Good news comes out as two new Quebec permanent immigration pilot programs are now open for applications. The newly opened programs are for orderlies and food processing workers. The province is now receiving applications from interested applicants. Quebec launched two permanent immigration pilot programs in March 2021.
Quebec initially announced three following programs in March, 2021:
- Food processing
- Health (orderlies)
- Information technology, visual effects, and artificial intelligence (start date 22 April 2021)
The third program of Information technology, visual effects, and artificial intelligence will start date 22 April 2021. This Program will be for:
- The artificial intelligence
- Information technology and
- Visual effects
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 (you can read here more details).
Quebec will issue a CSQ Quebec Selection Certificate to 1650 principal applicants plus their dependents/family members every year via the 3 pilot programs. The important thing is that your job should be ineligible sectors to be selected.COVID-19 produced a skill shortage in the province. The Quebec’s government is looking to address the current and future skill shortage by its three permanent immigration pilot programs.
One by one further details about two open programs are as follows:
Food processing workers
The food processing workers pilot program provides a track to permanent immigration for temporary international workers who carry eligible works in the food processing categories. This program was officially announced on 24 March 2021. What does a food processing worker do? Food processing workers usually work on a high-speed production line, with a conveyor belt, and via different stages, for example, mixing, cooking, and packing. They can work with frozen, canned, cooked, dried, or pasteurized products.
Permanent immigration pilot program for food processing workers
Permanent immigration pilot program for food processing workers is for international workers who:
- Have intermediate knowledge of French
- Now working in Quebec province in eligible occupations in the food processing sector
For food processing workers Quebec has opened the application window on 24 March which will continue till Oct 31, 2021. If you are thinking of participating in this program, you have to fulfill certain requirements. For this you must:
- Have completed the high school diploma or professional studies diploma from a program in Quebec
- Have a minimum of 2 years of work experience full-time job in an eligible sector during the 3 years before submission of your application
- Prove the knowledge of oral French at level 7, according to the Quebec scale of French proficiency levels for adult incomers
Eligible occupations include:
- Industrial butcher, meat cutter, poultry preparer, and related workers (NOC 9462)
- Laborer in food and beverage processing (NOC 9617)
- Laborer in fish and seafood processing (NOC 9618)
- Specialized cleaner (NOC 6732)
- Machine and industrial process operator in food and beverage processing (NOC 9461)
- Agricultural worker, (NOC 8431) but only the job title chicken picker
- Worker in fish and seafood processing plants (NOC 9463)
Orderlies workers
Quebec’s Minister of Immigration, Nadine Girault, declared the official opening of the permanent Immigration Pilot program for orderlies on Wednesday 31 March 2021. The time of the pilot program is 5 years, with a selection of up to 550 principal applicants who work as orderlies annually. One of the primary purposes of the pilot program is to assist Quebec province to address the critical shortage of healthcare workers. The application intake period for the pilot program started on March 31 and will continue till October 31, 2021. Orderlies workers are trained healthcare professionals who work with all types of patients, including the elderly and the disabled, and provide care and relief. A systematic help with the patient’s daily life activities such as dressing and bathing, and moving patients from one place to another.
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Orderlies
Permanent Immigration Pilot Program for Orderlies aimed at temporary international workers who are doing the job as orderlies, nurses, and patient service associates NOC National Occupations Classification code 3413) in Quebec and have sufficient command of French-speaking. This pilot project consists of 2 categories:
- Workstream
- Work-study stream
Workstream
To participate in this stream you will need to fulfill the following requirements: You have:
- A diploma relevant to the category of an orderly which you got following a 1year full-time study course that corresponds to a Quebec diploma of vocational studies and
- a minimum of 2 years experience as an orderly during the 3 years preceding your application date minimum of 1 year Work experience in the health profession related to primary personal care outside Quebec
- and minimum 1 year as an orderly in Quebec during the 3 years prior to submitting your application.
Work-study stream
To participate in this stream you will need to fulfill the following requirements. You have:
- Completed your graduation with a Quebec diploma of vocational studies leading to the occupation of orderly in 2 years prior to submitting your application and
- Minimum of 1year job as an orderly in Quebec obtained in 2 years before the submission of your request, and after the completion date of your study course.
- Completed the Institutional and Home Care Assistance study course, and graduated with a secondary diploma of vocational studies.
This year (2021) admission goals in Quebec
The immigration ministry has set new goals for immigration in 2021 that are between 44500 to 47500. This could well be called a slight more as compared with the 2020 policy when the immigration ministry of Quebec decided to release new 24,700 selection certificates and 44,500 permanent residency permits (a press release on Wednesday 31 October).
Targets for the 2021 Quebec Selection Certificate
By 2021, Quebec has set a range of between 27,500 and 29,300 new admissions for its economic immigration programs, including a maximum of 24,200 skilled workers. The goals of the selection certificate are as follows:
- Overseas Selected Refugees: 4,400 to 4,700
- Economic immigrants: 400 to 600
- Business immigrants: 1,500 to 2,300
- Skilled workers: 19,400 to 22,400
- Other immigrants 800 to 12,00
What is Quebec’s Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
The program is developed by the Government of Quebec and the Federal Government of Canada. The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) enables highly educated and trained foreign nationals to move to Quebec as skilled workers.
Candidates interested in the skilled worker program of Quebeck must demonstrate that they meet the minimum required score on the QSW points assessment grid. In case if you have sufficient QSW points, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) using the Arrima online portal to be considered for the program. The government of Quebec will then invite some candidates to submit a complete application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate). Upon receiving a CSQ, an applicant becomes eligible to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence.
What is Arrima Portal?
The Arrima platform allows for a better alignment between immigration and the needs of Québec’s labor market. Its use is completely free. Individuals who wish to immigrate permanently or temporarily under one of the programs listed below can use it:
- Regular Skilled Worker Program
- International Student Program (document transmission only)
- Québec Experience Program
For the skilled worker program, candidates can submit an expression of interest if they meet the minimum score under the points grid. Creation of an Arrima profile is done in two steps:
- You must first validate your email address, choose a password, and confirm your registration in the secure authentication system.
- The user must then approve the Arrima account’s terms of use, fill in the Identity and Contact information sections before receiving confirmation that the account has been created.
The immigration ministry has set new goals for immigration in 2021 that is between 44500 to 47500. This could well be called a slight more as compared with of 2020 policy when the immigration ministry of Quebec decided to release new 24,700 selection certificates and 44,500 permanent residency permits (a press release on Wednesday 31 October 2020).