Why does the province of Quebec have its own immigration policy?

Updated in August 2026. The constitutional arrangement explained in this post, the Canada-Québec accord that gives the province autonomy over the selection of economic immigrants, remains the same. What has changed is how Quebec uses this autonomy: the 2026-2029 multi-year immigration plan reduced admission levels, the old skilled worker stream was replaced by the PRTQ (Programme régulier des travailleurs qualifiés), and the PEQ was reactivated for two years, now requiring French proficiency for most candidates, without the old exemption for work experience. In other words: the logic that this text explains has become even more visible in practice.

Quebec, a province with a mind of its own

With its own set of selection criteria, distinct programs, and the ability to select its skilled workers from abroad, the province of Quebec currently holds more power than any other province in terms of its ability to influence its immigration.

In 1995, the Francophone province almost voted to become an independent state within Canada, with a modest 0.58% of votes being the decisive force for remaining in the Canadian Dominion. It is important to note that the leaders who shaped the call for the 1995 referendum are the same ones who led Quebec to the power it holds over immigration today—forces deeply rooted in the province’s history and culture.

A past of conflicts

Quebec has a distinct cultural history, even more inclusive than that of English Canada. In 1608 (more than 250 years before the Confederation of the Canadian Dominion), the French diplomat and explorer Samuel de Champlain established the city of Quebec with his 28 men—claiming the province as part of New France (a French territory spanning much of the east coast of Canada and the United States).

He did this at an abandoned Iroquois settlement called Stadacona, with the Iroquois tribes directing him to the site using their native word for village, “kanata”: this is where the name Canada originates.

Champlain, considered the father of New France, remained as administrator until his death in 1635. In 1763, following the conclusion of the Seven Years’ War, France would sign the Treaty of Paris, ceding the territories of New France (including Quebec) to the British—this friction would help set the stage for the emphasis on Francophone culture seen to this day.

Quebec was already historically, culturally, and demographically different from the rest of Canada (which the British colonized with profound effect). Quebec was also the capital of the English Province of Canada (today divided into Quebec and Ontario) twice, before integrating into the broader Dominion of Canada in 1867.

However, the integration of the province of Quebec into the Canadian Dominion was never as complete as in other English-dominated provinces of Canada, with Quebecers maintaining much of the language, customs, legal structures, and religion brought by the French.

The 1960s was a time of intense and rapid change in Quebec, widely known as the “Quiet Revolution.” In 1961, Quebec sought to establish democratic ties with France, the United Kingdom, and the United States—however, the federal government intervened, asserting that there could only be “one interlocutor” with foreign countries.

The event would ignite the debate about the place of Quebec and French Canadians in the Confederation. In 1968, these cultural forces, along with a shift in Canada’s immigration policy (moving from a hierarchical system by country of origin to a points-based system based on the individual applicant’s job skills, language ability, family connections, and education), led to the creation of Quebec’s first immigration ministry.

Tip! For lovers of great discoveries who wish to delve deeper into the history of Quebec, I leave a special invitation here. Visit the website Quebec em Foco by my friend and partner William Zimmermann and take a trip into the Quebecois past from the perspective of this Brazilian passionate about La Belle Province.

1971 – 1991: Negotiating for Immigration

According to the Constitution Act of 1867, immigration holds a special place among powers, being controlled at both the federal and provincial levels—however, today no province has as much influence over its immigration as Quebec.

The creation of the Quebec immigration ministry (today called the MIFI) signaled the assertion that controlling immigration to the province was a key issue—not only for economic reasons, but also to preserve the French language and Francophone culture as a primary concern. As a result, Quebec would recruit Francophone immigrants (native speakers of the French language) from all over the world during this period.

