An important new
objective for Quebec was
introduced: to preserve
Quebec(s)
demographic weight within Canada and to
integrate
immigrants to the province in
a manner
that respects the
distinct society of
Quebec. This objective was to be
achieved primarily
by Quebec(s) formal
role in advising
about
the number of
immigrants it wishes to receive, the
attempt to
ensure numbers of immigrants
proportional to the population of
the
province, and
Quebec(s) assumption of all integration
services, with a particular emphasis on
providing permanent
residents with the
means to learn the French
language.
Canada remains
responsible for national standards and
objectives relating to
immigration, the
admission of all immigrants and the
admission
and control of visitors.
Admission
in relation to
immigrants means the
application of the criteria relating to
criminality,
security and health, in
addition to the
administrative
processing of applications and physical
admission to
Canada at ports of
entry. Quebec
is
responsible for
the selection, reception and integration
of
immigrants to Quebec. Canada
commits itself not to admit
any
independent
immigrant or refugee into Quebec who does not
meet Quebec(s) selection criteria
(except for adjudicating
refugee claims
from within the country).
Who qualifies for
permanent residence under the Economic
class?
(Skilled worker class, Quebec skilled worker class,
provincial nominee class, entrepreneur
class, investor class,
self-employed
persons class)
The Federal skilled worker class
is primarily point based and
confers
permanent resident status
upon
applicants
who are able to demonstrate an ability to
become economically established in
Canada. Applicants are
assessed under 6
factors and numerous sub factors of
assessment
providing for 100 points.
Individuals
with at least
one year of
continuous full-time employment
experience, or the
equivalent in
part-time employment in
one or more
“open”
occupations, within
the 10 years preceding the date of their
application and who possess the required
settlement funding,
may qualify for
assessment. Applicants who do not meet
the
applicable pass mark may be accepted
under the positive
discretion provisions
of the regulations. This mechanism is
used to accept a
number of applicants
who will be able to
successfully settle
in Canada yet who do meet the applicable
pass mark.
Under the Quebec skilled worker class and the Provincial
nominee class, applicants may become
permanent residents on
the basis of
their
proven ability to become economically
established in Canada, in accordance
with immigration programs
and selection
criteria administered by Quebec or the
provinces.
The Investor class is point
based and confers permanent residence to
applicants who
demonstrate an ability to
become economically established in
Canada on the
basis of their business or
management
experience
and high personal
net worth. Approval is contingent upon
the
investor undertaking to commit an
irrevocable, passive,
non-interest
bearing investment of $400,000 in a
government
guaranteed investment fund.
A successful applicant is one who has a) managed a
qualifying business and has controlled a
percentage of equity
of the qualifying
business for at least two years in the
period beginning
five years preceding
the application or
managed at least five
full-time job equivalents per year for
at least two years
in the period
beginning five years
preceding the
application; b) possesses a personal net
worth
of $800,000 and c) undertakes to
invest
$400,000 in a
government approved
investment fund.
The Entrepreneur class is point
based and confers permanent residence to
applicants who
demonstrate an ability to
become economically established in
Canada on the
basis of their business
experience and
personal
net worth.
Approval is contingent upon the
entrepreneur
undertaking to invest and
become active
in the management of a
qualifying
business operated in Canada that will
contribute to
the economy and create
employment.
A successful applicant is one who has a) managed a
qualifying business and has controlled a
percentage of equity
of the qualifying
business for at least two years in the
period beginning
five years preceding
the application; b)
possesses a personal
net worth of $300,000 and c) undertakes
to control a
percentage of the equity of
a qualifying
Canadian
business and
provide active and ongoing management of
the
qualifying Canadian business that
will
create at least one
incremental
full-time job for Canadian citizens or
permanent
residents, other than the
entrepreneur
and their family
members. This condition
must be fulfilled for a period of one
year within the
period of three years
after the day on
which
the entrepreneur
becomes a permanent resident.
The Self-Employed class refers
to applicants who have the intention and
the ability to create
their own
employment and make a significant
contribution to
the cultural, artistic
or athletic life
of Canada, or to
create their own
employment by purchasing and managing a
farm
in Canada.
A successful applicant is one who has at least two years of
experience in the period beginning
five
years before the date
of the application
and ending on the day a determination is
made on the application, in
self-employment in cultural
activities
or in
athletics; participation at a world-class
level in cultural activities or
athletics; or farm management
experience.
To qualify, the applicant must demonstrate a sufficient
financial net worth which, although less
than an entrepreneur
and not specified
in the regulations, should enable the
applicant to be
self-employed in Canada
and make a
significant
contribution to
specified economic activities in Canada
and to
meet the initial settlement
requirements
for the applicant and
accompanying
dependants.
Immigration Service Center
International
Lawyers & Immigration
Solicitors 
