March 20, 2026—Sudbury, Ontario – The Government of Canada has made supporting Francophone and Acadian minority communities outside Quebec a top priority. The goal is to attract and integrate skilled French-speaking and bilingual immigrants from around the world to boost population growth, meet labour needs and support economic development in these communities.
Today, on International Day of La Francophonie, the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced an investment of approximately $1.5 million to support 3 new projects funded under the Francophone Immigration Support Program. These initiatives aim to strengthen the Francophone presence in the information and communications technology sector, provide reliable resources to attract and retain Francophone talent in Northern Ontario, and inform French-speaking candidates about employment, immigration and settlement opportunities in French-speaking communities in Canada outside Quebec.
The Minister also highlighted additional support for the Université de l’Ontario français, which will receive up to $575,000 over 3 years under the Settlement Program to develop a micro-certificate in francophone immigration management. The project will help strengthen the capacity of the settlement sector and support the vitality of Francophone and Acadian communities across Canada.
In an innovation-driven economy, a bilingual workforce is a major strategic advantage. When Francophone immigrants successfully settle in their community and integrate economically, socioculturally and linguistically, they help meet labour needs, ensure the sustainability of vital communities, and, in doing so, build Canada’s future.