The Canadian government has expanded a program to make it easier for more French speakers to immigrate to Canada. The program is called the Francophone Mobility Program.

Before the changes, only highly skilled French speakers could apply. Now more French speakers with moderate language skills can apply for jobs under the program.

The government updated the French language requirements. Applicants now need to prove they speak French at a moderate level. They need to show documents proving their French skills.

The goal of expanding the program is to increase the French speaking population in Canada. It will help with the labor shortage and support French minority communities across Canada.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said protecting the French culture and language outside of Quebec is a priority. A government official said they need to do everything they can to help French minority communities.

In summary, the government expanded an immigration program to make it easier for more French speakers to get work permits and jobs in Canada. The goal is to increase the Francophone population and support French minority communities.

Here are some additional details:

• The Francophone Mobility Program expansion will last for two years, allowing Canadian employers to hire eligible candidates with moderate French skills for most occupations except primary agriculture jobs.
• Previously the program was only for highly skilled French speaking temporary foreign workers. Now it opens doors to more French speaking immigrants who can gain Canadian work experience and potentially qualify for permanent residence.
• Applicants must now provide proof of their moderate French proficiency, such as a French evaluation test, diploma from a French institution, or documents showing studies at a French-language institution.
• The changes are meant to help the government foster population growth, economic prosperity, and contribute to the vitality of Francophone minority communities while addressing labor shortages.
• Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the changes will increase the presence of French speaking immigrants across Canada and support Francophone minority communities.
• Immigration Minister Sean Fraser and Marie-France Lalonde emphasized the importance of protecting the French culture and language outside of Quebec and supporting Francophone minority communities across Canada.

Few details about the program:

• In 2016, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada launched the Francophone Mobility Program to help employers recruit highly skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers from Francophone communities outside Quebec.
• The Labour Market Impact Assessment exemption from the program makes it easier for employers to hire skilled French-speaking temporary foreign workers to work and gain experience in Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.
• The program also helps French-speaking temporary foreign workers qualify for permanent residence programs and increases their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence through Express Entry.

Statistics:

• In 2019, IRCC issued 1,900 work permits under the program, and similar volumes in 2020 and 2021.
• From 2016 to 2020, 1,080 out of 5,700 temporary work permit holders transitioned to permanent residence.
• Nearly 2/3 of applicants to the program work in professions requiring college training from six months to two years.