Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

🇨🇦🍁💵 Canada Is Celebrating the Francophonie and Investing in New Initiatives to Promote Francophone Immigration Outside Quebec

Friday, 20 March 2026 12:00.PM

The Government of Canada has made supporting Francophone and Acadian minority communities outside Quebec a top priority. The goal is to attract and integrate skilled French-speaking and bilingual immigrants from around the world to boost population growth, meet labour needs and support economic development in these communities.

Today, on International Day of La Francophonie, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced an investment of approximately $1.5 million to support 3 new projects funded under the Francophone Immigration Support Program. These initiatives aim to strengthen the Francophone presence in the information and communications technology sector, provide reliable resources to attract and retain Francophone talent in Northern Ontario, and inform French-speaking candidates about employment, immigration and settlement opportunities in French-speaking communities in Canada outside Quebec.

The Minister also highlighted additional support for the Université de l'Ontario français, which will receive up to $575,000 over 3 years under the Settlement Program to develop a micro-certificate in francophone immigration management. The project will help strengthen the capacity of the settlement sector and support the vitality of Francophone and Acadian communities across Canada.

In an innovation-driven economy, a bilingual workforce is a major strategic advantage. When Francophone immigrants successfully settle in their community and integrate economically, socioculturally and linguistically, they help meet labour needs, ensure the sustainability of vital communities, and, in doing so, build Canada's future.

"I am proud to announce these investments to support Francophone immigration on this symbolic day celebrating the Francophonie. Through these initiatives, we are reaffirming our commitment to supporting Francophone minority communities in their efforts to attract and retain world-class talent. In a competitive and ever-changing global market, Francophone immigrants play a critical role in Canada's economic growth."
– The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick Facts

• To date, 19 projects have received a total of approximately $14.4 million in funding to increase the recruitment of French-speaking and bilingual talent, stimulate the local economy and contribute to the vitality of Francophone minority communities.
• The Government of Canada is investing $25 million over 5 years in the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration, as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, to support innovative projects and Francophone minority communities, and to incorporate the Francophone perspective into immigration policies and programs.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's ongoing commitment to Francophone immigration is evident in the many successes of the past year, including reaching 8.9% of French-speaking permanent residents admitted outside Quebec in 2025, the success of promotional events and the funding of several concrete projects through the Francophone Immigration Support Program.

SOURCE: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

* * *
  More related materials  
 
  More News