Francophone immigration projects announced September 29, 2026

What changed

On September 29, 2026, IRCC announced an investment of approximately $1.2 million through the Francophone Immigration Support Program.

The funding supports new or continuing projects that promote Francophone immigration and strengthen Francophone minority communities outside Quebec.

New projects announced

Three projects are highlighted in the announcement and backgrounder.

• Newfoundland and Labrador: $350,000 over 2 years for targeted overseas recruitment of Francophone and bilingual talent in sectors including education, health care and early childhood education.
• Saskatchewan: $569,000 over 2 years for Destination Saskatchewan, which aims to match local labour market needs with international Francophone talent.
• Northern Ontario: $300,000 over 2 years for the second phase of Osez le Nord, a promotional strategy for Francophone immigration in Northern Ontario.

Who is affected

The projects are aimed at Francophone and bilingual candidates, employers and Francophone minority communities.

In Saskatchewan, the project targets employers in agriculture, health care, mining, energy, technology and hospitality. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the project focuses on attracting workers who can support key sectors and expand services in French.

What supports applicants may see

The Saskatchewan project includes an interactive Demand-Offer mapping platform, pre-selection tools, in-person and virtual Speed-Jobbing missions, credential recognition support, professional certification exam support, cultural transition workshops and retention follow-ups at 3, 6 and 12 months.

The Northern Ontario strategy will promote opportunities in Francophone communities in the region. The Newfoundland and Labrador project will use targeted overseas recruitment to build a sustainable corridor for Francophone and bilingual talent.

Background

The Francophone Immigration Support Program is managed by the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration. It provides grants and contributions for projects that aim to increase admissions of French-speaking candidates and support the growth of Francophone minority communities.

As part of the Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028, the Government of Canada is investing $25 million over 5 years in the Centre for Innovation in Francophone Immigration. To date, 23 projects have received funding, with investments totalling approximately $19.8 million over 4 years, from 2024–2025 through 2027–2028.

What applicants should do

Francophone and bilingual applicants interested in communities outside Quebec should watch for project activities in the regions named by IRCC, including recruitment missions, promotion campaigns, employer matching and support services.

The announcement links this work to immigrating through Express Entry, immigrating to a Francophone community outside Quebec and the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, but it does not set out new eligibility rules for applicants.