Question Period Note: Report by the Commissioner of Official Languages on the Francophone immigration target outside Quebec

On November 30, 2021, the Commissioner of Official Languages released a report on a statistical analysis study on the 4.4% target for French-speaking immigration into Francophone minority communities. The federal target was established in 2003. The report details three recommendations.

• I welcome with interest the Commissioner’s report on the target for Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Our government commits to carefully reviewing the Commissioner’s recommendations.
• I am collaborating actively with my colleague the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship on this file. The Commissioner’s recommendations will support our reflections for the future of Francophone immigration.
• Francophone immigration is essential to the vitality of Francophone minority communities. That is why the modernization of the Official Languages Act will propose an obligation to adopt a Francophone immigration policy.

• On November 30, 2021, the Commissioner of Official Languages (COL) published the report “Statistical analysis of the 4.4% immigration target for French-speaking immigrants in Francophone minority communities: Almost 20 years after setting the target, it is time to do more and do better”.
• In 2003, the Government of Canada adopted a target for Francophone immigration outside Quebec of 4.4%, which was to be achieved by 2008. Due to challenges, including issues surrounding the definition of a “French-speaking immigrant” and data collection, this target has been pushed back over the years to 2023.
• The COL’s study is a statistical analysis of the shortfalls since the adoption of the target, and presents estimates of its desired impact on the maintenance of the demographic weight of the Francophone minority population. The report also presents contextual information on the adoption and evolution of the target and provides ideas for consideration as the 2023 deadline approaches. The study does not aim to quantify a new target.
• According to the COL’s study:
o On average, the admission of an additional 6,000 French-speaking permanent residents annually would have been required to meet the 4.4% target each year since 2001 (reference year for the target).
o For the period 2001 to 2020, these gaps represent an accumulated deficit of approximately 119,656 permanent residents, as defined in 2006. Considering the accumulated deficit since 2008, this represents approximately 75,839 permanent residents.
o The demographic weight of the Francophone population outside Quebec (according to first official language spoken) decreased from 4.4% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2016. If the 4.4% target had been reached since 2008, the demographic weight would have been 4.0% in 2016. Hypothetically, if the target had been met as early as 2001, the demographic weight would have been 4.2% in 2016.
• The COL’s report contains three recommendations:
o That, by the arrival of the 2023 target deadline, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conduct a full analysis on the following in cooperation with key partners and publicly report the results:
 the 4.4% Francophone minority immigration target set in 2003, its deadlines and the shortfalls since it was set; and
 the target’s contribution to achieving the objective of at least maintaining the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities at the level of the 2001 Census, and the impact of this contribution on the development of these communities.
o That, with the arrival of the 2023 target deadline, IRCC work with its government and community partners to:
 review, refine and clarify the objective relative to its contribution to re-establish and maintain the demographic weight of the minority French-speaking population.
 review the target and then adopt a new, higher one.
 define and develop strategies, approaches and tools adapted to meet this new target and its objective.
 set a final deadline and short- and medium-term benchmarks to achieve the new target and its objective.
 clarify the accountability requirements and measures for the achievement of the new target and its objective.
o That the Government of Canada adopt a policy on immigration into Francophone minority communities, including a new objective and a new target.
• Bill C-32 (died on the order paper) included the addition of an obligation for the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to adopt a Francophone immigration policy to enhance the vitality of Canada's Francophone minorities. It also included a commitment to support sectors essential to the development of official language minority communities, including immigration.

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