CIMM – Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec – February 15 & 17, 2022

Key Messages

• The Government recognizes that immigration plays an important role in supporting the vitality of Francophone minority communities across the country.
• In 2020, French-speaking admissions represented 3.61% of all immigrants admitted to Canada outside of Quebec, an increase from previous years, but represented 2% from January to October 2021.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has undertaken many initiatives to reach the 4.4% target of French-speaking immigrant admissions by 2023, including allocating additional points for French-speaking and bilingual candidates under the Express Entry system.
• In 2021, the department introduced temporary dedicated streams for French-speaking and bilingual candidates as part of the temporary residence to permanent residence pathway for essential workers and recent international graduates already in Canada.
• IRCC fully supports the Government’s commitment to strengthening the Official Languages Act and immigration provides one of many key elements to enhance the vitality of Francophone minority communities across the country.

Supplementary Messages

Francophone Immigration Target by 2023

• The Government is working to achieve the 4.4% target for French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023. Established in 2003 with community stakeholders, this target reflects the proportion of Francophone population in the Canada outside Quebec as per the 2001 Census.
• The evolving COVID-19 situation has impacted the number of French-speaking admissions and the proportion of French speakers as most candidates come from abroad. Projections of the Francophone target were done pre-COVID-19 and the full magnitude of the impact has yet to be determined.

Support for Francophone Organizations

• Since April 2020, the department has expanded funding to approximately $53M for close to 80 Francophone service providers to deliver settlement services to the growing French-speaking newcomers population outside of Quebec.
• It has also established 14 Welcoming Francophone Communities with an initial investment of $4.2M per year over three years. The initiative was just extended for an additional year.
• Other key actions include renewed pre-arrival services, notably with the creation of a single window for the online delivery of pre-arrival settlement services in French, and increased language training services in both English and French, adapted to the needs of French-speaking or bilingual newcomers who settle in official language minority communities.
• In October 2021, the Department co-organized with the “Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne”, an information session, with more than 70 participants, to raise awareness about the Resettlement Program, the Afghan refugee initiative and the ways in which Francophone communities can become involved in this important Afghan initiative.

Promotional Activities

• My Department is pursuing year-round targeted promotional activities in Canada and abroad to expand the pool of potential qualified French-speaking and bilingual candidates.
• Promotional efforts focus on engaging with partners, key stakeholders, and employers to showcase the advantages of hiring French-speaking and bilingual workers and to connect them with resources to facilitate hiring. Promotional activities at Designated Learning Institutions also take place to inform international students of various pathways to permanent residence.
• With the recent shift to more virtual promotional activities, a broader pool of French-speaking and bilingual talent can now be reached more easily, including from Africa.
• The 17th edition of the Destination Canada Mobility Forum was held virtually in November 2021. A record number of 177,000 registered participants, 98 Canadian employers, 59 organizations and 9 provinces/territories participated in the event. Over 4,000 employment opportunities were advertised.
• In 2022, IRCC plans to participate to more than 250 activities to promote Francophone immigration, including at events such as the Francophonie Summit in Djerba, Tunisia and the Expo Dubai 2020. 

Supporting facts and figures

International Students

• The International Students Program has become increasingly attractive as a gateway to permanent residence.
• From January to December 2021, there were 6,935 French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec, and the top 3 countries of citizenship are: France (29%), Morocco (8%), and Burundi (7%).
• Students are the largest pool of temporary foreign workers in Canada, working in priority sectors such as accommodation and food, retail trade, and education services. There has been a 60% increase in study permits issued between 2015 and 2019.
• From January to December 2021, there were 1,438 French-speaking temporary residents, outside Quebec, who have ever had a study permit transitioned to permanent resident status. Most of them have had: Ottawa - Gatineau (Ontario part) (29%), Moncton (18%), and Toronto (17%) as their intended destination.  
• In September 2019, the Student Direct Stream (SDS) was launched in Morocco and Senegal with a view to recruit French-Speaking international students. The SDS is an expedited processing stream for study permit applicants from eligible countries who intend to study at the post-secondary level. [REDACTED]
• A pilot project is underway in Senegal to promote studies at francophone colleges and universities outside Quebec, in partnership with the Association des Collèges et Universités Francophone du Canada (ACUFC).
• In 2020 and 2021, in response to the pandemic, the Department implemented a number of measures to ensure Canada remains a destination of choice for international students, including the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway.
• In recognition of the importance of Francophone immigration to communities outside Quebec, the Pathway was uncapped for French-speaking and bilingual essential workers and recent international graduates intending to live outside Quebec.
• When it closed on November 5, 2021, the Department had received approximately 4,700 applications for the stream dedicated to French-speaking recent international graduates.
• On the issue of refusal rates of French-speaking candidates for a study permit in Canada, IRCC data shows the following:
  • In Quebec: refusal rate for English-speaking candidates applying for a study permit increased from 43% in 2019 to 58% in 2021
  • In Quebec: refusal rate for French-speaking candidates applying for a study permit increased from 59% in 2019 to 66% in 2020, before declining again to 59% in 2021
  • Outside Quebec: refusal rate for English-speaking candidates applying for a study permit increased from 37% in 2019 to 45% in 2020, before declining again to 36%
  • Outside Quebec: refusal rate for French-speaking candidates applying for a study permit declined from 57% in 2019 to 48% in 2021

