Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration

Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration
Ministère de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l'Intégration
Agency overview
Formed5 November 1968 Edit this on Wikidata
JurisdictionGovernment of Quebec
Minister responsible
  • Christine Fréchette Edit this on Wikidata
Key document
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
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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.

Jurisdiction in matters of immigration in Quebec is shared with the Canadian government, in accordance to the Constitution Act of 1867 (article 95) and the 1991 Canada–Québec Accord relating to Immigration and Temporary Admission of Aliens. The federal government pays financial compensation to Quebec in order to ensure the reception and integration of immigrants.[1]

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)
Ministre de l'Immigration
Yves Gabias Union nationale 3 December 1968 28 March 1969 Bertrand
Mario Beaulieu 28 March 1969 12 May 1970
Pierre Laporte Liberal 12 May 1970 29 October 1970 Bourassa (1)
François Cloutier[note 1] 29 October 1970 15 February 1972
Jean Bienvenue 15 February 1972 20 January 1976
Lise Bacon 20 January 1976 26 November 1976
Jacques Couture Parti québécois 26 November 1976 6 November 1980 Lévesque
Gérald Godin 6 November 1980 30 April 1981
Ministre des Communautés Culturelles et de l'Immigration
Gérald Godin Parti québécois 30 April 1981 25 September 1984 Lévesque
Louise Harel 25 September 1984 20 December 1984
Gérald Godin 20 December 1984 16 October 1985
3 October 1985 16 October 1985 P.M. Johnson
Élie Fallu 16 October 1985 12 December 1985
Louise Robic Liberal 12 December 1985 3 March 1989 Bourassa
Monique Gagnon-Tremblay 3 March 1989 11 January 1994
Merged into Ministry of Foreign Affairs (11 January 1994) Johnson Jr.
Parizeau
Ministre responsable de l'Immigration et des Communautés culturelles
André Boisclair Parti québécois 29 January 1996 4 December 1996 Bouchard
Ministre des Relations avec les Citoyens et de l'Immigration
André Boisclair Parti québécois 4 December 1996 15 December 1998 Bouchard
Robert Perreault 15 December 1998 6 October 2000
Sylvain Simard 6 October 2000 8 March 2001
Joseph Facal 8 March 2001 30 January 2002 Landry
Rémy Trudel 30 January 2002 29 April 2003
Michelle Courchesne Liberal 29 April 2003 18 February 2005 Charest
Ministre de l'Immigration et des Communautés Culturelles
Lise Thériault Liberal 18 February 2005 18 April 2007 Charest
Yolande James 18 April 2007 11 août 2010
Kathleen Weil 11 août 2010 19 September 2012
Diane De Courcy Parti québécois 19 September 2012 23 April 2014 Marois
Ministre de l'Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion
Kathleen Weil Liberal 23 April 2014 11 October 2017 Couillard
David Heurtel 11 October 2017 18 October 2018
Simon Jolin-Barrette CAQ 18 October 2018 4 September 2019 Legault
Ministre de l'Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration
Simon Jolin-Barrette CAQ 4 September 2019 22 juin 2020 Legault
Nadine Girault 22 juin 2020 24 November 2021
Jean Boulet 24 November 2021 20 October 2022
Christine Fréchette 20 October 2022 Incumbent

Organization

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]
  • Québec Immigration Act (chapter I-0.2.1)[13]
    • Regulation respecting immigration consultants (r. 1)[14]
    • Québec Immigration Regulation (r. 3)[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Also the Minister of Cultural Affairs until 2 February 1972.

References

  1. ^ a b Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration. 2019 December 4. "The organization and its commitments." Quebec.ca. Retrieved 2020 November 2.
  2. ^ a b c d ICI.Radio-Canada.ca, Zone Politique -. "Il y a 50 ans, le Québec se dotait d'un ministère de l'Immigration". Radio-Canada.ca (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2018-11-04.
  3. ^ "Legault hopes for 'strong mandate' in election to pressure Ottawa on immigration".
  4. ^ "Legault pledges to demand more control from Ottawa over immigration to Quebec". CBC News. 2022-05-30. Archived from the original on 2023-06-14.
  5. ^ "Trudeau maintains position on immigration in face of Legault's demands". 5 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Quebec already has 'the tools in hand' to choose immigrants: Federal minister".
  7. ^ "'Keep going': Legault's victory message suggests he'll seek 'more liberty' and 'more leeway' with Ottawa, say observers". 4 October 2022.
  8. ^ "CAQ renews call for more immigration powers at post-election caucus meeting - Montreal | Globalnews.ca".
  9. ^ "CAQ refuses to take no for an answer after Trudeau shuts door on immigration request". 6 October 2022.
  10. ^ Ministry of Immigration, Francization and Integration. 2020 October 27. "https://www.quebec.ca/gouv/ministere/immigration/organigramme/ The organization and its commitments] [L’organisation et ses engagements]." Québec.ca. Retrieved 2020 November 2.
  11. ^ "Act respecting the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Diversité et de l'Inclusion." LégisQuébec. 2020 June 14.
  12. ^ "Terms and conditions of the signing of certain deeds, documents and writings of the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles." 2020 May 1.
  13. ^ "Québec Immigration Act." LégisQuébec. 2020 June 14.
  14. ^ "Regulation respecting immigration consultants." LégisQuébec. 2020 May 1.
  15. ^ "Québec Immigration Regulation." LégisQuébec. 2020 May 1.

English

French