Canada’s new law aims to highlight the significance of the French language in Canada by prioritizing francophone immigration and minorities outside of Quebec.
Due to Bill C-13, immigration is now a part of the Official Languages Act (OLA). Among Canada’s official languages are English and French, which are listed in the OLA. In the new law, the government acknowledges that French is in danger and must be protected as a Canadian national language. It is divided into three sections. Also, french will be used in privately owned, federally regulated businesses in the first part of the new law. While in the second and third parts, it will be used in practice.
By introducing immigration into the Official Languages Act for the first time. Furthermore, the new law recognizes the importance of francophone immigration outside Quebec.
Reforming the immigration laws is among the initiatives related to immigration. As a consequence, IRCC is required to develop a bilingual immigration policy with specific objectives, targets, and indicators. Francophone minority communities are recognized as having a strong demographic weight due to immigration.
A majority of Quebec’s private sector employees work in companies regulated by the federal government or in areas with a majority French-speaking population. All Supreme Court of Canada justices must also be bilingual according to the statute. Moreover, it is intended to increase access to justice.
Canada’s Liberal government hopes that the new law will increase the availability of French-language childcare and education. As well as healthcare services across the country due to a shortage of multilingual professionals.
Immigration commitments by the IRCC
Minority francophone communities are experiencing population declines. In 2021, the most recent census revealed that only 3.3% of Francophones outside of Quebec lived outside of Quebec, down from 3.6% in 2016.
Francophone immigration outside of Quebec and access to French settlement services are two areas where the IRCC is aware of this decline.
As part of its Francophone Immigration Strategy, IRCC introduced initiatives with a focus on recruiting and marketing. Furthermore, integrating team members into the Canadian immigration process in 2019. According to the IRCC, they will achieve their goal of bringing 4.4% of French-speaking immigrants to Canada from outside Quebec by 2023.
Under the Francophone Immigration Strategy, several important projects include:
- Extra points are assigned to French-speaking and bilingual candidates in Express Entry.
- Dedicated streams for French-speaking and bilingual candidates in temporary to permanent residence pathways.
- Increased funding enables nearly 80 francophone service providers to offer settlement services to French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec.
IRCC is currently developing a strategy for francophone immigration that involves setting a higher admission target for francophone immigration outside of Quebec.
