IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2026 - Current Federal vs. Quebec Roles and Responsibilities
| Immigration Category | Quebec | Canada | Operational Perspective | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temporary Residents | Visitors |
Quebec’s consent is not required for visitors. |
Canada screens and admits visitors. |
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| International Students |
Quebec consents to the admission of international students: Confirms students’ enrollment in a designated institution Assesses international students’ financial capacity Delivers Certificats d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) |
Canada admits international students: Determines admissibility (i.e., conducts security, criminal and medical background checks) Delivers study permits Admits international students that meet admissibility requirements under Canadian law |
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| Temporary Workers |
Quebec consents to the admission of temporary workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which it co-manages with ESDC: Assesses labour market impacts Delivers Certificats d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) Quebec is not required to consent to the admission of temporary workers under the International Mobility Program. |
Canada admits temporary workers: Determines eligibility under the International Mobility Program Determines admissibility Delivers work permits Admits temporary workers that meet admissibility requirements under Canadian law |
Under the Temporary Foreign Wroker program:
Under the International Mobility Program:
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| Permanent Residents | Economic Immigration |
Quebec selects its economic immigrants: Establishes economic immigration programs (e.g., Quebec Skilled Workers) and determines selection criteria Selects applicants Delivers Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) |
Canada admits economic immigrants: Determines admissibility (i.e., conducts security, criminal and medical background checks) Delivers permanent resident (PR) visas Admits economic immigrants that meet admissibility requirement under Canadian law |
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| Family Reunification |
Quebec administers the undertakings (i.e., a sponsor’s financial capacity): Establishes the scales used to evaluate the financial capacity of sponsors residing in Québec and determines the duration of the undertakings Assesses the sponsor’s financial capacity Delivers the proof of financial capacity (i.e., the undertaking) Issues Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) to sponsored applicants so they can access provincial social services |
Canada selects and admits family class immigrants: Establishes selection criteria Selects applicants Determines admissibility (i.e., conducts security, criminal and medical background checks) Delivers permanent resident (PR) visas Admits family class immigrants that meet admissibility requirement under Canadian law |
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| Resettled Refugees |
Quebec selects its resettled refugees: Selects resettled refugees (i.e., government-assisted refugees and privately-sponsored refugees) Assesses the sponsor’s financial and settlement capacity (for privately-sponsored refugees) Delivers Certificats de sélection du Québec (CSQ) |
Canada admits resettled refugees: Determines who is a refugee within the meaning of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees Determines admissibility (i.e., conducts security, criminal and medical background checks) Delivers permanent resident (PR) visas |
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| Asylum Seekers and Protected Persons in Canada |
Quebec does not have authority in controlling the arrival of asylum seekers or protected persons in Canada. Issues a CSQ to protected persons so they can access provincial social services |
Canada is responsible for the selection and admission of asylum claimants and protected persons in Canada: Determines admissibility (i.e., conducts security, criminal and medical background checks) Following a positive Immigration and Refugee Board decision, grants protected person status, followed by permanent residence where successful applications are made |
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| Humanitarian/ Compassionate and Discretionary Immigration |
Quebec selects its humanitarian & compassionate immigrants: Selects its humanitarian & compassionate immigrants Delivers Certificats de sélection du Québec (CSQ) |
Canada admits humanitarian & compassionate immigrants selected by Quebec: Determines admissibility (i.e., conducts security, criminal and medical background checks) Delivers permanent resident visa Admits humanitarian & compassionate immigrants that meet admissibility requirement under Canadian law |
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| Levels Setting for PR Admissions |
Quebec tables a levels plan every year (except for election years). Canada-Quebec Accord states that Canada is to “take into consideration” Quebec’s wishes. |
Canada tables a national levels plan every year across all categories, including Quebec-selected. Canada-Quebec Accord states that Canada “establishes annually the total number of immigrants for the country as a whole, taking into consideration Quebec’s advice on the number of immigrants that it wishes to receive”. |
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| Resettlement and Settlement Services |
Quebec has sole responsibility for the delivery of resettlement (income supports, immediate and essential services) and settlement services; which must correspond to the services offered in the rest of Canada. |
Canada has withdrawn from the delivery of settlement services in Quebec and does not fund the Resettlement Assistance Program (RAP) in Quebec. Canada provides Quebec with compensation to deliver resettlement and settlement services, which are reviewed every two years to determine whether the services are comparable to those offered in the rest of Canada. |
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| Citizenship and Passport | Citizenship |
Quebec does not have the authority to administer citizenship. |
Canada grants citizenship. Establishes citizenship requirements Administers citizenship tests Delivers citizenship certificates |
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| Passport |
Quebec does not have the authority to deliver passports. |
Canada delivers passports. Administers the passport program Delivers passports to Canadian citizens |
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