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Photos from the action for the PEQ "orphans" on February 7

Photos from the action for the PEQ "orphans" on February 7
In the centre of the crowd, the sign held by the man in a T-Rex dinosaur suit reads: "We just want a grandfather clause! Not a prehistorical clause! (Tabarnak!)"

On the 7th of February, during an astonishingly cold afternoon (easily reaching -27 Celsius with wind chill), I joined thousands across Québec who assembled in Montréal, Sherbrooke, Rimouski, Trois-Rivières, Québec, and Saguenay to protest the sudden cancelling of the PEQ. The PEQ, or Programme de l'expérience québécoise, offered a predictable pathway (though not a guaranteed one) towards a permanent residency for francophones who have worked in Québec for at least two years or who obtained a Québec diploma, according to the lacsq.org.

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For years now, while using the PEQ as a roadmap, people planned and came and worked and brought their families to Québec. With the PEQ cancelled, thousands are left in a terrible limbo, as work or study permits steadily run out of time. Many unions and politicians have come forward — the mayor of Québec City as well as provincial party Québec Solidaire have been particularly loud — to denounce the cancellation as not only cruel but also as negatively impacting the provincial health system, child care centres, elder care facilities, as well as the special effects (animation, cinema, and video games) and technology industry. The PEQ cancellation is a labour issue that concerns the entire province.

On top of losing a ballet teacher at my local ballet studio to the PEQ's cancellation, I have several more friends directly affected by the PEQ's cancellation, a cancellation which was orchestrated by the increasingly unpopular (and politically isolated) minister Roberge. So, on February 7th, I took out my camera and joined the manif in downtown Montreal. (I've shared a few of these photos over on Instagram, but here are a few more, and in higher resolution.)

Photo of a sign that reads: "404 PEQ cannot be found! Changing the rules during the game is cheating!"
The text here says: "I studied and I was 1 month away from qualifying for my 2 years of experience. The PEQ closing is unfair. Grandfather clause for those already here!"
The sign reads: "Stop this unjust decision! The end of the PEQ is an inhuman decision that breaks the social contract!" Many workers were invited and sought out to come to Québec by employers such as tech companies, child care and health care facilities, and universities.
The sign reads: "End PEQ — grandfather clause for all! I hurt for my Québec when it denies its own values"
Written on the sign: "Special effects artist: I give life to your movies! Please don't end mine. My permit expires in May."
A lot of families were out that day. Several shared that they weren't sure if they could register their students for school next year, as this is the time of year when registering for the next scholastic year occurs.
Despite the cold, there were hundreds out. If the temperatures hadn't been so low, I think there could have been easily twice as many people, based on how many people texted me saying they were too cold to come out.
The sign reads: "Good enough for working in Québec but not good enough to stay? PhD in psychology: I work Every Day to make sure there is access to mental health services for everyone! My permit expires in May. Stop our precarious situation!"
The sign reads, including a CAQ pun: "No longer CAQpable to deal with all these discriminatory policies!" (For my overseas friends: CAQ stands for Coalition Avenir Québec, the name of the political party currently in charge.)

There will be more demos and marches throughout Québec over this winter and spring, so follow this account to learn more:

Le Québec c'est nous aussi (Instagram)

Before I go, here's a link to CTV's coverage of the march:

Quebec Municipalities join protest denouncing end of experience program
It was the turn of the president of the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) to denounce, in an open letter on Saturday morning, the abolition of the Quebec Experience Program, or PEQ.
CTVNewsChristine Long

And one last one for the road, from Radio-Canada:

What’s changing in Quebec’s immigration system — and why it’s sparking backlash | RCI
We break down some of the confusion surrounding the abolition of the PEQ program.
Radio-Canada.caFranca G. Mignacca (new window)



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