French Ontario Today
More than 40 years ago, the Government of Ontario recognized the need to provide French-language services to the province’s Francophone community.
The right to French-language services contained in the French Language Services Act came into effect on November 19, 1989. It gives all citizens who request French-language services the right to be served in French:
- in any head office of a provincial government ministry or agency;
- in most provincial ministry and agency offices that serve or are located in the 25 designated regions.
Today, about 85% of Ontario’s Francophone population has access to these services.
On the occasion of the French Language Services Act’s 25th anniversary, the Office of Francophone Affairs has prepared a chronology which highlights some of the major advances in French language services in Ontario.
Here is a more detailed version of the main stages in the development of the Government of Ontario’s French-language services. Achievements are classified by sector for easier reference.
2011
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Adoption of a Regulation on the provision of French language services by third parties on behalf of government agencies.
32 new public service agencies were designated under the FLSA since 2003, which brings the total number of designated agencies to 222. These agencies provide health services and support services for children, youth and women who are victims of violence.
EDUCATION
The total funding for French-language boards for the 2010-11 school year was $1.24 billion, the largest investment in French Language education in the history of the province.
Ontario puts in place a French language policy framework for postsecondary education and training. The goal is to help provide Ontarians with more opportunities to study and train in French.
Substantial additional investments in infrastructure in the primary, secondary and postsecondary francophone educational sectors:
– $248.9 million worth of construction was undertaken under the French Capital Transitional Funding component of the Grant for New Pupil Places in the primary and secondary school systems.
– $84.8 million was invested in the postsecondary sector as well as in training for Francophones.
2010
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Adoption of the Franco-Ontarian Day Act. The Province of Ontario officially recognizes September 25th of each year as Franco-Ontarian Day as well as the “contribution of the Francophone community of Ontario to the social, economic and political life of the Province and the community’s importance in Ontario’s society”.
Adoption of a new directive for Communications in French by the Ontario Government. Ministries and classified agencies are required to consider and incorporate the Franco-Ontarian community’s specific needs when developing and implementing communications strategies and tactics.
EDUCATION
Creation of 266 new child-care spaces in French language schools.
CULTURE
Official launch of TFO in Manitoba.
The Ministry of Tourism and Culture launches two three-year pilot programs to address the needs of Francophone visual artists, arts organizations and collectives in Ontario.
HEALTH
Adoption of the Francophone Community Engagement Regulation under the Local Health Integration Networks Act. Establishment of 6 French language health planning entities (1 in Northern Ontario, 1 in Eastern Ontario and 4 in Southern Ontario) in order to provide advice and input on French language health services in their communities.
Inauguration of the “new” Montfort hospital.
SERVICES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Announcement of a $5.2 M investment for the construction of Toronto’s first Francophone women’s shelter.
Opening of a 10-bed women’s Francophone Shelter in Timmins.
2009
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Adoption of a new more inclusive definition of Francophone (DIF): 50,000 more Francophones identified, bringing the total Franco-Ontarian population to over 580,000.
Addition of a Youth Francophonie Award as part of the Ontario Francophonie Awards.
Release by the OFA on its website of a new General Statistical Profile of Ontario’s Francophone Community in December 2009.
EDUCATION
New Aménagement Linguistique Policy whose goal is to help the province’s French language educational institutions and settings optimize the transmission of the French language and culture among young people, to help them reach their full potential in school and society, and to breathe new life into the francophone community.
MUNICIPALITIES
As part of the province’s Accent on Youth Strategy, launch of a new initiative developed by the OFA in partnership with the Association française des municipalités de l’Ontario (AFMO) – which aims to encourage young Francophones to learn more about municipal affairs.
2008
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
The first États généraux de la francophonie de Sudbury were held in November 2008. Bringing all sectors of the Sudbury community together in a planning exercise, this event made it possible to lay a foundation for setting priorities for the region’s economic, cultural, community, social, and artistic development.
Each of these milestones has enabled Francophones to face the future with optimism and to focus their efforts on training the next generation of Francophone leaders. With its community partners and with private companies that have roots in the community, OFA launched its Accent on Youth Strategy in 2008 to encourage young Francophones to socialize, work, and live in French.
CULTURE
TFO becomes an independent and self-governing organization with its own budgets, its own board of directors and its own offices.
TRANSPORTATION
Another milestone in the recognition of the French fact in Ontario was reached in 2008, with the introduction of French license plates for personal vehicles.
