Protests Erupt Across Quebec Cities
Hundreds rallied in seven Quebec cities, including Gatineau, Montreal, and Quebec City, to oppose the provincial government’s decision to eliminate the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) in November. The move has left thousands of temporary workers in uncertainty, with some facing deportation to their home countries.
Personal Stories of Disappointment
Mariia Kolosova relocated from Ukraine to Quebec in 2023, aiming to secure permanent residency via the PEQ. She intensively studied French and chose a tourism job to meet eligibility requirements. Just as she neared application, the program faced suspension and ultimate cancellation.
“The reason I came to Quebec, one of the reasons, was [because] my chances were quite high,” Kolosova stated at the Montreal rally. “Ukrainians, many of us, we don’t have a place to [go] back to. It’s not that easy to change your life from [scratch] again.”
The PEQ offered a streamlined path to permanent residency for individuals proficient in French who met specific criteria, issuing selection certificates from the Quebec government.
Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge introduced the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) as a replacement. This points-based system favors applicants in regions beyond Montreal and prioritizes sectors such as health care and education.
Florent Pigeyre, an advisor for French citizens abroad, assists Montreal newcomers in organizing a lawsuit against the government. “I see a lot of [immigrants] contact me because the families are breaking apart, because they have to separate and go back to their country of origin,” he said. “It was not the plan. It’s not what had been sold to them from the Quebec government.”
Pigeyre noted that many arrived following provincial recruitment drives that highlighted PEQ opportunities, only to encounter shifted criteria under the PSTQ.
Aram Musco, who moved from France to Montreal for studies, now faces an unclear future. “The main thing is it’s quite hard to anticipate the next steps,” he explained. “With the PSTQ, what’s quite difficult to manage and understand is that the criteria can evolve.” Musco emphasized that PEQ’s French proficiency standards were rigorous and that immigrants bolster Quebec’s economy.
Political and Community Support
Quebec Liberal and Québec solidaire MNAs joined municipal officials and unions at the rallies. Participants urged exemptions for those already established in the province to apply under the PEQ, a call echoed by business groups.
“We need to ensure stability for the people who come here… and that we ensure as well stability for all public services,” stated Québec solidaire co-spokesperson Sol Zanetti at the Quebec City event.
In Gatineau, Liberal MNA André Fortin expressed hope that the demonstrations affirm immigrants’ welcome in Quebec. “The CAQ government has started to blame immigration for all of Quebec’s problems, whether it’s housing, whether it’s health care or education,” Fortin said. “And that’s simply not the case.”
Government Position
The Quebec government maintains the PSTQ will accommodate around 29,000 economic immigrants. Minister Roberge rejects PEQ exemptions, though applications submitted prior to abolition continue processing.
