French Language Requirement Makes It Hard For Ukrainians to Immigrate to Quebec

Ukrainians are struggling to learn French before the expiration of their work permits after fleeing to Quebec to escape the Russian invasion of their home country.

One of Quebec’s permanent residency requirements is to be proficient in the language, which can be displayed by taking French tests.

Many Ukrainians who moved there have been taking government-offered francization courses, but that is not enough to develop the level of proficiency the government requires, due to which they are unable to obtain a Quebec selection certificate are thus not acknowledged to be accepted as permanent residents.

Ukrainians also need two years of work experience in a job requiring some specialized training or education, which many of them are unable to obtain because of the short timeline of their three-year work permits.

The deadline to extend their temporary stay – although available – is approaching, and is on March 31.


Read More Canada Immigration News

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Calls Winnipeg A Canada Immigration Success Story 
How To Drive Safely As A Newcomer To Canada
Refugees From Tanzania and Mexico Eligible For Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot


In a statement, a spokesperson for the Quebec Immigration Ministry said that there are no current plans for the French province to change its requirements for issuing a certificate of selection, as per CBC News.

President of the Quebec chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Michael Schwec, said he hopes the different levels of government will exercise flexibility with their permanent residency requirements for the Ukrainians who fled the war, the majority of whom are women whose husbands are still in Ukraine.

“The people who are coming from Ukraine during wartime to Montreal, they’re welcoming the challenge to learn French, to get the kinds of jobs they need to meet the criteria, to get permanent residency,” he said.

“They want to succeed.”

However, Quebec’s difficult PR requirements are making the process even more stressful for them than it already is.

The Quebec immigration process is unique in comparison to the rest of the country. Quebec has its own set of criteria based on which it issues the candidate and their family a Certificate de selection du Quebec (CSQ), after they have applied to one of its immigration programs.


Watch Video


Following this, the candidate can apply to IRCC for a Canada PR and pass the medical, security, and criminal checks to obtain the immigration status.

The following economic immigration programs allow foreign nationals to apply for a CSQ:

Canada Opens Special Immigration Pathway For Sudanese

A new family-based, humanitarian pathway for Sudanese and non-Sudanese nationals who were living in the Sudan when the conflict began on April 15 last year is now open, allowing them to reunite on a permanent basis with their families in Canada.

Applicants can be a child of any age, grandchild, parent, grandparent or sibling of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is living in Canada. That family member in Canada needs to agree to support the newcomers and help them build their new lives in Canada.

“We’ll accept up to 3,250 applications from people or families,” notes the IRCC on its website.


Read More Canada Immigration News

More Than A Third Of International Student Allocation Wanted By Ontario Universities
Refugees From Tanzania and Mexico Eligible For Canada’s Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
Intake For Alberta Opportunity Stream Temporarily Paused To Address Backlog


The family member in Canada who agrees to support their Sudanese relative during their first year in Canada must:

  • be 18 years old or more;
  • be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
  • live in Canada (but outside the province of Quebec), and;
  • prove they have enough income or funds to meet the financial requirement.

These sponsoring relatives, called anchors under the program, must sign an official document, called a statutory declaration, stating they promise to:

  • meet their relatives at the airport and get them to where they will be staying;
  • help them find temporary housing;
  • help them find permanent housing;
  • make sure they have food, clothes and other basic needs;
  • introduce them to life in Canada (for example, public transportation, banking, shopping, rights and responsibilities, etc.), and;
  • help the newcomers translate information, open bank accounts, enrol in provincial and federal programs and benefits, find family doctors, dentists or eye care specialists and arrange any other medical needs, enrol children in school or a childcare programs, enrol adults in language training, access support services to find a job and access service provider organizations for settlement services once in Canada.

“Anchors must also state that they won’t accept money or other payment from you in exchange for being your anchor,” notes the IRCC.

Under this program, Canadian immigration is waiving the Right of Permanent Residence Fee and biometric fees. The IRCC is also providing free settlement services and will help the newcomers integrate into Canadian society and get a job.

In October last year, Ottawa also extended temporary measures to help Sudanese nationals in Canada for another year by allowing them to continue to extend their stay or change their statuses as visitorsstudents or temporary workers free of charge.

Temporary Measures For Sudanese Remain In Effect

“We are extending these temporary special measures for foreign nationals who fled Sudan with their Canadian family members, including Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents, until Oct. 27, 2024,” tweeted the IRCC.

Fighting erupted in Khartoum, Sudan’s capital city and other sites across that country, in April last year as two rival military factions began their battle for control of the eastern African nation.

“Canada continues to call for an end to violence in Sudan and stands with the Sudanese people as they strive for peace,” said then-Immigration Minister Sean Fraser last year.


Watch Video


“Many Sudanese nationals currently in Canada can’t return home due to the dangerous and volatile situation in their home country. That’s why we’re taking steps to help them extend their stay here, so they can remain with their families, continue with their studies or find work in safety.”

Under the temporary measures in place for Sudanese nationals in Canada who left after the conflict began and entered Canada before July 15 last year can extend their temporary resident statuses or apply for other temporary resident documents.

“We’re prioritizing the processing of complete temporary and permanent residence applications from those living in Sudan,” notes the IRCC on its website. “If you have an application in progress, you don’t need to apply again.”

The IRCC is offering free open work permits that provide access to the labour market and greater flexibility for Sudanese nationals to support themselves while they are in Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Calls Winnipeg A Canada Immigration Success Story 

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has called Winnipeg an “extraordinary example” of successful Canada immigration.

He said in an interview with Global News that the large metropolises of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver are “the three places we think about automatically (about immigration) because they are the largest urban centres.”

“But the story of Winnipeg, which is not well enough known by Canadians, about how incredibly successful you’ve been at drawing people in from around the world and building this great, diverse city, that is really an example,” he said.

“They have so much of that kind of success, (it) is something that quite frankly, places across the country saying, oh, why would we even try to even think about comparing ourselves to Toronto, can learn so much about your success here, in Winnipeg.”

University of Winnipeg Economics Professor Manish Pandey said to CityNews in November 2023 that with the rising popularity of remote work, people are choosing to settle in more affordable cities like Winnipeg.


Read More Canada Immigration News

Candidates Must Be Active In Start-Up Visa Business Or Have Canada Permanent Residence Application Denied
Manitoba Issues 282 Canada Immigration Invitations In New PNP Draw
Report Says Canada the Safest Place for Travellers in 2024


With high housing costs in some Canadian cities, Winnipeg is an attractive alternative.

Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Loren Remillard said that Winnipeg allows people to save for their children’s future, make investments, and “build a life they want.”

However, Winnipeg’s success in specific – and Manitoba’s success in general – does not make the province immune from the problems plaguing Canada as a whole.


Watch Video


Data from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation shows that by 2030, Manitoba will have a housing gap of 260,000 units. The province should make use of the stabilization of immigration rates by the federal government by building more houses to support future immigrants.

Manitoba immigration is run through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), which selects candidates based on the province’s specific economic needs.

The streams are:

  • Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream
  • Skilled Worker Overseas Stream
  • International Education Stream
  • Business Investor Stream

The program aims to be flexible to the province’s labour market and broader economic priorities.