Question Period Note: The Université de l’Ontario français

Canada and Ontario signed a memorandum of understanding on September 7, 2019, in which both parties agreed to conduct negotiations on the funding for establishing the Université de l’Ontario français following a due diligence process.

• On September 7, 2019, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario for the establishment of the Université de l’Ontario français.
• We are conducting a due diligence process with Ontario and discussions are well under way.
• The establishment of the Université de l’Ontario français will enable more young Francophones in Ontario to study and to thrive in their own language, in their own community.

• In November 2018, the Government of Ontario announced its decision to withdraw its support for the Université de l’Ontario français. Following this announcement, the Government of Canada publicly committed to supporting the creation of the new post-secondary institution.
• In January 2019, Canadian Heritage entered into an agreement with the Université de l’Ontario français, as a non-profit organization, for 1.9 million dollars in funding for 2018-2020 to ensure that the team responsible for setting up the institution could continue its work.
• The Université de l’Ontario français submitted a funding request to the Government of Ontario totaling 126 million dollars over eight years (2019-2027) to establish the Université de l’Ontario français with the expectation that the governments of Canada and Ontario would invest 50/50 into the project.
• The Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario signed a memorandum of understanding on September 7, 2019, to jointly fund the establishment of the Université de l’Ontario français for the period of 2019-2020 to 2026-2027.
o According to the memorandum of understanding, the Government of Canada could assume up to 50 percent of the project’s total cost. The federal contribution would be allocated from 2019-2010 until 2023-2024, and the Government of Ontario would cover expenses starting in 2023-2024 until 2026 2027 and ongoing.
o The Government of Ontario has committed to reimbursing the federal government for its contribution to the project if Ontario is unable to provide the funding in a timely manner.
• A joint working group including representatives from the Governments of Canada and the Government of Ontario was created in September 2019 to work together and agree on eligible expenses, timelines and project activities, while following an appropriate due diligence process.
• Discussions are going well. The joint working group is working rigorously to agree on the terms and conditions for cooperation between the two governments for the first year of the project (2019-2020) and subsequent years, as soon as possible.

None