Attracting newcomers to Canada's francophone communities outside Quebec

OTTAWA, March 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Attracting skilled francophone workers to Canada and encouraging them to settle in communities outside of Quebec is the goal of a new International Mobility Program stream that will launch on the first day of June.

"We want francophone minority communities in Canada to continue to be vibrant and growing," Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister John McCallum said today. "That's why we're going to encourage skilled francophone workers to come to Canada and settle in communities outside of Quebec, and we're going to encourage them to apply for permanent residence if they would like to stay."

Starting June 1, 2016, the Mobilité Francophone stream will exempt employers from the Labour Market Impact Assessment process when they hire francophone workers in managerial, professional and technical/skilled trades occupations from abroad to work in francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.

"Canada's diversity is enriched by our francophone minority communities all across the country," said Canadian Heritage Minister Melanie Joly. "We want to see these communities flourish across Canada and immigration is strategic to preserving their vitality and prosperity."

Quick facts

• The goal of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is to have francophone newcomers make up at least 4% of all economic immigrants settling outside of Quebec by 2018. The overall target for francophone immigration outside Quebec is 4.4% by 2023.
• Since 2014, reforms to the International Mobility Program have ensured that it meets the objective of allowing temporary workers to come to Canada when they advance our economic and cultural interests.

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Photos of Minister McCallum available at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/index.asp

SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Communications Branch, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 613-952-1650, [e-mail]