1. A Strategy for
Francophone
Immigration in Ontario
OCASI Executive Directors Forum
Toronto, October 23, 2012
Mohamed Ghaleb
Senior Analyst, Research and Monitoring

2. Overview
Context
French Language Services Act (FLSA)
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
(OFLSC)
Recommendations
Question, comments and suggestions
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3. Context
1610: Étienne Brulé, the first European explorer to arrive in Huronia
1912: Regulation 17: Impact on French-Language education
1984: Enactment of the Courts of Justice Act, giving French and English
official language status in Ontario’s court system
1989: French Language Services Act (FLSA) comes into force
1997: A defining moment, the Montfort Hospital court case
1997: Creation of 12 French-language school boards (4 public and 8
catholic)
2007: The FLSA is amended to allow the creation of the Office of the
French Language Services Commissioner
2009: The government of Ontario adopts an inclusive definition of
Francophone (IDF)
2012: Release of the Commissioner’s fifth annual report (June, 2012)
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4. French Language Services Act (1986)
In 1986, the French Language Services Act (FLSA) was adopted unanimous
by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
The FLSA guarantees an individual's right to receive services in French from
the provincial government in 25 designated areas.
The Act's preamble states that:
“…the French language is an historic and honoured language in Ontario and
recognized by the Constitution as an official language of Canada” [and that] ;
The Legislative Assembly recognizes the contribution of the cultural heritage
of the French-speaking population and wishes to preserve it for future
generations.”
Section 5 (1):
“A person has the right in accordance with this Act to communicate in French
with, and to receive available services in French from, any head or central
office of a government agency or institution of the Legislature, and has the
same right in respect of any other office of such agency or institution that is
located in or serves an area designated in the Schedule.”
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5. Goal of the French Language Services Act
The FLSA is a quasi-constitutional Act. In 2011, the FLSA
celebrated its 25th Anniversary.
One of the underlying purposes and objectives of the Act was
the protection of the minority francophone population in
Ontario…”
“… another was the advancement of the French language
and promotion of its equality with English. These purposes
coincide with the underlying unwritten principles of the
Constitution of Canada.”
Lalonde v. Ontario (Commission de restructuration des services de santé), (2001), 56 O.R. (3d) 577
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6. Application of the FLSA
Provincial government services: e.g. Health
Card, Driver’s Licence, legal aid services.
Services provided by municipalities on behalf
of the government: e.g. Social assistance.
Justice services: e.g. Fighting a speeding
ticket, hearing on discrimination victims.
Designated agencies under the FLSA: e.g.
Hospitals, Children’s Aid Societies.
Services provided by third parties on behalf of
government ministries and agencies : Ontario
Regulation 284/11
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7. Key Elements to FLS
Planning and integrating services in French as
soon as a governmental initiative arises.
Adapt French-language services to the
specific needs of the Francophone population
(health, immigration, education, employment,
etc)
Active offer and substantive equality of quality
services delivered to the population
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8. Mandate and responsibilities of the OFLSC
To conduct independent investigations under the French
Language Services Act in response to complaints, or at the
Commissioner’s own initiative;
To report on investigations, including recommendations aimed at
improving the provision of French-language services;
To monitor progress made by government ministries and
agencies.
Vision
The OFLSC works to ensure active, integrated delivery of French-
language services in support of the development of the
Francophone community and Ontarian society.
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9. Why file a Complaint?
Complaints are viewed as quality control
mechanisms and to be treated as opportunities for
improvement. All complaints are confidential.
To contribute to the improvement of the quality and
accessibility of FLS for the Francophone population.
To raise a lack of FLS or the quality of services
received when they are not equivalent to those
offered in English.
Services do not meet the needs of Francophone
community.
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10. Examples of complaints received*
« A Francophone immigrant who had recently arrived in Ontario decided to
apply for benefits under the Ontario Works program, which is administered by
the municipalities on behalf of the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
At the social assistance office in his community, he was told by program staff
to come back with his own interpreter if he wanted service in French.
Perplexed, he contacted the Commissioner’s Office to find out what his rights
were. In less than a week, the matter was resolved.
