Calgary selected as a Welcoming Francophone Community and Launch of the New Francophone Immigration Strategy

CALGARY, March 13, 2019 /CNW/ - Calgary has been selected as a Welcoming Francophone Community as part of Canada's Action Plan for Official Languages.

Under the Welcoming Francophone Communities initiative, a total of 14 communities across Canada will receive funding so they can create programs and support to help French‑speaking newcomers feel welcomed and integrated into Francophone minority communities. This initiative of $12.6 million over 3 years was announced in Budget 2018 to support the integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers in Canada.

The new Francophone immigration strategy was also launched today. Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy takes a collaborative approach with federal, provincial, territorial and community partners, and an approach described as "by and for Francophones". It seeks to enhance the vitality of official language minority communities through immigration and specifically by increasing the proportion of French-speaking permanent residents in francophone minority communities, supporting the integration and retention of French-speaking newcomers, and building the capacity of Francophone communities.

Quotes 

"Francophone communities open up their hearts to welcome French-speaking newcomers to Canada. These communities will be able to create even more inviting communities where Francophone immigrants can feel welcome and where they will have more opportunities to make Canada their home. Through the launch of the Francophone Immigration Strategy, we are committed to increase the proportion of French-speaking immigrants in Francophone minority communities.
- The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

"Having a French integration pathway is a key element of our plan for the growth and development of Francophone communities. That is why we are committed to achieving 4.4% Francophone immigration outside Quebec by 2023. We will always be there when the time comes to better support Francophone minority communities and promote the French fact from coast to coast to coast."
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Tourism, Official Languages and La Francophonie.

"We are very happy to see that Calgary has been selected as a Francophone welcoming community. Inclusivity and diversity are fundamental values of Alberta's francophone community and Calgary's Francophones and francophiles are a great example of that."
- Marie-Laure Polydore, Vice-president, Association canadienne française de l'Alberta (ACFA)

"Francophone immigration is a collaborative project designed to build a diverse and open Francophonie where everyone has a sense of belonging and feels at home, regardless of what their mother tongue is or where they are from. The Welcoming Communities Initiative is another tool for achieving this as it enables our organizations and institutions to create activities that build the relationships and bridges, and the collective 'we' that we want. Moreover, we are confident that the national strategy announced today will finally make it possible to meet and even exceed the targets set for Francophone immigration."
- Jean Johnson, President, Fédération des communautés francophones et acadiennes du Canada (FCFA)

Quick facts

Francophone Welcoming Communities initiative

• The initiative is a pilot project co-led by IRCC and Francophone communities, which include the 13 Réseaux en immigration francophone, the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne (FCFA) and the Comité atlantique sur l'immigration francophone (CAIF).
• The 13 other communities will be announced in their regions.

Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy

• A number of initiatives under the new strategy are already under way, including those announced in November 2018 as part of National Francophone Immigration Week.
• As of December 2018, 4.5% of Express Entry invitations to apply were issued to French-speaking candidates, compared to 2.9% in 2017.

Related links:

• Meeting Our Objectives: Francophone Immigration Strategy
• Francophone Immigration (in francophone minority communities)
• Action Plan for Official Languages – 2018-2023: Investing in Our Future
• Immigration Minister announces key initiatives to promote Francophone immigration from pre-arrival to citizenship
• Federal/Provincial/Territorial Action Plan for Increasing Francophone Immigration Outside of Quebec

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SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

For further information: Mathieu Genest, Minister's Office, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 613-954-1064; Media Relations, Communications Branch, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, 613-952-1650, [e-mail]

Related Links

http://www.cic.gc.ca