Thousands gathered in Montréal on February 6 to protest the cancellation of the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ). They marched in solidarity with demonstrations across Quebec. Protesters directly addressed Immigration Minister Jean‑François Roberge, urging the government to reverse the decision and protect foreign students and workers who had been counting on the PEQ’s fast‑track path to permanent residency. The PEQ was officially ended in November 2025 and replaced by the points‑based Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés (PSTQ), which many say is harder to access for people already living and working in the province. In the Legislature this week, Roberge said his ministry will “evaluate different scenarios” for a transition between the old and new systems, though no reinstatement has been confirmed, before the province’s leadership race concludes in April.
