Maple News reports that under Canada’s newly released Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026, the federal government is increasing its focus on attracting French-speaking immigrants outside the province of Quebec. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set a goal of welcoming 31,500 French-speaking permanent residents in 2025, rising to 36,000 in 2026.
The Immigration Levels Plan is an annual roadmap that outlines the number of permanent residents Canada aims to admit over the next three years. These targets are divided across three broad immigration categories: economic, family reunification, and refugee/humanitarian programs.
While the overall target for new permanent residents remains steady at 500,000 for both 2025 and 2026, the increase in French-speaking admissions is the only category seeing a rise in those years. This strategic adjustment highlights Canada’s intent to strengthen Francophone communities across the country, beyond Quebec, which maintains its own autonomous immigration system.
The aim to bolster Francophone immigration aligns with Canada’s broader commitment to linguistic diversity and the vitality of minority language communities. By intensifying efforts to attract French-speaking newcomers, the government seeks to address labour shortages, improve demographic sustainability, and promote bilingualism across Canada.
Interestingly, the “Economic Pilots” category—which includes specific pilot programs designed to meet regional or sector-specific labour needs—is the only category projected to see a decrease in admissions between 2025 and 2026.
This development comes amid growing public interest in Canada’s immigration policies, particularly in sectors aiming to fill specialized skills gaps and support population growth in smaller and rural communities. Advocates for Francophone immigration have long urged more robust targets to ensure language and cultural vitality are preserved in these regions.
Maple News will continue to follow updates on Canada’s immigration strategy as the federal government implements its latest three-year plan.
For French-speaking prospective immigrants, now may be a particularly opportune time to explore pathways to permanent residency outside Quebec, as Canada expands its support for Francophone newcomers through targeted programs and regional initiatives.