Quebec unveils a comprehensive strategy for integrating immigrants and promoting common values

Effective January 2009, the Quebec government is making mandatory for new immigrants to the province in the economic and family reunification categories to sign a declaration affirming their commitment to learn French and respect the "common values of Quebec society" before they are allowed to settle in the province.

In addition to pronouncing French as the province's official language, and the primary language of public institutions, commerce and social life, the declaration characterizes Quebec as a free, democratic and socially pluralistic society that maintains a separation of church and state and respects the rule of law, including laws that uphold gender equality and equal freedoms for all individuals.

Since the implementation of this policy, Immigration department plans to add a section on Quebec values to immigration forms filled out overseas along with an explanatory pamphlet and a DVD on shared values. Immigrants will also be directed to a new website whose name translates as "shared values of Quebec." Information sessions on shared values will be offered to immigrants after they arrive.

The government's purpose for this new declaration on common values might be to facilitate integration by providing immigrants with some guidance as to what will be expected of them as citizens in their new society.

The proposal was immediately denounced by critics who correctly identified it as a pre-election issue to undermine the opposition Parti Quebecois (PQ) and the Action democratique du Quebec (ADQ) by Liberal Premier Jean Charest. This pre-election strategy is also expected to appease those insecure elements of Quebec society who are worried that new immigrants will change Quebec in undesirable ways. Mr. Charest first raised the notion of forcing immigrants to sign a declaration last May when the Bouchard-Taylor commission released its report on reasonable accommodation. The issue of integrating cultural and religious minorities had been an emotional topic in Quebec since late 2006.

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration, Quebec establishes its own immigration requirements and selects immigrants who will adapt well to living in Quebec. Each year, Québec welcomes an average of some 45,000 immigrants from over 100 countries who actively participate in its economic, social and cultural development.