Regions Get Say in Immigration Planning

Summary#

This bill would create regional immigration tables across Québec and give municipalities a formal voice in immigration planning. Its goal is to match newcomers with regional job needs and support, and to strengthen settlement outside major cities.

Key changes and impacts:

• Creates an immigration table for each administrative region, including the regional minister, county wardens, mayors, and a representative from each Indigenous nation or community in the region.
• Each table must produce a public regional immigration plan with goals, local labor needs, capacity to welcome newcomers, targets, and integration strategies, and review it every five years.
• The Minister must consider these regional plans when setting Québec’s immigration planning and consult the tables before making rules that affect municipalities.
• Immigration numbers must be distributed by administrative region (not only at the provincial level).
• Montréal and Québec City metropolitan communities, and all local municipalities, get clear authority to run and fund newcomer welcome and integration services, in line with their regional plan.
• Changes to Québec’s immigration law or rules will not apply to people already in Québec unless they choose to use the new rules; this protection applies retroactively since November 18, 2025.

What it means for you#

• Immigrants already in Québec

  • New law or rule changes will not apply to you unless you opt in. This offers predictability if policies shift.
  • This protection has been in effect since November 18, 2025.

• People considering moving to Québec

  • The province will plan immigration by region, guided by local job needs and capacity to welcome. This may shape where supports and recruitment efforts focus.
  • You may find more region-specific programs and services run by cities and regional bodies.

• Municipalities and regional bodies (MRCs, equivalent territories)

  • You gain a formal seat at a regional immigration table to advise the Minister.
  • You can set up, regulate, and fund welcome and integration services, and create support programs for immigrants that align with your regional plan.
  • Plans must be reviewed every five years and can be updated sooner if needed.

• Montréal and Québec metropolitan communities

  • You can establish programs to help immigrants and partner with local service groups, in line with your region’s plan.

• Employers and local partners

  • Regional plans will list local labor needs and strategies. Tables can propose agreements with employers and other partners to attract and integrate workers.

• Indigenous nations and communities

  • Each region’s table includes a representative from every Indigenous nation or community in that region.

• General public

  • Regional immigration plans will be published online, so you can see goals, targets, and strategies for your area.
  • Federal immigration officials will receive the regional plans, helping align programs with local realities.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Gives regions and municipalities a real voice in immigration decisions, not just consultation after the fact.
• Helps match newcomers to local job openings and services, supporting regional economies and addressing labor shortages.
• Improves integration by letting cities and regional bodies design programs that fit local needs.
• Brings more transparency: regional plans and targets will be public and updated on a regular cycle.
• Protects immigrants already in Québec from sudden rule changes, which supports stability and fairness.

Opponents' View#

• Adds layers of consultation that could slow decisions and make the system more complex.
• May create uneven services and support across regions, depending on local capacity and priorities.
• Requiring regional distribution of immigration numbers could reduce flexibility to respond quickly to changing needs province‑wide.
• Could shift new costs and responsibilities to municipalities and regional bodies without clear new funding.
• Risk of confusion or conflicting priorities between regional plans, provincial policies, and federal programs.