Question Period Note: FRENCH-SPEAKING IMMIGRANT ADMISSIONS TARGETS

Annual French-speaking immigrant admissions targets for 2025 to 2027.

• The Policy on Francophone Immigration guides 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, as per the modernized Official Languages Act.

• Last year, Canada exceeded the target of 4.4% French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec with more than 19,600 admissions, or 4.7%.

• We are building on this momentum with annual targets of 8.5 % in 2025, 9.5% in 2026, and 10% in 2027 included in the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan. These targets are ambitious yet realistic and informed by evidence and partner perspectives. Our target for 2024 is 6% and we are on track to meet it.

If pressed
• Several measures support the achievement of targets and will help retain French-speaking newcomers. For example:
o In Express Entry, more than 21,700 (26%) Invitations to Apply have been sent to candidates with strong French language proficiency this year (January to September 2024);
o The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot that is planned to be launched in late fall 2024 will provide French-speaking and bilingual candidates an additional pathway to permanent residency in participating Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec;
o The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot that was launched on August 26, 2024 will help attract and retain Francophone international students; and,
o The addition of ten new Welcoming Francophone Communities for a total of 24 across Canada to support the integration process of French-speaking newcomers.

If pressed 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 September 2024, approximately 132,195 French-speaking immigrants were admitted to Canada outside Quebec as permanent residents.

• The Standing Committee on Official Languages report entitled Openness to the International Francophone Community: Optimizing Francophone Immigration to Canada, released in April 2024, recommends a target of 12% in 2024, rising to 20% by 2036.

• The Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada welcomed the announcement of the new admissions targets for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027, while reiterating their recommendation for a target of at least 12%.

• 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).

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