Part I: 2023–24 published plan

Ministry overview

Ministry’s vision

Ontario’s Francophone community is now more dynamic and diverse than ever. The Francophonie is a highly valuable asset for Ontario. The province plans to preserve and support it by creating favourable conditions that will strengthen its social and cultural vitality, as well as reinforce its economic development and prosperity.

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs acts as steward of the French Language Services Act (FLSA) and main advisor of the government on Francophone affairs and French-language services to ensure Franco-Ontarians receive government services in French, so they can participate in the social, economic and political life of the province while maintaining their linguistic and cultural heritage.

The ministry:

• Leads the implementation of the modernized FLSA legislative and regulatory framework, including active offer.
• Works with ministries to ensure that French-language services are available to the public in designated areas of the province.
• Provides expert advice to provincial government ministries and classified agencies in their efforts to deliver accessible, high-quality French-language services and to ensure that policies and programs meet the needs of Francophones and align with the government’s responsibilities under the FLSA.
• Makes recommendations with respect to the designation of new areas and agencies, and coordinates the implementation of French-language services in newly designated areas.
• Promotes Francophone affairs inside government and partners with key ministries on policy and program initiatives to contribute to a stronger Francophone community, including Francophone economic development.
• Engages with the province’s Francophone community and facilitates the full participation of Francophones in contributing to Ontario’s prosperity.
• Works with other jurisdictions to promote Ontario’s Francophonie and enhances the province’s profile at both national and international levels.

Ministry programs

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs oversees the administration of the French Language Services Act, works with provincial government ministries and classified agencies to ensure that the needs and interests of the Franco-Ontarian community are taken into account in public policies and programs, and facilitates the participation of the Franco-Ontarian community in government-related initiatives.

The ministry continues to engage stakeholders to ensure programming reflects the needs, clients served and intended outcomes of each program.

The ministry’s key roles are:

• Working with ministries to ensure French-language services delivery in designated areas across the province.
• Monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the French Language Services Act by reporting on ministries’ achievements and corporate performance measures on an annual basis.
• Analysing census data and generating statistical profiles on the province’s Franco-Ontarian population.
• Making recommendations regarding the designation of new areas and agencies under the French Language Services Act and coordinating the implementation of services in newly designated areas.
• Coordinating the transfer of federal funding to other provincial government ministries and classified agencies for projects and initiatives funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French Language Services.
• Overseeing Ontario’s participation in national and international governing bodies including the Minister’s Council on the Canadian Francophonie and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

Additionally:

• The ministry facilitates a strategic approach to Francophone economic development designed to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of Francophone businesses and organizations and which supports the cultural and economic vitality of Ontario’s Francophone communities.
• The ministry manages the Francophone Community Grants Program to provide the community with funding to support initiatives that raise the profile of Ontario’s Francophonie, and supports economic development for Francophone-owned businesses as well as businesses serving Francophone markets.
• The ministry coordinates the joint funding of interprovincial projects and initiatives with the government of Québec under the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.

2023–24 Strategic plan

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs supports the government’s plan to build Ontario and a resilient economy along with safe and strong communities. The government recognizes that Francophone entrepreneurs and businesses are important contributors to Ontario’s prosperity and to the economy as well as the importance of a strong Francophone and bilingual workforce. As a result, the government will continue to support the social, cultural and economic development of the Franco-Ontarian community, as well as strengthening ministries and agencies’ capacity to deliver frontline French-language services.

In 2023–24 the ministry will focus on the following key activities:

• Continuing to implement the French Language Services Strategy to improve access to French-language services and increase quality and accountability, including creating additional regulations under the FLSA, strengthening Ontario's Francophone and bilingual workforce, and improving the effectiveness of French-language services planning and reporting.
• Maintaining and increasing previous year’s commitments, including:
  • The annual funding of $2 million for the Francophone Community Grants Program.
  • An annual envelope of $800,000 for the Francophone Economic Development, of which $500,000 will be allocated to support the Francophone economic ecosystem and the range of support services available to Francophone businesses and entrepreneurs. An additional $300,000 will help support the promotion of Francophonie as an economic asset at the national and international levels.
  • Annual funding of $250,000 to support the Cooperation and Exchange Agreement between the government of Québec and the government of Ontario with respect to the Francophonie.

