solely the proportion of financial immigrants and, to date, with the dialogue we’ve had with the federal authorities, they’re greater than open to just accept that, so it’s altering the image fully,” he stated.

If the elevated threshold is adopted, Legault stated immigration ranges would rise steadily to achieve 60,000 folks a 12 months by 2027.

The precise variety of immigrants the province accepts might be even increased, he stated, as a result of that determine doesn’t embody individuals who come via a fast-track program for graduates of Quebec universities.

Nevertheless, that program — which at present requires candidates to have the next stage of French than many employees who can be accepted beneath the province’s new plan and is open to graduates of all Quebec post-secondary establishments — will likely be restricted to college students who graduate from packages taught in French, or who attended highschool in French.

Legault stated that as premier of Quebec his major duty is to guard the province’s French character.

“For the reason that final 10, 15, 20 years, we see that the proportion of individuals talking French is lowering, so we now have to do one thing,” he stated.

“And I believe it’s necessary that we request that they communicate French earlier than being accepted.”

Christine Fréchette, Quebec’s Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration, stated the reform — which can go forward whether or not the province decides to extend its immigration threshold or not — will change the way in which Quebec selects immigrants, shifting away from some extent system that rewards, however doesn’t require, information of the French language.

The purpose system will likely be changed by a system the place sure standards, reminiscent of French-language information, have to be met.

She stated that beneath the brand new plan, 96 per cent of people that apply to immigrate to Quebec via the financial stream will likely be required to talk French earlier than coming to the province, by 2027.

That will enhance the variety of all immigrants to Quebec who communicate French from 68 per cent in 2022, to 72 per cent by 2027, if the rise is adopted, or 70 per cent by 2027, if the variety of immigrants stays at 50,000 folks a 12 months.

Legault stated he’s not but dedicated to the rise, including that he needs to seek the advice of with consultants earlier than it’s adopted.

&copy 2023 The Canadian Press

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