Are the targets for French-speaking immigration outside Quebec realistic??

Photo: Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Press Federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced in October that targets for francophone immigration outside Quebec would be increased in the coming years.

Anaïs Desjardins in Ottawa

Posted at 8:18 p.m.

• Canada

Last month, Ottawa announced that it would increase its targets for francophone immigration outside Quebec to 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027. Targets described as “aggressive” by federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller. For its part, Quebec is tightening the screws and imposing a moratorium on two permanent immigration programs. Le Devoir spoke with Luisa Veronis, holder of the Research Chair on Immigration and Franco-Ontarian Communities and professor at the University of Ottawa.

Q: First, what explains these new announcements from Ottawa? ?

A: There’s a lot going on. There are new announcements every week. Last year, Ottawa attacked foreign students and temporary permits. This year, it just announced a reduction in immigration thresholds. But Ottawa seems to want to maintain the number of French-speaking immigrants now that they have finally managed to reach the 2003 target of 4.4% in 2022.

However, these new targets do not necessarily imply a real increase in the number of French-speaking immigrants in absolute terms. It is a question of perspective. [The number of permanent residents will drop from 485,000 to 395,000 by 2025, which represents a decrease of approximately 20%. It will then be set at 380,000 for 2026, then 365,000 for 2027.] If the immigration thresholds are lowered, but the number of Francophone immigrants remains the same, then the percentage increases.

Are these realistic targets? ?

Yes, since the number of Francophone immigrants should remain the same and several applications are in the process. In addition, the government announced a new pilot program for students in Francophone minority communities.

The problem could be in terms of attraction. According to a report from the Conference Board of Canada published Tuesday, it seems that Canada is having difficulty retaining French-speaking immigrants. [The country loses 35% of its French-speaking immigrants during their first years in the country, a trend particularly marked in Ontario.]

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Let's go back to the Conference Board of Canada report. What explains why French-speaking immigrants stay so little in Ontario? ?

Several things could be at play. Until fairly recently, until 2018-2019, the reception of French-speaking immigrants was not what it is now. First, five years ago, Canada promised immigrants that they would live in French, which is not the case. Now the government is better explaining the reality of living in a minority environment.

Then, immigrants had to seek out immigration services in dribs and drabs. In the last five years, the government has woken up a bit. For example, since 2022, a centralized reception point has redirected French-speaking immigrants to all available organizations, schools, employment centres and services. And since 2015, the Toronto airport has been directing immigrants to the right services upon arrival. There are also pre-departure services that support immigrants before their arrival and during their first two to three months.

This report may therefore represent immigrants disappointed by the integration and adaptation process who did not have the necessary services, whereas now, things are different.

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What are the biggest challenges for Francophone immigrants outside Quebec? ?

My first concern is the cost of housing. An immigrant has to find affordable, well-located housing if they don’t have a car to access public services, language classes, and school. Then, the cost of living in Ontario—the cost of food, transportation, winter coats—is high. The quality of life is not necessarily as good as it seems. Immigrants have savings, but not huge ones. And some will mortgage their education and take odd jobs because their savings won’t last. To avoid that, we have to go to smaller centres. In Ontario, it’s mostly west of Toronto, cities like Kitchener, Waterloo, London. But in terms of employment, it’s less diversified.

In addition, for economic immigrants, it is always difficult to find a job when they arrive since they have to build a network and have their diplomas recognized. In addition, being French-speaking is an additional challenge. Although the government and the FCFA [Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne] say they need workers, this is not the case in all areas. There is a shortage of teachers and health workers, but there are no jobs in French for all the immigrants who will arrive. And bilingual immigrants are at an advantage, but they are sometimes discriminated against because of their accent.

Are provinces with an English-speaking majority, like Ontario, able to really welcome them, as Marc Miller claims ?

That’s a difficult question. I would say yes and no. It’s possible, but not all French-speaking immigrants will be able to live completely in French. It varies enormously depending on immigration profiles and cities.

In Ontario, it’s uneven. For example, in Ottawa, in eastern Ontario and in northern Ontario, there are many more French speakers. In Toronto and the southwest-central area, it is possible to live in French, but it is more difficult.

Many immigrants work in French and live in French. They are completely fulfilled and say that French was an advantage in hiring. Others work in English and are fulfilled. And finally, some struggle to find a job in French because the majority of jobs are in English.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.