The Commissioner’s Office received a considerable number of complaints
during the first quarter of 2008 over the ServiceOntario centre located at 777
Bay Street in Toronto. Gaps in its French services were reported to the
ministry, which agreed to develop a French-language human resources plan
and to increase its bilingual staff in order to increase its ability to offer
services in French. Since then, no further complaints have been received
about this location.”
* Extract from Annual Report for 2008-2009
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11. New Inclusive Definition of Francophones (IDF)
For historical reasons, Statistics Canada has generally used
the criterion of mother tongue, that is, the first language
learned at home in childhood and still understood at the
time of the census to define a Francophone.
The Commissioner’s very first recommendation to the
government, published in his 2007-2008 annual report
reads as follows:
“The Commissioner recommends to the Minister
that she review the definition of the Francophone
population of Ontario in order to ensure that it adequately
reflects the new reality of this population.”
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12. New Inclusive Definition of Francophones (2)
In June, 2009, the government adopted an inclusive
definition of Francophone (IDF)- a first in Canada.
The IDF includes not only people whose mother
tongue is French but also individuals whose mother
tongue is neither English nor French but who have a
particular knowledge of French as an official language
and use it at home.
E.g.: Under the IDF, a Lebanese or Moroccan family
that speaks Arabic and French at home is considered
Francophone.
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13. Latest data*
There are close to 600,000 Francophones in Ontario (582,695 in 2006),
a number that represents 4.8% of the population.
Franco-Ontarians represent the largest Francophone population in
Canada, outside of Quebec.
The new IDF:
Provides symbolic recognition;
Reinforces the sense of belonging to a community;
Takes into account newcomers’ contribution to Ontario’s
French-speaking communities.
*Profile of Ontario’s Francophone Community, 2009
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14. Sense of belonging to the Franco-Ontarian community*
“Franco-Ontarian? I don’t know. Francophone? Absolutely.
Personally, I had always, rightly or wrongly, associated being
Franco-Ontarian with having a Francophone ancestry. But thanks to
the new definition, I have the impression, for the first time, that I am a
full-fledged member of the Francophone community. Of course, I
don’t have the same connection with the French language as those
who have fought to preserve it, but our common denominator is that
we live in French every day and we have a desire to transmit the
language to our children.” [Translation]
Ayan Aden, Coordinator
ACFO, London-Sarnia
* Extract from Annual Report for 2011-2012
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15. Place of birth of Franco-Ontarians
60% of Ontario’s Francophones were born in this province.
14% were born outside of Canada (mainly from Europe, Africa).
Almost half of Francophones in Toronto were born outside of the country.
5,0%
14,0%
21,1% Outside Canada
Ontario
60% Québec
Other provinces
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16. Recommendation 4 for 2011-2012
« The Commissioner recommends that the Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration:
a) Set up an advisory committee by the end of the 2012-
2013 year, that will be responsible for guiding ministry
efforts related to the Francophone immigration file in
Ontario;
b) Use a consultative and interministerial approach to
develop a strategy, by the end of the 2013-2014 year, to
welcome Francophone newcomers, to provide them with
language training and to integrate them into the labour
market. »
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17. Ontario’s Expert Roundtable On Immigration
The Commissioner welcomes the final report of
Ontario’s Expert Roundtable On Immigration.
Their recommendations are in addition to those he
made last year.
The government now has a number of important tools
to assist in developing a genuine strategy for
welcoming Francophone newcomers to Ontario,
providing them with language training and integrating
them into the labour market.
To the Commissioner, Ontario must also strive to attract
its fair share of Francophone immigrants, and the
government needs to set immigration targets.
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18. Questions, comments, suggestions?
Mohamed Ghaleb
Senior Analyst, Research and Monitoring
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
700 Bay Street, Suite 2401
Toronto, ON, M7A 2H8
Toll free:1 866 246-5262
Toronto Area: 416 314-8013
Fax: 416 314-8331
TTY: 416 314-0760
Website: www.flsc.gov.on.ca
Email: flsc-csf@ontario.ca mohamed.ghaleb@ontario.ca
Twitter: @FLSContario
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