Thank you for the question.
This is necessary to increase the number of francophone newcomers, in my opinion. I think that we can increase the number of international students if we have a strategy for international students from Africa.
When I look at the numbers, I think we have an opportunity to welcome more people who can bring talent and make immense contributions to Canada as students and frankly as permanent residents. When I look at some of the numbers, one thing I want to point out is the difference between students who come from African nations to Quebec and those who do not go to Quebec. There's a 2% gap. They're similar. Between students who come from French-speaking nations in certain regions of Africa and anglophone students who come from similar regions in Africa the gap is small, but it is about 5%.
There's an issue we can look at. It's not as big as I originally thought when I first read coverage on this, but when I look at it, I think we can make massive improvements, because the experience.... I mentioned Morocco and Senegal during my opening remarks not by coincidence. When we introduced the student direct stream, we saw a significant increase in the approval rates for students who came from those west African French-speaking nations.
When I talk to Minister Boulet or my francophone colleagues, they want me to do more because we have to protect the demographic weight of Quebec in Canada, francophones in Canada, and this is a grand opportunity for us to advance those ends.