Canada announced new Francophone immigration projects in Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan on September 29, 2026, alongside the launch of a Northern Ontario promotional strategy. The initiatives are supported through the Francophone Immigration Support Program and focus on attracting and retaining French-speaking and bilingual talent outside Quebec.
Projects target regional labour needs
The Newfoundland and Labrador project, led by the provincial government, is intended to create a sustainable corridor for Francophone and bilingual talent. It will use targeted overseas recruitment to support population growth and labour market needs, including in education, health care and early childhood education.
The project is also intended to increase the availability of services in French by growing the number of Francophone and bilingual workers in the province’s public and private sectors.
In Saskatchewan, the Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan is leading a project intended to increase Francophone immigration through a turnkey approach matching local labour market needs with international talent. It is aimed at employers in agriculture, health care, mining, energy, technology and the hotel industry.
- An interactive mapping platform
- In-person and virtual activities
- Support for academic credential recognition and professional certification exams
- Cultural transition workshops
Northern Ontario strategy moves into implementation
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab also announced the implementation of “Osez le Nord,” a coordinated promotional strategy developed by the Carrefour francophone de Sudbury.
The strategy was developed during the first phase of a project funded by the Francophone Immigration Support Program in 2025. It is intended to bring together stakeholders in Francophone immigration in Northern Ontario, promote the regionalization of immigration and highlight opportunities in the region’s Francophone communities.
Program funding and Francophone admissions
To date, 23 projects have received funding through the program. Including additional funding allocated to existing projects, investments total approximately $19.8 million over four years, from 2024–2025 through 2027–2028.
According to IRCC, the projects are intended to increase the number of Francophone and bilingual applicants admitted and support Francophone minority communities’ participation in the immigration continuum.
IRCC reported that Francophone permanent residents outside Quebec accounted for 8.9% of admissions in 2025. The department also said it has met or exceeded its admissions target for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec over the past four years.
Source: IRCC Newsroom