Immigration Minister gives update on new Francophone Immigration policies and targets
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced a series of initiatives this morning to support Francophone immigration from outside Quebec.
The measures include a new Francophone immigration policy, the renewal and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiatives, a new program to assist Francophone immigrants, and the implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages.
The Minister stated that the new Francophone immigration policy will promote the growth of Francophone minority communities while also increasing their weight. To address labour shortages, the policy includes measures such as promotion and recruitment support.
The Welcoming Francophone Communities initiatives will be renewed, and 14 Canadian communities will continue to receive funding to assist with the integration of French-speaking newcomers. The initiative will be expanded so that the Canadian government can choose up to ten more Canadian communities to help French-speaking newcomers integrate.
The new Francophone Immigration Support Program will fund projects aimed at eliminating barriers to Francophone immigration.
Finally, the Minister stated that the target of 4.4% French-speaking resident admissions outside of Quebec was met in December 2023, reaching approximately 4.7%. IRCC has previously stated that this target is 6% for 2024, 7% for 2025, and 8% for 2026.
“Francophone immigration plays a crucial role in strengthening our national identity,” the president said. “The numerous measures we are implementing will attract skilled Francophone workers to help these communities develop economically and culturally. Our efforts to ensure the successful reception and integration of French-speaking newcomers align with our unwavering commitment to restoring and expanding the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities.”
Initiatives focusing on Francophone immigration
In 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will announce new selection criteria for candidates applying through Canada’s Express Entry system of programs.
Candidates with French proficiency were among those who met the new selection criteria, which focused primarily on professional experience in in-demand occupations in Canada. Individuals applying for this category must demonstrate proficiency in French equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 or higher in reading, listening, writing, and speaking.
This special immigration category was created as part of the IRCC’s Francophone Immigration Plan, which was released in 2019. The immigration plan aimed to increase the proportion of Francophone immigrants outside of Quebec to 4.4% by the end of 2023. In addition, the plan aims to support the successful integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers while also strengthening the capacity of Francophone communities across Canada.
These initiatives are also supported by the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028, which commits more than $80 million CAD over five years to various francophone immigration and retention activities, such as consolidating Francophone integration pathways, recruiting primary and secondary-level French and French-speaking teachers, and improving Francophone immigration initiatives under current frameworks.
Why is Francophone immigration happening?
According to the Official Languages Act, the Canadian federal government is responsible for promoting and protecting the status of both official languages (English and French). Among these goals, the government must ensure respect for and development of both official languages in Canada, including advancing the equality of status of English and French in official Canadian institutions and society, as well as supporting the development of minority linguistic communities (either French or English) throughout the country.
Because of these goals, IRCC is responsible for welcoming and retaining Francophone newcomers to Canada (as well as supporting French-speaking communities throughout the country), which is why the department has launched these initiatives to welcome more French-speaking newcomers.
