REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC AND REFUGEE SETTLEMENT National Resettlement Assistance Program Conference Vancouver, February 2007

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Background and challenges Government regionalization initiatives originally focused on refugee class immigrants.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Refugee reception in Québec

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Background and challenges A strategy more specifically targeting skilled workers and business people has been implemented since Since 1994, various financial assistance programs have helped fund projects to attract and settle immigrants in the regions.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Background and challenges In Quebec, 85% of persons born abroad live in the Greater Montreal area. (1) A number of regions are experiencing labour shortages and demographic decline and wish to increase the role of immigration in their development strategies. (1) :The Greater Montreal area includes the territories of the regional conferences of the elected representatives (conférences régionales des élus - CRÉ) of Montreal, Laval and Longueuil, 2001 Census, Statistics Canada, compiled by MICC.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Background and challenges The government would like to see a more balanced distribution of immigrants across the regions, taking into account each region’s host capacity and the freedom of movement of individuals in order to: contribute to the economic development and social, economic, cultural and demographic vitality of the regions; limit the sociocultural gap between Montreal and the regions; promote the integration of immigrants in the host society.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Some figures

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Government guidelines for regional development In 2004, extensive consultations on the major challenges for the development of Quebec concluded with the Forum des générations. Immigration is seen as a key factor in countering demographic decline and contributing to the cultural, social and economic development of the regions. Forum participants agreed to move quickly to reach agreements with the municipalities and the CRÉs to promote the long-term settlement of immigrants in the regions.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC MICC partnerships Agreements with CRÉs MICC works in partnership with CRÉs, in accordance with government guidelines positioning them as key players in regional development. MICC regional directorates play a leadership role and are responsible for developing agreements with CRÉs.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC MICC partnerships Immigration-Quebec and its regional directorates are active in the following regions: – Montérégie – Outaouais, Abitibi-Témiscamingue and Northern Quebec – Estrie, Mauricie and Central Quebec – Quebec City region and Eastern Quebec – Laval, Laurentians, Lanaudière – Montreal (4 points of service) Establishment of additional service centres (March 2005) : – Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, St. Jérôme and Rouyn-Noranda.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC MICC partnerships These agreements are intended to: – promote the regions among immigrants; – attract immigrant clientele; – support job market access and the development of immigrant employability; – foster intercultural exchange. As well as being adaptable and flexible, these partnerships are based on regional decision making as concerns the projects covered by the agreements and their financing.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC MICC partnerships Agreements with CRÉs – Estrie (October 2005) – Montreal (October 2005) – Chaudière-Appalaches (January 2006) – Laval CRÉ (and City) (March 2006) – Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean (March 2006) – Longueuil (April 2006) – Mauricie (April 2006) – Eastern Montérégie (August 2006) – Bas-Saint-Laurent (October 2006) – Quebec City area (November 2006)

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Assistance programs and partner organizations Regional integration program ((Programme régional d’intégration - PRI) – To enhance the settlement and retention of immigrants outside the Greater Montreal area by improving reception, settlement and integration conditions. – To develop recognition of the economic, social and cultural contributions of immigrants among the general public. One of the program’s components targets community organizations. In , MICC contributed financially to 26 projects implemented by these organizations (in addition to the agreements with CRÉs and the municipalities).

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Assistance programs and partner organizations Other programs Support program for civic and intercultural relations (Programme d’appui aux relations civiques et interculturelles - PARCI): This program is intended to ensure the full participation of the cultural communities in the development of Quebec. Exercise of citizenship: This program supports the cultural communities to promote their full participation in Quebec society and encourage openness to pluralism throughout Quebec.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC MICC partnerships Agreements with the municipalities - Promote the municipality among immigrants and provide relevant information - Develop initiatives to attract immigrant clientele - Support job market access and employability development - Coaching and support to businesses - Support intercultural exchanges - Promote access to employment equity

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC MICC partnerships Agreements with the following six municipalities have been renewed or signed since April 2003: – Gatineau – Quebec – Sherbrooke – Montreal – Laval (MICC-CRÉ-City three-year agreement) – Rawdon

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Refugee reception in Quebec An interdepartmental committee on the reception and settlement of government-assisted refugees was set up in January 2006 to analyse the problems related to the settlement of refugees and recommand solutions. At the request of service providers working with refugees, discussions on refugee health were held in May 2006.

REGIONAL IMMIGRATION IN QUEBEC Conclusion The growing numbers of immigrants settling in the regions is very encouraging but still insufficient. The Quebec government plans to continue working with all service providers, regional and municipal stakeholders in order to promote the long-term settlement of immigrants in the regions.

Thank you for your attention