Francophone Immigration Targets And Forward Planning
IRCC continues to implement measures to support our Francophone immigration objectives, including the 4.4% target of French-speaking immigrants admissions outside Quebec by 2023.
IRCC and Francophone community stakeholders are working closely to finalize recommendations for post-2023 targets that are both ambitious and attainable.
IRCC is also closely studying proposals for future targets, particularly a demographic study published by the FCFA and the study on the 4.4% target released by the Commissioner of Official Languages in November 2021.
We continue to take steps to support Francophone students, increase the proportion and retention of Francophone newcomers, and support their integration into welcoming Francophone communities outside Quebec.
Asylum Temporary Accommodations
Since the start of the pandemic, IRCC has secured hotel rooms in various cities to provide temporary accommodation for unvaccinated, asymptomatic asylum claimants who did not have a suitable quarantine plan.
Although quarantine requirements were lifted, IRCC continues to provide temporary accommodations to asylum claimants arriving through Roxham Road on an exceptional basis when provincial shelters are full.
The majority of the individuals housed in the IRCC facilities are awaiting transfer to provincial facilities or more permanent accommodations.
While supporting asylum seekers is a shared responsibility, the Government of Canada will continue to support provincial partners to develop shared solutions, particularly in Quebec.
Closing Roxham Road
Asylum claimants are a vulnerable group and Canada has obligations under the Refugee Convention to support refugees and asylum claimants who are eligible for protection.
We encourage asylum claimants to enter Canada at designated ports of entry.
Pressures on Quebec (asylum)
Quebec continues to be a valued partner and we recognize the hard work the province has undertaken to support asylum claimants.
The Government of Canada provided provinces with $534.5M, including $374M to Quebec, to alleviate asylum-related housing pressures from 2017 to 2020, and the rising costs from the pandemic.
We are considering what further support we can provide as a result of the increase in asylum claim volumes.
Safe Third Country Agreement (modernization)
Since its implementation in 2004, the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) has been an important tool for both countries to work together to ensure the orderly processing of asylum claims at our shared border.
The Government of Canada is in regular contact with U.S. officials on a range of issues related to our shared border.
We continue to work with our counterparts in the U.S. so that the STCA continues to be a compassionate and fair way to handle asylum claims between our two countries.
Safe Third Country Agreement (litigation)
The application of the STCA at Canadian and U.S. land ports of entry remains in effect and continues to remain in effect while the appeal is ongoing before the Supreme Court of Canada.
People making refugee claims must continue to do so in whichever of the two countries they enter first, unless they qualify for an exemption or exception to the Agreement.
Canada believes that the STCA remains a comprehensive means for the compassionate, fair, and orderly handling of asylum claims in our two countries.
French teachers
We know French teachers are needed to meet the demand for French education across the country.
A number of permanent residency programs are open to French teachers and they are considered to be “high-skilled” for the purposes of immigration. Between 2016 and 2021, IRCC has welcomed 415 French-speaking teachers through its economic programs to provinces outside of Quebec.
In response to recommendations made by the former Minister of Official Languages, the Department intends to collaborate with its provincial and territorial partners to explore mechanisms to increase the number of French teachers who immigrate to Canada and settle in provinces outside of Quebec.
Canada-Quebec – Levels
IRCC receives more applications than are accepted by Quebec under their immigration plan. The Department cannot process more applications than the number accepted by Quebec.
In the first 10 months of 2022, the Department achieved 57,500 admissions in Quebec, surpassing last year’s total admissions of 50,200.
Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec can receive a percentage of all immigrants coming to Canada equal to the percentage of its demographic weight in Canada, which is currently at 22%. The overall share of immigrants to Quebec in 2022 is expected to be approximately 12%, based on the province’s targets.
The Department is working with Quebec on new ways to address Quebec’s labour shortages and maintain Quebec’s demographic weight in the country.
