Montreal Pauses Work Permits For Lower-Than-Median Wage Workers

This new policy plans to address rising levels of temporary residents in Montreal and Quebec, and to ease unemployment rates amongst non-permanent residents. The number of non-permanent residents in Quebec doubled between 2021 and 2024, from 300,000 to 600,000.

Key Takeaways

• The number of non-permanent residents in Quebec doubled between 2021 and 2024.
• The unemployment rate for non-permanent residents in Montreal in June was 13%, compared to 6.1% for the total population in Quebec. 
• The new measures may be more of a political statement than a practical change. There are significant loopholes in the measures that would allow existing workers to remain in Quebec. 
• Quebec’s government also plans to introduce changes to limit the number of international students at certain institutions.

Who Will Be Affected By The Work Permit Application Freeze? 

Employers hiring temporary workers for positions in Montreal, excluding workers in certain in-demand sectors, will not be able to submit applications for the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. 

Workers and employers whose planned hiring in Quebec fits the following criteria will not be able to proceed with their applications from September 3 to March 2025: 

• The planned work is in the Montreal region; and 
• The offered salary for the position is lower than $27.47 per hour or $57,137 annually. 

There are a range of exceptions for workers who plan to work in certain in-demand and strategic sectors, namely: 

• Healthcare workers
• Educators
• Construction workers
• Agriculture and food processing workers. 

The suspension also includes applications under Quebec’s simplified processing measures and for those already employed in Quebec in low wage positions. So, temporary workers who are already working in Montreal but earning less than $27.47 per hour may not be able to renew their work permits during this period. However, this can be overcome if employers offer to pay workers at least $27.50 per hour.

Why is Quebec Limiting Foreign Workers in Montreal?

Quebec’s centre-right government led by François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec party has been calling for a “significant and rapid” reduction in the number of temporary immigrants in Quebec, citing limited housing inventory and demand for public services including education, healthcare, and childcare.

Further Quebec government concerns surround the usage of French among temporary residents, particularly in the Montreal region. These contentions have faced significant public scrutiny, including in this 2023 Montreal Gazette op-ed authored by Moving2Canada’s Director of Partnerships, Hugo O’Doherty.

Changes Coming For Montreal-Bound International Students

Quebec’s government also indicated that it plans to introduce measures that would limit the number of international students in the province. While the minister did not specifically comment on the institutions that would be affected, it was suggested that regional institutions as well as Concordia and McGill are not the target of these changes.  

“It is necessary to be able to limit the number of applications made by foreign students based on several factors such as the type of institution, the number of foreign students per institution, the region, the level of studies, etc. A bill will be tabled this fall for this purpose and will also aim to allow better monitoring of the situation of foreign students on the territory in order to support the implementation of targeted limitations and supervision.” – more here.