French language training to get expanded financial support

Quebec's Commissioner of the French Language, Benoît Dubreuil, believes immigrants seeking full-time French language training need more financial support to make it feasible to leave the workforce.

Dubreuil is proposing a loan program modelled on student financial aid, offering $15,000 annually to full-time participants. Combined with current financial aid of $230 per week (approximately $10,000 annually), the combined support would reach $25,000 — roughly equivalent to minimum wage for 44 weeks of work.

The commissioner made the proposal in a report tabled Wednesday in the National Assembly, arguing that the current aid level forces many immigrants to keep working while trying to learn French, limiting their ability to pursue intensive language training.

Dubreuil also proposed expanding eligibility to include Canadian-born non-Francophones and extending support to those enrolled in intensive part-time programs. He noted that a significant segment of non-Francophones struggle to find time for language learning without financial relief.