Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Mark Miller announced the launch of a pilot project that allows foreign students who speak French to obtain permanent residency more quickly.

This is in response to the integration challenges faced by new Francophone arrivals in Canada, and the goal of the pilot project is to allow up to 2,300 foreign students enrolled in universities that teach in French to transition directly from temporary residency to permanent residency in Francophone minority communities as soon as they obtain their degrees.

Miller announced this pilot project from St. Anne's University in the town of Point de l'Église in Nova Scotia; it is the only university that teaches in French in the province.

The federal immigration minister clarified that, thanks to their French language skills and their Canadian education, these graduates will be able to contribute to the workforce and enrich Francophone minority communities across Canada.

It is worth noting that Miller announced the creation of 10 new Francophone communities, which will be added to the 14 existing Francophone communities in areas where French speakers are a minority.

It is also worth noting that the federal government will allocate approximately $11 million to support the welcoming programs for these communities.