Published plans and annual reports 2025–2026: Ministry of Francophone Affairs

Ministry overview

Ministry’s Vision and Mission

Ontario’s Francophone community is growing and changing. It is now more dynamic and diverse than ever. The Francophonie is a highly valuable asset for Ontario. The province plans to preserve and showcase it by creating favourable conditions that will foster the well-being and social, cultural and economic development of Franco-Ontarians. 

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs acts as steward of the French Language Services Act (FLSA) and main advisor of the government on Francophone affairs and French-language services to ensure Franco-Ontarians receive government services in French, so they can participate in the social, economic and political life of the province while maintaining their linguistic and cultural heritage.

The ministry:

• Leads the implementation of the French-language services legislative and 
  regulatory framework, including the modernized FLSA and its regulations.
• Works with ministries in ensuring that French-language services are 
  available to the public as required by the FLSA.
• Provides advice to provincial government ministries and agencies in their 
  efforts to deliver accessible, high-quality French-language services and in 
  ensuring that policies and programs meet the needs of Francophones and 
  align with the government’s responsibilities under the FLSA.
• Makes recommendations with respect to the designation of areas and 
  agencies, and coordinates the implementation of French-language services 
  in newly designated areas.
• Promotes Francophone affairs across government, and partners with key 
  ministries on policy and program initiatives to contribute to a stronger 
  Francophone community, which includes Francophone economic 
  development.
• Engages with the province’s Francophone community and facilitates the 
  participation of Francophones in contributing to Ontario’s prosperity.
• Works with other jurisdictions to promote Ontario’s Francophonie and 
  showcases the province’s profile at both national and international levels.

Ministry programs

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs oversees the administration of the French Language Services Act (FLSA), works with provincial government ministries and agencies to ensure that the needs and interests of Ontario’s Francophones are taken into account in public policies and programs, and facilitates their participation in contributing to Ontario’s prosperity. 

The ministry continues to engage stakeholders to ensure that government programs reflect the needs and attain intended outcomes of each program while serving the Francophone community. 

The ministry’s key roles are: 

• Working with ministries to ensure French-language services delivery in designated areas across the province.
• Monitoring and evaluating on an annual basis the effectiveness of the FLSA by reporting on ministries’ achievements and corporate performance measures.
• Providing statistics on the province’s Francophone population.
• Making recommendations for the designation of areas and agencies under the FLSA, and coordinating the implementation of services in newly designated areas.
• Coordinating the transfer of federal funding to other ministries and agencies for projects and initiatives funded under the Canada–Ontario Agreement on Services in the Minority Language.
• Overseeing Ontario’s participation in national and international governing bodies including the Minister’s Council on the Canadian Francophonie and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Additionally: 

• The ministry facilitates a strategic approach to Francophone economic development designed to meet the needs of Francophone businesses and organizations to support the cultural and economic vitality of Ontario’s Francophone community.
• The ministry manages the Francophone Community Grants Program which funds Francophone initiatives. This program raises the profile of Ontario’s Francophonie, and supports economic development for Francophone-owned businesses, as well as businesses serving Francophone markets.
• The ministry coordinates the joint funding of interprovincial projects and initiatives with the government of Québec under the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.

2025-26 Strategic plan

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs endorses the government's initiative to develop Ontario, fostering a resilient economy and ensuring the creation of safe and robust communities. 

The government recognizes that Francophone entrepreneurs and businesses are important contributors to Ontario’s prosperity and to the economy, as well as the importance of a strong Francophone and bilingual workforce. Furthermore, Ontario’s Francophonie represents an asset that could be further leveraged for economic growth and diversification. 

The government will continue to support social, cultural, and economic development of Ontario’s Francophone community, as well as strengthen ministries and agencies’ capacity to deliver French-language services.

In 2025-26 the ministry will focus on continuing to strengthen access to French-language services across the province and enhance the visibility of its Francophonie through the following key initiatives:

• Continuing to implement the French Language Services Strategy to improve access to French-language services and increase quality and accountability, strengthening Ontario’s Francophone and bilingual workforce, and improving the effectiveness of French-language services planning and reporting.
• Maintaining previous year’s commitments, including:
  • The annual funding for the Francophone Community Grants Program.
  • An annual envelope of $800,000 for the Francophone Economic Development Strategy to support the Francophone economic ecosystem and the range of support services available to Francophone businesses and entrepreneurs, to support the promotion of the Francophonie as an economic asset at the national and international levels.
  • The annual funding of up to $300,000 to support projects related to the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.
  • Funding from the Canada–Ontario Agreement on Services in the Minority Language (2023-28), which is a multi-year collaboration between the federal government and the province, designed to support the planning and delivery of French-language services for Ontario’s Francophones.

These efforts will help increase the Francophone economic footprint, promote a bilingual skilled workforce, strengthen the capacity of organizations and/or businesses to provide products and services to Francophones in the province and ensure equitable access to government services in either French or English.

• Intended outcomes include:
  • Government services are readily available in French in designated areas across the province.
  • Francophone-owned and operated businesses that serve French-speaking markets have greater access to targeted support to help them grow their business and contribute to the prosperity of their communities.
  • Government policy, programs and initiatives that affect Francophones are developed with consideration given to French-language needs.

Key Performance Indicator

Detailed financial information

Table 1: Ministry Planned Expenditures 2025-26 ($M)

Table 2: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote

For additional financial information, see:   
  
Expenditure Estimates | ontario.ca      
Public Accounts of Ontario: past editions | ontario.ca      
2025 Ontario Budget | A Plan to Protect Ontario

Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABCs)

Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs

Provides advice to the Minister of Francophone Affairs on the development of strategies, priorities and programs that affect Ontario’s Francophones, and on the planning and delivery of French-language services across the Government of Ontario.

