A Lively Autumn in Immigration: Major Issues for the Manufacturing Sector

Debates surrounding federal and provincial consultations on immigration planning will be front and centre this autumn, as the draft regulation regarding Québec’s new Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ) is set to provide a whole new look to current selection programs. Some of the measures put forward may have a particular impact on the manufacturing sector in Québec. What are these impacts?

Québec’s manufacturing sector has been especially hard hit by labour shortages. Given that there are more than 23,000 jobs to be filled, immigration has become one of the crucial solutions for filling these vacancies and enabling the manufacturing industry to continue its growth and contribution to Québec’s economy. Immigration planning and target immigration levels will play an important role in making Québec an attractive destination for foreign workers and expanding the available workforce to meet business needs. Among the scenarios set forth by the provincial government, the only one that would generate such growth is one that would gradually increase targets so as to reach 60,000 admissions by 2027. In addition, graduates of French-language study programs would be admitted on an ongoing basis, without limitation. As a result, admissions may well exceed the target of 60,000 by several thousand new arrivals. If this measure is to make a significant impact on the manufacturing industry, however, it will be necessary to review eligible study programs and include certain training programs that call for less than the current requirement of 1,800 hours of training. Training programs, such as the Attestation of College Studies (ACS) in automation, instrumentation, and robotics, certain technical programs in electrical engineering, and a number of other courses to fill key positions, must be added.

In addition to this target increase, it is important to review the agreement with the federal government so as to expedite the processing of applications for permanent residency in Québec. While delays are due both to the threshold set by Québec and the processing of applications at the federal level, greater cooperation is needed to shorten processing times and make Québec more competitive vis-à-vis other provinces, which benefit from considerably shorter processing times. In some cases, the difference can be nearly two years.

Along with quantitative measures, the draft regulation concerning the PSTQ will have an impact on candidate selection and, therefore, on the ability to meet labour needs. The draft regulations contain provisions requiring advanced proficiency in French on the part of almost all candidates and their spouses. While the objective of francization is recognized and shared by the various economic players, it is important, for the manufacturing sector in particular, that the level of French proficiency required be tailored to the position to be filled. It is also crucial that the francization project be shared by the government and business. Government programs should, for instance, include the possibility of providing French-language training for applicants and their family members prior to their arrival in Québec.

In its current form, the PSTQ also includes an education requirement for certain foreign workers who wish to qualify for permanent residency. In particular, for TEER 4 and 5 positions, secondary or vocational training would be required, thereby exceeding the criteria applied under the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. In essence, a worker would be qualified to occupy a position temporarily for two years, but would not qualify for continued occupancy of the same position on a permanent basis. This incongruity may have a considerable impact on the possibility of retaining temporary foreign workers who are already present and settled in Québec.

Finally, because of the limits in numbers and delays associated with permanent residency in Québec, it is clear that the use of the TFW Program will remain a crucial tool in addressing the labour shortage in the manufacturing sector. Timeframes for the Program are also a key issue. One of the proposals presented to the government is to allow Québec employers to take advantage of the possibility of submitting Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) applications without the temporary foreign workers already being identified. This measure would make it possible to start the process concurrently with international recruitment, thereby reducing the time required for this process by several weeks, or even a few months. All provinces save Québec have access to this option – yet it is crucial that Québec companies be just as agile and efficient in their efforts to meet market needs.

In the current demographic and economic situation, immigration is one of the leading solutions for the manufacturing sector. Information is a vital tool. Companies need to understand the debate and take an active part in it. Be sure to be part of this autumn’s lively discussions!