IRCC aims to achieve a 4.4% target for French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec by the end of 2023. As outlined in the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 and IRCC’s Francophone Immigration Strategy launched in 2019.
As of September 15, 2022, the proportion of French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec stood at 3.7%.
A recently released memo from IRCC highlights the department’s commitment to supporting Francophone immigration post-2023. In line with proposals from the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028, the memo outlines key action areas, including:
- Integration of a Francophone perspective in Express Entry reforms.
- Expansion of pathways to permanent residence (PR) for French-speaking international students and foreign workers.
- Strengthening partnerships, particularly with provinces and territories.
- Lastly, establishment of a Center of Innovation on Francophone Immigration, featuring a new grants and contributions program to bolster Francophone immigration.
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Enhancing Collaborative Efforts with Provinces and Territories
IRCC emphasizes that the vibrancy of Francophone communities relies on a nuanced understanding of the labor force requirements for French-speaking and bilingual immigrants within each province and territory. The department aims to advocate the advantages of these immigrants to employers and other stakeholders.
Recognizing the diverse preferences and priorities regarding Francophone immigration among provinces and territories, IRCC seeks to foster stronger partnerships. The goal is to collaborate with interested provinces and territories in bilateral collaboration. Crafting customized approaches that cater to their specific needs.
Incorporating Francophone Considerations into Express Entry
Furthermore, as per the IRCC memo, adjustments to Express Entry could offer increased adaptability in candidate selection through new powers for category-based selection. This may establish a framework for directly selecting French-speaking and bilingual candidates.
Since Express Entry plays a pivotal role in facilitating Francophone immigration, integrating a Francophone perspective into the reforms becomes crucial for optimizing Express Entry’s potential in supporting Francophone immigration.
Enhancement of Pathways from Temporary to Permanent Residency for French Speakers
As outlined in the memo, broadening the avenues from temporary resident (TR) to permanent resident (PR) status for French-speaking international students and temporary foreign workers can be achieved through the expansion of existing programs. Facilitating such transitions or the exploration of novel TR to PR pathways tailored to specific trades or professions.
According to the memo, the temporary resident program represents an opportunity for IRCC to amplify support for Francophone foreign nationals. By enabling them to acquire valuable Canadian work experience, these individuals can qualify for permanent residence pathways.
IRCC is actively pursuing the expansion of the Francophone mobility stream within the International Mobility Program (IMP). This expansion aims to encompass French-speaking temporary workers across diverse skill sets and occupations. Aligning with the department’s objectives for permanent resident admissions.
Alternative Approaches and Initiatives to Strengthen Francophone Communities
Annually, IRCC unveils a fresh immigration levels plan to steer its activities. Categorizing permanent resident targets into Canada’s three primary immigration classes: economic, family, and refugee/humanitarian.
In addition, the Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 aims to stabilize the number of new permanent residents in 2025 and 2026. Maintaining an overall admissions target of 500,000 new PRs for both years.
Nevertheless, the objective is to welcome 26,100 Francophone permanent residents outside of Quebec in 2024. Escalating to 31,500 in 2025 and 36,000 in 2026. Notably, IRCC aspires to increase Francophone permanent resident admissions outside of Quebec by 4,500 in 2026 compared to 2025. Making it the sole admissions category with a rising target, showcasing Canada’s dedication to Francophone immigration.
In addition, as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028, IRCC plans to allocate $18.5 million to endorse and facilitate recruitment for Francophone immigration within Canada and abroad. An additional $50 million is to reinforce the Francophone integration pathway, streamline settlement and integration for newcomers to Canada. And enhance the reception capacity of Francophone minority communities.
Lastly, Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy, unveiled in 2019, aims to fortify the vitality of Francophone communities. Furthermore, beyond achieving the target of 4.4% Francophones outside of Quebec by 2023, the Strategy strives to support the successful integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers while bolstering the resilience of Francophone communities.
