More than 2,000 French-language students still “waiting” for relocation

Photo: Adil Boukind Le Devoir Minister Roberge criticized the CSS for having spent all of their budget allocated to francization in the first months of the year.

Sarah R. Champagne

Published yesterday at 12:34 p.m. Updated yesterday at 2:31 p.m.

• Quebec

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Hundreds of francization classes have closed in recent weeks, and the majority of students deprived of classes have not yet found a place elsewhere. Quebec Immigration Minister Jean-François Roberge promised to redirect them “as a priority” through the Francisation Québec portal, which says it is “in the process of canvassing” to increase its capacity.

The bad news continued to pour in all last week, with closures in school service centres (CSS) across Quebec. After the heartfelt cry from teachers who came out of their usual reserve, the opposition parties also asked the government to better support francization in the school system.

So far, 3,626 students have had their courses cancelled, according to the Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration (MIFI). Of these, 1,514 have been “relocated to other partners and are continuing their training”, or around 42%. The others, 2,112 students, are “waiting,” confirms the MIFI.

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The two main unions estimate that nearly 200 teachers will lose their jobs and that several dozen others will see their workload reduced.

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“Francisation Québec ensures that these students are given priority access to another French-language learning service in an institution that may be a CEGEP, university, non-profit organization or online courses,” the ministry continues. How will they be absorbed? ? Few details are provided on this question: “Francisation Québec is canvassing to increase service capacity.”

More than 34,000 people were waiting to start a course at the end of September, confirms the MIFI. The number of immigrants wishing to learn French has increased significantly in recent months, which is lengthening the waiting times.

The CAQ has also strengthened the language requirements to become a permanent immigrant. François Legault’s government has also imposed that exchanges with the public administration be in French, with some exceptions, for all immigrants after six months in the territory.

It should be noted that the total number of students deprived of courses provided to Devoir dates from last Monday, October 21. Since then, hundreds of students have been added to this list. Several immigrants, for example in Rouyn-Noranda, Longueuil and Thetford Mines, will see their current courses cease as of next week or a later date.

Minister Roberge criticized the CSS for having spent their entire budget envelope allocated to francization in the first months of the year. The budget transferred to the school network increased from $51 million in 2019-2020 to $104 million in 2024-2025, an increase of 104%. The years 2021 and 2022 were, however, a little leaner, with an annual budget of $49 million.

During the same period, the overall francization budget increased from $170 million to $251 million at MIFI: the increase was less spectacular. In its latest budget, Quebec announced an additional $40 million for this fiscal year, which would instead bring the overall envelope to $291 million.