Lohas Montreal, Canada reported on December 21: Just earlier today, the Quebec Immigration Minister dropped a "blockbuster":
Quebec will suspend the acceptance of immigrant entrepreneurs who cannot speak French in 2023, and the submission of such applications will be closed starting next week on December 28th!
According to a report released by CTV News, Quebec’s Minister of Immigration, French Language and Integration, Christine Fréchette, announced on Wednesday, December 21, that one week later she would suspend the acceptance of applications from non-French-speaking candidates in Category 1 of the Entrepreneur Program and the Self-Employed Program.
In other words, this group of non-French-speaking overseas businessmen who are considering obtaining Quebec status through the business immigration project will have to readjust their immigration plans next year.
In 2023, only overseas entrepreneurs whose native language is French or who prove that they have sufficient French language skills can apply to immigrate to Quebec. Quebec will not impose a cap on these applications.
Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette claimed that this is "the first step to strengthen the absorption of French speakers and become permanent immigrants in Quebec."
"We are taking actions to ensure the long-term continuation of the French language in the province, while also promoting the better integration of immigrants into local society."
In addition, the Legault government also plans to attract various types of French-speaking entrepreneurs. And the immigration projects of operators will be reviewed to ensure that these entrepreneurial talents are more in line with the economic needs of the province.
The Quebec entrepreneur’s Category 2 immigration program applications that were previously suspended will continue to be suspended.
This is really a very important signal for Quebec immigration applicants.
Starting before this year’s provincial election, Quebec’s former Immigration Minister Jean Boulet (that is, the one who came to Montreal without speaking French or looking for a job) has made it clear that the next focus of Quebec’s immigration recruitment will be from encouraging immigrants to learn French to directly recruiting candidates who already have French ability or French native speakers.
In November this year, the provincial governor of Quebec once again stated that Quebec can indeed consider adjusting the immigration recruitment threshold, but the premise is that all these new quotas must be given to French-speaking immigrants.
At that time, many people in the industry had already expressed concerns about this. Although there is currently no sign that the increase in the number of French-speaking immigrants will squeeze out other types of immigrants, the Quebec government’s biased attitude is too obvious, and other immigration projects will surely be squeezed in the long run. Now it’s really a prophecy.
The indefinite suspension of the immigration program for non-French-speaking overseas entrepreneurs is likely just the beginning. With the continuous strengthening of Quebec’s French language, no one can say to what extent the French language threshold for immigrants will be raised in the future.
The editor here can only remind everyone who has prepared the materials. Non-French applicants who want to submit an entrepreneur immigration application must seize the last 7 days!
