Question Period Note: Official Languages Investments in the Ontario Region

The Francophone community in Ontario is Canada's largest French-speaking community outside Quebec. To date, through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023, the Government has approved more than $98 million for activities that support the development of the Francophone minority community in Ontario. The Government also promotes bilingualism and second language learning in Ontario through various other funding opportunities, including arts, culture and employment.

• Through the new Official Languages Action Plan, the Government invested more than $98 million in 2018-2019 in activities that support the development of the Francophone minority community and the promotion of linguistic duality in Ontario.
• In 2018-2019, le Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario received $883,000 in support to deliver the Young Canada Works program in both official languages.
• We are also supporting arts and culture in the Francophone community. Right here in the national capital, the Government has supported the Franco-Ontarian theatre hub, La Nouvelle Scène, and its resident theatre companies since 1992 with over $9.2 million through Arts and Official Languages funding programs.

Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023
• To date, through the Action Plan for Official Languages 2018-2023, the government has approved $98,111,267 for activities that support the development of the Francophone minority community in Ontario and that promote the Canadian values of bilingualism and second language learning.
 

• Specific accomplishments include:
o L’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario: A not-for-profit organization, located in Ottawa that promotes the development and vitality of the Franco-Ontarian community in all its diversity. The mandate of the organization is to represent the rights of Francophones and to reflect the priorities of the Ontario Francophonie as defined in the Community Strategic Plan. The Community Action Workgroups (“Tables de concertation”) is an initiative that has seen great success by bringing Francophone community organizations together in different geographic locations to network and collaborate on projects, professional development and problem-solving of common issues. Through the Action Plan for Official Languages, funding in the amount of $4.5 million has been approved for l’Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario between 2018 2022.
o Le Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario: Established in 1964, the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario is a non-profit organization whose mandate is to contribute to the development of the social economy in Ontario's Francophone community through cooperation. Its responsibilities include supporting economic and social development in French-speaking Ontario, offering quality services and products for professional and popular training, and being the spokesperson for its members on topics of common interest when they require. With $883,000 in funding, 180 student jobs were created for students aged 16 to 30 years.
Impact of the Province of Ontario’s Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review on Official Language communities:
• On November 15, 2018, the Province of Ontario released its 2018 Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review, which announced several cost-saving measures that impacted the Francophone linguistic minority community in the province.
• Organizations impacted include:
o La Nouvelle Scène: During the week of November 19, 2018, major news outlets reported that the Government of Ontario withdrew a $2.9 million grant to the Centre de théâtre francophone d’Ottawa Inc. (Operating as “La Nouvelle Scène” – LNS) to assist with a deficit incurred after completion of a capital project.
o LNS presents performances in various disciplines, and also hosts four theatre creation and presentation companies, which have been companies in residence at the 333 King Edward Avenue venue since its inception: Le Theatre du Trillium, Vox Théâtre, Théâtre la Catapulte and le Théâtre de la Vieille 17.
o Project funding has been provided to LNS and its resident theatre companies since 1992 through a number of Canadian Heritage programs including the Canada Arts Presentation Fund, the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, the Canada Cultural Investment Fund, and Development of Official Languages Community Program. $6.3 million was allocated to LNS. Resident theatre companies were allocated $2.9 million.
o In total, the Department has invested $9.2 million in LNS and its resident theatre companies since 1992.

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