The CAQ observes that immigration is one of the keys to ensuring the survival of French in Quebec and is orchestrating a shift. The Legault government wants to welcome more French-speaking newcomers and renegotiate the Canada-Quebec Accord.
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“Things have to change in immigration, we really have to give a boost, that we go in a new direction,” concludes Minister Jean Boulet, following four months at the helm of the Ministry of Immigration.
In Quebec, approximately 85% of population growth comes from immigration. “So if we want to protect French, ensure its sustainability, it is fundamental that we have Francophone immigration,” he insists, without however giving a target.
This is an important repositioning for the CAQ, which until now preferred to francize immigrants once they arrived on Quebec soil. A strategy that does not seem to have borne fruit.
“With Francophone immigration, it’s more effective than just francization services,” admitted Minister Boulet, in an interview with our Parliamentary Office.
Shortage in regions
Mastering the language of Molière is an asset, particularly in responding to the shortage of labor in the regions, which is particularly glaring.
“It requires immigration that is French-speaking to go to cities all over Quebec, such as Val-d’Or, Saint-Hyacinthe, Shawinigan and that greatly increases the retention rate,” he argues.
He assures that this new orientation of his government is not intended to remedy the shortcomings of the reform project of Law 101 of his colleague Simon Jolin-Barrette with regard to the protection of French. “What I’m going to do is to complement what Simon is doing with Law 96”.
But when it comes to immigration, Quebec is not alone. The federal government not only has its say, but it even puts its seal on the files of newcomers. This is why Jean Boulet wants to renegotiate the Canada-Quebec Accord dating from 1991 in order to obtain greater control over the selection of foreigners.
“Scandalous” delays, bureaucracy and inefficiency. The minister is not kind to the management of Ottawa. He nevertheless wants to continue to “collaborate” with his federal counterpart Sean Fraser.
International students
One of the issues that irritates him the most is that of international students. The refusal rate for those from French-speaking countries is close to 80%, while it fluctuates between 8 and 15% among those from English-speaking countries.
Jean Boulet suspects the federal government of having “negative prejudices” once morest French-speaking international students.
“Indian international students who come to our English-speaking establishments, the floodgates are open. And when it comes from a French-speaking country, the floodgates are closed. It deserves to be denounced! »
Jean Boulet considers the status quo untenable. He fears the continued decline of French and the lesser effectiveness of immigration as a solution to the shortage of personnel if nothing changes.
“The language is threatened,” he says. So if we want to protect the language, allow our regions to develop, immigration must be predominantly French-speaking”.
- 2019 : 40 565
- 2020 : 25 223
- 2021 (forecast): between 43 100 et 47 100
- 2022 (forecast): between 49 500 et 52 500*
*A target to which is added a rebalancing of 18,000 people who have not been able to obtain their permanent residence in the last two years due to the pandemic.
- 2019 : 50 %
- 2020 : 60 %
- 2021 : 71 %
- 2022 : 62 %
– These data include economic immigrants, refugees and family reunification.
Source: Quebec Immigration Plan 2022
In Quebec, approximately 85% of population growth is linked to immigration
Source: 2021 Census
