On Aug. 14, 2024, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), announced pivotal developments in Canada's efforts to enhance Francophone immigration.

Launch of the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot Program (FMCSP)

Effective Aug. 26, 2024, the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program will be implemented in collaboration with designated French-language and bilingual post-secondary learning institutions (DLIs). This initiative aims to facilitate access to Canada’s International Student Program for French-speaking international students from regions with historically low study permit approval rates, including Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Key provisions of the FMCSP include exemptions from the requirement to demonstrate intent to leave Canada post-study and an adjusted financial threshold set at 75 per cent of the low-income cut-off for the relevant municipality. The program also offers participants a streamlined pathway from temporary to permanent residency upon graduation, alongside access to settlement services during their studies to aid integration into their communities.

While a general cap on study permit applications was established on Jan. 22, 2024, the FMCSP is excluded from this limitation. However, each participating DLI will have a restricted number of acceptance letters for the purpose of processing study permits under this pilot. For the initial year, IRCC will accept up to 2,300 study permit applications under the FMCSP. A subsequent cap for the second year will be determined by Aug. 2025.

Expansion of the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) Initiative

IRCC also revealed the addition of ten communities to the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) initiative. This expansion, resulting from a consensus-building process led by the Francophone Immigration Networks, the Association francophone des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick, and supported by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, increases the total number of WFCs to 24 across Canada.

These communities are strategically positioned to provide robust support for the integration of French-speaking newcomers into their new environments.

This expansion and the launch of the FMCSP underscore Canada's commitment to fostering a Francophone presence across the nation, contributing to the broader objectives of Francophone Immigration.

This initiative aligns with IRCC’s broader efforts to create more accessible temporary and permanent residency pathways for French-speaking foreign nationals. Examples include the Francophone work permit category for positions outside of Quebec and the additional points awarded under the Express Entry system for French language proficiency.

Employers may find the recent expansion of the Francophone Mobility Program particularly relevant, as outlined in our previous article here.

Learn more about Gowling WLG’s Immigration Group

Immigration legislation and practices continue to change frequently. Our Immigration Group would be pleased to help with any questions you may have about immigration into Canada or the U.S. To find out more about our group, reach out to a member of our team and subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.