Ministry of Francophone Affairs
| Ministère des Affaires francophones (French) | |
| Ministry overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1986[1] |
| Preceding Ministry |
|
| Jurisdiction | Government of Ontario |
| Ministers responsible |
|
| Website | www |
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]
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]
Minister Responsible for French Language Service
[edit]- Alan Pope (May 17, 1985 - June 26, 1985)
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
[edit]- Bernard Grandmaître (June 26, 1985–August 2, 1989)
- Charles Beer (August 2, 1989–October 1, 1990)
- Gilles Pouliot (October 1, 1990–June 26, 1995)
- Noble Villeneuve (June 26, 1995–June 17, 1999)
- John Baird (June 17, 1999-April 14, 2002)
Associate Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
[edit]- John Baird (April 15, 2002-August 22, 2002)
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
[edit]- John Baird (April 22, 2002-October 23, 2003)
- Madeleine Meilleur (October 23, 2003–June 13, 2016)
- Marie-France Lalonde (June 13, 2016–July 31, 2017)
Ministers of Francophone Affairs
[edit]- Marie-France Lalonde (July 31, 2017-June 29, 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".
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