IRCC’s bilateral relationship with Quebec is defined by the 1991 Canada-Quebec Accord (the Accord), and is guided by the principle that immigration should support the preservation of Quebec’s demographic weight in Canada and its distinct identity.
Key Messages
The objectives of the Accord are to preserve Quebec’s demographic weight within Canada and support the integration of immigrants in the province, while respecting its distinct identity.
The Accord is designed to ensure collaboration between both governments throughout the immigration process, in all immigration categories.
Supplementary Information
Quebec selects economic immigrants and resettled refugees outside of Canada, and individuals applying for permanent residence in Canada under humanitarian and compassionate considerations or a temporary public policy. The federal government selects permanent residents in the family class and protected persons. Both governments jointly administer the International Student Program and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The federal government considers Quebec’s advice on the number of immigrants that it wishes to receive.
The federal government remains responsible for determining the admissibility (i.e., health, security, and criminality) of all immigrants to Quebec and for issuing permanent resident visas.
The Quebec government is responsible for the administration, design and delivery of settlement and integration services for permanent residents including pre-arrival, information and orientation, French language training, refugee resettlement services, labour market orientation, foreign credential recognition and support services.
Quebec is the only province that receives an annual grant (compensation) from the federal government. The 2022-2023 Supplementary Estimates (C) last instalment payment for the Canada-Quebec Accord was $29.7M. The total funding included in the 2023-2024 Main Estimates for the grant to Quebec is $726.7M.
