Montréal, December 3, 2015 ‒ The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal welcomes the tabling of Bill 77, which proposes an in-depth reform of Quebec’s existing immigration law, by the Minister of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusiveness, Kathleen Weil.
“Access to skilled labour is critical for the growth of the city’s businesses,” said Michel Leblanc, President and CEO of the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal. “Updating Quebec’s immigration law is absolutely essential to better reflect the reality of the job market and the needs of businesses in Quebec and Montréal, a city that is home to close to 87% of the province’s immigrants.”
“We support the government’s aim to put in place an immigration system based on a declaration of interest to reduce the time between the selection and arrival of immigrants,” Michel Leblanc said. “This echoes our recommendations on a new immigration policy for Quebec. The unemployment rate among immigrants in the city is much higher than the rate for people born in Canada, and immigration will be the main source of growth in the active population in the coming years. Implementing a system that will see companies contribute to the selection process will improve the professional integration of new immigrants and allow businesses to better meet labour needs.”
“The Board of Trade also sees promise in proposed pilot projects for temporary and permanent immigrants,” Mr. Leblanc said. “With shorter and more demanding project cycles, against a backdrop of increasingly intense competition to attract talent, it is important to have more flexible strategies to meet needs for specific companies and sectors.”
About the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal is made up of over 7,000 members. Its mission is to be the voice of Montréal’s business community and to promote the city’s prosperity. It is involved in key areas of economic development, advocating a philosophy of action based on engagement, credibility, proactivity, collaboration, and innovation. The Board of Trade also offers a range of specialized services to individuals and to businesses of all sizes to support them in their growth at home and abroad.
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Source:
Guillaume Bérubé
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Phone: 514 871-4000, extension 4042
gberube@ccmm.qc.ca
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