Speech by the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
News conference for the appointment of the first French Language Services Commissioner
Ottawa
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Check against delivery
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning.
D'emblée, c'est un honneur pour moi de vous présenter le nouveau Commissaire aux services en français, monsieur François Boileau.
It is an honour for me to introduce to you the new French Language Services Commissioner, Mr. François Boileau.
He will of course have an opportunity to speak to you in a few minutes.
But first of all I would like to tell you how happy I am to be with you today for this announcement that I have no hesitation in describing as historic.
This is the crowning achievement of four years of effort, not only on the part of the McGuinty government, but also on the part of the Office of Francophone Affairs and many people in many ministries.
I would like to take a moment to honour the invaluable contribution made by Anne Premi, of the Office of Francophone Affairs, and Marie-Lison Fougère, Assistant Deputy Minister of Francophone Affairs, to the establishment of the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner.
Throughout the process that led to the creation of the Office of the Commissioner, Anne and Marie-Lison spared no time or effort in ensuring that this exciting project came to fruition and that our government's vision became a reality.
They are unable to be with us today but that will not stop me from extending my warmest thanks to them.
In 2003, we made a commitment to ensure that the right of Francophones to receive French language services was respected and to demonstrate greater transparency when it comes to access to and quality of French services. And with the appointment of the first French Language Services Commissioner, the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner is no longer a government project; it has become a reality.
In fact, the most uplifting part of this demanding yet thrilling process becomes reality today.
The adoption of the French Language Services Act in 1986 has proven to be very influential in the modern history of Ontario's francophonie and its symbolic value is beyond question.
Twenty years later, the McGuinty government decided to take this act a historic step further.
This new chapter in the history of the French Language Services Act follows in the wake of what was accomplished in 1986, under the leadership of Bernard Grandmaître. The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner will no doubt play a vital role in the full realization of this act.
Today Ontarians recognize that the contribution of Francophones to Ontario society is much more than cultural.
The McGuinty government is very much aware of how much the Franco-Ontarian community also contributes to Ontario's social, political and economic development.
The McGuinty government believes in strong communities, and a stronger Franco-Ontarian community helps build a stronger Ontario.
As you know, in 2006 we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act with a very full program of events in which a large number of ministries took part.
It was at the Anniversary Gala last November 20 that Premier Dalton McGuinty made the very exciting announcement that the government was going ahead with the creation of the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner.
When the Premier made this announcement, all those in attendance spontaneously rose to their feet to give him a standing ovation.
I must tell you that I have never been so proud of our premier, who is an ally of Francophones and who is himself a Francophone.
The creation of the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner was made possible thanks to the vision, leadership and support of our Premier, Dalton McGuinty.
I am extremely proud to be part of his team.
Cette réalisation a été rendue possible grâce à son appui inconditionnel, et je suis d'autant plus fière de faire partie de son équipe.
Franco-Ontarian history, which goes back more than four hundred years, is moving forward and being written from day to day. Ontario's francophone community is a very inspiring example of a strong, prosperous and engaged community that is proud of its past but firmly focused on the future.
The travelling exhibition called Ontario's Francophonie: Then and Now, which the Office of Francophone Affairs launched last spring at the Vanier Museopark here in Ottawa, is evidence of this fact.
With this exhibition, the McGuinty government is proud to shine the spotlight on a rich past, a present that is more dynamic than ever and a future filled with promise for Ontario's francophonie.
Our new Commissioner will certainly play a decisive role in maintaining this new momentum and the current and future prosperity of the French fact in Ontario.
The Commissioner will help us move forward, both individually and collectively.
With a view to ensuring transparency, accountability and sound management, the Commissioner will help us make sure that active offer of government services in French is a reality in Ontario.
This is truly a new era for Ontario's francophonie, and it is without a doubt one of the most important moments of my term as Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.
I can assure you that the Office of the French Language Services Commissioner will give Francophones a stronger voice as well as more transparent and effective recourse in ensuring respect for their right to receive services in French.
The Commissioner's powers are very clear and the act as amended gives him great freedom of action.
The Commissioner will thus have considerable room to manoeuvre, which will certainly allow him to participate, in his way, in building a stronger Franco-Ontarian community.
I have said enough. I will not make you wait any longer.
I am now very proud to present to you our very first Commissioner.
Mr. François Boileau brings to the position of Commissioner very special expertise with respect to Francophones' rights in Canada.
A lawyer by training, Mr. Boileau was until very recently legal counsel at the federal Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, where he played a very important role in implementing the legislative amendments to the Official Languages Act.
He also helped to build a strategic vision of official languages issues in Canada in the last four annual reports of the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages.
Mr. Boileau also worked at the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne, which he represented during the appeal from the Montfort decision.
You know how dear Montfort is to my heart ... So I was very happy to learn that our new Commissioner had contributed to its survival and renewal, working together with a whole group of Franco-Ontarian community leaders.
Thank you very much, Mr. Boileau.
Ontario's new French Language Services Commissioner also held the position of Executive Director of the federal Court Challenges Program.
Mr. Boileau's wealth of experience in major organizations within Ontario's francophonie together with his in-depth knowledge of the workings of a government organization dedicated to defending and promoting minority language rights make him the ideal candidate for the position of Commissioner.
And all this without mentioning all of his other activities, publications and participation in major conferences.
I am very proud that a person of Mr. Boileau's calibre has been able to place his skills and leadership qualities in the area of services to the francophonie at the disposal of the Ontario government
I will close by wishing him every success in taking up the stimulating challenges facing him.
Thank you very much, Mr. Boileau, for bringing your skills and experience to this exciting and challenging position.
And thank you very much to all of you for joining us today to celebrate the appointment of our new French Language Services Commissioner.
Mr. François Boileau, congratulations, and the floor is yours.
