Two measures allowing acceleration of the arrival of foreign workers in Québec have come into effect.
International Mobility Program Plus (IMP+)
The new IMP+ program will help accelerate the arrival in Québec of foreign workers selected by Québec who will not yet have obtained permanent residence and who meet the workforce needs.
It is intended for persons still residing abroad and waiting for permanent residence, who hold a Certificat de sélection du Québec (Québec Selection Certificate), issued under the Regular Skilled Worker Program or the Permanent immigration pilot program for workers in the artificial intelligence, information technologies and visual effects sectors.
Concretely, 7,000 people per year, selected as skilled workers, may receive an open work permit and begin their integration into employment in Québec, while waiting to obtain permanent residence. Exceptionally, up- to 14,000 permits may be issued in 2022, to include the permits that could have been issued in 2021 under the agreement made with the Government of Canada on August 4, 2021.
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
A new easing applied to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program allows integration of 58 new Level C occupations of the National Occupational Classification into the List of occupations eligible for the facilitated process 
(in French only). Seven Level 0, A or B occupations had already been added to this list on April 11.
Increased protection for temporary foreign workers
Employers who hire temporary foreign workers practicing an occupation included on the List of occupations eligible for the facilitated process, and who offer a wage lower than the Québec median hourly wage, must also assume the obligations related to the protection of temporary foreign workers, regardless of the skill level of the occupation (0, A, B or C).
These employers will have to assume their return transportation costs (for example, air, train, boat, car, bus) and take out private health insurance coverage in their favour equal to that of the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) plan until they can be covered by that plan. The employers will also have to ensure that the workers have access to affordable and adequate housing.
