IRCC plans to support Francophone immigration by the end of 2023. The department aims to reach a 4.4% target of French-speaking immigrants outside the province of Quebec. This target was affirmed in the Action Plan for official languages 2018-23, along with IRCC’s Francophone Immigration Strategy launched in 2019. The proportion of French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec was around 3.7%.
According to a memo released by IRCC, wherein IRCC plans to support Francophone immigration, stated that the department is exploring specific action areas which complement the proposals under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-28. These include:
- Integration of Francophone lens in Express Entry reforms.
- Expansion of partnerships, specifically with territories & provinces.
- Expansion of pathways to permanent residence for French-speaking international students & foreign workers.
- Creation of Centre of Innovation on Francophone immigration. It includes new grants & contributions programs to support Francophone immigration.
Francophone Lems In Express Entry
The IRCC memo explains that Express Entry reforms could enable greater flexibility in selecting applicants under new authorities for category-based selection. As a result, this could create a mechanism to directly select French-speaking and bilingual applicants.
Given that Express Entry is already a key mechanism in supporting Francophone immigration, integrating a Francophone lens into the reforms could be significant in maximizing the potential of Express Entry for Francophone Immigration.
Expansion Of TR To PR Pathways For French Speakers
According to the memo, the expansion of temporary resident to permanent resident pathways for French-speaking international students & temporary foreign workers can be done by expanding existing programs that support this kind of change.
As IRCC plans to support Francophone immigration, the department also looks at its temporary resident programs as an opportunity to increase the facilitation of Francophone international students who can gain relevant work experience that will qualify them for PR pathways.
In addition, IRCC is working to expand the Francophone mobility stream under the IMP to include French-speaking temporary workers from all skill sets & professions in support of its permanent resident admission objectives.
Expansion Of Partnerships With Provinces & Territories
IRCC explains that the key to maintaining the vitality of Francophone communities is to understand the territorial as well as provincial labor force needs for French-speaking as well as bilingual immigrants. Moreover, it will also include promoting the benefits of these immigrants for employers as well as other partners.
Furthermore, given the varying interests for Francophone immigration across territories & provinces, IRCC hopes to work to strengthen these partnerships & work bilaterally with interested territories & provinces to develop tailored approaches for individual needs.
Other Strategies & Initiatives To Bolster Francophone Communities Outside Quebec
Every year, IRCC releases an Immigration Levels Plan in order to guide its operations. The Plan breaks down PR targets according to Canada’s three general immigration classes, i.e., family, economic, & humanitarian/ refugee.
Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan 2024-26 will stabilize the number of new PR in 2025 & 2026, thus keeping the overall admissions target at 500,000 in both years.
However, the aim is to welcome over 26,100 Francophone permanent inhabitants outside of Quebec in 2024, 31,500 in 2025, & 36,000 in 2026.
In 2026, IRCC will be increasing the target by 4,500. Well, this is noteworthy as it is only the admissions category in which the target rises between 2025 & 2026, demonstrating the nation’s commitment to Francophone immigration.
Moreover, as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-28, IRCC will spend around $18.5 million to promote & support recruitment for Francophone immigration both in Canada & abroad. Also, around $50 million will further be consolidating the Francophone Immigration Pathway, including making integration & settlement easier for immigrants to Canada & improving the reception capacity of Francophone minority communities.
Lastly, the Francophone Immigration Strategy of Canada aims to support the vitality of Francophone communities. Furthermore, apart from reaching the target of 4.4% of Francophones outside the province of Quebec, the strategy hopes to support the successful integration & retention of French-speaking immigrants & strengthen the capacity of Francophone communities.