‘Mobilité Francophone’ Worker Stream Launches

LMIA process removed for hiring of certain French-Speaking foreign workers

Pour la version française, cliquez ici.

A new work permit option was launched this week, with Mobilité Francophone becoming the latest addition to the International Mobility Program (IMP). Mobilité Francophone aims to make the hiring of French-speaking or bilingual skilled workers more straightforward for employers in certain regions of Canada outside the province of Quebec.

This new stream exempts Canadian employers from undergoing the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process when hiring French-speaking or bilingual foreign workers in managerial, professional, or technical/skilled trades occupations (NOC skill level 0, A or B), in cases where the offer of employment is in a francophone minority community outside Quebec.

A LMIA is a document that serves as proof that there will be a positive or neutral impact to the Canadian labour market if an employer hires a foreign national in certain situations. For employers, the process of procuring a LMIA can be lengthy and labour intensive, and may ultimately lead to rejection. For this reason, among others, the launch of Mobilité Francophone is welcome news to a range of employers, as well as French-speaking or bilingual foreign workers and minority francophone communities.

The government of Canada notes that the working language in these communities is usually English. To learn about francophone communities outside Quebec, click here.

“Immigration, both temporary and permanent, has a role to play in supporting vital, vibrant francophone minority communities anywhere across Canada. Mobilité Francophone benefits the employers, the newcomers and the minority communities and it enhances our diverse nation,” said Canada’s Immigration Minister, John McCallum.

"We want francophone minority communities in Canada to continue to be vibrant and growing. That’s why we’re going to encourage skilled francophone workers to come to Canada and settle in communities outside Quebec, and we’re going to encourage them to apply for permanent residence if they would like to stay,” added McCallum.

Individuals working in Canada with a Mobilité Francophone temporary work permit will be able to acquire valuable Canadian work experience, an important factor if the worker wishes to immigrate to Canada permanently. Economic immigration options include the Express Entry system and the various Provincial Nominee Programs.

For employers: Hiring French-speaking or bilingual workers

Starting June 1, 2016, employers hiring French-speaking or bilingual skilled workers in a community outside Quebec may be exempt from the need to obtain a LMIA. Hiring such workers could provide a number of advantages. For instance, being able to serve clients in both official languages could help a business to tap into new markets nationally and internationally.

Mobilité Francophone is designed for foreign skilled workers who have been recruited through a francophone immigration promotional event coordinated between the federal government and francophone minority community stakeholders, and who are destined to work in a province or territory outside Quebec. To learn more about these promotional events, click here.

The government of Canada hopes to increase the presence of francophones across the country with this new stream, with the aim of having francophone newcomers make up at least 4 percent of all economic immigrants settling outside Quebec by 2018, with an additional target of 4.4 percent by 2023.

Employers and prospective foreign workers who are interested in the Mobilité Francophone stream may send an inquiry to wp@canadavisa.com. Please include any relevant information about a job offer you may have and, for workers, information about your French language ability.