These efforts will help increase the Francophone economic footprint, promote a bilingual skilled workforce, strengthen the capacity of organizations and/or businesses to provide products and services to Francophones in the province and ensure equitable access to government services in either French or English.

• Expected outcomes include:
  • Government services are readily available in French in designated areas across the province.
  • Francophone-owned and operated businesses that serve French-speaking markets have access to targeted support to help them grow their business and contribute to the prosperity of their communities.
  • Government policy, programs and initiatives that affect Franco-Ontarians are developed with consideration given to their interests and needs.

Table 1: Ministry Planned Expenditures 2023–24 ($M)

Detailed financial information

Table 2: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote

Historic Trend Table

For additional financial information, see:
Expenditure estimates
Public accounts
2023 Ontario Budget | Building a Strong Ontario

Contact:
Maria Lamani, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Francophone Affairs
maria.lamani@ontario.ca
647-537-6291

Agencies, Boards and Commisions (ABCS)

Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs

Provides advice to the Minister of Francophone Affairs on the development of strategies, priorities and programs that affect Ontario’s Francophone community, and on the planning and delivery of French language services across the Government of Ontario.

Legislation

Legislation administered by the ministry:

French Language Services Act, 1990

The French Language Services Act, which was modernized in 2021, protects the rights of Franco-Ontarians to have access to French language services provided by or on behalf of the provincial government, notably in designated areas of the province.

Franco-Ontarian Day Act, 2010

The Franco-Ontarian Day Act proclaims September 25 of each calendar year as Franco-Ontarian Day. The act officially recognizes the contributions of the Francophone community in Ontario to the social, economic and political life of the province and the community’s importance in Ontario.

Ministry organization chart

May 2023

• Minister of Francophone Affairs – Caroline Mulroney
  • Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Francophone Affairs - Natalia Kusendova
• Deputy Minister - Roda Muse
  • Executive Advisor to the Deputy Minister - Lisa Fitzgibbons (Acting)
  • Director, Human Resources - Jennifer Stewart^{footnote 3[3]}
  • Director, Corporate Finance - Nadia Eid^{footnote 3[3]}
  • Director, Regional Services - Marie Campbell^{footnote 3[3]}
  • Director, Strategic Policy Development and Planning - Kristina Lauesen^{footnote 3[3]}
  • Director, Business Services Integration - Michael Van Wyk^{footnote 3[3]}
  • Legal Director - Cheryl Carson (Acting)^{footnote 4[4]}
• Assistant Deputy Minister / Chief Administrative Officer - Jean-Claude Camus
  • Director, Strategic Communications, Stakeholders and Special Projects - Mélusine Klein
  • Director, Policy and Ministry Services - Véronique Simcoe

Annual report

In 2022–23, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs supported the government’s plan to create a more competitive business environment as well as the government’s commitment to build a province where everyone can have the opportunity to share in economic prosperity. The government continued to help Francophone communities across Ontario promote their culture, grow their businesses, and encourage greater community engagement as well as access to high-quality services in French.

The following outlines the Ministry of Francophone Affairs’ major accomplishments in delivering on key priorities during 2022–23:

• Created, on December 6, 2022, a new regulation that clarifies the definition of active offer and outlines its application. The new regulation contains nine specific measures that ministries, certain government agencies, designated agencies, and third parties providing services on behalf of the government are subject to.
• Worked with the Treasury Board Secretariat to strengthen service planning to ensure that all ministries develop a strategic plan for French language services, including reporting on the capacity of their workforce to provide French language services. All ministries are required to integrate French-language services into their multi-year planning and to report annually as part of the multi-year fiscal planning process. 

