Together, let’s help Canada’s Francophone communities thrive during National Francophone Immigration Week

What changed

On November 2, 2026, the federal Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Metlege Diab, issued a statement for the 14th National Francophone Immigration Week. This year's theme is "Finding your place within the Francophonie community."

The statement does not announce a new rule, fee or deadline. It highlights the work done to support French-speaking newcomers and reports progress toward a 2026 target of welcoming 9% of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec.

Background

French is one of Canada's two official languages, and French-speaking communities live across the country. Outside Quebec, Francophone and Acadian minority communities are smaller and need support to grow. Immigration is one way to help them stay strong. The government sets goals for how many French-speaking newcomers it welcomes outside Quebec. National Francophone Immigration Week is a yearly event that draws attention to these goals and to the people who help newcomers settle.

The statement names three measures. The Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative and the Francophone Immigration Support Program focus on settlement and integration. Express Entry is the federal online system that manages applications from skilled workers. It ranks candidates and invites some of them to apply for permanent residence. The statement says Express Entry selects qualified French-speaking candidates to help meet labour market needs.

Key details

• Event: 14th National Francophone Immigration Week
• Statement date: November 2, 2026
• Theme: "Finding your place within the Francophonie community"
• Target: welcoming 9% of French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec by 2026. The government says it is making progress, but the statement does not say the target has been reached.
• Measures named: Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative, Francophone Immigration Support Program, Express Entry
• The statement does not list eligibility rules, fees, application steps or processing times. Check the official IRCC website for those details.

Who it affects

The statement speaks to French-speaking newcomers and the communities they join. It mentions the following groups:

• French-speaking immigrants
• Francophone and Acadian minority communities outside Quebec
• Provinces and territories, which work with the federal government on settlement supports
• Community organizations that help newcomers settle

What it means for you

If you speak French and are thinking about living in a Francophone community outside Quebec, this statement shows that the federal government is putting effort into settlement and integration support. It may help you learn about services in your area. For example, a French-speaking teacher who wants to live in a Francophone community in another province could look into local settlement services that the statement describes in general terms.

The statement does not change how any program works. A person who does not speak French, or who has no plans to live in a French-speaking community, would not see any change to their application because of this statement. An existing Express Entry or other application would stay on the same rules.

What to do next

A licensed consultant can review your situation and tell you whether any of these measures apply to you.

• Visit the official IRCC website and search for the Francophone Immigration Support Program and the Welcoming Francophone Communities Initiative to read current details.
• If you are considering Express Entry, check the official pages for the eligibility rules and language requirements that apply to you.
• Contact provincial or community organizations that serve Francophone newcomers in the area where you plan to live.
• Keep your language test results and documents up to date.