The Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (French: Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration) is a government department in Quebec responsible for immigration, francisation, and integration in the province.[1] Accordingly, it provides a variety of programs for immigrants and immigrant communities in the province.
The department was previously known as the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity, and Inclusion (Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l’Inclusion).
History
The ministry was founded on 5 November 1968, a decision made by then Premier Jean-Jacques Bertrand. The reasons for the creation of the ministry were: to prevent French from losing its dominant position in Quebec society as the birth rate of French Canadians fell, and to attract immigrants from the French-speaking world to Quebec.[2] At its beginnings, the ministry opened immigration offices only in France and Italy. It also established a network of seven language orientation and training centres, whose goal was to teach French to newcomers.[2] The department was previously overseen by the Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities as a member of the Executive Council of Quebec.
On 20 February 1978, Canada and Quebec signed an immigration agreement giving Quebec decision-making power to choose its independent immigrants, who would then have to be approved by Ottawa.[2]
On 5 February 1991, the Canada–Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens was concluded, giving Quebec more power in the selection of immigrants by offering federal transfers of funds for integration of these, and guaranteeing Quebec an immigration rate proportional to its demographic weight in Canada.[2]
Proposed reform
During the 2022 Quebec general election, the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) government of François Legault campaigned on getting more immigration powers from the federal government to Quebec.[3][4] Legault has raised the idea of having a referendum on immigration powers,[5][6][7] a pledge that was repeated after the party has increased its majority.[8][9]
List of ministers
Minister
Political party
Start
End
Premier
Creation of the Ministry of Immigration (5 November 1968)
The structure of the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration is organized as follows:[10]
Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie
Minister's office
Deputy Minister — High direction
General Secretariat
Legal Affairs
Communications
Audit committee
Internal Audit
Assistant Deputy Minister — Planning, performance and external relations
Administrative review
Research, planning and business intelligence
Ministerial coordination and external relations
Program evaluation, quality assurance and risk management
Assistant Deputy Minister — Development, Innovation and Organizational Support
Innovation and Vision 3.0
Digital transformation and information resources
Human resources
Administration
Assistant Deputy Minister — Immigration and Prospecting
Immigration operations
Immigration and prospecting policies and programs
Prospecting and recruitment operations abroad
Assistant Deputy Minister — Francization and Integration
Francization services
Francization and integration policies and programs
Regional Operations
Laws and regulations
The Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration is responsible with administering the following laws and regulations in relation to Quebec immigration:
Act respecting the Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion (chapter M-16.1)[11]
Terms and conditions of the signing of certain deeds, documents and writings of the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (r. 2)[12]
^ abMinistry of Immigration, Francization and Integration. 2019 December 4. "The organization and its commitments." Quebec.ca. Retrieved 2020 November 2.
