Immigrants and Officials Slam Government for PEQ Abolition ‘Betrayal’

Protests erupted across multiple cities in Quebec on Saturday, with demonstrators expressing their outrage over the abolition of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). This change has left many immigrants uncertain about their future in the province.

Demonstrations Across Quebec

Several hundred individuals gathered at 2 PM in front of the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration (MIFI) in Montreal. Following the rally, they marched along Boulevard Saint-Laurent. Similar gatherings took place in Quebec City, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Chicoutimi in Saguenay, Gatineau, and Rimouski.

Personal Stories of Uncertainty

• Mariia Kolosova, a Ukrainian immigrant, attended her seventh protest advocating for the PEQ’s reinstatement. Arriving in 2023, she met all the requirements to apply for the program but faced an uncertain future after 2028.
• Mamadou Saïdou Bah, a 27-year-old from Guinea, recently completed his accounting studies. Now awaiting a work permit, he expressed concerns about being forced to return to Guinea, feeling it would be a betrayal by Quebec.
• Sauvane Petaut, a French graphic animator, highlighted challenges after finishing the Working Holiday Program (PVT). He feels that changing cities under the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) would not be a viable solution.

Government Response

This week, Jean-François Roberge, the Minister of Immigration, Francisation, and Integration, pledged to accommodate 6,300 health network employees impacted by the PEQ’s termination. However, this commitment has been criticized by opposition leaders as insufficient.

During the protest, André Albert Morin, a Liberal Member of the National Assembly, questioned the government’s transparency. “Can we tell the truth to Quebecers?” he asked in reference to misleading statements from the minister regarding the lack of a clause for acquired rights.

Political Stakes

Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, a deputy from Quebec Solidaire, stressed the importance of the issue, suggesting the government must either grant the acquired rights clause or face political repercussions in the upcoming elections.

The controversy surrounding the PEQ abolition has ignited heated discussions among citizens and politicians alike, as many view the government’s decision as a significant betrayal of the immigrant community.