This is a big move to improve Canada’s immigration system. Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has started the final phase of two big immigration projects. They are the Strengthening Urban Immigrant Communities and Francophone Immigrant Communities. The initiatives will launch this fall. They aim to nurture Canada’s economic growth and uphold its core values. They will do this by giving targeted support and training to selected communities.

Pilot Projects

IRCC’s statement outlines the main goal of these pilot projects. It is to help Canada grow long-term and uphold its core values.” The initiatives were announced in March. They will start accepting applications this fall. The exact dates have not yet been announced. These programs are expected to process approximately 5,500 permanent residence applications annually.

We will choose 15 communities to join these pilot projects. We will base the choice on their money needs. Also, we will consider services for newcomers. We will also consider the ability of local business groups to collaborate. Interested organizations should apply for their communities by July

They can apply via the IRCC survey.

Investigation and Examination: Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

There are many Canadian immigration services. The IRCC is testing new programs, like the Atlantic Immigration Program. They are testing them to see if they will work in the long term. One such pilot is the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). It will be replaced by the Rural and Northern Immigration Driver. This program provides a path for business immigrants to get permanent residence. It focuses on rural communities in Western Canada and Ontario. These communities get IRCC support to attract and keep newcomers. The newcomers’ skills drive local economic growth. The communities also offer support to help newcomers integrate.

Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

The pilot shows IRCC’s commitment. It aims to promote French outside Quebec. Quebec is Canada’s only mostly French-speaking province. This initiative aims to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants. They will go to small French communities across Canada. It will boost economic growth and revive populations in these communities.

This pilot is part of IRCC’s plan to grow the French-speaking population in Canada. It complements other measures, like the Access Program for French-speaking newcomers. This year, 30% of ads target French-speaking nominees. This is the highest percentage among all categories.

A recent access to information request found that IRCC. They found that knowing one or both of Canada’s official languages predicts the success of newcomers. It predicts their economic success. In 2023, IRCC surpassed its goal of 4.4% French-speaking newcomers, achieving 4.7%. The ministry has set ambitious targets for the future: 6% in 2024, 7% in 2025, and 8% in 2026.

These IRCC initiatives show that Canada keeps refining its immigration system. It supports diverse communities and fosters a strong, multilingual society. IRCC focuses on urban and francophone communities. It is paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Canadians.