Immigration Minister updates on Francophone policies and targets.

Minister Marc Miller Provides an Update on Francophone Immigration to Canada

January 16, 2024

On January 16, 2024, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced a series of important updates aimed at strengthening Francophone immigration outside Quebec. Overall, these measures are designed to support linguistic diversity while also addressing labour and demographic needs across the country.

Key Measures Announced by IRCC

To begin with, the federal government introduced several new and enhanced initiatives to encourage Francophone immigration nationwide. Specifically, these measures include:

• The launch of a new program dedicated to Francophone immigration
• Continued implementation of the Action Plan for Official Languages
• The revitalization and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative
• Additionally, the introduction of a new immigration policy focused on French-speaking newcomers

Together, these initiatives aim to strengthen Francophone communities and improve long-term settlement outcomes.

Strengthening Francophone Communities Across Canada

Importantly, the updated Francophone immigration strategy focuses not only on admissions but also on integration and retention. As a result:

• Programs actively address labour shortages through targeted recruitment and promotional efforts
• Fourteen Canadian communities have already received funding to support the integration of French-speaking immigrants
• Moreover, the government plans to expand this support to ten additional communities
• At the same time, the Francophone Immigration Support Program funds projects that remove barriers to Francophone immigration

Consequently, these efforts help communities grow both economically and socially.

Francophone Immigration Targets and Recent Progress

In December 2023, admissions of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec reached nearly 4.7%, thereby exceeding the federal target.

Looking ahead, the government has set progressively higher goals:

• 6% in 2024
• 7% in 2025
• 8% in 2026

Therefore, these targets clearly demonstrate Canada’s long-term commitment to restoring and increasing the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities.

Why Francophone Immigration Is a National Priority

According to Minister Miller, Francophone immigration plays a vital role in Canada’s future. In particular, it supports:

• Canada’s national identity
• Ongoing economic development
• Cultural diversity and inclusion
• The sustainability of French-speaking minority communities

As such, attracting skilled Francophone workers remains a strategic priority for the federal government.

Express Entry Initiatives Supporting Francophone Immigration

Meanwhile, in 2023, IRCC made significant updates to the Express Entry system, which includes the:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Most notably, IRCC introduced a French-language proficiency category under Express Entry. As a result, candidates with strong French skills now have enhanced opportunities to receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs).

To qualify under this category, applicants must demonstrate:

• Proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in French
• A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7

Background: Canada’s Francophone Immigration Strategy

These changes build on IRCC’s 2019 Strategy for Francophone Immigration, which aimed to increase Francophone admissions outside Quebec to 4.4% by 2023.

Subsequently, the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028 reinforced this vision by committing over CAD 80 million to:

• Strengthening Francophone immigration frameworks
• Recruiting and retaining French-speaking teachers
• Enhancing settlement and integration services
• Improving long-term retention of Francophone newcomers

Therefore, this funding supports both newcomers and host communities alike.

Why Canada Actively Promotes Francophone Immigration

Canada’s approach to Francophone immigration is rooted in the Official Languages Act. Under this legislation, the federal government must promote and protect both English and French.

Accordingly, key objectives include:

• Ensuring equal status for both official languages
• Supporting minority linguistic communities
• Encouraging social, cultural, and economic inclusion

For this reason, IRCC plays a central role in welcoming and retaining French-speaking immigrants across the country.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Canada’s renewed focus on Francophone immigration reflects a broader commitment to bilingualism, economic growth, and cultural diversity. Through coordinated policies, ambitious targets, and sustained funding, the government continues to strengthen Francophone communities outside Quebec.

Ultimately, these initiatives not only support newcomers but also reinforce Canada’s identity as a bilingual and inclusive nation.

Get in touch with SPS Canada

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com

(Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).