QUEBEC SEEKS FEDERAL CAP ON NON-PERMANENT RESIDENTS AMID REGIONAL LABOUR CONCERNS

Quebec’s Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge has formally called on the federal government to cap the number of non-permanent residents under federal jurisdiction at 200,000. The request comes amid growing concerns over labour market imbalances and the recent federal reduction in the allowable proportion of temporary foreign workers from 20% to 10% of a company’s workforce.

Roberge proposed the inclusion of a “grandfather clause” to exempt businesses already reliant on higher proportions of temporary foreign workers, especially in rural and regional areas where labour shortages persist. While supporting tighter controls in urban centers such as Montreal and Laval—where unemployment remains elevated—the minister underscored that continued access to foreign labour is “crucial” for industries outside major metropolitan zones.

The proposed federal cap would align with Quebec’s broader strategy to balance immigration with its economic and integration capacities. The province has jurisdiction over its permanent immigration levels but relies on Ottawa’s policies for managing temporary residents, including international students and foreign workers.

Quebec’s call highlights the ongoing tension between regional economic needs and national immigration policies. Business groups have voiced concern that abrupt reductions in temporary worker limits could hurt productivity and lead to staffing shortages in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and hospitality.

Ottawa has yet to respond formally to the proposal, but the request signals Quebec’s intent to assert greater control over the pace and composition of temporary immigration within its borders.

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