Ministry organization chart

• Minister of Francophone Affairs – The Honourable Caroline Mulroney
  • Deputy Minister (DM) – Roda Muse
    • Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) – Roxanne Hotte
      • Director, Strategic Communications – Estelle Saint-Martin
      • Director, Policy Research & Min Services – Salimatou Sow
    • ADM and Chief Administrative Officer, Corporate Services Division – Sandy Yee
      • Director, Business Planning and Financial Management – Steve Hung
      • Director, Strategic HR Branch – Angela McKenna
      • Director, Service Management and Service Delivery Branch – Michelle Consul
      • Director, Strategic Corporate Support Branch – Sean Benson

Legislation

Legislation administered by the ministry:

French Language Services Act, 1990

The French Language Services Act, which was modernized in 2021,protects the rights of Franco-Ontarians to have access to French-language services provided by or on behalf of the provincial government, notably in designated areas of the province.

Franco-Ontarian Emblem, 2001

This Act recognizes the Franco-Ontarian flag as an official emblem of the province of Ontario.

Franco-Ontarian Day Act, 2010

The Franco-Ontarian Day Act proclaims September 25 of each calendar year as Franco-Ontarian Day. The act officially recognizes the contributions of Ontario’s Francophones to the social, economic and political life of the province and the community’s importance in Ontario

Annual report

In 2024-25, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs supported the government’s plan to create a more competitive business environment, as well as its commitment to build a province where everyone can have the opportunity to share in economic prosperity. 

The government continued to support Ontario’s Francophones by promoting their culture, expanding their businesses locally, nationally and internationally, and fostering greater community engagement while ensuring access to high-quality services in French.

The following outlines the Ministry of Francophone Affairs’ accomplishments in delivering on key priorities during 2024-25:

• Improved access to French-language services with the official designation of the City of Sarnia under the FLSA as of November 1, 2024 — a recognition that highlights the strength and vitality of the local Francophone community and demonstrates the government's continued commitment to enhancing French-language services province-wide.
• Continued to implement three-year plan to update Ontario Regulation 398/93 listing designated agencies offering services in French. The ministry updated information on 73 organizations in 2024-25. This process, in conjunction with the launch of the evaluation function on the digital French Language Services Designation Tool in April 2024, helps ensure that designated French-language services remain in compliance with designation requirements.
• Launched the Ministry of Francophone Affairs' LinkedIn account to modernize and strengthen communication with the Francophone community — to share key announcements from the ministry, other Ontario ministries, and strategic partners supporting Ontario’s Francophonie. This initiative reflects a renewed commitment to transparent, accessible, and real-time engagement with the community.
• Launched a training video on active offer in both English and French on LearnON, to support the implementation of Ontario Regulation 544/22 under the FLSA.
• Through a funding agreement, supported the publication of the second White Paper on the Franco-Ontarian Economy by the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA), underscoring the vital role and untapped potential of Ontario’s Francophone business ecosystem. The report highlights the strong presence of French-speaking businesses across the province and their significant capacity for growth, reinforcing the need for government’s continued commitment to supporting economic development for Ontario’s Francophones.
• Invested $800,000 in 2024-2025 to strengthen the capacity of French-speaking small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Ontario and enhance their global market prospects by:
  • Allocating funds to the Société Économique de l’Ontario (SÉO) for entrepreneurial training and to Impact ON to develop a global support ecosystem for women entrepreneurs, including coaching, group training, and networking
  • Granting financial support to l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO) for skill-building programs for Franco-Ontarian organizations, covering key areas like finance, governance, and marketing; and
  • Assisting the FGA to support Francophone entrepreneurship, including networking events, business studies, and Ontario’s participation in international Francophonie business activities.
• Promoted Ontario on the international stage as a dynamic and welcoming hub for students, families and businesses by:
  • Co-sponsoring the fifth International Organization of La Francophonie’s economic and trade mission, the first in North America, bringing together 80 international companies from various French-speaking regions to explore business and investment opportunities with local companies from Québec, Ontario, and New Brunswick. The Ontario delegation, composed of 14 French-speaking or bilingual companies operating in sectors designated by the International Organization of La Francophonie, was selected for their international business potential and ability to conduct operations in French, providing them with opportunities to connect with companies and partners across multiple sectors.
  • Showcasing Ontario at the International Organization of La Francophonie’s 2024 Summit as a destination for tourism and Francophone immigration, as both a hub for French-speaking students and professionals, and a leading North American business center. Activities included ministerial participation at official events to strengthen ties with Francophonie leaders and pave the way for bilateral agreements, a strong presence at the Exhibitors' Village featuring Franco-Ontarian talent, promotional panels and an interactive platform, a kiosk and B2B meetings at the FrancoTech forum.
• Signed two joint statements of collaboration with other jurisdictions in April 2024 – one with New Brunswick, and one with the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of France.
• Invested in a total of 73 projects under the Francophone Community Grants Program to better meet the increased need and demand for support from community organizations, including social enterprises and small businesses that serve Ontario’s Francophone community across all regions. This program funds projects that strengthen the capacity of organizations and/or businesses to provide products and services to Francophones in the province; that promote the recruitment and/or training of Francophone/bilingual staff; and/or that provide opportunities to celebrate and foster understanding of Ontario's Francophonie.
• Funded 21 projects developed jointly by Francophone organizations as part of a cooperation agreement between Ontario and Québec. These joint initiatives are mainly in the areas of economic development, culture, education, and tourism. These partnerships contribute directly to the strengthening of Francophone ties between Québec and Ontario.

Results achieved

Table 3: Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2024-25