2007
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Creation of the Office of French Language Services Commissioner. Reporting to the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, but independent of the OFA, the Commissioner is responsible for handling complaints relating to the FLSA, conducting investigations to ensure compliance with the FLSA and submitting special reports as well as an annual report to the Minister that is tabled in the Legislative Assembly.
Development of a French services accountability framework to be integrated in the annual planning process of each ministry.
EDUCATION
Investments in the education sector are now making it possible to expand York University, Université de Hearst, and La Cité collégiale, and to expand French-language postsecondary program offerings in Ontario.
2006
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
The year 2006 marked the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act. To celebrate this milestone in the history of French Ontario, the Government of Ontario created the Ontario Francophonie Awards as a way to honour Francophones and Francophiles who have made a valuable contribution to the vitality and well-being of Ontario’s Francophone community. The OFA also created a travelling exhibition on the history of French Ontario, entitled La francophonie ontarienne : d’hier à aujourd’hui.
Francophones in eastern Ontario rallied around the project to create monuments to Ontario’s Francophonie. On September 25, 2006, the 31st anniversary of the Franco-Ontarian flag, the first of six monuments in Ottawa was unveiled. It is a giant Franco-Ontarian flag symbolizing the history and contribution of the region’s Franco-Ontarian community. This initiative has since spread to other Ontario communities, including Casselman, Rockland, and Sudbury.
Designation of Kingston under the French Language Services Act.
Signing of the Ontario-Quebec Cooperation Protocol on Francophone Affairs.
EDUCATION
The growing number of French-language schools gives rights holders increased access to French-language education across the province.
Launch of the Politique d’aménagement linguistique de l’Ontario, a language planning policy to promote the French language and culture, improve student achievement, and help keep young Franco-Ontarians in French-language schools.
Creation of an advisory committee on French-language postsecondary education.
Establishment of a permanent Elementary and Secondary French-Language Education Task-Force.
CULTURE
Establishment of an improvement program for French-language, rural, Northern, and First Nations libraries.
JUSTICE
Implementation of the first phase of the Strategic Plan for the Development of French Language Services in Ontario’s Justice Sector, in partnership with the francophone stakeholders, which aims to improve, modernize and expand access to French Language Services in the justice sector.
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Support for French-language school boards to plan for the provision of child care services under the Best Start Plan.
HEALTH
Unprecedented commitment of $125 million to expand Montfort Hospital co-funded with the federal government.
Establishment of a Francophone working group on health care reform, headed by the CEO of Montfort Hospital.
Inclusion in the preamble of Bill 36 on local health system integration of recognition that the requirements of the French Language Services Act must be respected. The Bill also requires that the Francophone community be consulted both in the development of a provincial health system plan – through the establishment of a French-language health services advisory council, and at the regional level by local health integration networks.
MUNICIPALITIES
Creation of a website, Centre d’archives des règlements municipaux, which provides the English and French versions of municipal by-laws.
2005
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Signing of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French-Language Services providing $1.4 million per year over four years to increase the capability of the Government of Ontario to deliver French-language services and support the development and vitality of the Francophone community of Ontario.
Designation of five new agencies under the French Language Services Act. Since 1988, 201 agencies have been designated to provide services in French.
EDUCATION
Commitment of $140 million to contribute to the development of French-language schools.
Signing of the Provincial-Federal Funding Agreement for French-Language Education and French-as-a-Second-Language Instruction, providing $301 million over four years for minority and second-language instruction at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels, as well as an additional $30 million to recognize that Ontario has the largest minority French-language community in the country.
Establishment of a permanent Elementary and Secondary French-Language Education Task Force to advise the Minister of Education on unique Francophone matters such as promoting French culture, reducing assimilation and helping to retain Francophone students.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRADE
Distribution of a Resource Guide for immigrant entrepreneurs to all the Canadian Embassies and high commissions abroad.
MUNICIPALITIES
Adoption of an Act to amend the City of Ottawa Act, 1999, recognizing the bilingual character of the City of Ottawa. The amendment requires the City of Ottawa to adopt a policy respecting the use of the English and French languages in all or specified parts of the administration of the city and in the city’s provision of all or specific municipal services.
Provision of $700,000 over four years to translate municipal by-laws and other key documents into French, cost-shared with the federal government.
