Haut-Saint-Jean selected as a Welcoming Francophone Community

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

May 22, 2019 — Haut-Saint-Jean, NB — Haut-Saint-Jean has been selected as a Welcoming Francophone Community as part of the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for Official Languages.

Under the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative, a total of 14 communities across Canada will receive funding so they can create programs and activities to help French-speaking newcomers feel welcomed and integrated into Francophone minority communities. This initiative of $12.6 million over 3 years was announced in Budget 2018 to support the integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers in Canada.

The new Francophone immigration strategy, Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy, announced on March 13, 2019, is a collaborative approach with federal, provincial, territorial and community partners, an approach described as “by and for Francophones”. It seeks to enhance the vitality of official-language minority communities through immigration, specifically, by increasing the proportion of French-speaking permanent residents outside of Quebec, supporting the integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers, and building the capacity of Francophone communities.

Quotes

“Francophone communities open up their hearts to welcome French-speaking newcomers to Canada. Haut-Saint-Jean will be able to be even more inviting to Francophone immigrants so they can feel welcome and where they will have more opportunities to make Canada their home. Through the launch of the Francophone Immigration Strategy, we are committed to increasing the proportion of French-speaking immigrants in Francophone minority communities such as Edmundston, Haut-Madawaska and the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation.”

– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“The selection of Haut-Saint-Jean Region will make it a more diverse, stronger Francophone community supporting our workforce and community needs. We welcome more Francophones to make Edmundston, Haut-Madawaska and the Madawaska Maliseet First Nation their forever home.”

– René Arsenault, MP, Madawaska-Restigouche

"As a member of the New Brunswick Francophone Immigration Network (RIFNB), the Société de l'Acadie New Brunswick (SANB) is very proud to see this pilot project in the Haut-Saint-Jean region. We are confident that with the collaboration of the RIFNB, the community of Haut-Saint-Jean and community members will work tirelessly to create an environment that promotes the integration and, more importantly, the retention of French-speaking immigrants. The links that will be forged with the host community throughout this pilot project will enhance the vitality of the community as a result of the positive contribution of Francophone immigrants."

- Robert Melanson, President of SANB, Société de l'Acadie New Brunswick (SANB) (Petit-Rocher)

Quick facts

  • Francophone Welcoming Communities initiative

    • The initiative is a pilot project co-led by IRCC and Francophone communities, which include the 13 Réseaux en immigration francophone, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada (FCFA) and the Comité atlantique sur l’immigration francophone (CAIF).

    Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy

    • A number of initiatives under the new strategy are already under way, including those announced by the Minister in November 2018 as part of National Francophone Immigration Week.
    • As of December 2018, 4.5% of Express Entry invitations to apply were issued to French-speaking candidates, compared to 2.9% in 2017.

Associated links

Contacts

Contacts for media only

Mathieu Genest
Minister’s Office
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
613-952-1650
IRCC.COMMMediaRelations-RelationsmediasCOMM.IRCC@cic.gc.ca

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