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Browse the pictures and watch the video of the Youth strategy launch event in Ottawa.
Ontario Mobilizes Francophone Youth
McGuinty Government Unveils Accent On Youth Strategy
NEWS
December 18, 2008
Ontario's rich Francophone heritage will be bolstered with the launch of the "Accent on Youth" strategy.
The strategy will encourage the use of French among Francophone youth in Ontario by setting up strategic alliances to promote the participation of French speaking young people in their communities.
Along with the Francophone community, the strategy includes participation from the public and private sector. Already, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne, and the Desjardins Group have joined as partners in implementing the strategy.
Representing a long-term commitment by the government, the specific initiatives associated with the "Accent on Youth" strategy will be announced in the coming months.
QUOTE
"By investing in a generation of young people who want to live in French, we are highlighting the best of what Ontario has to offer and every Ontarian will benefit from that," said Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.
QUICK FACTS
- According to the 2001 Census, 81.1 per cent of Francophone children younger than four years of age speak French at home, while only 56.8 per cent of individuals between the ages of 20 and 24 years speak it at home.
- According to a study on youth civic participation prepared by the Office of Francophone Affairs in 2008, 93 per cent of 14 to17-year-olds described themselves first as bilingual.
- 94 per cent of people aged between 18 and 22 felt that being bilingual would increase their job prospects in Canada.
LEARN MORE
For further information on the Ontario government's strategy for Francophone youth, please visit the Office of Francophone Affairs' website
You can also read the Ministry of Education's Aménagement linguistique policy (language planning policy), which promotes French-language education in Ontario.
Thomas Chanzy, Minister's Office, 416-325-5211
Charles Jean Sucsan, Communications Branch, 416-325-4968; Cell: 416-476-5223
