Speech by the Honourable Madeleine Meilleur, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs and Minister of Culture

at the Launch of the Celebrations for the 20th Anniversary of the French Language Services Act

Elgin Theatre, Toronto, Ontario
Monday, March 20, 2006

Note: The passages in bold were spoken in English.

Distinguished Guests, Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Evening.

It is with a great pleasure – and emotion – that I welcome you to the official launch of the celebrations marking the 20^th anniversary of the French Language Services Act.

I feel privileged to launch the celebrations marking the 20^th anniversary of the French Language Services Act in the company of so many distinguished guests. I especially salute my colleagues, (the other ministers in attendance) as well as several MPPs, and the many consuls, dignitaries and deputy ministers who are taking part in this momentous event. I thank you all for showing your support for the Francophonie in Ontario.

I would like to extend a special welcome to our guests of honour – numerous consuls and dignitaries – as well as my colleagues, MPPs, and deputy ministers. It is an honour for me to address such a distinguished audience.

I welcome all of you, including the members and representatives of the Francophone community, and I thank you for coming tonight in such numbers.

Clearly, 2006 is a momentous year for French Ontario.

The 20^th anniversary of the French Language Services Act marks a turning point in the history of the Franco-Ontarian community and in the history of Ontario.

Looking back, it might have seemed as though the French Language Services Act would have a fairly limited scope.

And yet, it has provided the government with a legislative framework for legitimizing the aspirations of Francophones in key areas of development.

Over the years, the gains of the Francophonie have been expanded and consolidated through momentous events that have strengthened the Act and expanded its scope.

The French Language Services Act has become highly influential legislation that guides all of the government's actions.

Attitudes are changing. Today, the French fact and bilingualism are seen as an added value – an economic asset for the province in the context of globalisation. For Ontario, French is a "natural resource" in every sense of the word.

During the last twenty years, the Francophone community has made great strides in Ontario. This progress happened within the framework of the French Language Services Act, which supported it, and in return, these advancements have reinforced the Act and increased its scope.

I believe that the time has come to honour the early activists and to salute their vision and determination – and the willingness of the MPPs who enacted this legislation in 1986.

I would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary generosity of the many people who, over the years, helped their community through their conviction, talent, and drive. We owe them a debt of gratitude.

***

It is time to take stock but rest assured: I am not about to deliver a retrospective of the last 20 years. We're here to celebrate!

It's important to remember that the age of 20 is a time of promise, dreams, and projects. It is also a time for looking to the future.

I am sure this could be a good time to take stock of all the progress achieved over the last 20 years. Still, we know that realities have changed, mentalities have evolved, our world has opened up. In this context, I would rather put the spotlight on the exciting future we want to build together.

***

And so I am very pleased to announce the highlights of the celebrations marking the 20^th anniversary of the French Language Services Act.

These celebrations begin today, March 20^th, International Francophonie Day. They will continue until November 20^th, one day after the 20^th anniversary date of the adoption of the Act. A wide variety of interesting, pan-provincial activities have been planned.

I can only tell you about a few this evening and I invite you to stay tuned over the next few months as more events are announced.

The festivities are sponsored by the Office of Francophone Affairs; however, I have to mention the exceptional contribution of a number of other ministries that are joining in on the celebrations.

And that's another important point that I want to make: today, Francophone Affairs is important not just to me or the Office of Francophone Affairs.

It's a concerted, global effort to ensure that Francophones are full participants in the development of this province.

Indeed, the government as a whole has joined in these celebrations.

I would even say that this synergy needs to spill out beyond the scope of the government.

We need to work closely with our partners in the community.

This kind of global approach is the best guarantee of real progress.

***

I would like to illustrate this approach by describing some of the events surrounding the 20th anniversary of the French Language Services Act.

I am happy that this anniversary has become an opportunity for government-wide and province-wide celebrations of the rich contribution of our Franco-Ontarian communities. I want to thank all the ministries who participated in this all-out endeavour and proposed a whole range of interesting projects. You can be sure the calendar of festivities will be rich and varied.

In particular, I want to thank the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Government Services, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and the Ministry of Health Promotion, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministries of Community and Social Services and Children and Youth Services, which will be working in partnership with the Office of Francophone Affairs on the exciting projects we announce tonight.

Francophone Community Awards

I have mentioned the many people who have dedicated themselves, heart and soul, to the Francophone community or who have distinguished themselves in a variety of fields.

