Laval signs immigration pact with Quebec government

The City of Laval has signed a new and apparently more elaborate agreement on immigration with the Quebec government – one which could stimulate economic development in the region.

The pact was signed on Sept. 14 by Mayor Gilles Vaillancourt at the Carrefour d’intercultures de Laval, a service centre for new immigrants on Curé Labelle Blvd., with Immigration and Cultural Communities Minister Kathleen Weil, three of Laval’s local MNAs, and officials from the Conseil des élus de Laval looking on.

Economic importance
The agreement establishes criteria for facilitating the hiring of more immigrants by the the Laval area’s employers, and sets the stage for immigration to be increasingly recognized as an important component of Laval’s long-term economic strategy for attracting businesses and investment. Weil said during a press conference that Laval businesses stand to benefit greatly from the agreement, as does everyone else because of the intercultural convergences it will create.
“This is great news because this agreement will encourage development in the region of Laval,” said Weil. “It will facilitate several projects, while allowing certain actions with regard to the integration of persons who are immigrants to be taken, while mobilizing all the players, institutions and organizations involved in the very current reality which is immigration.”

Immigration high here
“With respect to its proportionate population, it is in Laval where the increase in immigrants has been the greatest over the last few years,” said Vaillancourt. “This attests not only to Laval’s attraction for persons who are immigrants, but also to the efforts that we have been making with all of our partners with regards to immigration questions.”
Fabre Liberal MNA Michelle Courchesne, who is also the minister responsible for the Laval region in the Liberal cabinet, said, “This kind of partnership between our government, the regions, the municipalities and others in the domain allows for a more subtle and respectful approach to local realities and regional needs.”

Part of the solution
Courchesne said that according to Emploi-Québec forecasts, 39,100 jobs will be available in the Laval region by 2014. “Immigration is part of the solution,” she added. “It sets off a dynamic in our area by contributing to its economic, cultural and social well-being.”
The agreement stipulates that the City of Laval and the CRÉ (which is a regional council of elected municipal officials put into place by Quebec to facilitate liaison with the city) are commiting themselves to supporting the provincial government’s efforts taken to integrate immigrants on the territory of Laval.