Hundreds of temporary foreign workers, students and local politicians marched in Montreal, Quebec City and Sherbrooke overnight after the provincial government confirmed it is abolishing the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ). The PEQ has, for more than a decade, offered a fast-track to permanent residence for foreign graduates and skilled workers with French proficiency. (newsminimalist.com)
Demonstrators argue the replacement points-based system makes it harder for long-standing temporary residents to qualify, leaving thousands in limbo just months before their PEQ-linked work or study permits expire. Mayors of smaller regions say the change will deter newcomers who offset ageing demographics and labour shortages outside Montreal. (newsminimalist.com)
![Province-Wide Protests Erupt as Quebec Scraps Popular PEQ Fast-Track to Permanent Residency]()
For those caught in the shuffle, outside expertise can be invaluable. VisaHQ, an online visa and immigration advisory service, helps applicants understand shifting Canadian requirements, compare provincial and federal pathways, and prepare compliant submissions. Anyone needing to pivot quickly from PEQ to another stream can explore tailored guidance at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Quebec’s immigration ministry counters that the new model better matches economic needs and reinforces French-language requirements across all categories. However, immigration lawyers warn of a processing "cliff": applicants who miss the transition window may have to start from scratch under federal streams, disrupting employer succession planning and creating additional pressure on IRCC inventories.
For employers, the immediate concern is retention. HR teams are being urged to audit the status of foreign staff who planned to file under PEQ and explore alternatives such as the federal Express Entry Francophone Stream or the upcoming Rural and Northern Pilot expansion. The provincial government says transitional measures will be announced "within weeks," but details remain sparse, fuelling calls for a temporary moratorium on removals of affected workers.
Demonstrators argue the replacement points-based system makes it harder for long-standing temporary residents to qualify, leaving thousands in limbo just months before their PEQ-linked work or study permits expire. Mayors of smaller regions say the change will deter newcomers who offset ageing demographics and labour shortages outside Montreal. (newsminimalist.com)
For those caught in the shuffle, outside expertise can be invaluable. VisaHQ, an online visa and immigration advisory service, helps applicants understand shifting Canadian requirements, compare provincial and federal pathways, and prepare compliant submissions. Anyone needing to pivot quickly from PEQ to another stream can explore tailored guidance at https://www.visahq.com/canada/
Quebec’s immigration ministry counters that the new model better matches economic needs and reinforces French-language requirements across all categories. However, immigration lawyers warn of a processing "cliff": applicants who miss the transition window may have to start from scratch under federal streams, disrupting employer succession planning and creating additional pressure on IRCC inventories.
For employers, the immediate concern is retention. HR teams are being urged to audit the status of foreign staff who planned to file under PEQ and explore alternatives such as the federal Express Entry Francophone Stream or the upcoming Rural and Northern Pilot expansion. The provincial government says transitional measures will be announced "within weeks," but details remain sparse, fuelling calls for a temporary moratorium on removals of affected workers.