POSTSECONDARY
Commitment of targeted funding to promote access to postsecondary education for Francophones as part of the $6.2 billion to be invested in response to the Rae Report.
Creation of an advisory committee on French-language postsecondary education charged with advising the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities on improving access to French-language postsecondary programs.
SERVICES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Creation of a help line for Francophone women who are victims of violence: 1 877 FEMAIDE (1 877 336-2433). Francophone women across the province can access this dedicated toll-free line anytime.
2004
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Creation of a Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs. The committee’s mandate is to advise the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs on how to best meet the needs of the Francophone community.
Participation of Ontario at the Xth Summit of the Francophonie in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Designation of the City of Brampton and the municipality of Callander under the French Language Services Act. After an implementation period of two years, provincial government offices located in Brampton will offer their services in French. Because there are no offices of the provincial government located in the municipality of Callander, French-language services will be available at government offices in the City of North Bay.
EDUCATION
Funding of $30 M allocated to the province’s 12 French-language district school boards as a first step in the implementation of the French-Language Education Strategy.
To help strengthen French-language education in Ontario, the Government launches the Politique d’aménagement linguistique 2004. This plan is designed to help promote French language and culture, improve student achievement and self-esteem and help keep young Franco-Ontarians in French-language schools.
SERVICES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
The Government adopts a Domestic Violence Action Plan. One of the objectives of this Plan is to improve access to French-language violence prevention programs and services in accordance with the French Language Services Act.
The Centre Victoria pour femmes and the Timmins and Area Women in Crisis announce the creation of a new Francophone Sexual Assault Centre.
Holding of États généraux sur le développement des services en français en matière de violence contre les femmes (conference on the development of French-language services in the area of violence against women). The purpose of the conference was to discuss issues related to French-language violence prevention programs and services, to discuss best practices and explore models for improved service delivery.
Investment of $1.9 million to support sexual assault centres across the province offering French-language services or serving Francophone communities.
JUSTICE
Creation of a French Language Institute for Professional Development through which professionals in the justice system can increase their French-language abilities.
SENIORS
Creation of a Francophone Advisory Committee by the Seniors’ Secretariat in order to develop, implement and evaluate a series of information tours for Francophone senior citizens across Ontario.
2003
CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION
A federal-provincial-community committee is set up to discuss Francophone immigration.
HEALTH AND LONG TERM CARE
Announcement of a $7.4 M increase to the base funding of Montfort Hospital and a grant of $20.8 M for 2003-2004.
TRANSPORTATION
Citizens can request licence plates with the design of the Franco-Ontarian flag.
2002
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Eleven new transfer payment agencies are designated under the French Language Services Act as providers of French-language services. Since 1988, 196 agencies have been designated as providers of services in French. Of these, 66 have been designated since 1995.
EDUCATION
Official groundbreaking ceremony at L’École secondaire de formation professionnelle et technique in Ottawa.
Official opening of Collège Boréal campus in Toronto, in the Fall 2002.
JUSTICE
Signature of a memorandum of understanding between Legal Aid Ontario and the Centre médico-social communautaire de Toronto for the 2003 opening of the first Francophone Legal Aid Clinic in Toronto.
HEALTH
Five-year memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the French-Language Health Services Network of Eastern Ontario.
SERVICES TO WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Announcement of funding for Francophone pilot projects in the area of violence prevention.
2001
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Games of La Francophonie 2001, Ottawa-Hull: the Ontario Government participates in the planning of the Games and hosts a pavilion that welcomes many visitors. Some 3,000 athletes and artists from 52 countries compete in these games, 85 of these competitors being from Ontario. In all, Ontario wins 3 medals in the Cultural competitions and 16 medals in the Sports division (8 of which are gold).
The Franco-Ontarian flag becomes an official emblem of the province.
JUSTICE
Additional financing to improve legal aid services in French in Ontario.
The Courts of Justice Act is amended to improve access to justice and simplify the administrative procedures to request a bilingual trial.
CHILDREN’S SECRETARIAT
The Government of Ontario launches the Early Years Challenge Fund. In order to meet the needs of Francophone families, a special envelope – 5% of the total Fund – is set aside for projects within the Francophone community. Following consultations with Francophone stakeholders, a separate process is put in place to evaluate and recommend projects by Francophone groups.
2000
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Organization of the 4th Games of La Francophonie to be held in Ottawa-Hull in 2001.
