Quebec Employers Face Workforce Crisis as Immigration Rules Shift
Across Quebec's industrial sectors and urban centers, a growing alarm is sounding as businesses confront the potential loss of foreign workers following significant changes to immigration programs. The termination of key pathways to permanent residency has left numerous employers scrambling to maintain their workforce while navigating new, more restrictive regulations.
Program Changes Create Uncertainty for Workers and Businesses
The Canadian government implemented stricter measures for the temporary foreign worker program in 2024, responding to population pressures that strained housing markets and raised concerns about wage suppression and fraudulent practices. Notably, the cap on low-wage positions—defined in Quebec as those paying less than $34.62 per hour—was reduced from 20 percent to just 10 percent of a company's workforce.
Quebec further intensified these changes by phasing out the Programme de l'Expérience Québécoise last year, a move designed to control the influx of newcomers. This program had previously allowed workers with two years of provincial experience and French language proficiency to obtain permanent residence. It has now been replaced by a more restrictive points-based system, with additional moratoriums on certain low-wage applications in Montreal and Laval until the end of 2026.
Workers in Limbo as Pathways Close
Many individuals, particularly those arriving from France, came to Quebec with expectations of securing permanent status after completing two years in the province. Those who missed application deadlines now find themselves searching for alternatives and joining their employers in calling for grandfather clauses to protect their status.
"There is a fear that this will hinder our growth here," stated Olivier Marcil, a public affairs executive with Alstom's Canadian division. The train manufacturer faces particular challenges, with nearly one hundred Quebec-based workers confronting uncertain futures as their permits expire throughout this year.
"It creates uncertainty," Marcil added, emphasizing that many workers lack guarantees about federal permit renewals or Quebec's acceptance of their applications. "What we don't want are abrupt changes that don't give us a chance to stabilize the workforce we need to fulfill our contracts."
The timing is especially critical for Alstom, which recently secured a $2.3 billion contract to manufacture new Toronto subway trains, with substantial production scheduled for their La Pocatière, Quebec facility.
Business Community Voices Concerns
Despite mounting pressure from businesses, industry lobby groups, and municipal leaders from Montreal, Quebec City, and Laval, the Quebec government has maintained its position on the immigration changes. Restaurant owners have emerged as particularly vocal critics in recent months, as many of their employees face potential departure from the province.
In a formal statement, the office of Quebec's immigration minister explained that the PEQ program "did not allow for the management of the volume of applications received; it was necessary to freeze the program in order to comply with our immigration thresholds." The statement noted that workers can still apply through the new system, though many find the process more challenging.
Navigating Complex New Systems
Labor lawyer Xavier Hamel of Langlois Lawyers observes that numerous companies are seeking assistance to understand the new regulatory environment. "We are in a situation where the candidate submits an application, and crosses his fingers," Hamel noted, describing how the changes "leave many people in limbo."
Quebec has redirected responsibility toward the federal government, criticizing policies that restrict permit renewals. Provincial officials argue these federal decisions are "severely affecting" Quebec's economy and public service capabilities.
The federal Department of Employment and Social Development maintains that the temporary foreign worker program represents a "last-resort measure used to address critical, short-term labor market shortages when qualified Canadians or permanent residents are not available."
As Quebec businesses continue adapting to these immigration shifts, the broader economic implications remain uncertain, with workforce stability emerging as a critical concern across multiple industries.
