Increasing Francophone immigration remains a key priority
March 20, 2015 — Ottawa — Today, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander celebrates the Journée internationale de la Francophonie.
Canada is a destination of choice for many Francophones around the world. With a French-speaking majority population, Quebec welcomes many Francophone immigrants every year, and Canada’s Francophonie is thriving from coast to coast to coast.
The Government of Canada is strongly dedicated to sustaining the vitality and diversity of our Francophone communities outside Quebec through immigration. Express Entry, launched January 1st, will help bring skilled workers, including Francophones, as permanent residents to Canada more quickly than ever before. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is also conducting consultations on how to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec with Francophone community representatives, different levels of government and employers.
Today, the Minister also launched a new promotional video featuring stories from Francophone immigrants and their families who chose to live in a Francophone community outside Quebec.
Quick facts
- In Canada, more than one million Francophones live outside Quebec.
- Under the Roadmap for Canada’s Official Languages 2013–2018: Education, Immigration, Communities, CIC is investing $29.4 million to support immigration to official language minority communities.
- After France, Canada has the largest Francophone population among all Western countries and has the fifth largest Francophone population in the world.
Quote
“One of the guiding principles for all operations and initiatives of Citizenship and Immigration Canada is that the bilingual nature of our country is a great source of strength for Canada’s economy and society. Our government is dedicated to enhancing the vibrancy of Francophone communities from coast to coast to coast. Thanks to Express Entry, our government will continue to attract the most ambitious and talented Francophone immigrants to ensure that our communities flourish across Canada.”
Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister
Related product
- News Release — The Government of Canada and the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada jointly celebrate National Francophone Immigration Week
- News Release — Promoting Francophone immigration to Canada
Associated link
Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/CitImmCanada
Photos of Minister Alexander available at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/index.asp
Contacts
Kevin Menard
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.