HEALTH
128 long-term care beds allocated to Montfort Hospital, as part of the government’s commitment to create 20,000 new long-term care beds in the province by 2004.
EDUCATION
$4 million to train specialists to identify young Francophones who need special education services.
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Five year agreement with the Federal government for the funding of French-language colleges, including some funding for the Collège d’Alfred.
Funding to La Cité collégiale for the development of a bilingual training centre for call services in the high technology industry.
Funding to Le Collège Boréal for the Centre for Excellence in Forestry of Northern Ontario.
TOURISM
The Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership (OTMP) develops a tourism marketing strategy specifically for the Francophone community of Ontario and provides tourism information in French to Francophone consumers.
1999
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
The Ontario Government attends the 8th Francophone Summit in Moncton where the Ontario Pavilion showcases Ontario products and services.
JUSTICE
The Ontario Legal Aid, established under the Legal Aid Services Act, must provide services in French.
1998
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Renewal of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages.
Five year Federal/Provincial Agreement for the financing of French-language school boards.
JUSTICE
The Provincial Offences Act transfers responsibilities for the administration and prosecution of offences to the municipal level. The Act is accompanied by a memorandum of understanding whereby municipalities in designated areas agree to maintain the provision of services in French.
1997
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
After 3 years of implementation, Francophones in the City of London officially have the right to receive provincial government services in French as stipulated under the French Language Services Act.
EDUCATION
Creation of 12 French-language school boards (4 public and 8 separate) with funding equivalent to that of English-language school boards.
SERVICES TO WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
The OFA, together with the Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services and the Ontario Women’s Directorate, implement an action plan to increase services to help Francophone women victims of violence.
1995
POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION
Opening of two French-language colleges: Collège Boréal and Collège des Grands Lacs, and a permanent campus site for La Cité collégiale.
Multi-use school facilities are established in Kingston and Brampton.
1994
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Designation of a new area under the French Language Services Act. The City of London becomes the 23rd designated area to provide provincial government services in French. These services come into effect on July 1,1997.
Under the Act, another eight agencies are designated to provide some or all of their services to the public in French, bringing the total number of designated agencies to 130.
Provincial Francophone organizations now number 76 in comparison with 31 in 1986.
FINANCE
Amendments to the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act enables the caisses populaires to offer a wider array of financial services and support to their Francophone clients. They can offer preferred shares to members, an important source of revenue to help them expand.
Financing to set up caisses populaires in under-serviced areas.
Amendments to the Cooperatives Corporations Act provides cooperatives with:
- easier self-financing and ability to structure themselves as groups of partners rather than members; and
- improved access to support programs for small businesses.
EDUCATION
First multi-use school facility set up in Longlac. (Fall 1994)
Capital funding for the construction of eight new French-language schools.
Dissolution of the Conseil scolaire de langue française d’Ottawa-Carleton and creation of two autonomous French-language boards as of July 1, 1994: the Conseil des écoles publiques d’Ottawa-Carleton and theConseil des écoles catholiques de langue française de la région d’Ottawa-Carleton.
CULTURE
Establishment of an annual Trillium Award to recognize Francophone authors and French-language literature.
A new community radio station for the Cornwall-Alexandria area goes on air.
COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SERVICES
There are now 52 Francophone daycare centres. In 1986, there were 3.
HEALTH
Establishment of a Francophone medical social services centre in Hamilton-Wentworth.
1993
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Designation of 24 agencies under the French Language Services Act (July 1993). (New total: 122)
Renewal of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages.
EDUCATION
Announcement of the creation of two new French-language colleges, one in Northern Ontario (Collège Boréal) and one in Central/Southwestern Ontario (Collège des Grands Lacs).
CULTURE
Creation of a fund for Francophone cultural centres with the help of the Office of Francophone Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation.
The first Salon du livre de Toronto, a French-language book fair, financed to a large extent by the government, is held in October 1993. It is the first event of that nature in Ontario.
The community radio station for Kapuskasing goes on air with the financial assistance of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Recreation.
AGRICULTURE
The Union des cultivateurs franco-ontariens is recognized as the official union to represent the province’s Francophone farmers.
HOUSING
The Coalition franco-ontarienne pour le logement is recognized as the official representative for Francophones on housing issues.
JUSTICE
Designation of the first two legal clinics under the French Language Services Act; one in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, the other in Prescott-Russell.
