Ministry of Francophone Affairs: annual report 2017-2018

The following outlines the Ministry’s major accomplishments in delivering on key priorities:

Key Strategy 1: Strengthening French language services

• The following designations were approved in 2017-18 and will take effect in 2018-19:
  • Maison de soins palliatifs de Sudbury Hospice
  • Georgian Bay General Hospital
  • Centretown Community Health Centre Inc.
• Successfully led the implementation of the City of Markham’s designation under the French Language Services Act through the support of the Markham Implementation Committee and other ministries. The designation status will come into effect on July 1, 2018.
• Promoted the use of the Francophone Lens tool to ensure that French language services are considered by ministries and government agencies from the early stages of policy and program development. In 2017, 507 individuals completed the Francophone Lens training and more than 82% rated the training positively. The Ministry also shared this best practice with other jurisdictions such as New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
• Received and reviewed the French Language Services Commissioner’s tenth annual report and provided information to the Commissioner related to FLS best practices across the Ontario government.
• Continued to manage the Canada-Ontario Agreement on FLS on behalf of ministries. A total of 32 projects were supported in 2017-18 as part of the 2013-18 agreement.
• The MFA partnered with the Government of Canada on a special project of the Ontario Arts Council entitled Visual and Media Arts.

Key Strategy 2: Promoting Ontario’s visibility in Francophone affairs

• Continued to coordinate Ontario’s participation in the Francophone affairs component of the Ontario-Québec Statement on the Canadian Francophonie, including the establishment of the Ontario-Québec Student Exchange program.
• Supported Ontario’s participation at the 22^nd Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie held in Gatineau (Québec) in June 2017 and raised Ontario’s profile as a lead on key initiatives including Francophone tourism and access to justice in French.
• Coordinated deliverables leading to the first provincial monument at Queen’s Park dedicated to the Franco-Ontarian community in partnership with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Infrastructure Ontario. The monument, to be unveiled later in 2018, will constitute a permanent legacy of the province’s official commemoration of 400 years of French presence in Ontario.
• As an Observer member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Ministry identified two priority areas for its voluntary contribution:
  • the OIF’s Francophonie Institute for Education and Training (IFEF) to support education and training in developing Francophone countries; and
  • the OIF’s Gender Equality Program which aims to improve the status of women.
• The sixth edition of the Ontario Francophonie Awards was launched in January 2018. These awards recognize people whose social, economic, political or cultural contributions make a difference in the Francophone community and in Ontario as a whole.

Key Strategy 3: Contributing to a stronger Franco-Ontarian community

• Worked closely with ministries in support of key initiatives in postsecondary education, health, immigration, justice, children and youth services and the prevention of violence against women:
  • Children and Youth Services (MCYS) – Continued to work with the MCYS on the Moving on Mental Health initiative to ensure that the specific needs and challenges of the Franco-Ontarian community are taken into account.
  • French Language University – Continued to work with the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development on the establishment of the new Université de l’Ontario français, including the Technical Implementation Committee, the legislation to create the university and the appointment of the first Board of Governors.
  • Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) – Continued to work with MCI on the provincial Immigration Strategy as it relates to Francophones including the creation of the advisory committee on Francophone immigration, the provision of advice to support Ontario’s efforts toward its 5% Francophone immigration target and the province’s participation at the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Forum on Francophone immigration in Toronto.
  • Justice – Building on the Legal Community Engagement Committee to share best practices and build awareness around the continuing professional development program, pratiquO, which was successfully launched on June 16, 2017.
  • Inclusive Communities – Worked closely with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) to develop the Ontario Public Services (OPS) Bilingual Glossary and the French Inclusive Writing Recommendations to ensure inclusion of trans and non-binary persons.
  • Francophone Community Grants Program – MFA with the support of Grants Ontario implemented the Francophone Community Grants Program (FCGP). The competitive application-based program supports cultural and community activities for the Franco-Ontarian community.
  • Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports (MTCS) – Worked with MTCS to develop, establish and promote the Route Champlain, a provincial tourism route.
  • City of Ottawa – Passage of the bill on November 14, 2017 which recognizes the City of Ottawa’s bilingual character. The legislation was tabled in the Fall Bill and received Royal Assent on December 14, 2017.

Key Strategy 4: 400^th anniversary of Francophone presence in Ontario

• In 2017-18, the Ministry continued to lead the legacy phase of the Province’s three-year strategic plan to commemorate the more than 400 years of French presence in Ontario. This included:
  • Supporting the final stages of the Rotary Champlain-Wendat commemorative park construction project in partnership with the Town of Penetanguishene, the County of Simcoe and the Government of Canada;
  • Leading the ongoing implementation of the project to erect a provincial monument dedicated to Franco-Ontarians at Queen’s Park, in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario (to be unveiled later in 2018);
  • Partnering with the Ontario Heritage Trust, Groupe Média TFO and the Ontario 150 Secretariat to develop educational programming and community outreach in support of the monument project and to develop the linkage with the sesquicentennial year; and
  • Highlighting the 400^th anniversary of French presence in Ontario and the key accomplishments of the Franco-Ontarian community since 2015 through a bilingual commemorative book produced in partnership with LeDroit, Ontario’s oldest French-language daily.

Table 3: Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2017-18 ($M)

* Ontario Public Service Full-Time Equivalent positions

Note: Interim Actual Expenditures reflect the numbers presented in the 2018 Ontario Budget.