Question Period Note: FRENCH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANT ADMISSIONS TARGETS

New annual French-speaking immigrant admissions targets for 2024 to 2026.

• A new Policy on Francophone Immigration will guide our government’s actions towards promoting the economic development and vitality of Francophone minority communities, as our government works towards increasing the demographic weight of French speakers in Canada.
• Last year, Canada exceeded the target of 4.4% French-speaking permanent immigrant admissions outside Quebec with more than 19,633 admissions, or 4.7%.
• We are building on this momentum with annual targets of 6% in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026 included in the Multi-year Levels Plan. These targets are ambitious yet realistic and informed by evidence and partner perspectives.
• In addition, 2024 Express Entry rounds have begun, inviting prospective candidates with category-specific work experience or a strong French language proficiency to apply for permanent residence.

If pressed:
• As the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is expiring on August 31, 2024, we are launching a newly designed Rural Community Immigration Pilot and a complementary Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP), this Fall to continue to provide communities across the country with a pathway to address labour shortages in priority sectors.
• The FCIP will focus on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec by giving participating communities and employers a role in selecting newcomers who can fill jobs in priority sectors in their community.

If pressed on OL report
• IRCC welcomes the Standing Committee on Official Languages’ report on optimizing Francophone immigration to Canada. We are reviewing the report and its recommendations to determine how best to move forward.
• Francophone immigration plays a crucial role in strengthening our national identity, while also growing the economy and addressing labour shortages. That’s why Canada is increasing its efforts to welcome French-speaking skilled workers outside Quebec to ensure the sustainability and economic development of Francophone minority communities.

On additional measures to increase Francophone immigration:
• The Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 includes a historic investment of $137.2M in new funds, in addition to $80.2M in ongoing funds from previous Action Plans, for a total of $217.4M over five years, to support specific measures in Francophone Immigration.

• Achieving a target of 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023 was one of the objectives of the Francophone Immigration Strategy. It was established in collaboration with community stakeholders in 2003 and reflects the proportion of Francophones in Canada outside Quebec in 2001.

• The demographic weight of Francophones outside Quebec decreased to 3.5% in 2021 due to a number of factors and could decline further to 3% by 2036 unless actions are taken.

• From 2003 to December 2023, approximately 109,835 French-speaking immigrants were admitted to Canada outside Quebec as permanent residents. In 2023, 19,633 French-speaking permanent residents were admitted outside Quebec, accounting for 4.7% of all immigrants admitted to Canada outside Quebec, up from 2% in 2021.

• In response to the announcement of the new targets for 2024 to 2026, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada reiterated their proposal for a 12% target.

• On April 26, 2023, the Government released the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028, which includes new, one-time investments of $137.2M over five years for Francophone immigration:
o Francophone immigration policy: Towards a new, integrated approach ($13.4M over five years);
o Targeted expansion of promotion and recruitment support ($18.5M over five years);
o Corridor for the selection and retention of French teachers in Canada ($16.3M over five years);
o A strengthened immigration pathway ($50M over five years);
o A Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration, including a new grant-and-contribution program in support of Francophone immigration ($25M over five years);
o Francophone lens integrated into economic immigration programs – improved selection mechanisms for Francophone and bilingual immigrants ($3.5M over five years); and,
o Helping French-speaking and allophone newcomers learn English and/or French ($10.5M over five years).

New Francophone Community Immigration Pilot & Rural Community Immigration Pilot:

• On March 6, 2024, the Minister of IRCC announced the launch of two new community-based economic immigration pilots, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, that will be launched this Fall, while IRCC continues to work towards a permanent rural immigration program.
• The two pilots will allow rural communities to continue to access immigration pathways to address labour shortages in priority sectors and help local businesses find the workers they need.
• IRCC will open the community application process this spring to select communities who will participate in the pilots, and will share more details in the coming months.

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