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À chaque mois, nous abordons un thème différent avec un mot de la direction ainsi que de courtes vignettes portant sur les fonds, les philanthropes et les organismes qui forment la communauté de la FGM en se mettant à l’écoute et au service de la communauté du Grand Montréal.
A citizen movement has emerged in recent months following the Quebec government’s decision to abolish the Programme d’expérience québécoise (PEQ). This pathway had long been one of the primary mechanisms allowing immigrant people who had put down roots in Quebec through study or work to permanently settle here and build their lives.
Let us be clear from the outset. This program allowed people who were already integrated into Quebec’s social, economic, and cultural fabric to obtain permanent residency. That is why the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) launched the blue hearts movement in support of immigrant people already established here. FGM wholeheartedly endorses this initiative, and over 80% of Quebecers share the same view.
Asylum seekers face even greater uncertainty. Another useful reminder: these individuals also have the right to work. And indeed, they seek to do so as quickly as possible upon arrival. Fortunately, the Supreme Court of Canada recently issued a long-awaited ruling to that effect. That decision confirmed access to subsidized daycare for asylum-seeking families.
The Court notably observed that their exclusion compounds the disadvantage experienced by women asylum seekers. Since they generally shoulder a greater share of family responsibilities, their ability to work often depends on access to affordable childcare. This is therefore also a matter of equity.
Speaking of which, I also want to highlight the upcoming Employment and Social Integration Fair for Asylum Seekers. Organized by INICI, the event will take place on April 2nd, at the Olympic Stadium. This initiative has proven its worth, posting a participant placement rate of over 70% over the last few years. Under the 2024-2026 edition of the Collective Fund for Social Equity, the Foundation has supported several other organizations working with asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants without status, or with temporary or precarious status. Others, such as Femmes en emploi and CEJFI which FGM backed through the WIM Fund, more specifically support the socio-professional integration of immigrant women.
On this topic, our Vital Signs report on women and girls in Greater Montreal reminds us that in 2021, the employment rate of immigrant women in Quebec (57.3%) was slightly higher than that of women born in Canada (56.3%), yet their unemployment rate was twice as high (9.6% vs. 4.8%). This reflects a strong desire to participate in the labour market, despite all the barriers and discrimination faced by many of them.
An action-research report by the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC), whose dissemination the Foundation supported last December, illustrated the degree of precariousness in which many undocumented women working in Quebec live. It notes that they are all too often victims of wage theft, and even physical or sexual violence. This is a reminder of the great vulnerability of these women and the importance of protecting their rights and dignity.
In January, I stated that it takes all of us. And all of us also means all people of immigrant background who are established here, regardless of their status. Our communities grow and thrive thanks to the contributions of these women and men who, though not born in Quebec, have chosen to make it their home and build their futures here. Let us not forget that.
President and CEO
Foundation of Greater Montréal
This action research from the Immigrant Workers Centre’s Women’s Committee shed light on the harsh and often abusive conditions experienced by women without legal status in Québec, and documented…
Femmes en Emploi was founded by and for women, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds. The organization has taken on the mandate of supporting these women throughout their journey toward employability, for a successful integration and advancement not only in the labour market, but also…
The CEJFI’s mission is to work toward the social, economic, cultural, and civic integration of young immigrant women, by promoting an intersectional approach and advocating for their rights.