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
Establishment of the Association des personnes sourdes franco-ontariennes.
1992
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Designation of 12 agencies under the French Language Services Act (Summer 1992). (New total: 98)
EDUCATION
Creation of a French-language school board in Prescott-Russell (January 1992).
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS
Establishment of the Minister’s Advisory Committee on a Cultural Policy for Francophones of Ontario as a result of recommendations contained in the report, RSVP!: Clés en mains/RSVP!: Keys to the Future, by the Working Group for a Cultural Policy for Francophones of Ontario. The interministerial committee (Culture and Communications, Office of Francophone Affairs) submits its final report in November 1992.
HEALTH
Establishment of two French-language community health centres, one in Sudbury and the other in Cornwall-Alexandria. A bilingual community health centre is also underway in Longlac.
1991
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Designation of 15 agencies under the French Language Services Act (Fall 1991). (New total: 86)
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS
Creation of a grants program for the development of French-language community radio.
SERVICES TO WOMEN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
The Office of Francophone Affairs receives an allocation in order to develop a strategic plan for the provision of violence prevention services in French. Emphasis is placed on public education initiatives and on the development of direct services for Francophone women victims of sexual assault.
JUSTICE
The Revised Statutes of Ontario are published in French.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Creation of a program for victims of sexual assault to improve French-language services for Francophone women.
“Partir d’un bon pas pour un avenir meilleur/Better Beginnings, Better Futures”: a provincial project on services for children in difficulty includes a French-language pilot project in Cornwall-Alexandria.
EDUCATION
Re-establishment of the Council on Franco-Ontarian Education (CEFO) to advise the Minister of Colleges and Universities and the Minister of Education on all subjects concerning French-language education programs at the elementary, secondary and postsecondary levels.
Creation of the Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs (ACFA) to advise the Minister of Colleges and Universities on the issue of French-language postsecondary studies (July 1991).
INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS
Provisional report of the Select Committee in Ontario on Confederation, which recommends the maintenance of French-language services.
1990
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Designation of 24 agencies under the French Language Services Act (December 1990). (New total:71)
EDUCATION
Setting up of the French-Language Education Governance Advisory Group (Cousineau Commission) responsible for recommending criteria for the governance of French-language education in Ontario.
Opening of Ontario’s first French-language college of applied arts and technology, La Cité collégiale(Ottawa, September 1990).
Bourdeau Commission’s report recommending the establishment of French-language colleges in Northern and Central/Southern Ontario.
TRANSPORTATION
Beginning of the installation of bilingual signage on provincial highways.
JUSTICE
Amendments to article 136 of the Courts of Justice Act provide for other forms of hearings such as pre-trial and pre-motion conferences, as well as the filing of documents in French in certain regions.
1989
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
On November 19, 1989, the French Language Services Act comes into effect.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Creation of the first Centre médico-social communautaire (Toronto) that brings health and social services under one roof.
1988
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Designation of the first 47 agencies under the French Language Services Act. The first designated agency is the Hospital Notre-Dame in Hearst.
Canada-Ontario Agreement on the Promotion of Official Languages: Cooperation Agreement between the two governments to improve access to French-language services in provincial ministries.
EDUCATION
Setting up of first French-language school boards in Toronto and Ottawa.
LITERACY
Creation of French-language community literacy centres.
HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
Creation of the French-language daycare network, Réseau francophone de services de garde.
1987
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Dissolution of the Council on Franco-Ontarian Affairs and creation of the Ontario French-Language Services Commission.
Development and presentation of each ministry’s implementation plans for French-language services for review by the Ontario French-Language Services Commission and the Office of Francophone Affairs.
Establishment of a linguistic evaluation centre by the Human Resources Secretariat.
Establishment and enhancement of the offices of the French-language services coordinators in ministries and certain crown corporations.
CULTURE AND COMMUNICATIONS
TVOntario’s La Chaîne begins broadcasting. (January 1987)
1986
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
Adoption of the French Language Services Act. This Act consolidates existing policies and recognizes the right of Francophones to receive government services in French in the 23 designated areas of the province.
Establishment of a simultaneous interpretation service in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
EDUCATION
Enactment of legislation on school governance giving Francophones full and exclusive governance of their French-language schools and instructional units.
1985
FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS
The Office of the Government Coordinator of French-Language Services becomes the Office of Francophone Affairs.
