Jean Boulet, Quebec's Immigration Minister, says Ottawa must improve the processing times for immigration applications, especially those for economic immigration and study permits.
Sean Fraser, Canada's Immigration Minister, agreed with the Minister's complaint since Quebec's processing times for permanent residency applications have been over two years long around 27 months, compared to about six months in other provinces.
According to Canadian Immigration Minister’s tweet, “Canada and Quebec are continuing to work together to move forward on joint priorities.” IRCC data shows that 44,495 new permanent residents came to Quebec in the first 11 months of last year, 2021, almost 76.4% more than in all of 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic halted immigration.
Also, Quebec welcomed over 9.7% more permanent residents in the first 11 months of 2021 than it welcomed, 40,565 new permanent residents, in 2019, the last full year before the pandemic started.
Ottawa has agreed to allow businesses in Quebec to hire twice as many temporary foreign workers in order to ease its labor shortages which was part of the deal between the province and the federal government. During Quebec's last year budget, the province spent $246 million on programs to attract and retain immigrants.