Between the years 1971 and 1991, Quebec would continually renegotiate its provincial authority over immigration, resulting in four major pieces of legislation that would shape the province’s powers:

• The Lang-Cloutier Accord of 1971 was the first piece of Canada-Quebec immigration legislation; the agreement allowed Quebec to have representatives in Canadian embassies and for immigration counseling abroad, largely heralding administrative changes in Quebec’s role in Canadian immigration;
• The Andras-Bienvenue Accord of 1975 gave Quebec a share in the immigrant selection process, allowing the province to conduct interviews and make recommendations to visa officers. This was a major milestone for the province, as the legislation enshrined in law meant that the federal government would now have to consider Quebec’s opinion for every new immigration application to the territory;
• The Cullen-Couture Accord of 1978 extended the same rights to temporary immigration, defining its selection criteria and giving the province even more influence over immigration to its borders; and finally,
• The Gagnon-Tremblay-McDougall Accord of 1991 - also known as the Quebec-Canada Accord - was the greatest triumph for Quebec immigration in the province’s history. Under this legislation, the province gained a complete immigrant selection process (especially economic immigrants) up to its borders; as well as the integration and francization of these individuals in the province.

The Power of French in Quebec

A quick historical summary of Quebec’s immigration policy shows that one of the province’s primary concerns is the preservation and promotion of Francophone culture and the French language.

In 1977, Bill 101 (The Charter of the French Language) was introduced. A massive political milestone in the Quebec landscape, this legislation made French the everyday language of Quebec. The majority of immigrant children (for example) would now attend French-language schools over English-language ones.

READ ALSO: “How does the school system in Quebec work?”

In June 2022, this Charter was updated with Bill 96 - further extending the emphasis on French in Quebec. Today, French is the exclusive language of communication between the Quebec government and its residents. In addition, communication between businesses and their clients and customers, product labeling, and contracts with the Quebec civil administration must be exclusively in French.

Still full of controversy on the part of local industry and investors, Bill 96 is viewed favorably by Quebec conservatives, who fear for the uncertain future of French in the province.

READ ALSO: “Canadian census reveals that Quebec families are speaking less French at home”

Even so, this is a discussion that will cause a lot of talk, given that the immigrant population (non-French speakers), foreign companies, and the government still need a lot of understanding about what the long-term impacts on the economy and development will be.

And where do Brazilians stand in this context?

Understanding why Quebec’s immigration policy differs from the rest of Canada is a fundamental step for anyone wishing to immigrate to the province. With Quebec’s emphasis on French and Francophone culture, immigrants who are from similar backgrounds may see greater success in attempting to immigrate, settle, and live in the province, as opposed to others in Canada, especially if they can meet the economic criteria set by the Quebec government as well.

The good news for my fellow countrymen is that we are very well-liked in the province. Even in numbers that are still relatively unrepresentative in immigration when compared to other ethnicities, we have a huge advantage in the adaptation process. This factor has led more and more Brazilians to choose Quebec, for reasons that might surprise many people.

Starting with the ease of learning French. It may sound strange, but you would be surprised at the amount of French teachers I’ve had here who are unanimous in pointing out that all their Brazilian students stand out in the course. For obvious reasons, our language, Latin like French, shares a grammatical structure and words very close to French.

Secondly, cultural issues linked to religion, because Quebec is mostly Catholic, even if it declares itself secular. Interestingly, in the city of Montreal alone, there are more than 600 Catholic churches, some of them founded in the 1700s. This in itself shows that we have a lot in common with them historically. But the similarities don’t stop there, the Quebecers, as I like to affectionately call them, have more in common with us than the Canadians on the English side. They are more street-smart, more sociable, and like parties and celebrations much more.

Last but not least, we are better at adapting to their culture, especially in the workplace. What I’m going to say might be racist or prejudiced, but believe me, employees with very deep cultural and religious identities tend to suffer more to fit into companies that are less open to immigrants in Quebec. This is when our flexibility becomes an ace up our sleeve. Unfortunately, xenophobia in Quebec is an old problem that still plagues immigrants, a likely heritage from the French.

Well guys, that’s what I had to say, I hope I’ve helped once again with this information. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates on life in Quebec and your first steps as a newcomer.

See you in the next post! 😉