Author: Azadeh Haidari-Garmash, RCIC
Canada Welcomes Francophone Talent
Canada invites French speakers to strengthen its workforce.
In a significant move to enhance its multicultural fabric and address labor market needs, Canada has extended invitations to 4,500 French-speaking candidates to apply for permanent residence. This initiative, undertaken as part of the Express Entry system, marks a continued commitment to fostering a bilingual workforce while prioritizing those already residing within the country.
A Strategic Shift in Immigration Policy
The Express Entry system is a cornerstone of Canada's immigration strategy, designed to streamline the process for skilled workers seeking permanent residency. Candidates are assessed and ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that evaluates factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency, and job offers. In 2025, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has shown a concerted focus on French-speaking applicants, with the latest draw requiring a minimum CRS score of 410 for eligibility.
The March 6, 2025 draw followed a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw earlier in the month, underscoring the government's emphasis on linguistic diversity. The IRCC had previously issued 6,500 invitations to French-speaking candidates in February, highlighting a clear trend towards increasing Francophone immigration.
New Prioritization Categories
Recently, the IRCC unveiled its priority categories for 2025, with a notable addition for educational occupations. The categories include French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, trade occupations, and educational roles. This strategic categorization reflects Canada's broader economic and social objectives, aiming to fill critical skill gaps while embracing diversity.
Changes to Job Offer Points
A significant policy shift announced for the spring of 2025 is the removal of CRS points for job offers of arranged employment. This adjustment could decrease some candidates' scores by up to 200 points, potentially impacting their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The change is expected to affect those relying heavily on job offers to boost their CRS scores, although points from work experience remain unaffected.
For a job offer to have previously contributed to a candidate's CRS score, it needed to be full-time, non-seasonal, for at least a year, and involve a skilled occupation as per the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Moreover, a valid job offer required support from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), confirming the absence of a suitable Canadian worker for the role.
Emphasizing Francophone Immigration
The focus on French-speaking immigrants aligns with broader government goals. In November 2024, Immigration Minister Marc Miller highlighted a shift towards candidates already in Canada, aiming to convert temporary residents into permanent ones, thereby stabilizing the labor market and enhancing social cohesion. February 2025 marked the inclusion of educational occupations in the Express Entry categories, providing educators with a direct pathway to permanent residency.
Minister Miller emphasized the importance of addressing labor shortages and building a dynamic workforce, stating, "By addressing labor shortages, strengthening our economy and increasing Francophone immigration, we are building a more dynamic workforce with workers and professionals from in-demand fields."
This strategic approach not only seeks to fulfill immediate economic needs but also aims to enrich Canada's cultural landscape, reinforcing its identity as a bilingual and inclusive nation.
