Karavinka wrote:That is, the less popular destinations are more likely to accept new applications. And that is Quebec.
I wouldn't exactly call it less popular when it settles between 20 to 25% of new PRs per year, which is around its portion of the national population. For example, it's popular among those from France, French Africa, Latin America, and Arab countries. Toronto tends to attract those from the Indian subcontinent. Vancouver tends to attract those from Asia. It's more like the Atlantic and western provinces (save Alberta) that are less popular.
When my family came to Canada, we applied through Quebec, but settled in Alberta - but that was some 17 years ago, 20 years if I include the time spent doing the long paperwork and waiting. I don't think that works anymore; you are more likely to be conditionally granted a permanent residency, and that condition is likely to include having to actually live and be productive in Quebec. And of course you'll have to know French.
Depends. Economic, yes, but the federal government also requires a fair knowledge of English or French to be eligible for its Express program (a new thing introduced by Harper and not applicable to Quebec). Family immigration and asylum applications still have no linguistic requirements.
Conditional? I don't think so really. Only the federal government can impose that (Quebec issues certificates, federal government issues PR visas/confirmations). It's true that Quebec and federal government require you to sign a document affirming your intention to live in Quebec, but Quebec and Canada have no mechanism to enforce that document on you. Prolly because it could be deemed as unconstitutional as PRs, like citizens, have an absolute right (=cannot be suspended by the notwithstanding clause) to enter and leave Canada as well as living anywhere in the country.
Furthermore, conditional PR is applicable on family immigration, not economic one. Well, was applicable because the federal government actually
just eliminated it for all PRs.
Under the Conservatives/Republicans, a little harder.
No kidding. Harper nearly shat on and killed my PR project after ten years of waiting to see an open window for me to go through. As well as making me wait a few more years to have the citizenship by disregarding my time in Canada as temporary resident to be counted to the citizenship calculation. Thankfully, Trudeau just restored that part back to where it was.
If you're curious how I managed:
I got my PR under this program. That program was a gift from heavens to me because instead of waiting several months to be issued an CSQ, they issued me it in a few weeks instead. It was the federal step that made me wait so long (a year and three months).