Historic Investment in Ontario’s Francophone Students

September 5, 2019

Investment to Support French-language Education

Milton, ON — Today, the Honourable Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, and the Honourable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and Francophone Affairs announced funding of $26 million for the 2019-20 school year to invest in French-language education in this province.
The ministers also announced the outcome of negotiations with the federal government which will deliver an additional $4 million annually to support French-language education in Ontario. This additional funding will be allocated to school boards and postsecondary institutions in the coming weeks.
This investment will provide the resources to:
• Address the delivery of French-language education in Ontario
• Allow school boards and organizations to develop new e-learning courses
• Increase educational opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering and math, as well as the skilled trades
• Support school boards and community organizations to build local engagement and promote inclusion for the French language and culture
“Our government understands the importance of French-language education and is investing to the highest levels to ensure we prepare and defend French history, culture and identity within our province,” said Minister Lecce. “The funds announced today underscore our commitment to Francophone students so that they receive a meaningful and modern education with the support and resources they need to succeed.”
“This announcement provides new resources for the development of Ontario’s Francophonie now and for generations to come,” said Minister of Francophone Affairs, Caroline Mulroney. “Ontario’s Francophones fully contribute to the prosperity of the province, and we are committed to providing them with the educational tools they need to play this important role and meet today’s challenges.”
The projects are part of Ontario’s action plan under the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction with the federal government.
This historic funding is part of the government’s plan to improve learning, enhance classrooms and better prepare students for the realities of today’s modern world.

QUICK FACTS
• Funding from the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction complements the more than $1.8 billion that Ontario invests annually to support French-language education in the province.
• This new protocol was the result of negotiations between the federal government, provinces and territories and provides Ontario with an additional $4 million per year over the next four years.
• There are 12 French-language school boards in Ontario with 470 French-language schools; almost 110,000 students attend French-language schools.
• The province is home to more than 620,000 Francophones.