• Published its first Report on Francophone Affairs highlighting achievements in supporting the social, cultural, and economic development of Ontario's francophone community. This document, which is part of a strengthened planning and accountability approach, lays the foundation for future reports that will track progress in this area.

• Made it easier for organizations to seek a designation under the FLSA to provide services in French by digitizing the process.

• Invested $500,000 to support businesses in their incubation and implementation phases, including the following three initiatives

  • Training of a cohort of entrepreneurs in Toronto, Ottawa and Sudbury, offered by the Conseil de coopération de l’Ontario.
  • Creation and piloting of three audiovisual modules and complementary resource kits to help young entrepreneurs develop and implement their business projects led by La Cité.
  • Creation and piloting of a recruitment and career integration tool for newcomers that will allow daycare owners to increase the staffing and availability of Francophone childcare spaces by the Association francophone à l’éducation des services à l’enfance de l’Ontario.
     
• Invested $2 million under the Francophone Community Grants Program to better meet the increased need and demand for support from community organizations, including social enterprises and small businesses that serve Ontario’s Francophone community across all regions. This funding supported 50 new projects that help to recruit and train Francophone and bilingual workers, develop French-language services for women, youth, seniors and newcomers, and support exhibitions, festivals and cultural events that showcase Francophone heritage.
• Allocated $265,834 in grants to fund joint Ontario-Québec initiatives; this interprovincial collaboration supported 16 projects that promote the growth of the Francophonie in a variety of areas, such as economic development and entrepreneurship, seniors, sexual and gender diversity, family, and education. These partnerships contribute directly to the strengthening of Francophone ties between Québec and Ontario.
• Co-signed with the French Community of Belgium, in November 2022, a Memorandum of Understanding and an Action Plan to promote exchanges in the areas of postsecondary education, culture, digital media, youth, and the French language. This is Ontario's first international agreement on the Francophonie. The Government of Ontario sent an official delegation to the 18th Summit of La Francophonie, held in Djerba, Tunisia. This biennial event attracts heads of states and government from French-speaking countries.

Table 3: Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2022–23

Part II: 2023–24 detailed financials

A. Ministry summary information

Ontario’s Francophone community is now more dynamic and diverse than ever. The Francophonie is a highly valuable asset for Ontario. The province plans to preserve and support it by creating favourable conditions that will strengthen its social and cultural vitality, as well as reinforce its economic development and prosperity.

The Ministry of Francophone Affairs acts as steward of the French Language Services Act (FLSA) and main advisor of the government on Francophone affairs and French-language services to ensure Franco-Ontarians receive government services in French, so they can participate in the social, economic and political life of the province while maintaining their linguistic and cultural heritage.

The ministry:

• Leads the implementation of the modernized FLSA legislative and regulatory framework, including active offer.
• Works with ministries to ensure that French-language services are available to the public in designated areas of the province.
• Provides expert advice to provincial government ministries and classified agencies in their efforts to deliver accessible, high-quality French-language services and to ensure that policies and programs meet the needs of Francophones and align with the government’s responsibilities under the FLSA.
• Makes recommendations with respect to the designation of new areas and agencies, and coordinates the implementation of French-language services in newly designated areas.
• Promotes Francophone affairs inside government and partners with key ministries on policy and program initiatives to contribute to a stronger Francophone community, including Francophone economic development.
• Engages with the province’s Francophone community and facilitates the full participation of Francophones in contributing to Ontario’s prosperity.
• Works with other jurisdictions to promote Ontario’s Francophonie and enhances the province’s profile at both national and international levels.

