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The OFA and the Canadian and International Francophonie
The Office of Francophone Affairs ensures that Francophones have access to provincial government services in French and, in conjunction with the ministries, monitors the application of the French Language Services Act. The Office is also mandated to help Franco-Ontarians to preserve their language and thrive socially, economically, culturally and politically in Ontario.
This task includes strengthening ties between Ontario and the Canadian and International Francophonie so as to boost the vitality of Francophone communities and promote the province's bilingualism.
Canadian Francophonie
Ministers' Conference on the Canadian Francophonie
The Minister represents Ontario at this Conference, which brings together the provincial and territorial ministers responsible for the Canadian Francophonie, Francophone Affairs, Acadian Affairs and French Language Services, and the federal minister responsible for official languages. The aim of the Conference is to promote Canada-wide intergovernmental cooperation so as to advance issues involving the Canadian Francophonie.
Bilateral agreements with Quebec
On June 2, 2006, the premiers of Ontario and Quebec, Dalton McGuinty and Jean Charest, signed the Quebec-Ontario Protocol for Cooperation. In addition, nine bilateral agreements were signed under this protocol, including the Agreement for Cooperation and Exchange for Francophone Affairs. Four key areas of cooperation were identified in this agreement, so as to promote the development and vitality of the French language and culture in both provinces. In 2009, the two provinces added a new area of cooperation: youth.
Since 2006, three matters in the area of education have received special attention: maintaining high-quality educational services in remote areas, integrating immigrant students into French-language schools and integrating culture into the curriculum and into teaching practices. The provinces shared their respective expertise in these areas and, as a result, were able to enrich their programs. A major report was produced on maintaining high-quality educational services in remote areas. A 2009 2012 action plan will enable the provinces to continue cooperating in these areas.
With respect to early childhood, the two provinces have been working together since 2006 – and will do so until 2012 – on training Francophone childcare staff, decentralizing the management of childcare services and evaluating the quality of childcare services.
Ontario and Quebec met several times on the issue of health, in order to promote the standardization of French health terminology, discuss French content developed for government Web portals and reflect on strategies for recruiting foreign-trained Francophone health professionals. Further to these outcomes, the partners will continue their cooperation into 2009-2012, focusing on four new areas: planning regional French language services, managing patients with chronic diseases, accessing health services through new technologies and knowledge transfer between staff of the two health ministries in order to improve delivery of French-language services.
With respect to culture, major initiatives have stemmed from the Agreement, specifically the partnership created in 2007 between the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec and the Ontario Arts Council. Les Arts et la Ville and the Association française des municipalités de l'Ontario are working together to strengthen Francophones' role in municipal cultural planning in Ontario. For the 2009-2012 period, Ontario and Quebec will focus on the creation of a virtual library, the exchange of best practices in order to develop new markets for Francophone cultural products and the implementation of a partnership between RIDEAU and Réseau Ontario for broadcasting French language shows.
Since youth are considered to be a priority issue by Quebec with respect to the Canadian Francophonie and are a main focus of the Ontario government, in 2009, the two provinces decided to make them the focus of a special area of cooperation. Talks have been initiated, and the partners will continue to cooperate on ad hoc matters regarding youth.
Ontario-Quebec joint cabinet and commemorative plaque in honour of Quebec City's 400th anniversary
On June 2, 2008, Ontario and Quebec held their very first joint cabinet meeting. Premiers McGuinty and Charest released a framework for negotiating a comprehensive agreement on trade and economic cooperation between the two provinces. Cooperation protocols regarding youth and social services were signed. The Government of Ontario presented Quebec with a plaque commemorating the provinces' shared history to mark Quebec City's 400th anniversary. A second joint cabinet meeting is planned for September 2009 in Toronto.
Bilateral agreements are under negotiation in New Brunswick and Manitoba
The governments of New Brunswick and Ontario both prioritize the development and vitality of the French language and culture in their respective provinces. Since they both want to improve French-language services in their communities, the two governments have expressed their desire to improve mutual cooperation and information-sharing. The preliminary meetings have already taken place and negotiations are now underway.
Preliminary talks are currently being held with Manitoba to identify potential areas of cooperation on Francophone matters.
International Francophonie
Build ties with the Organisation de la francophonie internationale (OIF)
The Office of Francophone Affairs is working with the OIF to strengthen its ties with members of the International Francophonie. Ontario is regularly invited by the federal government to Francophonie Summits, at which the Ontario minister responsible for Francophone Affairs deftly represents the province's interests.
Bilateral project with France: CAPTER
In 2007, the Office of Francophone Affairs created a partnership with the city of Amiens, France, to pair teams of mathematics and French teachers at Franco-Ontarian schools in Toronto and Aurora with their counterparts at two schools in France. The CAPTER (Communauté d'Apprentissage Professionnel – Technologies, Expertise et Ressources) pilot project aims to boost Ontario's visibility within the International Francophonie and promote Franco Ontarian knowledge in the new technologies sector.
Participation in the Montreal conference
The Office of Francophone Affairs has taken part in the Montreal conference of the International Economic Forum of the Americas since 2007. The conference provides an international discussion forum for governments, international agencies, businesspeople, universities and members of civil society who want to cooperate and build ties in a globalized world. Each year, the conference unites the world's most influential political and economic experts, thereby enabling participants to improve their understanding of today's global issues and challenges. The Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs, Madeleine Meilleur, took part in the event as a guest speaker in 2008 and in 2009.
Trade symposium with French-speaking Africa, in Ottawa
The OFA intends to organize a symposium in November 2009 that would unite Francophone businesspeople who are currently participating in, or are likely to participate in, projects with French-speaking African countries. This day-long symposium will bring together Ontario Francophones working in the field of international development and will encourage networking, resource-sharing and partnership-building between different Francophone stakeholders operating internationally. The objective of the symposium is to develop partnerships between Ontario Francophones and their African counterparts in the fields of trade, education, health, tourism and community development. Ontario's organization of this international Francophone symposium is proof of the province's leadership with respect to the International Francophonie and aptly demonstrates its interest in international development to OIF member countries.
