The Minister of Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Marc Miller, recently announced a series of initiatives to support Francophone immigration outside of Quebec. These measures include a new Francophone immigration policy, renewal and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiatives, a new program to support Francophone immigration, and the implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages.
The new Francophone immigration policy aims to promote the growth of Francophone minority communities and increase their weight. It includes measures to address labor shortages through promotion and recruitment support efforts.
The Welcoming Francophone Communities initiatives are being renewed, with 14 communities continuing to receive funding to help integrate French-speaking newcomers. Additionally, the initiative will be expanded to allow up to 10 more Canadian communities to support French-speaking newcomer integration.
The new Francophone Immigration Support Program will fund projects to work towards eliminating barriers to Francophone immigration. Minister Miller highlighted that the target of 4.4% French-speaking residents’ admissions outside of Quebec was surpassed in December 2023, reaching about 4.7%. IRCC has also announced that the target is 6% for 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% for 2026.
These initiatives are part of the government’s efforts to strengthen national identity through Francophone immigration and attract skilled workers to support the economic and cultural development of these communities.
In 2023, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new selection criteria for candidates applying through Canada’s Express Entry system of programs, which includes the Federal Skilled Trades Program, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Among the new selection criteria is a focus on professional experience in-demand occupations and proficiency in French.
The special category for immigration comes through IRCC’s plan for Francophone Immigration, aimed at increasing the proportion of Francophone immigrants outside of Quebec to 4.4%. These initiatives are supported by the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages, which commits over $80 million CAD over five years to various Francophone immigration and retention activities.
Canada’s federal government has a mandate to promote and protect both official languages, including advancing the equality of status of English and French in official Canadian institutions and supporting the development of minority linguistic communities in the country. Therefore, IRCC has undertaken these initiatives to welcome more French-speaking newcomers and support Francophone communities within Canada.
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