September 11, 2014
Canada Promotes French Immigration
While Canadians dream of going to France for vacation, to retire, or both, many Francophones consider Canada a ‘land of opportunity’. This is partly due to the competitive job market in France, making it quite difficult for French nationals to find suitable employment in their home country. According to a recent Ottawa Citizen report, Canada has seen an increase in French immigrants from 2008 to 2012. Unsurprisingly, the majority of them settle in Quebec, where French is widely spoken. However, the Canadian government seeks to encourage their migration outside of Quebec. The Francophone Significant Benefit Program, which was created in 2011, aims to accomplish this. Under the program, eligible Francophone applicants may obtain their temporary work permit sooner. In a recent statement, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander stated:
“Our government is proud to promote Francophone immigration to Canada, which will help to ensure our communities remain vibrant and prosperous. We will continue to work with our partners to attract Francophone immigrants with the skills our labour market and economy needs.”