The federal government has announced a new initiative to attract more people from the Francophone community to the province.

Nearly $350,000 has been set aside for the project over the next two years.

The money will be used to create pathways for those who speak French and who are bilingual to come to the province, which government says will help with population growth and labour market needs.

There will be targeted overseas recruitment as part of the program, with the aim of attracting people in the fields of education, early childhood education, and health care.

Provincial Francophone Affairs Minister Lin Paddock believes people will want to move from French speaking countries like France and Belgium to Newfoundland and Labrador.

“I think what we’ve found, with the organizations that are here supporting it, if you’re welcoming and if you put supports in, people will stay,” he said.

“When we had the discussion on immigration and in Francophone (meetings) nationally, ultimately it’s about employment. And if people have a job that they can come to, then they can build a life.”