The State's plan for Francophone immigration
What action is the ministry going to take?
The recently modernized Official Languages Act makes francophone immigration a permanent priority for Canada. It now provides for:
- public commitment to restoring and increasing the demographic weight of francophones outside Quebec (the reference year was 1971, i.e. 6.1% of the population);
- recognizing the importance of immigration in enhancing the viability of francophone minorities;
- recognizing the contribution of francophone immigration to the economy;
- commitment by the Department of Immigration to adopt a francophone immigration policy, including goals, objectives, indicators, and information sharing and reporting mechanisms;
- strengthening positive measures to ensure the viability of French-speaking communities.
The 2021 census confirmed the continuing demographic decline of francophones outside Quebec, whose demographic weight is now 3.5% of the population, compared to 4.4% in 2001 and 6.1% in 1971. Immigration is one of the most important points to solve this problem. And the ministry intends to increase the francophone flow in four ways:
- Reforms to Express Entry selections (creating an emphasis on francophone candidates across all streams).
- Expanding permanent residence opportunities for French-speaking foreign students and foreign workers.
- Active engagement with provinces and territories.
- Establishment of a New Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration in Dieppe and a system of grants and contributions.
Canada is determined to increase the proportion of francophone immigration — not a week goes by without news of additional funding for this and planned reforms to the immigration system. Priority for French-speaking candidates is evident in the recently unveiled federal Immigration Plan and, of course, in Quebec's own program. So knowing French can be a nice bonus when moving to Canada. However, for now it is possible to immigrate without it, the main thing is to pick the right program for yourself.
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