Experiences of French-speaking Immigrants in Rural Communities in Northern Ontario and Northern New Brunswick

As early as 2003, the Government of Canada made the regionalization of Francophone immigration a priority objective in its first Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities. Approximately 20 years later, it is clear that Francophone immigration is still highly concentrated in urban areas and mostly in Ontario. The overall objective of this study was to better understand the experiences of French-speaking immigrants in rural Francophone communities in northern Ontario and northern New Brunswick. To carry out this project, the research team used a mixed methodology based on the collection of primary and secondary data. The methodology included a literature review, analysis of the 2021 Census data and interviews with French-speaking immigrants (n=40), stakeholders and companies (n=6).