The federal government is doubling down on its promise to grow and sustain Francophone communities across Canada. On November 27, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced a $3.6 million investment through the Francophone Immigration Support Program (FISP) to fund four community-driven projects aimed at attracting and retaining French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec. The money will flow through the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration and will support proactive overseas recruitment campaigns, employer matching services in priority sectors such as health care and early childhood, and a data-sharing platform that links post-secondary institutions with settlement agencies.
The announcement is one plank in Ottawa’s wider push—outlined in Budget 2025 and the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan—to raise the share of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec to 10.5 % by 2028. Ottawa surpassed 7 % in 2024 and is now setting annual admission targets: 9 % in 2026, 9.5 % in 2027 and 10.5 % in 2028. Quick-facts released by IRCC highlight the creation of 24 “Welcoming Francophone Communities,” up from 14 a year earlier, and note that promotional events abroad have already generated thousands of leads among health-care and education professionals.
![Canada commits $3.6 million to four new projects boosting Francophone immigration outside Quebec]()
Beyond demographic vitality, the projects have a strong economic rationale. Employers in minority Francophone regions routinely cite chronic labour shortages, particularly in critical public-service occupations. By funding tailored recruitment, the government hopes to shorten hiring timelines for regional hospitals and school boards while offering newcomers clearer career pathways. Business councils welcomed the move, noting that bilingual talent is a competitive advantage for exporting firms and tourism operators.
For companies that relocate staff across Canada, the new projects could simplify work-permit strategies. Francophone mobility streams under Express Entry and provincial nominee programs already offer additional points or separate quotas; the enhanced overseas promotion and settlement supports mean employers may find it easier to identify—and keep—French-speaking candidates willing to work outside major urban centres.
The new spending also signals that Ottawa intends to keep language-based immigration policy separate from the contentious temporary-resident caps introduced this year. While study-permit and work-permit ceilings are tightening, dedicated French-language targets continue to grow, giving global mobility managers an alternative route for hard-to-fill roles.
The announcement is one plank in Ottawa’s wider push—outlined in Budget 2025 and the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan—to raise the share of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec to 10.5 % by 2028. Ottawa surpassed 7 % in 2024 and is now setting annual admission targets: 9 % in 2026, 9.5 % in 2027 and 10.5 % in 2028. Quick-facts released by IRCC highlight the creation of 24 “Welcoming Francophone Communities,” up from 14 a year earlier, and note that promotional events abroad have already generated thousands of leads among health-care and education professionals.
Beyond demographic vitality, the projects have a strong economic rationale. Employers in minority Francophone regions routinely cite chronic labour shortages, particularly in critical public-service occupations. By funding tailored recruitment, the government hopes to shorten hiring timelines for regional hospitals and school boards while offering newcomers clearer career pathways. Business councils welcomed the move, noting that bilingual talent is a competitive advantage for exporting firms and tourism operators.
For companies that relocate staff across Canada, the new projects could simplify work-permit strategies. Francophone mobility streams under Express Entry and provincial nominee programs already offer additional points or separate quotas; the enhanced overseas promotion and settlement supports mean employers may find it easier to identify—and keep—French-speaking candidates willing to work outside major urban centres.
The new spending also signals that Ottawa intends to keep language-based immigration policy separate from the contentious temporary-resident caps introduced this year. While study-permit and work-permit ceilings are tightening, dedicated French-language targets continue to grow, giving global mobility managers an alternative route for hard-to-fill roles.
