A memo from the Canadian immigration department reveals IRCC’s strategy for Francophone newcomers. It highlights how the department intends to support prospective French proficient immigrants after 2023.

By the end of 2023, IRCC aims to achieve its target of 4.4% French-speaking immigrants across Canada, particularly outside Quebec.

This goal reappeared in the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023 and IRCC’s Francophone Immigration Strategy 2019. As per the September 2022 data, the percentage of permanent resident admissions proficient in French outside of Quebec was 3.7%. 

According to the IRCC memo, the department is looking into several actionable areas that support the proposals under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028. This is in order to boost Francophone immigration after 2023.

These include the following strategies:

  • Inclusion of a Francophone lens in the Express Entry revisions
  • Development of Permanent Residence (PR) pathways for French-speaking immigrants, particularly international students, and foreign workers
  • Fostering relationships and partnerships, particularly with provinces as well as territories
  • Establishment of a Center of Innovation on Francophone Immigration. This includes a new grants and contributions program to boost Francophone immigration.

IRCC’s strategy for Francophone newcomers

The following sections detail the above-stated IRCC’s strategy for Francophone newcomers. It emphasizes how the department intends to support French-proficient immigrants in the upcoming years. 

1. Inclusion of a Francophone lens in the Express Entry.

The memo from IRCC demonstrates that the revisions in the Express Entry might make room for increased flexibility in choosing candidates under new rules for Category-based selection draws. This approach might create a system that allows direct selection of candidates who are proficient in French and bilingual.

Express Entry is currently a major means of helping Francophone immigration. Considering this, incorporating a Francophone lens into the Express Entry revisions can be critical in extending Express Entry potential for French-based immigration.

2. Development of TP to PR Pathways for French-speaking immigrants

As noted in the memo, IRCC intends to expand the temporary resident to permanent resident pathways for French proficient temporary Foreign workers and international students. It is possible by expanding the current immigration programs that support this type of transition. In addition, new TR to PR pathways that will focus on specific professions or trades may also be taken into account.

The immigration department may also consider its temporary resident programs as a chance to better assist foreign nationals who speak French and gain useful Canadian work experience. This will help them qualify for the permanent residence pathways.

Moreover, in order to meet its permanent residence targets, IRCC is seeking to expand the Francophone mobility stream under the International Mobility Program (IMP). This is because this expansion will help it include French proficient temporary workers from all occupations and skill sets.

3. Fostering partnerships with provinces and territories

IRCC’s next objective is fostering relationships and partnerships with the provincial and territorial governments. It claims that understanding provincial and territorial labor force demand for French proficient and bilingual newcomers is critical for the sustainability of the Francophone community in the country. 

Also, encouraging the benefits of French proficient immigrants for employers and other partners. 

Moreover, considering the diverse interests of Francophone immigrants among different provinces and territories, IRCC aims to bolster the existing relationships. The department further intends to collaborate directly with the interested provinces and territories to create more specialized approaches as per their unique demands.

4. Other plans and approaches to strengthen Francophone Communities

IRCC sets a new immigration levels plan every year to direct the way it works. The plan divides the permanent resident targets based on the three general classes of Canadian immigration. These include economic, family, and humanitarian/refugees.

The immigration levels plan for 2024-2026 for Canada is going to stabilize the total number of new permanent residents Canada aims to admit in 2025 and 2026. This will maintain the overall PR admissions targets fixed at 500,000 new PRs in both years.

However, in 2024, Canada aims to admit 26,100 francophone permanent residents outside of Quebec, 31,500 in 2025, and 36,000 in 2026. 

It’s clear from the immigration targets that IRCC expects to raise the admissions of Francophone permanent residents in 2026 by 4,500 outside of Quebec. Also, It’s significant because, between 2025 and 2026, it’s the only category where the immigration target grows. This exhibits Canada’s commitment to boosting Francophone immigration.

Moreover, IRCC will spend $18.5 Million to encourage and support hiring French-proficient immigrants in Canada and overseas. This will be part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028. Also, the $50 Million will be used further to strengthen the Francophone integration pathway. This involves making it easier for new immigrants to settle and integrate into Canada. Additionally, it entails boosting the acceptance capacity of Francophone minority communities.

Ultimately, Canada’s Frech-based immigration strategy 2019 seeks to strengthen the vitality of Francophone communities.

The study further highlights the immigration target of attaining 4.4% francophone immigrants outside Quebec by 2023. It also aims to facilitate the successful integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers while also strengthening the Francophone communities’s capacity.