Immigration minister ‘deeply shocked’ by 100 cases of alleged fraud

Deputy Premier, Immigration and integration Minister, Minister responsible to help the access to independence and House Leader Catherine Gentilcore is sworn in at the legislature in Quebec City Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Quebec’s immigration minister said she was “deeply shocked” after a bureaucrat allegedly issued 100 false Quebec selection certificates.

“This situation shakes my confidence, and I expect the full truth to come to light. Immigrating to Quebec is a privilege that cannot be bought,” wrote Catherine Gentilcore in a statement on Saturday.

The minister was reacting to a news release published earlier this week by Quebec’s anti-corruption commissioner — the Commissaire à la lutte contre la corruption (CLCC) — which stated that Marilena Ida was charged with breach of trust and forgery.

Ida was a former interim co-ordinator of the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) at the Ministry of Immigration, Francization, and Integration. Following an investigation, she was accused of issuing the illegal certificates to people who did not meet the eligibility criteria between Aug. 22, 2016 and Feb. 3, 2019.

A certificate must be obtained from the province before applying to Ottawa for permanent residence in Quebec, with criteria including French proficiency, education and work history.

“In the coming days, we will ensure that this is indeed an isolated incident and that all necessary measures have since been put in place to prevent it from happening again,” said Gentilcore, who also serves as Deputy Premier.

Ida is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 10 to face the charges.

The immigration minister’s office said Ida has not been employed by the ministry since 2019.

Anyone with information regarding acts of corruption or fraud against the government is asked to contact the Unité permanente anticorruption (UPAC) by visiting its website or by calling 1-844-541-UPAC (8722).

With files from The Canadian Press