Temporary workers: Quebec believes Ottawa was ‘clumsy’

Quebec's immigration numbers will be significantly reduced, leading to harsh criticism from the business community.

After insisting that the federal government reduce the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec, Minister Jean-François Roberge says Ottawa has been too “strict” and acted in a “very clumsy manner” with the temporary foreign worker program, especially in rural areas.

“It is our regional economy that is paying the price right now,” the minister said at a press briefing Thursday at the National Assembly.

Pressure is mounting on Quebec City as businesses in the region fear they will have to close due to labour shortages.

“We are asking Ottawa to preserve the temporary foreign workers who are in Quebec outside of Montreal and Laval. The grandfather clause is extremely important,” Roberge said.

“We have asked Ottawa to distribute asylum seekers, review visa issuance, and be much stricter because there are many people arriving here under false pretenses,” he added.

According to Statistics Canada, there are approximately 562,000 temporary immigrants in Quebec.

Consultations on immigration planning for the years 2026 to 2029 began Wednesday evening.

Roberge already signalled his desire to reduce permanent immigration thresholds. He proposed three scenarios for the next four years: 25,000, 35,000, or 45,000 permanent immigrants per year.

Quebec plans to welcome approximately 64,000 permanent immigrants in 2025. In 2024, this number stood at nearly 60,000.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French Oct. 2, 2025.

Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press