Quebec Premier François Legault has called a press conference to make an “important announcement concerning temporary immigration in Montreal” on Tuesday morning.
Legault is scheduled to address the media at 10 a.m. alongside Immigration Minister Christine Fréchette.
The Quebec government is expected to freeze it’s temporary foreign workers program (TFWP) at the beginning of September for six months. This change will effect new and renewal applications under the TFWP, and low wage jobs under $27 per hour in the Montreal area.
For the past few months, the Quebec government has been calling for a “significant and rapid” reduction in the number of temporary immigrants in the province, arguing that the province has exceeded its capacity to receive them.
According to the CAQ, Quebec is a welcoming province for newcomers, but the rapid increase in the number of temporary immigrants has added pressure on public services including education and health care.
This issue has led to a tug-of-war between Quebec and Ottawa, who disagree on the exact figures, among other things.
In the second quarter of 2024, Statistics Canada estimated that there were 597,140 non-permanent residents in Quebec, up 42 per cent year-on-year.
Legault’s announcement on Tuesday should specifically concern the Montreal region.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews