CIMM – Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec – March 3, 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, and 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 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 French-speaking 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

• In 2021-2022, the Department provided approximately $61M 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 Francophone minority communities.
• In October 2021, the Department co-organized an information session with the “Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne” with more than 70 participants, to raise awareness about the Resettlement Assistance Program, the Afghan refugee initiative and the ways in which Francophone minority communities could become involved in this important initiative.

Promotional activities

• The 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. The highest recorded number of requests for participation were received to date, with more than 178,000 requests. Among the exhibitors, 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 in 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

• 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 December 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 favoured immigrants qualified under the CEC.
• 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 French-speaking immigrants, including the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway. In recognition of the importance of Francophone immigration to communities outside Quebec, the Pathway was not capped 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 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.
• 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.

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, integration 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 impacted this 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 over 90,000 individuals and their families to settle in Canada permanently