The Canadian government is focusing on enhancing the vitality of Francophone communities by welcoming French-speaking international students and immigrants.
The new Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) program, set to launch on August 26, 2024, aims to attract and retain international students to benefit Francophone minority communities. The program will make access to Canada’s International Student Program fairer for a wide range of international students, as it exempts students and their families from demonstrating that they will leave Canada at the end of their temporary stay. Additionally, the required financial threshold will be adjusted to reflect 75% of the low-income cut-off associated with the municipality where the institution's main campus is located.
Participants in the pilot program will also have a direct pathway from temporary to permanent status after obtaining their diploma, as well as access to settlement services to help them integrate successfully into their communities. The FMCSP is not included in the overall cap for most study permit applications, and each participating designated French-language and bilingual post-secondary learning institution (DLI) will be allocated a limited number of acceptance letters that can be issued for the purpose of processing study permits under the pilot program.
The maximum number of study permit applications that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept under the pilot program is 2,300 for the first year, with a cap for the second year to be set by August 2025. In addition to the FMCSP program, the Welcoming Francophone Communities (WFC) initiative has been expanded, adding 10 new communities across Canada to extend a helpful and warm welcome to French-speaking newcomers and to support their integration process in their new living environment. These communities were selected based on their potential to become more welcoming and inclusive Francophone communities, with the aim of creating an environment where French-speaking newcomers feel that their identity is valued and where they feel integrated into the host community. The Canadian government is committed to promoting French and supporting the vitality of Francophone communities by welcoming Francophone immigrants and international students.
The government is determined to help more Francophone international students come to Canada and build a future in dynamic Francophone communities, while contributing to the development of the French-speaking world. Through these initiatives, Canada is taking steps to achieve ambitious objectives in Francophone immigration for the years ahead. The FMCSP program allows participants to bring their spouses or common-law partners to Canada under the pilot program and eventually apply for permanent residence.
The program also reflects agreements with participating learning institutions, which will be added as they become available. The 10 new communities added to the WFC initiative are Nanaimo (British Columbia), Red River (Manitoba), Chéticamp (Nova Scotia), Belle-Baie, Caraquet, and Restigouche West Region (New Brunswick), Prince Albert (Saskatchewan), Cornwall, Cochrane District (Highway 11 corridor), and London (Ontario). Overall, these initiatives are part of the Canadian government's efforts to strengthen Francophone immigration and integration in French-speaking minority communities, with a focus on promoting living together and inclusion while increasing Francophone immigration.
The government is investing $50 million to support the success of the Francophone Integration Pathway, with other initiatives aimed at facilitating the integration of Francophone immigrants. These include the expansion of the French- and English-language training offering as part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023-2028. In conclusion, the Canadian government's commitment to enhancing the vitality of Francophone communities through the FMCSP program and the expansion of the WFC initiative demonstrates its dedication to supporting the integration of French-speaking immigrants and international students, and its efforts to promote living together and inclusion within these communities.
Source: Canada.ca