LANG - Narrative - October 4, 2023

Francophone Immigration

Background and Recent Accomplishments

For a number of years now, Canada has noted a demographic decline among Francophone communities, [redacted] outside Quebec. According to the 2021 Canadian Census of Population compiled by Statistics Canada, the percentage of Francophones has decreased in all regions of the country with the exception of the Yukon.

The Government of Canada is continuing its efforts to promote Francophone immigration outside Quebec, a key priority for the future. The support of community stakeholders as well as of federal, provincial and territorial partners is essential to achieving ambitious objectives as regards Francophone immigration in the coming years.

In 2022, the Government of Canada achieved the objective of 4.4% of Francophone immigrants outside Quebec, one year earlier than expected.

Canada welcomed more than 42,000 Francophone immigrants between 2018 and 2022, or more than double the number it had welcomed over the past 15 years.

The Government of Canada has continued to make changes in the framework of its immigration programs by adding a Francophone component. This addition makes it possible to consolidate its commitment to supporting the economy and reinforcing Canada’s cultural and linguistic richness thanks to the Express Entry category-based rounds of invitations. Since one of the categories is dedicated to French speakers, and given the expansion of the Francophone Mobility program, it is possible for Canadian employers to hire qualified applicants according to the National Occupational Classification.

In April 2023, the Government of Canada announced the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028: Protection-Promotion-Collaboration (APOL), which includes a historic federal investment in official languages. Pillar 1 of the action plan, entitled “Francophone Immigration: Towards the Re-establishment of the Demographic Weight of Francophones,” is wholly dedicated to immigration and includes investments in the amount of $137.2 million to support Francophone immigration.

What’s next?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is working closely with its partners, including community stakeholders, to establish new targets over the next three years. These will be ambitious but also realistic and attainable in order to help reverse the decline of Francophone communities throughout Canada.

IRCC has also established a working group, co-chaired by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA), to guide the development of a new Francophone immigration policy and related consultations.

Consultations were carried out in September with the provinces and territories as well as with community stakeholders. They have enabled us to validate the proposed directions of the Policy and to collect perspectives that can improve it and make it possible to finalize it.

IRCC works closely with its partners on an ongoing basis to ensure that the immigration system offers Francophones the option of settling wherever they wish in Canada.

Canada is continuing its efforts to promote Francophone immigration outside Quebec, a key priority for the coming years. Work will continue towards achieving ambitious Francophone immigration targets in the years to come.