Immigrants unsure of their future in Quebec following the PQ victory

Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon succeeded in growing the PQ to 59 seats in the Oct. 12 election from just three seats the party won in 2022, but it’s not enough to form a majority government. 

Still, newcomers are concerned about decisions the PQ might make regarding immigration policies. 

The party has said it would reduce temporary immigration by at least half, targeting 250,000 to 300,000 non-permanent residents by the end of a four-year term. It also wants to reduce the number of international students to 50,000 a year. 

According to the Institut de la statistique du Québec, the number of non-permanent residents is tentatively estimated at 514,050 as of Jan. 1, 2026.

For Timothée Kouame, a master’s student in environment and sustainable development at the University of Montreal, the cuts to temporary immigration, particularly those affecting international students like him, are his biggest concern.

“The announced policies regarding the reduction of temporary immigration raise questions about our future,” Kouame said. “Many of us have invested a tremendous amount of time and, let me be clear, a tremendous amount of financial resources as well.” 

In his view, most international students aim to integrate into Quebec society after earning their degrees and contribute to the province’s economy. In his case, this means putting his skills to work in the environmental field. 

In the future, he said he hopes to gain professional experience in his field and potentially settle permanently in the province, but he’s not sure what to expect from the new government.

“It's hard to plan for the future when the conditions for transitioning from student to worker, and eventually to permanent residence, remain uncertain,” said Kouame, who arrived from the Ivory Coast in 2024.

Despite the uncertainty, Kouame said he remains positive but cautious about the future of temporary immigrants in Quebec.

“I hope the new government will recognize the efforts and contributions of the immigrants already living in the province, particularly those who are studying, working and actively participating in Quebec society,” he said. 

“The key issue is not just how many people Quebec wants to welcome, but also what opportunities it offers to those who have already begun to build their future here.” 

Leidy Johanna Martinez, a Colombian temporary worker who has been living in Quebec for six years, said she prefers to remain cautious about the future of immigration in the province. 

She said it is too soon to jump to conclusions about the new government and thinks that despite the PQ’s proposals to reduce immigration, and the fact that the party won’t have a majority government means it will need additional support from the Parti Libéral du Québec (PLQ), which will make it difficult for the governing party.

“It's important to see what stance (the PLQ) takes and whether it’ll be willing to support or modify the measures proposed by the PQ,” Martinez said. 

“So yes, there are reasons to stay alert, especially for those of us going through immigration proceedings, but I also don’t think this is the time to think that it’s all over.” 

For Loane Grimm, who arrived in Quebec from France seven years ago and is close to obtaining Canadian citizenship, it is also too early to say if the party’s platform will win him over or not. But he said he views the change in government as positive.

“I simply value a change in government in a democracy — that's what keeps it alive.”

Grimm said he believes being a permanent resident now allows him to view the political landscape through a different lens. 

“If I were still a temporary resident, or in the middle of the immigration process, I think I would have felt some unease about this political party,” he said.

“But since I’ll soon be a Canadian citizen, I think this election will spark interesting debates, including of course the issue of Quebec’s identity and sovereignty.” 

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Natalia Rivero, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, New Canadian Media.