Political heat over Québec’s restrictive immigration reforms is rising. On 12 February 2026, the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) announced an unprecedented joint press conference bringing together more than 30 stakeholders—including major labour federations, chambers of commerce, student unions and farm groups—to call for "urgent measures" on immigration.(journaldequebec.com)
The coalition argues that recent changes—most notably the phase-out of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) and tighter French-language rules—are worsening labour shortages across every region. Municipal leaders say construction projects are stalling for lack of skilled tradespeople, while agri-food producers cite unharvested crops due to limited access to seasonal workers.
The timing is politically sensitive: Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) is in the midst of a leadership race that has exposed internal rifts over immigration targets. The UMQ insists the province cannot meet its economic ambitions if annual newcomer admissions remain capped at 50,000—well below the federal per-capita average.
![Thirty Québec organisations unite to demand urgent immigration measures from CAQ government]()
Employers and individuals scrambling to understand the shifting eligibility criteria can tap external expertise: VisaHQ provides streamlined support for Canadian work permits, study visas and other entry documents, guiding applicants through form completion, document collection and real-time status tracking (https://www.visahq.com/canada/). This resource can lighten administrative burdens while Québec’s rules remain in flux.
Business associations are expected to demand a fast-track provincial nominee stream for critical occupations, automatic open work permits for graduates outside Montréal and a grandfather clause for existing PEQ candidates. The press conference, scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on 13 February at Québec City’s Voltigeurs Armoury, will increase pressure on Québec’s next premier to strike a deal with Ottawa allowing higher quotas or bespoke pilot programs.
Mobility professionals with Québec operations should monitor the outcome closely. Any policy shift could alter employer compliance rules, language requirements and processing times for intra-company transfers into the province.
The coalition argues that recent changes—most notably the phase-out of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ) and tighter French-language rules—are worsening labour shortages across every region. Municipal leaders say construction projects are stalling for lack of skilled tradespeople, while agri-food producers cite unharvested crops due to limited access to seasonal workers.
The timing is politically sensitive: Premier François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) is in the midst of a leadership race that has exposed internal rifts over immigration targets. The UMQ insists the province cannot meet its economic ambitions if annual newcomer admissions remain capped at 50,000—well below the federal per-capita average.
Employers and individuals scrambling to understand the shifting eligibility criteria can tap external expertise: VisaHQ provides streamlined support for Canadian work permits, study visas and other entry documents, guiding applicants through form completion, document collection and real-time status tracking (https://www.visahq.com/canada/). This resource can lighten administrative burdens while Québec’s rules remain in flux.
Business associations are expected to demand a fast-track provincial nominee stream for critical occupations, automatic open work permits for graduates outside Montréal and a grandfather clause for existing PEQ candidates. The press conference, scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on 13 February at Québec City’s Voltigeurs Armoury, will increase pressure on Québec’s next premier to strike a deal with Ottawa allowing higher quotas or bespoke pilot programs.
Mobility professionals with Québec operations should monitor the outcome closely. Any policy shift could alter employer compliance rules, language requirements and processing times for intra-company transfers into the province.
