Immigration minister says he will ‘evaluate different scenarios’ on PEQ

Caught between the leadership candidates and his government, Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge is trying to buy time by announcing his department will “evaluate different scenarios” to allow a “transition period” between two immigration programs: the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) and the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ).

“I have heard the criticism, mainly from people who are concerned about the transition period between the old program, the PEQ, and the new program, the PSTQ. Some people don’t fully understand the issues,” he said in a brief press scrum on Wednesday at the National Assembly.

On Tuesday, CAQ leadership candidate Christine Fréchette made a U-turn by announcing that she was proposing to bring back the PEQ for a period of two years in order to give a “grandfather clause” to immigrants who were present in Quebec at the time of its closure.

She is therefore at odds with her own government.

It should be noted that Roberge—who supports Fréchette in the race—ended the PEQ in November and still refuses to grant a grandfather clause. He encourages immigrants to turn to the PSTQ to obtain permanent residence.

The minister’s decision continues to be criticized from all sides. Last week, he committed to giving priority to the files of 6,300 foreign workers in the health sector in the PSTQ.

The other candidate in the race, Bernard Drainville, has pledged to give grandfathering to temporary workers in priority sectors, such as health care and education, who meet certain criteria.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 11, 2026.