Quebec could admit up to 44,500 new permanent residents in 2020

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Quebec could admit 44,500 new permanent residents and issue 24,700 new selection certificates in 2020, the province's immigration ministry announced Wednesday.

The majority of new admissions to Quebec in 2020 — 59 per cent — are expected to come through the province’s economic immigration programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

The province's immigration ministry said its targets for 2020 respond to Quebec's labour needs "while respecting its capacities for welcoming and integrating" the new arrivals.

The levels, which provide for an increase of 2,700 over its maximum of 41,800 newcomers this year, reflect the governing Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ)'s promise to progressively increase immigration levels to the province after reducing them by around 20 per cent.

The CAQ said the reduction was necessary to ensure new arrivals are properly integrated into Quebec's majority French-speaking society and its labour market.

Quebec's Immigration Minister, Simon Jolin-Barrette, said Wednesday that the province's immigration level could return to above 50,000 — the level it was at when the CAQ won office in 2018 — by 2022.

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Maximum 22,000 skilled worker admissions in 2020

Quebec has set a range of between 25,500 and 26,300 new admissions for its economic immigration programs, including a maximum of 22,000 skilled workers.

The province has a maximum of 3,600 admissions for its business immigration programs, which include the Quebec Entrepreneur Program and the Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program.

A maximum of 700 admissions is also set for “other economic categories” such as caregivers and others.

The remaining 18,200 new permanent residents are slated to arrive through family sponsorship, refugee and other immigration programs.

2020 Quebec Selection Certificate targets

Under the provisions of the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec has the power to select all Economic Class immigrants and certain refugees to the province.

Those selected are awarded a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec, or CSQ) and can then apply to Canada's federal government for a permanent residence visa.

Quebec says around 71 per cent of total admissions to the province should be selected by the province.

Quebec's plan calls for issuing between 20,100 and 24,700 selection certificates in 2020 — slightly less than its plan for 2019, which had a range of 20,200 to 24,800.

The majority — up to 15,000 — would go to skilled worker candidates.

The selection certificate targets are as follows:

Category	2020 Selection certificate target
Skilled Workers	12,500 to 15,000
Business people	2,100 to 2,800
Other economic categories	600 to 800
Refugees (overseas)	4,500 to 5,500
Other immigrants	400 to 600