The government of New Brunswick had initially set a goal of having 33 per cent of its immigrants be francophones by 2020, but recently announced that the deadline has been pushed back to 2024.
100,000 new jobs will open in the next decade in New Brunswick, which may lead to a labour shortage. To offset this potential outcome, the government will focus on immigration.
While an influx of newcomers will help boost the economy, the Association of French-Speaking Municipalities of New Brunswick (AMFNB) has expressed concern that a lack of effort to attract French-speaking newcomers will increasingly push French speakers into the minority.
Last year, 80 per cent of new immigrants were English-speaking.