Permanent Residents

• From 2003 to 2020, more than 65,000 French-speaking immigrants were admitted to Canada in communities outside Quebec.
• In 2020, over 4,000 French-speaking permanent resident admissions outside Quebec were selected via the Economic Class, representing approximately 71% of all French-speaking admissions outside Quebec. From January to December 2021, 60% of French-speaking permanent residents admitted to Canada outside Quebec were in the Economic Class.
• The additional points for French-speaking and bilingual candidates under the Express Entry system help deliver on the Government’s commitment to reach the target of 4.4% French-speaking immigrant admissions outside Quebec by 2023. From January to October 2021, French-speaking permanent residents admitted to Canada outside Quebec, via Express Entry, represented 43% of all French speakers outside Quebec.
• While France was, by far, the first country of citizenship of French-speaking permanent residents admitted to Canada outside Quebec from January to December 2021, the African and Middle East regions represented nearly two thirds of all admissions of French-speakers.
• In 2021 (January to December), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) became the main driver of Francophone immigration outside Quebec, accounting for a third (29%) of all admissions and nearly half of admissions of French speakers (48%) under the economic class. This increase can be explained by specific draws under Express Entry that mainly targeted in-Canada applicants in 2021 and therefore favored immigrants qualified under the CEC.

Background

• In 2019, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced the Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy with a goal of achieving a target of 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023. The strategy covers the continuum of immigration, from attraction to selection and retention of French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec.
• In collaboration with provinces and territories, the Department is advancing the federal/provincial/territorial (FPT) Action Plan to increase Francophone Immigration outside Quebec, which was endorsed by FPT Immigration and Francophone Affairs ministers in March 2018. This Action Plan enables FPT governments, in collaboration with stakeholders, to improve the promotion, selection, settlement, integration and retention of French speaking immigrants in official language minority communities.
• Additional points to candidates with strong French-speaking skills under Express Entry were initially introduced in June 2017 and have been successful at increasing French-speaking admissions outside of Quebec. In 2020, a set of additional points were awarded. Since then, an increased share of invitations issued to French-tested candidates under Express Entry has been observed, from 2.9% in 2017 to 5.2% in 2020. In 2020, French-speaking admissions under Express Entry represented the majority of French-speaking admissions outside Quebec overall, making Express Entry the most promising tool to increase French-speaking admissions outside Quebec. However, the pandemic has had a toll on that trend with a decline to 1.7% of invitations issued to French-tested candidates from January to July 2021.
• The Mobilité Francophone exemption under the International Mobility Program was launched in 2016 to promote Francophone immigration in Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. This program exempts employers, outside Quebec, from the need to have a labour market impact assessment when they hire French-speaking temporary foreign workers in managerial, professional and technical positions. From its inception to December 2021, around 5,297 work permit applications and 3,119 work permit extensions were approved.
• From May 6 to November 5, 2021, IRCC opened a new pathway to permanent residence comprised of three streams for health care workers, other essential workers (including French and French Immersion teachers), and recent international student graduates already in Canada who possess the skills and experience to support economic growth and recovery. Together, these streams will support 90,000 individuals and their families to settle in Canada permanently. When it closed on November 5, 2021, the Department had received more than 2,300 applications from the two streams dedicated to French-speaking essential workers and approximately 4,700 applications for the stream dedicated to French-speaking recent international graduates.