- New funding announced on 29 September 2026
- $1.2M
- Projects: Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Northern Ontario
- 3
- Francophone share of PR admissions outside Quebec in 2025
- 8.9%
- French level for French-category Express Entry rounds
- NCLC 7
On 29 September 2026, in St. John's, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced about $1.2 million for three projects that recruit and settle French-speaking and bilingual newcomers outside Quebec. These are recruitment and integration projects, not a new immigration program: Express Entry and provincial nominee rules are unchanged.
What changed
The money comes from the federal Francophone Immigration Support Program. IRCC's backgrounder lists the three projects and their funding:
| Project | Led by | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment of Francophone newcomers in Newfoundland and Labrador | Government of Newfoundland and Labrador | $350,000 over 2 years |
| Destination Saskatchewan: recruitment and integration of Francophone workers | Conseil économique et coopératif de la Saskatchewan | $569,000 over 2 years |
| "Osez le Nord", phase 2: promoting Francophone immigration in Northern Ontario | Carrefour francophone de Sudbury | $300,000 over 2 years |
What each project does, according to IRCC:
- Newfoundland and Labrador will run targeted overseas recruitment of French-speaking and bilingual workers for education, health care and early childhood education.
- Saskatchewan will match employers with international French-speaking talent through an interactive "demand-offer" mapping platform, recruitment missions abroad, help with diploma recognition and professional certification exams, and cultural transition workshops. It targets agriculture, health care, mining, energy, technology and hospitality.
- Northern Ontario gets a single promotional campaign, "Osez le Nord", that brings regional Francophone immigration organizations together to attract families, workers and students to the North.
IRCC also restated two facts: French-speaking permanent residents made up 8.9% of admissions outside Quebec in 2025, and the department has met or beaten its francophone admissions target for 4 years in a row. The 2026 target is 9%, rising to 10.5% in 2028 (see our francophone targets explainer).
Who it affects
- French-speaking workers abroad in the sectors above, especially teachers, early childhood educators, nurses and other health workers. These projects create more recruitment events and employer connections; they do not guarantee a job or a visa.
- French speakers already considering a province outside Quebec. Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador and Northern Ontario are signalling that they want French-speaking newcomers. Once you have a job offer, provincial nominee streams and the Mobilité francophone work permit may open up.
- Express Entry candidates: nothing changes. French-category rounds still require NCLC 7 in all four abilities, and there has been no French round since 19 August 2026.
What to do now
- Know your French level. Federal and provincial routes generally ask for an approved French test result, such as TCF Canada or TEF Canada. Take the free 10-question French level test, then check if you meet NCLC 7.
- Compare provinces: our guide to provincial nominee streams that reward French lists the francophone pathways province by province.
- Check your Express Entry position: check your CRS score and look at the French-category draw history. Background reading: French for Express Entry and how many CRS points French is worth.