Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Francophone Affairs (2025–26)

Summary

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 program summary

Francophone Affairs Program — Vote 1301

The ministry provides advice to the Ontario government on matters concerning Francophone affairs and the provision of French-language services. The ministry’s primary program consists of:

• Working in collaboration with ministries and agencies and the French Language Services Commissioner in ensuring effective French-language services delivery across the province.
• Developing and implementing tools, such as the Francophone Lens, to help ensure that services are planned for at the earliest stages of policy and program development.
• Making recommendations for the designation of areas and agencies under the FLSA, and coordinating the implementation of services in newly designated areas.
• Providing statistics on the province’s Francophone population.
• Coordinating the transfer of federal funding to other ministries and agencies for projects and initiatives funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Services.
• Managing the Francophone Community Grants Program and the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.
• Working with partner ministries, Ontario-based Francophone businesses, entrepreneurs, and social enterprises within Ontario, and jurisdictions within and outside Canada, to bolster Francophone economic development, and coordinate Ontario’s participation in national and international bodies, including the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Vote summary

Standard account by item and sub-items