Quebec to Count Temporary Residents in Plans

Summary#

• This bill changes Quebec’s Immigration Act so the province must count temporary residents when planning immigration.

• It does not set new limits by itself. It updates what must be in Quebec’s multi‑year and annual immigration plans.

• Key changes:

  • The minister must consider how many temporary residents are already in Quebec when planning.
  • Multi‑year goals must now include the expected number of people admitted both temporarily and permanently.
  • The annual immigration plan must state the planned or estimated number of foreign nationals who want to stay in Quebec temporarily or settle permanently, and how many selection decisions the province can issue.
  • The law would take effect on the date it is approved.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • You could see clearer numbers each year about temporary residents (like international students and temporary workers) and permanent immigrants.
  • Planning for housing, schools, health care, and transit may better reflect who is actually living in Quebec at any given time.
  • The bill itself does not change who can come. It changes reporting and planning.

• Temporary residents (international students, temporary foreign workers, others)

  • Your presence would be counted in Quebec’s official immigration planning.
  • This could lead, over time, to services and infrastructure planning that better matches demand in areas with many temporary residents.

• People applying for permanent immigration to Quebec

  • The annual plan will continue to show how many provincial selection decisions (like Quebec selection certificates) can be issued.
  • The bill does not change selection criteria. It only changes what the plan must include.

• Employers and educational institutions

  • You would get more transparent forecasts about both temporary and permanent immigration volumes.
  • This may help with workforce and enrollment planning, though the bill does not itself change program rules.

• Local governments and service providers

  • Provincial plans should better reflect actual population pressures, including temporary residents.
  • This may help align provincial choices with local needs for funding and services.

Expenses#

• Estimated annual cost: minimal administrative costs for planning and reporting.
• Likely effects:
  • Some staff time and data work to track and publish temporary and permanent numbers together.
  • No new programs or benefits created by this bill.

Proponents' View#

• Counting temporary residents makes planning more realistic, since they use housing, schools, transit, and health care.
• Clear targets for both temporary and permanent entries improve transparency for the public and employers.
• Better data can help avoid sudden strains on services and support balanced growth across regions.
• Aligning multi‑year goals with actual population flows aids long‑term budgeting and infrastructure plans.

Opponents' View#

• Adding new reporting requirements could create more red tape without fixing core issues like housing supply.
• Numbers for temporary residents can change quickly, so plans may still miss the mark.
• The province plans, but the federal government controls visas; this could cause confusion about who decides what.
• Some worry the new planning rules could later be used to justify tighter limits on temporary residents, even though this bill does not set caps.