CIMM – French-Speaking Immigrant Admissions Targets – October 24, 2023

Key Messages

• Ensuring the vitality of Francophone minority communities outside Quebec continues to be a key priority for our government.
• We are proud to say that Canada reached the target of 4.4% French-speaking immigrant admissions outside Quebec in 2022, one year before its 2023 commitment, with more than 16,300 French-speakers admitted outside Quebec. This is more than in 2021 and 2020 combined.
• We remain committed to maintaining this target this year. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is also developing ambitious, realistic, and evidence-based French-speaking immigrant admissions targets for 2024-2026 that will take into account partner perspectives. These targets will be announced with the forthcoming Multi-year Levels Plan.
• The modernized Official Languages Act includes a legislated obligation to adopt a Francophone immigration policy containing objectives, targets, and indicators, to contribute to stronger and more prosperous Francophone communities for generations to come and to make progress towards the government’s commitment of re-establishing the demographic weight of Francophone communities to what it was in 1971 (6.1%).
• IRCC is currently working on developing this Policy and has recently concluded consultations with provinces and territories, as well as with community stakeholders.
• The Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028 invests $137.2M over five years to encourage Francophone immigration to Canada and proposes measures along the immigration continuum, including the adoption of the new Francophone immigration policy. This new funding is in addition to the cumulative and ongoing funding of $84.3M in previous action plans.

Key Facts and Figures

• Achieving a target of 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec by 2023 was one of the objectives of the Francophone Immigration Strategy. It was established in collaboration with community stakeholders in 2003 and reflects the proportion of Francophones in Canada outside Quebec in 2001.
• The demographic weight of Francophones outside Quebec decreased to 3.5% in 2021 due to a number of factors and could decline further to 3% by 2036 unless actions are taken.
• From 2003 to August 2023, approximately 101,545 French-speaking immigrants were admitted to Canada outside Quebec as permanent residents. In 2022, 16,371 French-speaking permanent residents were admitted outside Quebec, accounting for 4.4% of all immigrants admitted to Canada outside Quebec, up from 2% in 2021.
• On September 12, 2023, la Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada reiterated their views that the government should set an ambitious French-speaking admissions target, suggesting 12% in 2024 (minimum 10%) and 20% in 2036.
• On April 26, 2023, the Government released the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028, which includes new, one-time investments of $137.2M over five years for Francophone immigration:
  • Francophone immigration policy: Towards a new, integrated approach ($13.4M over five years);
  • Targeted expansion of promotion and recruitment support ($18.5M over five years);
  • Corridor for the selection and retention of French teachers in Canada ($16.3M over five years);
  • A strengthened immigration pathway ($50M over five years);
  • A Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration, including a new grant-and-contribution program in support of Francophone immigration ($25M over five years);
  • Francophone lens integrated into economic immigration programs – improved selection mechanisms for Francophone and bilingual immigrants ($3.5M over five years); and
  • Helping French-speaking and allophone newcomers learn English and/or French ($10.5M over five years).