IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2026 - Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

Context

There are currently close to one million Francophones living in Canada outside Quebec, representing 3.5% of the population. This figure has declined significantly from 4.4% in 2001 and 6.1% in 1971. Without concerted action, this trend is expected to continue, further diminishing the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. In this context, immigration is one of the solutions to redress this decline in demographic weight and ensure the long-term vitality of these communities that are key to Canada’s bilingual and multicultural character.

Background

• The 2023 modernized Official Languages Act (OLA) strengthens the Government of Canada’s commitment to enhancing the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities and makes Francophone immigration a key and permanent priority for the Department.
• In particular, the OLA now includes a whole-of-government commitment to restoring and increasing the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities to what it was in 1971 (6.1% of the Canadian population outside Quebec).
• The OLA also requires Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to adopt a policy on Francophone immigration aimed at enhancing the vitality of Francophone minority communities, including by restoring and increasing their demographic weight.

Current Initiatives in Francophone Immigration

Policy on Francophone Immigration

• Launched in January 2024, the Policy on Francophone Immigration is an obligation in the modernized OLA and aims to enhance the vitality and economic development of Francophone minority communities and to successfully integrate French-speaking immigrants into those communities.
• The Policy serves as a long-term, overarching strategic framework to guide the development and implementation of IRCC policies and programs that support Francophone immigration.
• Key goals of the Policy are:
  • Leveraging immigration in view of respecting the government’s commitment to restore and increase the demographic weight of Francophone minority communities (1971, 6.1%);
  • Making Francophone immigration a key and permanent IRCC priority;
  • Using a whole-of-society approach to assess the impacts of immigration on other socio-economic issues (and vice versa); and
  • Strengthening coordinated action across the immigration continuum for both permanent and temporary residents.
• The Policy is supplemented by a five-year implementation plan with more specific short-term objectives, flagship measures, as well as key indicators and targets across five action areas. Some flagship measures by action area in the 2024–2028 Plan include:
  • Francophone lens:
    • Developing a Francophone lens and clear processes for IRCC employees to assess the impact of actions on the Policy’s objectives.
  • French-speaking permanent resident admission targets:
    • Gradually increasing annual admissions targets for French-speaking permanent residents (PRs) integrated into the Multi-Year Levels Plan.
  • Immigration continuum (promotion, selection, integration):
    • International promotional strategy for Francophone immigration, targeting Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia to address workforce needs for French-speaking and bilingual workers;
    • Permanent economic immigration program for French-speaking workers;
    • Strengthened Francophone integration pathway with expanded settlement services in French.
  • Multi-stakeholder collaboration:
    • Ongoing work with provinces and territories (PTs) to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec;
    • Strengthened collaboration with federal partners—Canadian Heritage (PCH), Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)— and with community stakeholders.
  • Research and data:
    • Infographics for the public on Francophone immigration.

Gradual and Evidence-Based Approach to French-speaking Permanent Resident Admissions Targets

• Although the Policy includes objectives across the immigration continuum, admission targets for French-speaking PRs are seen by community stakeholders as a key lever to counter the decline in demographic weight.
• The Policy states that IRCC will implement an approach to gradually increase admissions targets over the long term.
• Over the past four years, the Department has met or surpassed its targets, with 4.4% of 2022 admissions of French-speaking PRs outside Quebec (target of 4.4% was set for 2023 but achieved one year earlier); 4.7% in 2023 (target 4.4%); 7.21% in 2024 (target was 6%); and 8.9% in 2025 (target was 8.5%). This success has been well received by external stakeholders.

Multi-stakeholder Collaboration

• Successful Francophone immigration requires close collaboration between all stakeholders to identify common approaches and opportunities.
• IRCC works closely with:
  • PT partners, in full respect of the shared jurisdiction for immigration, in order to:
    • review the federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec;
    • strengthen Francophone immigration objectives in FPT immigration agreements;
  • Federal departments, in order to:
    • coordinate and prioritize federal efforts in relation to Francophone immigration (e.g., promotion, recruitment and employment strategies in Canada and abroad), notably with ESDC, Health Canada, Global Affairs Canada, and PCH;
  • Community stakeholders, in order to:
    • ensure that the Policy addresses community needs and priorities, particularly through the renewed IRCC-Francophone Minority Communities Committee.

Francophone Integration Pathway

• The Francophone Integration Pathway consists of a suite of settlement services, offered by Francophone communities for French-speaking immigrants, and is aimed at supporting their successful integration and retention and to strengthen the vitality of Francophone minority communities.
• Sustained efforts are made under three objectives:
  • Strengthen the capacities of the Francophone settlement sector;
  • Make services offered in French by Francophone organizations accessible to French-speaking immigrants and refugees;
  • Foster the development and expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative.

Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028

• The Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, the fourth such plan, includes an investment of $137.2M in new funds for IRCC. These are in addition to $80.2M in ongoing funding from previous action plans, for a total of $217.4M over five years, to support seven specific measures in Francophone Immigration.

Recent Developments

Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration (CIFI)

• The CIFI, located in Dieppe, New Brunswick, is funded through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028. It received a budget of $25 million over five years for the creation of the CIFI and the delivery of the Francophone Immigration Support Program, a grants and contributions fund.
• This Centre has a national mandate to capitalize on the expertise of Francophone minority communities and to facilitate their involvement in the testing of innovative projects, to reduce barriers to Francophone immigration, particularly regarding the promotion of these communities internationally, as well as for the recruitment, selection and support of French-speaking and bilingual candidates.

Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP)

• The FMCSP was launched in August 2024. It will benefit Francophone minority communities by helping them attract and retain international students.
• This pilot provides access to permanent residency to French-speaking international students after graduation from one of the designated Francophone educational institutions.
• Pilot participants will have access to settlement services during their studies to help them successfully integrate into their community.

Francophone Immigration Community Pilot (FCIP)

• The FCIP was launched in January 2025 and offers permanent residency to skilled workers who wish to work and settle in rural Francophone minority communities.
• Six such communities have been selected for this program, which offers valuable assistance for their economic development.

Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) Initiative

• The WFC Initiative was launched in 2018 as a pilot project under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018–2023 in 14 communities. Following the success of the initiative, it was expanded to a total of 24 communities in 2024 under the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028.
• The WFC Initiative aims to support the reception and settlement of French-speaking newcomers by fostering connections and promoting a sense of belonging among newcomers into their host communities.
• The Initiative takes a “by and for Francophones” approach, meaning Francophone community members—through the Réseaux en immigration francophone (Francophone Immigration Networks)—chose and recommended to the department which communities would take part. The initiative is co-led by the Réseaux en immigration francophone, the Association des municipalités francophones du Nouveau-Brunswick, and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada.

Pan-Canadian Strategy for Francophone Immigrant Women in Minority Communities

• Launched in January 2025, IRCC funded the development of this community-based strategy.
• The strategy aims to promote the empowerment of Francophone immigrant women by providing concrete resources and support to foster their inclusion in local communities.

Upcoming milestones

• Upcoming milestones include:
  • the development of new French-speaking PR admission targets as part of the 2027–2029 Multi-Year Levels Plan;
  • the second annual review of the Policy’s Implementation Plan (for the year 2025), including engagement with provinces and territories, as well as community stakeholders.