Speech by the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
to the 8th Annual Francophonie Banquet
Prescott-Russell, Ontario
Saturday, March 4, 2006
Distinguished guests, very dear friends, good evening.
Thank you for your warm invitation to the 8th Francophonie Banquet of Prescott-Russell.
I am delighted to see this wonderful tradition continue and to see that once again the Francophonie Banquet of Prescott-Russell is a resounding success!
What a pleasure to see around a well laid table so many Francophone leaders. Jean and Dominique, you have once again outdone yourselves. Bravo!
I would also like to greet Senator Nolin, the Honourable Minister Pelletier, Members of Parliament Phil McNeely, Pierre Lemieux, Royal Galipeau, Guy Lauzon and Richard Nadeau.
What a pleasure to see all of you here this evening.
Of course I want to pass on my warmest greetings to my colleague and good friend, Jean-Marc Lalonde, who has welcomed us into his riding this evening.
Jean-Marc works tirelessly for the development of Francophones not only here, but everywhere in Ontario.
I could not rely on a greater ally in my responsibilities as Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.
Once again, thank you, Jean-Marc and my heartiest congratulations on your commitment to la Francophonie.
Last year I had the pleasure of joining you and I had an opportunity to address you.
It therefore seems to me that the time is right for a quick review of the highlights of the last year but especially looking ahead to the future.
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We have made considerable progress this year. In many areas, the gains made by Ontario's Francophonie continue to grow and to solidify.
Allow me to present a brief overview of the advances made since we came together last year
First of all, let's talk about health. I would like to remind you of the unprecedented investment—$125 million dollars—made by our government for the expansion of Montfort Hospital.
This government action has both a real and a symbolic significance. It means that, just like Montfort, Ontario's Francophones have a future full of promise.
I know how important the reform of the health system is to Francophones, and their participation in the public hearings proves it.
Our government is listening to the concerns and aspirations expressed. You will also have noticed that the preamble to Bill 36 on the creation of the local health integration networks makes respect for the requirements of the French Language Services Act an essential principle.
This explicit reference, and others that have the potential to leave their mark on the bill, leave no doubt as to our government's intention to make a very special place for Francophones in the implementation of this historic reform.
Furthermore, at this stage I would be remiss in not highlighting the crucial role played by the Francophone working group on health system reform, under the astute and effective directions of Mr. Gérald Savoie, CEO of Montfort Hospital and a pragmatic standard-bearer in the cause of health care for and by Francophones.
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In education, we have continued on the same path by providing an even more substantial increase in funding for French language schools.
Since we became the government, an additional 140 million dollars have been invested in this sector.
To this list of accomplishments we can add the recent signing of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority Language Education and the commitment of an additional 331 million dollars for French language education, both for French as a first language and for French as a second language.
The creation last month of the advisory committee on post-secondary education and the targeted investments that were recently announced are another step designed to improve Francophones' access to programs of study that really meet their needs and make it easier for them to join the labour force.
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You know, it remains absolutely essential for the different levels of government to work together and share a common vision.
I am so proud to see Minister Pelletier and all the parliamentarians who are here this evening.
I am delighted to see all the potential for cooperation between us.
From our government's viewpoint, this cooperation includes the municipal sector. We strongly believe in this.
Evidence of this is the major partnership we established last autumn with AFMO, whereby we provided financial support for the translation of municipal by-laws.
I would like to take this opportunity to salute Jacques Hétu, President of AFMO, whose commitment and leadership are exemplary.
This important initiative of AFMO's is the result of close cooperation and a concerted approach among all levels of government.
And I will conclude this overview by adding that we continue to work closely with the Government of Canada as well as with many organizations working at the national level.
And here, I would like to salute the Executive Director of the FCFA, Marielle Beaulieu, who is here this evening.
I know that Marielle and her team are working hard on the development of new strategies for how best to position Canada's Francophone and Acadian communities.
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At the community level, last fall saw a very significant event for the direction of Ontario's Francophonie, the founding of AFO, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario.
This represented the culmination in a long process of collective reflection and of rallying Francophones around a shared vision.
This is an accomplishment that required an extraordinary investment of time, effort, good will and imagination.
I would like to congratulate all those who worked on the project and to extend my warmest thanks to them.
In particular, I salute AFO's young and dynamic president, Simon Lalande.
Simon and his colleagues on AFO's interim board are in the process of setting up AFO's governance and administrative structure.
The creation of AFO also marks a new starting point for Ontario's Francophonie.
And it is my fervent hope that AFO's success over the coming years will measure up to the highest aspirations and fondest dreams of Francophones.
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There can be no doubt, 2006 is a decisive year for French Ontario. The rebirth of a rallying point like AFO is evidence of this, but so is the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act.
I salute the vision and determination of the earliest activists, coupled with the will of our elected members, who passed the Act in 1986.
The French Language Services Act created a legislative framework that, from the perspective of the Ontario government, gave legitimacy to the aspirations of Francophones in key areas of development.
The progress made by the Francophone community has been marked by high points like increased access to the courts in French, the creation of French language colleges, school governance or the Montfort victory.
But this progress can also be seen in the gains we have made in our daily lives, to which we sometimes no longer pay attention but which have transformed our environment and our point of view.
Attitudes change. Today, Ontario's Francophonie is seen as a great asset. The French fact and bilingualism are seen as a source of wealth that is all the more invaluable because it is an important economic asset for the province in the context of globalization.
The anniversary of the French Language Services Act will of course be an occasion for many celebrations throughout the year.
I will have the pleasure of inaugurating the 20th anniversary festivities during the International Day of la Francophonie on March 20th in Toronto.
I am unfortunately unable to provide you with the program of the celebrations here this evening. But I can tell you that over the course of the next few months many events and initiatives will punctuate the fabric of the 20th anniversary.
The festivities will of course be headed by the Office of Francophone Affairs, but will rely on the participation of all ministries.
And this is another key point: in Ontario today, francophone affairs are not the business only of my office or of the Office of Francophone Affairs.
They are truly the business of the whole government. Francophone affairs are part of concerted, global action designed to ensure that Francophones participate fully in the social, economic, political and cultural development of the province.
The government as a whole is involved and ministries are accountable for Francophone affairs.
Such a global approach is the best guarantee of true progress.
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Such synergies must not operate only within government
It is essential that we work closely with our community partners—in other words, with each and every one of you.
Calling on a solid network made up of front-line institutions and stakeholders will inevitably lead to actions that will result in the sustainable and leading-edge development of Ontario's Francophonie.
Fortunately we know that we can count on engaged and united communities.
I salute your conviction and determination.
As you know, people beyond number are devoting themselves heart and soul to Ontario's Francophonie or are making a name for themselves in a host of fields.
This banquet is a wonderful occasion to pay tribute to them.
I am very happy that this year so many people have had their contribution recognized by the Ordre de la francophonie or the Prix jeunesse Thomas-Godefroid.
I would like to congratulate them and thank them for their involvement.
All of us together, let us continue to celebrate our language and our culture, continue to promote the French fact in Ontario; continue to value our community. Vive la francophonie!
Thank you, everyone, and enjoy the banquet!
