Ministry of Francophone Affairs
The Ministry of Francophone Affairs (French: Ministère des Affaires francophones) in the Canadian province of Ontario is responsible for the provision of government services to Franco-Ontarian citizens and communities.[2]
| Ministère des Affaires francophones (French) | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1986[1] |
| Preceding Ministry |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Ontario |
| Ministers responsible |
|
| Website | www |
It was originally founded as the Office of Francophone Affairs (French: Office des affaires francophones) in 1986 by the government of David Peterson,[3] as an expansion of the former Office of the Government Coordinator of French-Language Services.[4] It was upgraded to a full ministry in 2017 by the government of Kathleen Wynne.[5]
Following the 2018 Ontario general election, the new government of Doug Ford announced plans to demote the department from a ministry back down to an office,[6] but was forced to backtrack in the face of community opposition.[7]
Under the province's French Language Services Act, the provincial government provides French language services if a community or region's francophone population exceeds 5,000 or 10 percent of the community's total population. There are 25 areas of the province so designated. The office also has a role in the governance of Ontario's francophone public television network, TFO, as well as francophone school boards and other government offices, and acts as a liaison office between the government and other francophone cultural agencies and social services.
The current Minister of Francophone Affairs is Caroline Mulroney.
Ministry agencies
edit- Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs
- Special Advisor on Francophone Affairs
- Special Advisor on Francophone Economic Development
Source: Public Appointments Secretariat[8]
Ministers
edit- Bernard Grandmaître (1986–1989)
- Charles Beer (1989–1990)
- Gilles Pouliot (1990–1995)
- Noble Villeneuve (1995–1999)
- John Baird (1999–2003)
- Madeleine Meilleur (2003–2016)
- Marie-France Lalonde (2016–2018)
- Caroline Mulroney (2018–present)
References
edit- ^ "Franco-Ontarian history". Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ "En francais, s'il vous plait". Windsor Star, October 27, 1989.
- ^ "Languages of the law". The Globe and Mail, May 16, 1986.
- ^ "Francophones forced to re-defend their rights". Timmins Daily Press, November 24, 2018.
- ^ "Reaction mixed to Ontario Liberals creating francophone affairs ministry". CBC News Ottawa, August 1, 2017.
- ^ "Francophones aren't 'just another community'". Montreal Gazette, November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Doug Ford backtracks after days of backlash over cuts to francophone institutions". The Globe and Mail, November 23, 2018.
- ^ "Agencies and current appointees - Public Appointments Secretariat".