The announcement reverses last week’s decision to cut off their access to the system. Foreign workers and students currently in the system will be able to access the expedited process, but new entrants will not. (Montreal Gazette)

Talking point: The reversal follows criticism of the government’s proposed immigration reforms from renowned AI researcher Yoshua Bengio and all of Quebec’s opposition parties, and a tearful protest by foreign students. Bengio argued the proposed changes will prevent Quebec-based companies from attracting top AI talent. For now, the provincial government is sticking to the core of its proposal. Students who arrived as of November 1 will not be able to access the fast-track system. Quebec’s crackdown comes as the federal government is trying to increase the number of foreign students across the country. Ottawa has earmarked $30 million to attract students primarily to schools outside of Canada’s major cities. Foreign students contributed $21 billion to Canada’s economy in 2018—more than the autoparts or lumber industries.