A debate about new immigration rules in Quebec is stirring up a conflict between businesses and a provincial government focused on protecting the French languageâeven if it means persistent labour shortages.
Catch-up: Quebec business leaders are concerned that policies adopted recently by Premier Francois Legault will discourage non-francophone speakers from moving to the province.Â
- Quebecâs Bill 96, adopted late last month, requires businesses with 25 employees or more to make French the main language used in the workplace and introduced a six-month deadline for immigrants after which government services will be offered only in French.
Now Legault is asking the federal government for more control over who is allowed to immigrate to Quebecâthe province is already able to select around half of its newcomers but wants to expand that share to increase the number of francophones.Â
Why it matters:Â Quebec is already short on workers, with the second-highest job vacancy rate of any province and the lowest unemployment rate in the country at just 3.9% in April. At the same time, fewer immigrants are choosing to settle in Quebec: the province now takes only 12% of Canadaâs total new permanent residents, down from 21% ten years ago.
- Some business leaders argue the provinceâs language laws are part of the problem: â[French] does become a limiting factor when weâre looking to attract the best people and talent that we need,â the president of Quebec Manufacturers and Exporters told The Globe and Mail.
 - Quebecâs government argues that its language rules are needed to protect the French language and francophone culture.
Whatâs next:Â Premier Legault is headed to the polls in October and says heâll take a victory as a mandate to negotiate more provincial control over immigration, a development that could intensify the challenges facing Quebec businesses.