Quebec has introduced a mandatory declaration for immigrants requiring them to sign their commitment to respect the province's common values.

The immigrant declaration follows on recommendations issued by The Bouchard-Taylor Commission, a provincial public inquiry on the issue of so-called reasonable accommodation of cultural and religious beliefs.

The Bouchard-Taylor report concluded that more needed to be done to help integrate newcomers to Quebec.

The Liberal government has already committed to improving available means to help immigrants find work and learn to speak French.

The new declaration will ask immigrants if they agree with Quebec's common values, including French as an official language, gender equality and the separation of church and state.

Signing the declaration is absolutely necessary for people interested in resettling in Quebec, said Immigration Minister Yolande James.

"If the person does not want to sign, and does not want to commit to respecting those values, they will not be able to come to Quebec," she said Wednesday. "That is plain and simple."

The Liberal government has been criticized by opposition parties for not doing enough to protect the French language in Quebec, especially in Montreal.