Table A1: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote

Historic Trend Table

Table A2 : Operating Summary by Vote and Standard Account

Table A3 : Capital Summary by Vote and Standard Account

Tableau A4 : Reconciliation to Previously Published Data

B. Vote summary information

Francophone affairs Program - Vote 1301

The ministry provides advice to the Ontario government on matters concerning Francophone affairs and the provision of French-language services. The ministry’s primary program consists of:

• Working in collaboration with ministries and agencies and the French Language Services Commissioner to ensure effective French-language services delivery across the province.
• Developing and implementing tools such as the Francophone Lens to help ensure that these services are planned for at the earliest stages of policy and program development.
• Making recommendations for the designation of new areas and agencies under the FLSA, and coordinating the implementation of services in newly designated areas.
• Analyzing Census data and generating statistical profiles on the province’s Franco-Ontarian population.
• Coordinating the transfer of federal funding to other ministries and agencies for projects and initiatives funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French Language Services.
• Managing the Francophone Community Grants Program and the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.
• Working with partner ministries, Ontario-based francophone businesses, entrepreneurs, and social enterprises within Ontario, and jurisdictions within and outside Canada, to stimulate Francophone economic development, and ensuring Ontario’s participation in national and international bodies, including the Ministers’ Council on the Canadian Francophonie and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Table B1 : Operating

Table B2 : Capital 

C. Item/Sub-item summary information

VOTE/ITEM:            1301 – 01

VOTE:            FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS PROGRAM

ITEM:             Francophone Affairs Co-ordination

TYPE:              Operating Expense

ITEM/SUB-ITEM DESCRIPTION

The ministry’s primary program provides advice to the Ontario government on matters concerning Francophone affairs and the provision of French language services.

FUNCTIONS

• Partners on cross-ministry initiatives to ensure the integration of French language services in these initiatives. 
• Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness of French language services by reporting on ministries’ achievements and corporate performance measures annually.
• Makes recommendations with respect to the designation of new areas and agencies under the FLSA and coordinates the implementation of services in newly designated areas.
• Analyzes Census data and generates statistical profiles on the Province’s Franco-Ontarian population.
• Coordinates the transfer of federal funding to other ministries and agencies for projects and initiatives funded under the Canada-Ontario Agreement on French Language Services.

Text to be continued below.

Table C1 : Comparative Details – Operating Expense

VOTE/ITEM:            1301 – 01

VOTE:            FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS PROGRAM

ITEM:             Francophone Affairs Co-ordination

TYPE:              Operating Expense

The text above continues.

• Oversees Ontario’s participation in national and international governing organizations, including the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

The ministry also facilitates a strategic approach to Francophone economic development designed to meet both the immediate and long-term needs of Francophone businesses and organizations and which supports the cultural and economic vitality of Ontario’s Francophone communities.

Key functions related to this strategic approach are:

• Managing the Francophone Community Grants Program to provide the community with funding to support initiatives that raise the profile of Ontario’s Francophonie, as well as to support economic development for Francophone owned businesses, businesses serving Francophone markets and non-profit organizations involved in economic development.
• Supporting the expansion of business support services to francophone entrepreneurs and businesses as well as contributing to the creation of a francophone business ecosystem.
• Coordinating the joint funding of interprovincial projects and initiatives with the government of Québec on shared priority areas through the Ontario-Québec Cooperation and Exchange Agreement with Respect to the Francophonie.

VOTE/ITEM:            1301 – 02

VOTE:            FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS PROGRAM

ITEM:             Francophone Affairs Program

TYPE:              Operating Expense

ITEM/SUB-ITEM DESCRIPTION

This item provides leadership and oversight in the management of capital projects, infrastructure and initiatives that support the provision of Francophone Affairs including:

• Overseeing the maintenance of the Monument dedicated to Franco-Ontarians at Queen’s Park, the final legacy piece of Ontario’s Commemoration of 400 years of Francophone presence in the province.

Table C2 : Comparative Details – Operating Expense

VOTE/ITEM:            1301 – 02

VOTE:            FRANCOPHONE AFFAIRS PROGRAM

ITEM:             Francophone Affairs Program

TYPE:              Operating Expense

D1. Appendix – time-limited and discretionary transfer payments

Table D1 : Time-Limited Discretionary Transfer Payments