Quebec brings new opportunities for the immigrants. The Canadian province launches three new pilot programs for the following:
- Food processing (starting on 24 March 2021)
- Health (orderlies) and (beginning on 31 March 2021)
- Information technology, visual effects, and artificial intelligence (start date 22 April 2021)
For each program, pilot program duration will last upto 5 years. The duration is also subject to be changed dpending on the success rate of the program.
Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking province in eastern Canada, with a triple peak in its heart. This province has great importance in Canada’s immigration point of view. It has launched many immigration programs in the last few years. It also runs its own immigration stream and does not take part in PNP.
On March 3, Quebec declared it will launch new immigration pilots for food processing, people in the health and tech sectors. Through these three programs, Quebec’s authorities will attract and retain workers whose skills meet the requirements of the Quebec labor market.
The Minister de Immigration, de Ia Francisation et de I’Itegraion (MIFI) is opening up the pilots for foreign nationals who work in these three categories.
How many CSQ will be issued annually for each program?
The Minister de Immigration, de Ia Francisation et de I’Itegraion (MIFI) will issue Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) to up to 550 principal candidates, every year via each pilot. This number, however, does not include family members.
What is Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)?
Selected applicants moving to Quebec receive a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ) from the Quebec Immigration Authorities.
- This certificate is not a visa and cannot be used to enter Canada.
- This is legitimate for 2 years or un till IRCC has declared the application result.
Who is Eligible to apply?
Though each program has its own eligibility criteria but major are:
- You are at least 18 years old
- You have to prove that you have financial funds to support yourself and your family for a minimum of the first 3 months.
- Almost in all these programs, you will need to show your work experience in Quebec. If you are looking to participate in these programs, you have to obtain your work experience with legal status. You must have been paid and worked for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
The significant eligibility criteria for each categories is as follows.
1- Requirements for food processing workers
A new pilot program for food processing workers will active on 24 March. This program for food processing workers aims to help Quebec businesses to continue their overseas labor force and compete with other Canadian provinces. To participate in this program first you will need to obtain CSQ. To receive CSQ basically you will need:
- You are a high school or professional studies diploma holder from a program in Quebec
- You have an authorized full-time minimum 2 years of job experience in an eligible sector in Quebec during the three years before the application date
- you have to prove the skills of or French at level 7, according to the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult immigrants.
Eligible occupations include:
- People who are in Industrial butcher, poultry preparer, meat cutter and related works (NOC 9462)
- A worker in food and beverage processing (NOC 9617)
- Labour in seafood and fish processing (NOC 9618)
- Professional cleaner (NOC 6732)
- Industrial process worker and machine operator in food and beverage processing (NOC 9461)
- Agriculture worker (NOC 8431) but only the work heading “chicken picker”
- people in seafood and fish processing plants (NOC 9463)
2- Requirements for Health (orderlies)
MIFI developed the program to reduce the labor gap in the sector, which has grown due to pandemics. The pilot program for orderlies will be active on 31 March. This is designed for temporary foreign workers who have worked as orderlies in Quebec for a minimum of 12 months. The other requirements at the time of request submission, you must be proficient in spoken French with having worked as an orderly in Quebec. The pilot program for orderlies consists of two programs
- Work and
- Studies-work
i- In case you are applying for the Pilot program for orderlies through workstream
In this situation you will fulfill the following needs:
- you have a full-time,12 months study diploma related to work as an orderly, the program of your diploma corresponds to a Quebec diploma of vocational studies
- you have 2 years of work experience as an orderly during the 36 months preceding your application date. A minimum of 1 year of this period has been done in Quebec.
- This stream is for candidates working as orderlies, according to NOC National Occupation Classification (NOC 3413) Nurse aide, orderly, and patient service associate. If you have a health sector job outside Quebec, it should be related to basic personal care in order to be considered eligible for work experience.
ii- In case you are applying for the Pilot program for orderlies through the work-study stream
In this situation you will fulfill the following needs:
- You will need to complete your graduation with a Quebec diploma of vocational studies leading to the occupation of orderly during the 24 months prior to the day you submit your request
- You have a minimum of 1-year of work experience as an orderly in Quebec, acquiring during the 24 months preceding the date of request submission and after the completion date of your education.
- You will be required to have successfully completed the institutional and Home Care Assistance study program, and graduate with a secondary diploma of vocational studies
3- Requirements for Information Technology, Visual Effects, and Artificial Intelligence programs
This program will begin on 22 April 2021. This provides an opportunity to high skilled workers to make their future better in Quebec. It will also make it easier to retain international students pursuing special graduate degrees from Quebec universities.
This program consists of two categories Artificial intelligence and information technology and visual effects. In these both categories the profile: Francophone, and Francisization. Francophone profiles should have a French proficiency level of 7 on the Quebec scale for adult immigrants. If you are selected under the Francophone profile, you will automatically be enrolled in Quebec with the Immigration Integration Service. This step can help you learn French. Every 12 months, MIF select 275 Quebec graduates and temporary workers in the field of artificial intelligence, and 275 foreign workers in the field of information technology and visual effects. These figures do not include family members.
i- Requirements for Artificial Intelligence category
Foreign workers and Quebec graduates can apply for this category. If you are a foreign worker you will require a diploma that corresponds to a Quebec bachelor’s degree and one of the given below:
- 24 months of skilled work experience over the five year before your application; or
- A doctoral or master’s degree in the 1 year preceding your request.
- You will require a job offer; or
- Or you are working in the artificial intelligence sector
If you are a Quebec graduate you will require:
- Graduation from a university along with a higher professional studies (DESS) master’s, or
- Ph.D. during the 24 months preceding your request.
- DESS graduates will require six months of work experience in the 1year prior to the application date.
ii- Requirements for Information Technologies and Visual Effects category
Interested candidates will require a diploma that corresponds to a Quebec diploma of college studies (technical training), or a bachelor’s degree. You’re an employee in Quebec or obtained a job offer and have a worker in eligible full-time occupation for a minimum of 2 years during the 5 years preceding the submission of your application. You work must correspond to one of the given below occupation:
- Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC2171)
- Graphic designer and author, (NOC5241) but only if your work is in the field of visual effects
- Computer and Information Systems Manager (NOC0213)
- Software Engineer and Designer (NOC2173)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineer (NOC2133)
- Producer, director, choreographer, and related professions, (NOC2133) but only if your job is in the field of visual effects
- Computer Programmer and Interactive Media Developer (NOC 2174)
- Audio and Video Recording Technician, (NOC 5225) but only if your work is in the field of visual effects
- Computer Network Technician (NOC2281)
- Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologist and Technician (NOC2241).