Canada-Quebec Accord 2024 Funding Announcement: Federal Support for Quebec Settlement

TL;DR — On February 16, 2024, the Government of Canada announced funding to Quebec under the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration (1991). The funding supports the province's settlement and integration services for newcomers. The Accord gives Quebec significant autonomy in selecting and supporting immigrants — Quebec runs its own French-language immigration system in parallel with the federal system, and the federal government provides annual funding to support Quebec's settlement infrastructure.

What is the Canada-Quebec Accord

The Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration was signed in 1991 between the federal government and the Quebec government. Key features:

Quebec selects its own economic immigrants

Under the Accord, Quebec has the authority to:

Select skilled workers under its own programs (PRTQ via Arrima, PEQ).
Set its own selection criteria for economic immigrants.
Issue Certificats de sélection du Québec (CSQ) before the federal PR application.
Establish its own targets for permanent and temporary immigrants.

Federal government retains certain powers

The federal government still:

Sets admissibility standards (medical, security, criminal).
Issues final permanent residence decisions.
Manages refugee resettlement in collaboration with Quebec.
Administers federal economic programs for Quebec applicants who don't go through Quebec's program (rare).

Federal funding to Quebec

The federal government provides annual funding to Quebec for:

Settlement services (Francisation Québec, Accueil québécois).
Integration programs for newcomers.
Language training in French.
Employment services for newcomers.

The formula for funding is calculated based on factors including the number of newcomers Quebec receives.

What the 2024 announcement covered

The February 2024 announcement reaffirmed federal commitment to the Accord and continued the funding flow to Quebec. Key points:

Annual funding amount (varies year to year).
Acknowledgment of Quebec's role in supporting Francophone immigration.
Commitment to ongoing Accord implementation.
Recognition of Quebec's settlement infrastructure.

How Quebec immigration works

Step 1: Quebec selects via PRTQ or PEQ

Prospective immigrants apply to Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, Francisation et Intégration (MIFI):

PRTQ via Arrima: for foreign applicants (similar to federal Express Entry).
PEQ (Programme de l'expérience québécoise): for graduates and workers already in Quebec.

Step 2: Quebec issues CSQ

If approved, MIFI issues a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) — Quebec's selection certificate.

Step 3: Federal PR application

With CSQ, the candidate applies to IRCC for federal permanent residence:

IRCC verifies admissibility (medical, security, criminal).
IRCC processes the application.
IRCC issues the COPR.

Step 4: Land in Canada (Quebec)

The candidate lands in Canada via Quebec.

Settlement services in Quebec

Quebec's settlement system is separate from the federal Settlement Program (which serves the rest of Canada). Quebec's services include:

Francisation Québec

Free French-language classes for newcomers — full-time or part-time, in-person or online. Up to 33 weeks of full-time training (1,200+ hours), with allowance for eligible students.

Accueil québécois

Welcome and orientation services in French. Help with:

Finding housing.
Enrolling children in school.
Connecting to healthcare.
Understanding Quebec institutions.
Navigating government services.

Integration en emploi

Employment-focused services:

Resume help.
Mock interviews.
Bridge programs for foreign professionals.
Mentorship.
Connections to Quebec employers.

Reconnaissance des compétences

Recognition of foreign credentials through:

Évaluation comparative des études (MIFI's own ECA, distinct from federal WES/ICAS).
Provincial professional orders (medicine, law, engineering, accounting, etc.).

Quebec's targets and challenges

Quebec sets its own immigration targets — typically much lower than the rest of Canada in proportion to population. Recent targets:

2024: ~50,000 economic admissions.
2025: similar to 2024 but with adjusted balance.
2026: under review by the provincial government.

The Quebec government has expressed concern about the federal targets for the rest of Canada rising while Quebec's stay relatively flat — affecting the demographic balance of French-language Canada.

Linguistic requirements

Quebec values French ability heavily:

PEQ (since 2024): B2 oral in French (NCLC 7 oral equivalent).
PRTQ via Arrima: French scoring is dominant in the selection grid.
Citizenship: same federal requirement (CLB 4 in English OR French).

Special programs

Suspended programs (under review)

Programme des entrepreneurs du Québec: suspended in 2024 pending redesign.
Programme des investisseurs du Québec: also affected.

Active programs

PRTQ via Arrima.
PEQ: Diplôme du Québec and Travailleur volets.
Refugee resettlement: Quebec receives a share of GAR and PSR refugees with federal coordination.
Permanent residency for vulnerable populations: Haitian, Ukrainian, and other crisis-affected populations.

Recent developments

Loi 96 (2022)

Quebec's Loi 96 strengthened French as the language of work, education, and government services. Implications for newcomers:

6-month period to communicate with the Quebec administration in French (with exceptions for emergencies).
Stricter French signage requirements.
Limits on access to English-language schools.
Settlement services shift even more toward French-language acquisition.

2024 changes to PEQ

French language requirement raised to B2 oral for both Diplôme and Travailleur volets.
Tightened residency requirements during studies for Diplôme volet.
Increased oversight on private non-subsidized colleges.

Implications for prospective immigrants to Quebec

Latinoamericans and others considering Quebec should:

Build French ability to B2 at minimum (TEF Canada, TCF Canada, TEFAQ, TCFQ, DELF B2).
Verify program availability — entrepreneur and investor programs are suspended.
Plan for the dual-step process: CSQ + federal PR.
Consider Francisation Québec for French acquisition (free).
Choose a region: Montreal (cosmopolitan), Quebec City (more francophone), regions (smaller communities).
Settle outside Quebec if French isn't a priority — federal Express Entry and PNPs are alternatives.

Key facts at a glance

Accord: Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration (1991).
Quebec selection: PRTQ (foreign), PEQ (in Quebec).
Selection certificate: CSQ (Certificat de sélection du Québec).
Federal step: PR application to IRCC.
Federal funding: annual to support Quebec settlement.
Settlement services in Quebec: Francisation Québec, Accueil québécois.
Language requirement: French dominant (B2 oral for PEQ).
2024 targets: ~50,000 economic admissions.
Loi 96: 6 months to use French with the administration.
Suspended: entrepreneur and investor programs.
Active: PRTQ, PEQ, refugee resettlement.

Source attribution

This article rewrites public information published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/02/government-of-canada-announces-funding-as-part-of-the-canadaquebec-accord.html. The original Government of Canada content is licensed under the Open Government Licence — Canada.

Verify on canada.ca and Quebec.ca

Quebec immigration rules and funding amounts change. Verify on canada.ca/quebec-immigration and quebec.ca/immigration.

IRCC.com is an independent news and information aggregator. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada or the Government of Quebec and do not provide immigration services or advice. For personalized help, contact a CICC-licensed RCIC or a Canadian or Quebec immigration lawyer.

IRCC.com is independent and not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Verify all details on canada.ca/immigration.