Canadian university launches institute to study migration and improve outcomes for newcomers

Concordia University has launched a research institute to study the impacts of immigration.

The Montreal-based university created the Institute for Research on Migration and Society (IRMS) to provide evidence-based research on migration and offer a space for discussions to help newcomers adjust to life in Canada.

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The institute launched with a core team of 10 faculty members, in addition to Mireille Paquet, the director of IRMS.

Why is IRMS needed?

As one IRMS coordinator points out, most academic discussions on immigration in Quebec take place in French. As a bilingual research hub, IRMS is uniquely positioned to make a difference.

The hope is this institute can also look at issues such as emigration of newcomers in Quebec to other provinces, and bridge politics across provinces and with the government of Canada.

What will IRMS do?

Since its launch, IRMS has been collaborating on projects connected to the government and to academia. Current projects include the following:

Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides

IRMS is contributing to the citizenship and participation stream of the project, looking at making immigration more socially sustainable and exploring the implementation of digital technologies.

Réseau de recherche sur l’immigration, l’intégration et les relations interculturelles au Québec (RQ3I)

IRMS will be collaborating with researchers from other Quebec universities, namely Université de Montréal and Université Laval on this project, which received funding of $1.2 million. Once launched, it will be Quebec’s first dedicated research network focused on immigration and integration.

Canada’s Changing Immigration Landscape (CCIL)

IRMS is collaborating with the Centre of Excellence on the Canadian Federation at the Institute for Research on Public Policy and the Centre for Migration Studies at the University of British Columbia to provide more information to policymakers, the media, and Canadians.

Quebec and immigration

Quebec is unique among Canadian provinces due to the control it exerts over its yearly intake levels of skilled workers and immigrants.

Earlier this year, the province announced that it would be temporarily pausing two of its most popular PR pathways.

Starting October 31, Quebec stopped accepting applications for the Quebec Experience Program - Quebec Graduates (PEQ - Diplômés), and stopped issuing invitations to candidates for the Regular Skilled Worker Program (PRTQ).

These suspensions are set to remain in effect until June 30, 2025.

Earlier this year, a new cap was introduced to Quebec's immigration system, limiting the number of admissions under the PRTQ to a maximum of 25% from any single country.

Foreign skilled workers looking to gain Canadian PR can also look at other pathways or federal government pilot programs that are geared towards French-speakers.

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