The Ministry of Francophone Affairs (french: Ministère des Affaires francophones) in the Canadian province of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

is responsible for the provision of government services to Franco-Ontarian citizens and communities. It was originally founded as the Office of Francophone Affairs (french: Office des affaires francophones) in 1986 by the government of

David Peterson David Robert Peterson (born December 28, 1943) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician who served as the 20th premier of Ontario from 1985 to 1990. He was the first Liberal officeholder in 42 years, ending the so-called Tory dynasty. Backgr ...

, as an expansion of the former Office of the Government Coordinator of French-Language Services. It was upgraded to a full ministry in 2017 by the government of

Kathleen Wynne Kathleen O'Day Wynne ( ; born May 21, 1953) is a Canadian former politician who served as the 25th premier of Ontario and leader of the Ontario Liberal Party from 2013 to 2018. She was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2003 and sat as the ...

. Following the

2018 Ontario general election The 2018 Ontario general election was held on June 7, 2018, to elect the 124 members of the 42nd Parliament of Ontario. The Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, led by Doug Ford, won 76 of the 124 seats in the legislature and formed a maj ...

, the new government of

Doug Ford Douglas Robert Ford Jr. (born November 20, 1964) is a Canadian politician and businessman who has served as the 26th and current premier of Ontario since June 2018 and leader of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party since March 2018. He ...

announced plans to demote the department from a ministry back down to an office, but was forced to backtrack in the face of community opposition."Doug Ford backtracks after days of backlash over cuts to francophone institutions"
''

The Globe and Mail ''The Globe and Mail'' is a Canadian newspaper printed in five cities in western and central Canada. With a weekly readership of approximately 2 million in 2015, it is Canada's most widely read newspaper on weekdays and Saturdays, although it ...

'', November 23, 2018. Under the province's

French Language Services Act The ''French Language Services Act'' (french: Loi sur les services en français) (the ''Act'') is a law in the province of Ontario, Canada which is intended to protect the rights of Franco-Ontarians, or French-speaking people, in the province. T ...

, the provincial government provides French language services if a community or region's francophone population exceeds 5,000 or 10 percent of the community's total population. There are 25 areas of the province so designated. The office also has a role in the governance of Ontario's francophone

public television Public broadcasting involves radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing ...

network,

TFO TFO is a Canadian French language educational television channel and media organization serving the province of Ontario. It is owned by the Ontario French-language Educational Communications Authority (OTELFO), a Crown corporation owned by the ...

, as well as francophone

school board A board of education, school committee or school board is the board of directors or board of trustees of a school, local school district or an equivalent institution. The elected council determines the educational policy in a small regional are ...

s and other government offices, and acts as a liaison office between the government and other francophone cultural agencies and social services. The current Minister of Francophone Affairs is

Caroline Mulroney Caroline Anne Mulroney Lapham (born June 11, 1974) is a Canadian businesswoman, lawyer and politician who currently serves as the Ontario Minister of Transportation and Minister of Francophone Affairs. Born in Montreal, Quebec, she is the dau ...

Ministry Agencies

* Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs * Special Advisor on Francophone Affairs * Special Advisor on Francophone Economic Development

Ministers

* Bernard Grandmaître (1986-1989) *

Charles Beer John Charles McWaters Beer (born November 24, 1941) is a Canadian former politician. He was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1987 to 1995, and served as a cabinet minister in the government of David Peterson. Backgr ...

(1989-1990) *

Gilles Pouliot Gilles Pouliot (born May 25, 1942) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1985 to 1999, representing the Northern Ontario riding of Lake Nipigon for the New Democratic Party ...

(1990-1995) *

Noble Villeneuve Noble Alfred Villeneuve (August 1, 1938 – February 28, 2018) was a politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a Progressive Conservative member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1983 to 1999, and served as a cabinet minister in the govern ...

(1995-1999) * John Baird (1999-2003) *

Madeleine Meilleur Madeleine Meilleur (born November 22, 1948) is a Canadian nurse, lawyer and former politician in Ontario, Canada. She was a Liberal member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2016. She represented the riding of Ottawa—Vanier. ...

(2003-2016) * Marie-France Lalonde (2016-2018) *

(2018-present)

References

External links

* {{ONGovDept Francophone Affairs Franco-Ontarian organizations Bilingualism in Canada 1986 establishments in Ontario Franco-Ontarian history