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The Quebec government has announced it will invest $1.6 million in a program to encourage international students in Montreal to remain in the province after graduation. ‘I Choose Montreal’ will be run by economic development organization Montr\u00e9al International, and will be directed towards university, college, and vocational students in the Greater Montreal area. The initiative was developed in consultation with the Minist\u00e8re de l\u2019Immigration, de la Diversit\u00e9, et de l\u2019Inclusion <\/em>(the Ministry of Immigration, Diversity, and Inclusion, or MIDI).<\/p>\n According to a press release from Montr\u00e9al International, the program will combine activities such as workshops with the MIDI, activities for students, job fairs, and outreach. It is hoped that the project will provide a blueprint for other organizations across Quebec to implement similar initiatives to retain international students after graduation.<\/p>\n In collaboration with this initiative, the MIDI has opened two online resources to international students in Quebec \u2014 Francisation en ligne<\/em> and Service d\u2019int\u00e9gration en ligne <\/em>\u2014 in order to assist individuals with French language learning and integration. There is also a recently-launched information website targeted at international students and temporary residents who wish to make Quebec their long-term home.<\/p>\n Speaking at the announcement of the new project, Quebec\u2019s Minister of Immigration, Kathleen Weil, said, \u201cThe new initiative shows that the Government of Qu\u00e9bec is determined to step up its efforts to get as many young international students as possible to stay in Qu\u00e9bec, particularly in Greater Montr\u00e9al. They have a Qu\u00e9bec degree, speak French, and are already familiar with our society and culture. They are the best we can get and we want them to stay and help our economy grow.\u201d<\/p>\n Weil was supported by Quebec\u2019s Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Christine St-Pierre. \u201cEncouraging international students to settle here is a strategic move that will benefit our society in many ways by raising Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s international profile and strengthening our position in global research networks. The initiative is consistent with Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s future international policy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\nA pathway to permanent residence<\/h3>\n