This is a normal result of the accumulated number of applications through the years. They (immigration Quebec) knew from day one this is going to happen. But as usual, Quebec prefers to solve their problems by simply ignoring them. Cap exempt applications are doubling year after year. CSQ processing time for Cap exempt applications was shortened to 20 buis. days. However, applicants will be stuck at stage two of the whole process (federal stage). they are simply issuing more csq permits but the final number for QSWP at the federal stage remained the same. Also, the manpower remained the same even when receiving more applications. The result will be sure more delays.
Solutions for the mess they have created by their own hands are either by -1- increasing QSWP limit and investing more in manpower in order to keep on going with the same pace (in reality: Quebec chose to limit their budget / QSWP limit is to 50,000/ Manpower to 41 agents for the upcoming years).
-2- Shutdown/ slow some of their immigration paths and wait (almost 1-1.5 years) to process some the backlogs. (Quebec are doing this right now).
PEQ path is slower with MIDI interviews/ refusals. Point system program was delayed to reopen( I even lost track if they reopened it again after March 2017). In other words, they have to limit their intakes until they process with the backlogs. You can understand what I'm trying to say by referring to "Permanent and Temporary Resident Applications Overview.xls" on
http://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/53105221-7652-47b1-96e2-1f85715a067c?_ga=2.160104125.1051246600.1516227490-1311455468.1515088067
also, look at the spreadsheet and compare the number of who applied in 2016 and 2017. QSWP was dying last year, simply no one was applying especially after March 2017.
Now, they are processing with applications received in November 2016. When they reach processing applications received in March 2017. Things will/ should be moving much faster.