Québec, le 30 January 2026 —  The Fédération interprofessionnelle de la santé du Québec–FIQ takes note of the new guidelines unveiled today by the Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration, Jean-François Roberge, regarding invitations to the Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ) (Skilled Worker Selection Program). The fact that health workers have been identified as a priority sector is a positive sign, but it is not enough to reassure healthcare professionals who have been plunged into uncertainty since the abolition of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ).

In total, about 1,200 healthcare professionals whose work permit expires in 2026, already working in the network and essential to maintaining services, have been directly affected by the disappearance of the PEQ on November 19, 2025. Many have been experiencing great distress for months due to the precariousness of their status and the possibility of losing their right to remain in Québec, even though they are filling critical needs in many institutions.

“It is good that health workers are being prioritized in the PSTQ. However, this does not solve anything for those who, since the abolition of the PEQ, have been living in anxiety and uncertainty. We are talking about women who care for the people of Québec every day, who keep understaffed units running, and who still do not know if they will be able to stay here. The government must assess the human and organizational impact of its decisions”, stated Julie Bouchard, President of the FIQ.

The FIQ reiterates its requests to the government: recognize a grandfather clause guaranteeing that healthcare professionals already established in Québec can continue their lives and careers here; stabilize immigration rules to prevent essential workers from paying the price for changing administrative decisions; and collaborate with labour organizations to ensure that immigration policies truly reflect the needs of the network.

“The minister may well announce guidelines and invitations, but there is currently no evidence to suggest that the women who have been caring for our patients for years will actually be able to remain in Québec. And when he suggests that the responsibility lies with the federal government or with the individuals themselves for not submitting their applications early enough, he distracts attention from the essential point: it is Québec’s decisions that have plunged these workers into their current precarious situation.  They have built their lives here, they support a network in crisis, and yet they are left in limbo. Until clear and binding solutions are put in place to ensure their continued presence in Quebec, the FIQ will continue to denounce this unfair and dangerous situation for access to care”, concluded Ms. Bouchard.