International students (African students)
We are committed to a fair and non-discriminatory application of immigration laws. IRCC is reviewing the low visa and study permit rates from French-speaking countries in Africa and elsewhere.
We understand that applicants and schools are disappointed when an application is refused. However, the approval rates for applicants from French-speaking African countries are mostly the same as the rates from other countries in the region. This is also true for the approval rates for those destined to Quebec compared with other provinces.
While applications are assessed individually, approval rates are generally correlated to the political stability and economic conditions where the applicant is applying from. The Department is looking to improve approval rates without sacrificing program integrity.
All decision-makers processing applications from Africa have completed Government of Canada training to recognize and counter unconscious bias.
IRCC is working to attract eligible students in Africa and increase the acceptance rates by working with outreach partners, as well as at public events, to explain the study permit application process.
Language Tests
The minimum language requirements for permanent economic immigration programs are based on research and stakeholder consultations. These requirements are the same for French and English applicants.
The requirement is evaluated using the Canadian Language Benchmark or the niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
All approved tests are designed for general, rather than academic, purposes. Tests must be appropriate for adults settling into communities and employment in Canada, and take into account cultural and linguistic differences.
In the interest of fairness and transparency, all applicants are treated the same and there is no exemption for native speakers.
Research and analysis shows that there is no clear definition of native English or French speaker. It would also not account for applicants with degrees in English or French in Canada or abroad.
Canadian-Made French Language Tests
Any language testing organization can seek designation by IRCC. We have not received proposals from interested Canada-based organizations to designate a French test.
As we work to increase Francophone immigration, there will be opportunities for national and international organizations to develop additional French tests to meet the demand.
All designated tests – regardless of where they are developed – need to meet the same criteria to ensure that all applicants to Canada have the same opportunity to demonstrate their official language proficiency.
Chinook
Chinook is a Microsoft Excel-based tool that pulls different fields of existing information from IRCC’s case management system and displays it in a clear, user-friendly format. This helps IRCC officers process applications more efficiently.
The spreadsheet reduces the amount of time an officer spends on uploading files and clicking screen to screen. This is important in countries where bandwidth is low, which would otherwise slow down processing.
IRCC officers always make their own decisions based on the information submitted in applications. Chinook does not contain any advanced analytics or artificial intelligence technology.
Processing And Inventory
Responding to humanitarian crises and updating aging technology to meet demands have led to processing delays and longer wait times. IRCC continues to work to strengthen Canada’s immigration system, with a focus on addressing labour shortages, reuniting families, and improving client experience.
Our focus is on reducing existing backlogs, which are the applications that have been in our inventories longer than our service standards.
In the 2022 Fall Economic Statement, the government has committed $1.6B over six years and $315M ongoing in new funding to support the processing and settlement of new permanent residents as part of the 2023-2025 Immigration Levels Plan.
We’ve also committed an additional $50M in 2022-2023 to address ongoing application backlogs, speed up processing, and allow for skilled newcomers to fill critical labour gaps faster.
Canada-Quebec Compensation
Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, the federal government provides annual compensation to enable Quebec to provide settlement and integration services in the province. Quebec received $697M for 2021-2022 under the terms set out in the Accord.
Ministerial Centre For Members Of Parliament And Senators
Due to increased demands on the Client Support Centre, the Ministerial Centre for MPs and Senators has not been within its internal service standards.
However, the Department has dedicated additional resources to support the Centre for MPs and Senators over the past few months, which has reduced wait times.
IRCC is also modernizing its services and has co-developed an online appointment-based system with MP and Senator offices that launched on October 31, 2022.
Client Support Centre – Official Languages
IRCC ensures that the public can communicate and receive quality services in French or English.
According to our 2021 Client Experience survey, 95% of IRCC’s clients agree or strongly agree that they received service in the official language of their choice.
In an effort to better communicate with our clients, IRCC has conducted usability tests with our clients to improve the clarity and understanding of our forms and correspondence.
