Francization, family reunification, and reception capacity: a look back at the first week of public consultation
This week, the Committee on Citizen Relations heard several briefs on immigration planning for 2026–2029, marked by francization and reception capacity.
1. Capacity: a double-edged concept
Several economists, including Pierre Fortin, believe that Quebec has reached its capacity. They argue that admissions must be slowed and the proportion of temporary residents reduced to restore a “sustainable” balance.
Conversely, Québec Réunifié and several community organizations point out that Quebec does not lack space, but rather the will to welcome immigrants with dignity.
The real deficit is not demographic, but institutional and moral: there is no shortage of housing or schools due to excessive immigration, but rather due to a lack of coordination and political courage.
2. Family reunification: a right, not an adjustment variable
The Commissioner of the French Language, Benoît Dubreuil, proposes reducing the proportion of economic immigration to clear the family reunification waiting list.
According to his reasoning, if the economic share were to fall from 62% to 50%, the family share could increase from 23–24% to around 30%.
This would represent approximately 3,000 to 4,000 additional family admissions per year, depending on the scenario chosen.
However, this would still be insufficient to clear the backlog of sponsored spouses, conservatively estimated at around 25,000 cases per year: at this rate, it would take several years to catch up, even without any new entries on the list.
Québec Réunifié supports the rebalancing in favor of families, while refusing to attach a prior linguistic condition as suggested by the commissioner.
Francization must be a support measure after arrival, not an obstacle before departure.
3. Francization: inclusion or condition?
On the language issue, views clash.
The IRÉQ and the Commissioner of the French Language advocate preventive and mandatory francization, including a minimum requirement for admission and language commitments for sponsors.
On the other hand, institutions such as the Université du Québec en Outaouais and citizen groups such as Québec Réunifié advocate for a lived and inclusive approach to francization, rooted in stability, family, and employment.
For QR, French is learned by living together, not by waiting alone in a foreign country.
In conclusion
The briefs submitted this week outline two visions of Quebec:
that of a fortress Quebec, which measures its capacity to welcome immigrants in terms of quotas and thresholds;
and that of a humane Quebec, which measures it in terms of justice, solidarity, and a willingness to act.
Between the two, Québec Réunifié reminds us of an obvious fact:
we do not defend French by separating families;
we defend it by allowing them to live together.
🕊️ To learn more
🎧 Listen to the Commission’s proceedings this week:
Watch on the National Assembly site
📜 Read the full brief from Québec Réunifié:
Plan d’immigration 2026–2029
🧾 View all briefs submitted this week:
Commission documents
🖋️ Sign the petition to the National Assembly:
https://tinyurl.com/PetitionQR2025
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