Couple in Quebec City in limbo as work permit renewal stalls ahead of birth
As their second child’s due date approaches, a Quebec City couple says they are caught between federal and provincial offices and face the prospect of paying tens of thousands of dollars for hospital care should their provincial health coverage lapse.
Noémie Reine and her partner, Jérémie Seguin, moved from France to Quebec City in 2023 after Seguin was recruited for a high‑demand job in information technology. The couple say they began a renewal process months before an existing work permit expired but encountered lengthy administrative delays.
Seguin asked his employer to request a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada in January, a document his lawyers and employer said is required to extend the work permit. After several months of waiting, the couple say the federal government revoked Seguin’s permit on June 19, citing missing documentation.
“It would be catastrophic if the baby is born a bit too early,” Reine said, describing the couple’s anxiety as their child’s arrival nears.
Potential costs and immediate consequences
Without an active work permit, provincial health coverage in Quebec can be jeopardized, leaving temporary residents responsible for the full cost of medical services. The couple estimate that delivering a baby in hospital without coverage could cost around $20,000.
- The couple moved to Quebec City in 2023 after being recruited for an IT post.
- Seguin requested a labour market impact assessment in January to support a permit renewal.
- His work permit was revoked on June 19 because required documentation was not provided, according to federal officials.
The family say federal and provincial departments have pointed to one another as they seek clarification and a path to restore permits or coverage. The situation has placed significant stress on Reine and Seguin as they prepare for childbirth in a matter of weeks.
Local context: immigration paperwork and provincial coverage
The case highlights how immigration processing times and documentation requirements can have immediate health and financial consequences for newcomers. Quebec’s health insurance plan is administered provincially, but eligibility for temporary residents often hinges on their immigration status, which is governed federally.
For many families who arrive to work in Quebec’s technology sector, a stable work permit is central not only to their employment but also to access to the public health system. Delays or refusals at the federal level can therefore reverberate quickly in day‑to‑day life.
What remains unclear
Public reports indicate the federal government said it could not renew Seguin’s permit because the required documents were not provided. The couple maintain they initiated the LMIA request well before expiry and say they were left waiting for the federal response. How the file will proceed, whether an expedited remedy is available, and whether provincial coverage can be temporarily reinstated in this case remain open questions.
| Key dates | Event |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Couple relocate to Quebec City |
| January | LMIA requested for permit renewal |
| June 19 | Work permit revoked |
| Late term | Partner is 38 weeks pregnant |
At a time when many Quebec residents rely on the public health system for prenatal care and delivery, this family’s experience raises questions about coordination between federal immigration services and provincial health authorities. The couple has said they fear an early birth could force them to pay out of pocket for urgent obstetrical care.
As the due date approaches, the immediate needs are practical: confirming the family’s immigration status, ensuring continuity of health coverage for prenatal care and delivery, and preventing what they describe as a potential catastrophic financial burden. For others in similar positions, the case underscores the precariousness of relying on timely intergovernmental processing to secure basic health services.
Officials at the federal and provincial levels were asked about the family’s file and broader safeguards for pregnant temporary residents, but at the time of publication no further details were provided by government spokespeople. The couple say they continue to pursue options through their employer and legal advisors while monitoring the situation day by day.
The coming days will determine whether the family can secure coverage in time, or whether they will face decisions about care that few expect to confront so close to the birth of a child.
