Maple News reports that Canada is enhancing its Express Entry immigration system to offer more points to French-speaking and bilingual candidates. The measure is designed to promote greater immigration from Francophone communities outside Quebec, as part of a broader strategy to support the country’s linguistic diversity and economic growth.
Under the new rules, French-speaking candidates can now earn up to 25 additional points for their language abilities—an increase from the previous 15. For bilingual candidates who demonstrate proficiency in both English and French, the number of extra points has increased to 50, up from 30.
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced the update as part of Canada’s plan to strengthen Francophone communities outside of Quebec. The goal is to have French-speaking immigrants make up 4.4% of all newcomers in provinces and territories outside Quebec by 2023, a target that has not yet been met. In 2019, only 2.82% of immigrants outside Quebec were Francophone.
“This change supports our commitment to help Francophone minority communities thrive across the country,” said Mendicino. “It’s not just the right thing to do—it’s also vital to Canada’s long-term economic prosperity.”
To reinforce these efforts, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is investing $40.8 million over five years. This funding will support Francophone integration services and the development of cross-cutting immigration policies geared toward linguistic duality and inclusivity.
Between 2003 and 2019, Canada welcomed over 60,000 French-speaking immigrants outside of Quebec. In 2019 alone, 8,645 new Francophone immigrants were admitted, indicating a gradual but steady effort toward the government’s overall goal.
The Express Entry system manages applications for three key federal immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates are assessed using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language proficiency in English or French.
By offering additional points to Francophones and bilingual applicants, Canada aims to attract more skilled talent who can contribute to vibrant, multicultural communities and meet regional labor force demands across the country.
These changes mark another step in modernizing Canada’s immigration approach, ensuring it remains competitive and inclusive on a global scale.