The government will support French-speakers in Toronto
French, although an official language in Canada, is not popular. What measures is the government going to take to support French speakers?
There is an active French language centre in Toronto, and the government is going to invest $100,000 CAD in the project. Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor has announced funds to conduct additional research and identify demand for services.
The minister noted the great and important work of the centre, the enthusiastic people and their progress.
There are more than 600,000 Francophones in Ontario, the largest Francophone community outside of Quebec.
The French-speaking Centre Toronto (Centre francophone de Toronto) helps refugees and immigrants who speak French integrate into schools, find jobs and get health services. They meet newcomers at the airport and help them settle in Canada, and they hold regular activities.
Thanks to the investment, the organizers of the centre can:
- create more places to meet and resolve issues;
- to investigate the needs of the newly arrived Francophones;
- identify additional sources of income.
Thanks to this project, the French-speaking population can fully integrate into society and create a strong community for decades.
On March 1, 2022, the Government of Canada presented an expanded bill that clearly stated the equality of official languages. The law aims to address the decline of the French language in Canada, strengthen and promote it, and support people who speak French.
Those who speak French can immigrate to Ontario through a special program for French-speaking skilled workers.
It is worth noting that there are almost 400 French-speaking elementary and secondary schools in Ontario. At the Saint Paul University of Ottawa, Laurentian University of Sudbury, Université de Hearst, University of Sudbury, University of Ottawa, Glendon College at York University and the University of Toronto you can study in French.