How can Canadians live permanently in France? I am a Quebec resident
(which already has a certain preferential relationship with France)
and I am thinking of moving to France to live and work in next year or
two, possibly for an extended period. I am over 45 and I am aware
France does not have open immigration policy, and may also be
constrained by European directives. On the other hand I can work
happily from home over the internet, and have enough funds to buy an
apartment, preferably across the border from Geneva. What can you
suggest?

I am not an expert, so this is rather a bundle of ideas than a real
suggestion. As a Canadian and thus a subject of Her Majesty, you
should be able to get British citizenship quite easily, I assume. As a
British citizen (you may prefer dual Canadian-British citizenship),
you'd be also a citizen of European Union. With that as a
prerequisite, taking permanent residence in France is much easier.
As I said, only some thoughts...

Scriptor

Further to what scriptor said: although the UK doesn't award
citizenship to British Commonwealth citizens as easily as it used to,
citizenship of ANY European Union country will allow you to live and
work permanently in France.