Backgrounder: Designation of Kingston Under the French Language Services Act
The French Language Services Act, which came into effect in November 1989, guarantees access to provincial government services in French through head offices and through offices located in or serving the province's designated areas.
Designated areas are those that have significant French-speaking populations. Currently, there are 24 designated areas under the Act.
Given the increase in Kingston's French-speaking population due to a combination of population growth and municipal amalgamation, the government has decided to proceed with the designation of Kingston as the 25th designated area under the Act. The designation will come into force three years from the date of designation effective May 1, 2009. This will enable ministries with a more advanced state of readiness to move forward while other ministries phase-in measures to offer services in French.
The Francophone community of Kingston, represented by the Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario (ACFO), has been seeking the designation of Kingston since 2004.
Background
- Following municipal amalgamation in 1998, the old City of Kingston, Kingston Township and the Township of Pittsburgh were dissolved and the new City of Kingston was constituted.
- Kingston's Francophone community is very active. Several Francophone organizations offer a variety of cultural activities for Francophones and French-speaking residents.
- Kingston is home to the Royal Military College of Canada, which is a bilingual institution offering an education that is unique in Canada. Francophone and bilingual students who attend this institution request their services in French.
- The nearest designated areas to Kingston are: Winchester in the East (160 km); Pembroke in the North (240 km); and Toronto in the West (250 km).
- 30 -
Contacts:
Carole Drouin
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur
Minister of Community and Social Services
Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs
416 325-5219
Charles Jean Sucscan
Senior Manager, Strategic Communications
Office of Francophone Affairs
416 325-4968
