Canada : How the Quebec Trap Closed In on This French Nurse — Just as It Did for Tunisians, Algerians, and Others

The dream of a Quebec “eldorado” for francophones has faded; it burned out quickly. It collapsed under the weight of the economic crisis, an oversaturated job market, and—let’s admit it—the rise of far-right and hard-right politics sweeping across Western countries. In 2023, Quebec opened its doors wide to francophones. That chapter is now closed.

Tensions are rising nationwide across Canada, with migrant intake programs either scrapped or heavily reduced. The only exception: rural areas, where repopulation has become an urgent priority. Worse still, this tightening of policy is affecting foreigners who have lived in the country for years.

This widespread disillusionment is best captured by the ordeal of a French resident whose testimony lays bare a descent into despair. Her video is accompanied by the following text:

“On November 19, without any prior notice, the Minister of Immigration ended the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), which targeted our best candidates for economic immigration—that is, graduates of our universities and those already working in Quebec. They are all francophones and have been living here for several years, mandatory conditions for eligibility.

Since then, lives have been shattered, dreams completely destroyed; the shock has been total and brutal…”

A moving testimony from the French nurse:

“My name is Sabrina Kouider Philippon. I’m 39 years old, a clinical nurse, and I currently work within the CIUSSS de l’Estrie, specifically in Sherbrooke. A year and a half ago, I arrived in Quebec with my husband and our two children, holding a closed work permit. I was recruited specifically to meet the needs of the healthcare system.

They literally came all the way to France to recruit me—yes, just like they did with my colleague Florence. From the very beginning, the message was always the same: you will easily obtain permanent residency. We left everything behind—absolutely everything—in France to meet the labour needs of the healthcare sector. We sold our belongings and accepted the loss of all our family and social ties.”

She continues:

“Today, with the abrupt shutdown of the PEQ, without notice, Quebec’s promise has been broken. For over a year I have travelled from home to home and worked in CHSLDs to provide care for seniors and people who have lost their autonomy. For more than a year, I had the privilege of working in home-based palliative care.

My eldest son is named Ylan. He was born here, in Quebec, in January 2017, during my first stint as a clinical nurse. He is almost nine now and is autistic. For years, I devoted every ounce of my energy to building a support network around him—a network of specialists and therapists who knew his history, his particularities, his strengths and his challenges…”

She adds:

“Ylan was finally able to join a specialized class in May 2025. Over the past few months, since joining this class, we have finally seen our boy calm, serene, happy to go to school. He has begun to make progress again in his learning. We cannot imagine having to return to France [sobs], after all the effort we have invested here.

I cannot believe that our son, who is Québécois, might no longer be able to live… [sobs] excuse me… in his own country, the land where he was born. We are deeply afraid for his mental health if we are forced to uproot the stability he has only recently gained. Beyond our feelings of incomprehension and injustice, it is truly our child’s future that worries us the most.

So what I am asking today is to reconsider the decision to abolish the PEQ, and to honour the moral commitment Quebec made when it brought us here. I am appealing to you today to ensure that Quebec’s immigration policy is fair and does justice to all our efforts. We are simply asking for the implementation of a grandfather clause. Our future depends on it. Thank you.”

The ordeal faced by this woman is only the tip of the iceberg. How many Tunisians, Algerians, Moroccans, Sub-Saharan Africans, and others have found themselves trapped by broken promises after official assurances from Canadian authorities? It is no coincidence that the country is witnessing massive waves of francophone departures, many of them skilled professionals and highly qualified workers.