Last Updated on October 29, 2020

Quebec expects to welcome between 13,000 and 18,000 fewer immigrants than planned in 2020, a deficit it will make up in the next two years, the provincial government announced on Thursday.

The coronavirus pandemic’s impact on Quebec immigration levels means 2020 admissions will fall to a maximum of 30,500 newcomers, 70 percent of the expected total. The number could drop as low as 25,600 new permanent residents, just 59 percent of the planned admissions.

The numbers were revealed as Immigration Minister Nadine Girault tabled the Quebec Immigration Plan for 2021 before the National Assembly.

Girault revealed the governing Coalition Avenir Quebec plans to make up the 2020 shortfall over the next two years.

It will start by welcoming up to 47,500 newcomers in 2021, with 7,000 immigrants added from the 2020 shortfall.

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Quebec’s 2021 Immigration Levels Plan

	Results		Plan 2020		Forecast 2020			Plan 2021
	2018	2019	MIN	MAX	MIN	MAX	Rebalancing	MIN	MAX
Economic	29,192	23,129	25,500	26,300	14,000	17,000	4,600	27,500	29,300
– Skilled Workers	24,129	19,098	21,600	22,000	12,800	15,000	3,500	22,900	24,200
– Business	4,204	3,387	3,300	3,600	1,000	1,600	1,000	4,000	4,300
– Other Economic	859	644	600	700	200	400	100	600	800
Family Reunification	12,286	9,686	9,900	10,200	6,700	7,100	1,550	9,700	10,200
Refugees	8,834	7,248	7,200	7,500	4,400	5,800	850	6,900	7,500
Other Immigrants	811	502	400	500	500	600	0	400	500
TOTAL	51,123	40,565	43,000	44,500	25,600	30,500	7,000	44,500	47,500

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The CAQ expects 62 percent of the 2021 total to fall in the economic immigration category.

“This plan, like all our actions, aims to ensure that each immigrant can find his place in Quebec society and contribute in his own way to collective prosperity, to the vitality of French and thus to the development of an inclusive and harmonious society,” Girault said.

“It also testifies to the government’s vision of immigration as an integral part of the strategy to be adopted in order to face demographic challenges and the scarcity of labour.”

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Quebec Immigration in 2021: Breakdown

Economic Category

In the economic category, Quebec plans to welcome between 27,500 and 29,300 newcomers in 2021. A total of 4,600 will be welcomed to make up the shortfall from 2020.

Of the economic total, between 27,500 and 29,300 will be skilled workers, 4,000 to 4,300 will fall into the business category, while 600 to 800 ‘other economic immigrants’ are expected to arrive.

Family Reunification

Quebec plans to welcome between 9,700 and 10,200 newcomers in the family reunification category. A total of 1,550 will be welcomed to make up the shortfall from 2020. 

Refugees

In the refugee category, Quebec plans to welcome between 6,900 and 7,500 newcomers. A total of 850 will be welcomed to make up the shortfall from 2020. 

Other Immigrants

Quebec also plans to welcome between 400 and 500 newcomers in the ‘other immigrants’ category, with no catch-up planned.

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A statement from the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI) said the rebalancing of the immigration deficit caused by the pandemic was required so as not to “jeopardize the economic recovery in Quebec”.

Quebec was already seeing labour shortages return, MIFI said.

“This rebalancing solution was favoured, because although the health crisis caused an unexpected economic crisis, the phenomenon of labour scarcity is gradually resurfacing in several sectors,” the MIFI statement said. 

“A deficit of immigration admissions could exacerbate the phenomenon of labour scarcity at the end of the crisis and jeopardize the economic recovery in Quebec. This solution also takes into account the demographic challenges facing Quebec.”

In laying out its plan for 2021, Quebec said it planned to issue between 26,500 and 31,200 Quebec Selection Certificates (CSQs) to ensure the flow of future admissions.