Question Period Note: Francophone Immigration outside Quebec

In a press release of April 4, 2022, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) published a study on the target for Francophone immigration in minority settings. The FCFA is calling for the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities to be restored to 4.4%. To achieve this, the organization is proposing the adoption of a much higher and progressive target for Francophone immigration: 12% in 2024 rising to 20% in 2036.

• Francophone immigration is essential to the vitality and development of Francophone minority communities across the country.
• We actively collaborated with the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship while modernizing the Official Languages Act and will continue to do so as we set new objectives for the Official Languages Action Plan for 2023-2028.
• Our Bill to modernize and strengthen the Official Languages Act sets out the obligation to adopt a Francophone immigration policy with clear objectives, targets and indicators.

• In a press release published on April 4, 2022, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) published a study on the target for Francophone immigration in minority settings. The FCFA is calling for the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities to be restored to 4.4%, what it was in 2001. To achieve this, the organization is proposing a marked and progressive increase in the target for Francophone immigration, from the current target of 4.4% to 12% in 2024 and then 20% in 2036. The study published projects several scenarios in order to restore a previous demographic weight of Francophones outside Quebec, which dates from 2001.
• 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”. 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.
• Changes proposed in the reform document, entitled English and French: Towards Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada (February 2021), include administrative measures to address labour market shortages of French teachers, including:
o That the Minister of IRCC set up a new Francophone immigration corridor specifically aimed at recruiting Francophone and French-language teachers—for immersion and teaching of second language programs, and for French-language education.
o That the government develop, with the provincial and territorial governments, a framework for the recognition of diplomas in teaching French immersion, French as a second language and teachers of French as a first language that can be applied across the country.
• On March 1st, 2022, the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency tabled Bill C-13 An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts in the House of Commons. This Bill aims to better support the French language throughout Canada, including in Quebec.
o The Bill significantly strengthens Francophone immigration: the modernized Act would set out the obligation for Canada to have a Francophone immigration policy that will contain objectives, targets and indicators to increase Francophone immigration to Francophone minority communities.
• The Federal/Provincial/Territorial Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec, endorsed by both FPT Immigration and Francophone Affairs Ministers in 2018 has been instrumental in guiding IRCC’s work with provinces and territories.
• IRCC has legally binding bilateral immigration agreements in place with provinces that include a commitment to supporting official language minority communities (OLMCs). These agreements could also be used to advance Francophone migration.
• IRCC negotiated annexes to these bilateral agreements with New Brunswick (2017) and Ontario (2018) to strengthen cooperation in support of Francophone immigration. IRCC hopes to soon work with provincial and territorial colleagues to negotiate annexes with other jurisdictions to advance these common objectives.
• There are several programs and initiatives to help integrate newcomers such as those in the 2018-2023 Official Languages Action Plan as well as, among others, the Francophone Integration Pathway, consolidated by IRCC, which aims to strengthen the settlement and resettlement services offered to Francophone newcomers by Francophone organizations ("by and for") - from pre-arrival to citizenship - and to make newcomers of all linguistic backgrounds aware of these services.

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