Quebec’s 2025 Immigration Levels Plan: Balancing Growth, Culture, and Economy
Quebec has announced its 2025 immigration levels plan aiming to welcome between 48,500 and 51,000 which is the same target as the previous year. The new plan focuses on managing the number of newcomers to avoid overwhelming its services and keep its cultural identity strong. Most immigrants will be skilled workers to support the Canadian economy and local workforce and also develop the province’s economy.
What’s the goal of the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan?
Quebec’s new plan is to welcome between 48,500 and 51,500 newcomers. However, this number of newcomers has to be chosen carefully to contribute to developing the Canadian economy and community. Also, Quebec has a strong cultural identity as it can be considered the only region for French speakers predominate in North America.
Quebec has authorities different from other provinces to set its immigration levels plan in coordination with the federal authorities. This independence allows Quebec to pursue policies that align with the needs and values of the province.
The immigration minister Jean-Francois Roberge, has announced that the multi-year future immigration plan will be announced by June 30, 2025. He also announced that starting from October 9, 2024, to October 9, 2025, the number of newcomers from each country will be limited to 25% of total arrivals.
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New updates under the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan
The 2025 plan is set to target several categories of immigrants. Each category is targeted for a specific need which we’ll discuss in the following:
- Economic immigrants (around 72% newcomers at maximum): this category is for skilled workers with in-demand skills who can fill labour shortages, those who have educational backgrounds, or applicants who have the capital to invest to develop the Canadian economy. Quebec plans to welcome between 31,000 to 32,900 newcomers in this category with priority to those who are ready to work quickly.
- International students (between 13,500 to 15,000): This number of international students are subjected to immigrate through the Quebec Experience Program.
- Family reunification (between 10,200 and 10,600): the family reunification category is another crucial pillar of the immigration system that allows families to stay together. Quebec aims to create a supportive environment for newcomers to integrate and feel that they are home.
- Refugees and Humanitarian cases (between 6,600 and 7,200): it focuses on helping vulnerable newcomers and their families who face significant challenges in their countries to overcome these challenges and start a new safe and stable life in Quebec.
- Business immigrants: newcomers to Quebec as business immigrants will be reduced from 1,300 in 2024 to between 400 and 500 in 2025.
Quebec also plans to suspend certain programs until June 30, 2025, which are applications for the Quebec Graduate Stream of the Quebec Experience Program and invitations for the Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP), which will be rebranded as the Skilled Worker Selection Program (SWSP) on November 29. 2024.
Why are economic immigrants considered the largest category in the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan?
Quebec’s population is aging, and birth rates are declining, leading to a shrinking workforce. This can be particularly pronounced in the healthcare, technology, construction, and manufacturing sectors as they are the most sectors that face labour shortages.
As Quebec has different programs each one targeting different kinds of immigrants, the Quebec Skilled Worker program targets those who have French language skills and also are skilled in an in-demand occupation to fill out labour shortages. Another program is the Quebec Experience Program which targets international graduates and skilled workers who already have spent time in Quebec allowing them to proceed into permanent residency if they have shown their commitment to stay.
Also, Quebec has programs that target investors, and entrepreneurs as they bring valuable capital, innovative ideas, and a willingness to create jobs, aiming to contribute to the development of the Canadian economy.
Balancing immigration numbers with a French-speaking emphasis
Quebec is setting this new plan to manage and control the number of newcomers to Canada to range between 48,500 and 51,500 to reduce the pressure on the province on resources like housing, healthcare, and education.
Also, the 2025 immigration levels plan prioritizes French speakers who can contribute to its francophone communities as they play a key role in Quebec’s culture and identity. Over 80% of newcomers over the previous years have achieved functional French proficiency within their first five years in the province.
What does the 2025 immigration levels plan mean for Quebec’s future?
The Quebec 2025 immigration levels plan is part of a long-term strategy that aims to ensure economic growth, population stability, and cultural preservation. This plan focuses on prioritizing skilled French speakers, refugees, and those who seek humanitarian immigration and family reunification, all these efforts to support and develop the Canadian economy and maintain a balanced society.
Quebec has set its 2025 immigration levels plan to welcome a range of 48,500 to 51,500 newcomers which focus on skilled workers who have high French language proficiency, immigrants who look for family reunification, refugees, and those with humanitarian needs. Also, Quebec limits certain programs to keep immigrant numbers stable to choose newcomers in a way that fits well its economy and culture.
