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Canada’s immigration system is favouring these kinds of applicants — even over others who score higher

Release Date
2026-01-10
Media
TORONTO STAR
Summary
Canada’s Express Entry system has increasingly prioritized French-speaking candidates, with francophones accounting for 42 per cent of permanent residence invitations last year. In 2025, about 48,000 of the roughly 114,000 selected applicants were chosen because of their French-language proficiency, often with lower cut-off scores than those applied to general or occupation-based draws. The policy is intended to strengthen French-speaking minority communities outside Quebec, whose demographic share has steadily declined.

However, the emphasis on francophone immigration has drawn criticism from non-French-speaking candidates and immigration experts, especially as Canada reduces its overall intake of permanent residents. Critics argue that highly ranked, English-speaking and economically strong candidates are being passed over, potentially undermining productivity and economic outcomes. The government counters that francophone draws still select eligible, competitive candidates capable of succeeding in the labour market.

The changes stem from the introduction of category-based, or “targeted,” draws in 2023, which prioritize certain occupations and French proficiency. While some prospective immigrants have begun learning French to improve their chances, others note that job opportunities and services for francophones outside Quebec are limited. Overall, the policy has sparked debate over whether Canada is striking the right balance between cultural and linguistic objectives and economic needs in its immigration system.
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Canada

News Articles including "Canada"

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