IRCC Minister Transition Binder 2021: Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

Why Francophone Immigration Matters

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) mandate includes supporting the development of Francophone minority communities, as part of the Government’s commitment to enhance the vitality of official languages minorities in Canada.
• French-speaking and bilingual newcomers bring economic, social and cultural benefits to communities across Canada by:
  • supporting Canada’s economic recovery and long-term growth;
  • addressing labour market needs in a variety of economic sectors;
  • helping local businesses grow and be more competitive;
  • paying taxes to fund public services (e.g. health care) and infrastructure (e.g. French language schools);
  • contributing to upholding the bilingual nature of the country; and
  • volunteering and being members of social organizations.

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

• “This Act is to be construed and applied in a manner that […] supports the commitment of the Government of Canada to enhance the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada.”

Official Languages Act

• “Every federal institution has the duty to ensure that positive measures are taken […] to enhance […] the vitality of the English and French linguistic minority communities in Canada and supporting and assisting their development […].”

The Francophone Immigration Strategy

In 2019, the Department’s Francophone Immigration Strategy was announced with the goal of supporting the vitality of Francophone minority communities.

Objectives

• Increase Francophone immigration to reach a target of 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023
• Support the successful integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers
• Build the capacity of Francophone communities

The Strategy focuses on five areas, each with concrete actions along the immigration continuum:

Selection

• Selection of tools favouring French-speaking candidates

Attraction

• Expansion of promotion and recruitment support in Canada and abroad

Collaboration

• Joint action with federal, provincial, territorial and community partners

Integration

• Enhanced resettlement and settlement pathways

Results

• Consistent evidence and results-based policies

Demographic weight of Francophones outside Quebec

Francophone immigration is one of the key elements that helps to address the demographic decline of Francophones outside Quebec.

• In 2003, the Department and Francophone stakeholders jointly set a target of 4.4% of immigrants outside Quebec to be French-speaking.
• In 2016, more than 1 million Francophones in Canada were living outside Quebec, representing 3.8% of the population outside Quebec.^{Footnote 1}
• Continued action by all partners involved (e.g. governments, communities and stakeholders) are needed to prevent this proportion from decreasing.

Admissions of French-Speaking Permanent Resident by Immigration Category, 2020

• Immigrants in the Economic Class – 71%
• Immigrants sponsored by family – 15%
• Resettled Refugee and Protected Person in Canada – 13%
• All Other Immigrants – 1%

Source: IRCC, CDO, July 31, 2021. Data are preliminary estimates and are subject to change.

Progress on the 4.4% target by 2023

• The Francophone Immigration Strategy has yielded significant results: With more than two years left to reach the target, admissions were at 3.61% in 2020.
• Anticipated increases to the target rate are expected to continue until 2023 but at a slower rate compared to 2019.
• The pandemic has impacted IRCC’s ability to increase Francophone admissions in terms of absolute numbers.
• It is anticipated that the target of 4.4% French-speaking immigrant admissions will be met in 2023.
• However, the projections for anticipated admissions remain uncertain due to pandemic-related public health restrictions and reduced capacity for IRCC to process existing inventories.

Current and anticipated admissions of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec (2018-2023)

2018

• 4,920 Numbers of admission
• 1.82% Current rate of admission

2019

• 8,470 Numbers of admission
• 2.82% Current rate of admission

2020

• 5,760 Numbers of admission
• 3.61 % Current rate of admission

2021 (January – July 31)

• 3,270 Numbers of admission
• 2.05 % Current rate of admission

2022

• N/A
• N/A

2023

• N/A
• Anticipated Admissions Target 4.40% could be reached by 2023

Note: Last data point is July 31, 2021
Source: CDO admissions data

Across the immigration continuum

To support the vitality of Francophone minority communities, the Department has put in place initiatives that have yielded results

Promotional efforts in Canada and overseas supporting selection tools

• In areas critical to Canada’s economic recovery, including healthcare and education sectors.
• Increased targeted promotion and recruitment activities, e.g. through the 16th virtual edition of Destination Canada in February 2021 with 32,000 registered participants and most represented countries including Algeria, Morocco, France, Cameroon and Tunisia.

Selection tools supporting recruitment of French-speaking and bilingual candidates

• Additional points for French-speaking and bilingual candidates under the Express Entry system (introduced in 2017 and increased in 2020).
• Temporary selection pathways for French-speaking temporary workers in essential occupations and recent international graduates residing in Canada to facilitate their transitions to permanent residence.
• Targeted measures in regional economic programs.

A consolidated Francophone Integration Pathway

• Close collaboration with Francophone stakeholders resulting in a strengthened capacity of Francophone institutions/sector, benefiting the entire continuum.
• Improved accessibility of settlement services offered by Francophone service providers (increased from 50 to 80 service providers in 2020).
• Under the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative, 14 communities across the country demonstrated their readiness to welcome, integrate and retain French-speaking newcomers.

Reinforced collaboration with provinces and territories

• 2018 Federal/Provincial/Territorial Action Plan to Increase Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec (see Annex).
• Seven provinces with Francophone immigration strategies/targets and/or dedicated selection measures.

Key Takeaways

• Innovative approaches are used to attract, select, and retain French-speaking and bilingual newcomers by leveraging targeted measures.
• The Department is committed to achieving the target of 4.4% by 2023 to help address the demographic decline.
• While projections for anticipated admissions for meeting the target in 2023 are encouraging, there is considerable uncertainty presented by the global pandemic.
  • Current projections for anticipated admissions will need to be updated in early 2022, when admissions data and updated inventory levels are available for 2021.

Next steps:

• • Strengthen the Francophone Immigration Strategy, by working with partners (e.g. provinces/territories, communities and stakeholders).
  • Continue implementing the Action Plan for Official Languages for 2018-2023.
  • Work with provinces and territory advance to implement the FPT Action Plan on Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec.
  • Engage and consult with key stakeholders on the next Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028.

Annex: FPT Action Plan on Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec

• The Action Plan was endorsed by FPT Immigration and Francophone Affairs ministers in March 2018, to serve as a menu of options that FPT governments could implement, depending on jurisdictional priorities and level of interest.

Objective

• Supporting Canada’s Economic Growth and Enhancing the Vitality of Francophone Minority Communities.

Three Integrated Strategies:

1- Championing Francophone Immigration

• Champion the benefits and opportunities of francophone immigration.

2- Targeted Areas for Collaboration

• Employment: market the benefits of French-speaking immigrants, enhance connections between them and employers, and increase employer engagement.
• Accessible Services: ensure French-speaking immigrants are connected to FMCs and receive services in their official language of choice.
• Inclusive Communities: ensure French-speaking immigrants can fully participate in communities that are receptive and welcoming.

3- Reporting on Progress

• Collaborate to develop indicators to better understand trends and impacts of proposed actions, and share best practices.

Menu of Pan-Canadian Collaborative Actions

Desired Outcomes

• Increased number of French-speaking immigrants settling in Canada outside of Quebec.
• Increased participation rate of French-speaking immigrants in FMC labour markets.
• Increased participation rate of French-speaking immigrants in broader communities and social networks.

Call to Action to Partners

Source: IRCC 2019: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/federal-provincial-territorial-action-plan-francophone-immigration.html