Nova Scotia’s new Francophone immigration plan came into existence last week. A recent report called “the Growing Nova Scotia’s Francophone Population- An Action Plan for Success (2022-2025)” laid out the strategies of Nova Scotia to increase the French-speaking population.
Several ministers of this province formulated these strategies. The ministers of the LSI (Labour, skills, and Immigration), along with Francophonie and Acadian Affairs, collaborate with the following:
- Conseil de Développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse;
- Conseil scolaire acadien provincial;
- Université Sainte-Anne;
- Fédération Acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse; and
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Nova Scotia’s new Francophone immigration plan
The new immigration Francophone plan seeks to invite more newcomers from different provinces and countries. It works toward putting more effort into the following:
- Increasing the Francophone community and partner engagement.
- Promoting the French-speaking culture and inviting more people to participate in it.
- Bringing more programs related to population growth.
- Focusing on more programs related to research and evaluation.
- Retaining more people in the province and including settlement services.
The updates are associated with the first Francophone immigration plan of Nova Scotia. This Action Plan emerged in March 2019 and aimed to increase the support for Francophone and Arcadian communities by increasing the number of French-speaking individuals. Additionally, it significantly depends on the province’s international promotion to welcome more Francophones.
The report comprises two primary objectives:
- Spreading awareness among French speakers regarding the immigration streams through Nova Scotia Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program.
- The plan looks forward to helping newcomers gain knowledge about the various available resources within the province.
Status of the French language in Nova Scotia
According to the latest Census 2021 report about languages, Nova Scotia consists of at least 30,000 individuals speaking French as their first language. When the Acadians settled in this province, many French speakers existed in the country in the 1600s.
The Acadians and French communities represent Nova Scotia’s identity, culture, and heritage. Moreover, these two communities have been an intrinsic part of the province for 400 years.
Presently, this new action francophone immigration plan primarily emphasizes its need to increase the French-speaking population. Additionally, it further needs to ensure that these French-speaking newcomers get equal opportunities to establish themselves.
Nova Scotia’s population growth
The latest Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025 hopes to welcome around 500,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2025. Hence, Nova Scotia seeks to be a part of these increased levels. In 2021, the province witnessed a massive historical population growth of 1 million, with the hope to multiply it twice in 2060. These higher population rates are majorly due to immigration levels abroad and on an interprovincial level.
Nova Scotia also conducted a draw via the Labour Market Priorities Stream to bring in more French-speaking individuals. A total of 150 candidates received invitations through this draw, and they were eligible under Express Entry, spoke French as their first language, or obtained a CLB score of 10 in all language skills.
New Francophone immigration plan in Nova Scotia
The Francophone immigration week held each November aims to spread more awareness regarding Francophone immigrants. The target with respect to French-speaking individuals is 4.4 percent, besides Quebec, for execution in the latter part of 2023.
The Federal Action Plan concerning official languages is the primary pillar to inviting more French-speaking immigrants. The plan involves a massive budget of $40.8 million to bring more supporters. Interestingly, it has also changed Canada’s economic immigration policies, including Express Entry’s CRS score. This further includes French speakers and the Mobilité Francophone program to assist employers in finding temporary workers outside Quebec, the ones who are French speakers.
The entire federal plan seeks to carry out marketing and activities for recruitment to target French-speaking immigrants.
