Photo credit: CTV News
An immigrant rights organization held a demonstration in Montreal early Saturday afternoon in front of the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration in response to the government’s announced freeze on immigration programs.
The Gazette reports that to limit the number of permanent immigrants to Quebec, the CAQ government announced in October that it would freeze the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) graduate component and Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) until next June by no longer accepting new applications for Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
In the same month, the federal government also announced it was lowering its targets for permanent and temporary residents, namely international students and temporary foreign workers.
The announcements prompted Le Quebec c’est nous aussi (LQCNA) to step up. The organization argues that the decisions by both levels of government, particularly the provincial decision, are undermining all the steps taken by migrants already on Quebec soil.
LQNA stated in a press release that the measures announced will make it “impossible” for thousands of people to renew their work permits and “to access permanent residency.”
A demonstrator, Federico Benavides, who moved from Spain to Quebec eight years ago, was already struggling with the difficulty and length of the immigration process. Now, he is forced to make an express entry and is considering leaving for Ontario, even though he has learned French since moving to Quebec.
Another protester, Amir Azad, says he has spent a lot of effort and money to immigrate to Quebec. The young mechanical engineer from Iran studied in English, learned French, and passed language tests to be eligible to file his CSQ application. He says all his errors have gone up in smoke. He, too, is considering changing provinces to stay in Canada.
The LQCNA is demanding that the government end the freezes on the issuance of closed work permits, the PSTQ, and the PEQ for graduates and guarantee these programs for the next five years.