We want to honour them. And so it is with pride that we are launching today the Francophone Community Awards, in partnership this year with the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration. These prizes will be awarded in November to Francophones and "Francophiles" who have made a significant contribution to the French fact in Ontario. Nominations for these prizes will begin in the near future and there will be a rigorous selection process.

Education

We want to talk about the future and we know that the future of our Francophone community depends upon the next generation.

Through its efforts and investment in education, our government has demonstrated on numerous occasions just how important a priority education is.

And so, in concert with the Ministry of Education, we are announcing three initiatives.

First of all, we will be launching a contest in the schools. Teams of students will be invited to produce a work of art that expresses their pride in their Francophone identity, their love of the French language and culture or the contribution that Francophones have made to Ontario society.

This school-wide creation can take several different forms. With TfO's participation, the talent of our young people will be aired across the province.

Another activity will be a Franco-Ontarian festival of theatre in the schools entitled Festival franco-ontarien de théâtre en milieu scolaire that will take place in Ottawa from April 20 to April 22.

Several hundred students will have an opportunity to take to the stage, see plays put on by other French-language high school students or attend workshops. This provincial event is an excellent opportunity for exchanges among Francophone teenagers and will reinforce the cultural identity of Francophone youth.

In mid-October, the French-Language Education Policy and Programs Branch will hold a symposium on the policy with respect to aménagement linguistique or French-language development.

This key policy brings together the many stakeholders who provide essential support to the development of Ontario's Francophone community. The symposium will be an opportunity for all stakeholders to share expertise and resources. The Archives of Ontario

It is important not to lose sight of the fact that our future is founded on our past.

It may be amusing – and even instructive – to look back on the history of our Francophone community. The official story and the human stories.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Government Services, the Archives of Ontario will launch a travelling exhibition of historical documents pertaining to Ontario's Francophone community in the fall of 2006.

Don Juan

Ontario's Francophonie also has a cultural component that attracts "Francophiles" and Francophones alike. I am pleased to announce that in August 2006, the Stratford Festival will produce Don Juan in French. This is a first, and I know that it will be a success, paving the way for other French-language productions.

In 2005, the Ministry of Culture launched municipal cultural planning forums. I am pleased to announce that following a highly successful bilingual forum in Sudbury, another forum is being planned for this year – entirely in French. Cultural planning is an important tool for communities; it helps them to make better use of cultural resources that increase their vitality as communities.

Forum on Linguistic Duality

The Ministry of Community and Social Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services have joined forces to present a major forum on community development and linguistic duality in the fall of 2006.

Bringing together ministries, organisations, and stakeholders in the Francophone community, this forum will be an opportunity to identify priorities and best practices for responding more adequately to the changing needs and realities of Ontario's Francophone community and enhancing its vitality. Health

If we are to achieve our goals and see our dreams come true, we need to be in good health. That is why it was important for the ministries concerned to be involved in these celebrations. The Ministry of Health Promotion will fund several specific events to encourage Francophones to get involved in fitness and sports. This fall, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will organize a reception for major stakeholders and professionals working in hospitals, research, the health care networks, local centres, and private practice. This reception will provide an opportunity to honour them and it will be an opportunity for them to discuss the current challenges and the challenges that lie ahead for the Francophone community in terms of health care.

Ministerial Conference

In keeping with its leadership role, Ontario is proud to be hosting the 11^th ministerial conference on the Canadian Francophonie this year. This conference will provide Ontario with an opportunity to pay tribute to its Francophone community before representatives of the provincial, territorial, and federal governments and to highlight the strides that our province has made over the past 20 years. The Office of Francophone Affairs is in charge of organizing this event.

The Ceremonies in November

These initiatives and several others to be announced bit by bit will culminate in the anniversary of the enactment of the Act next November, a ceremony that will also mark the official close of the festivities. Rest assured; we will be providing you with more details in the coming months.

***

As you can see, our schedule of events is an ambitious one, reflecting the ambitions of our vital community.

This is the new face of Francophone Affairs: resolutely open, resolutely inclusive, resolutely modern, and resolutely forward-thinking.

For this important and symbolic event, the Office has created a new visual platform and slogan, which I will ask Ms. Marie-Lison Fougère, the Assistant Deputy Minister of Francophone Affairs, to present to you.

Unveiling

***

Thank you, Marie-Lison, and thanks to the entire Office of Francophone Affairs team.

I would like to close by saying that the time has come to open ourselves up to the world and to take our place.

Together, let us continue to celebrate our language and our culture. Let us continue to promote the French fact in Ontario and to promote our community!