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Expanding French Postsecondary Education

The province is giving college and university students more opportunities to study in French and prepare for future jobs.
TimminsToday Staff

The province is giving college and university students more opportunities to study in French and prepare for future jobs.

The province's Action Plan for French-language Postsecondary Education will increase access to French-language postsecondary education and services in central and southwestern Ontario. The plan includes recommendations from an expert panel on French-language postsecondary education access and the French Language Services Commissioner. It will:

 

  •  Provide a total of $16.5 million to help universities and colleges expand their French-language programs and services, including expansions that are already underway at York University's Glendon College, Collège Boréal and La Cité collégiale in the Greater Toronto Area
  • Allow all francophone institutions, including the University of Ottawa and Laurentian University, to be eligible for funding to deliver French-language programs in central and southwestern Ontario with a partner college or university located there
  • Encourage partnerships among bilingual postsecondary institutions and employment and training services organizations to further increase French-language programs
  • Establish an advisory body on French-language education
  • Review Glendon College's capacity to deliver even more French-language programs
 

Supporting French-language postsecondary education is part of Ontario's economic plan to invest in people and ensure everyone has the benefit of a world class education.

Quick Facts

  • Earlier this year, the province expanded the Ontario Distance Grant to approximately 1,000 more francophone students to increase their opportunities to study in French.
  • Ontario is home to more than 600,000 francophones — the largest francophone population in Canada outside of Quebec.
  • More than one-third of the province’s francophone population lives in central and southwestern Ontario. By 2020, more than half of the Ontario francophone population will reside in those regions.
  • The Ontario government has increased funding to French language postsecondary education by more than 62 per cent since 2003-04.

Quotes

Brad Duguid

"Working with our education partners, we want to ensure that all our youth have access to the same opportunities. Helping francophone students succeed in their own language means greater access to the training and education needed to land good jobs, diversify our workforce, and create a stronger economy.”

Brad Duguid

Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

Madeleine Meilleur

"The action plan will create more options for francophone students, apprentices and other learners, and increase the vitality of Ontario’s French-language postsecondary education and training network.”

Madeleine Meilleur

Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs

"York University is proud to partner with the Ontario government in expanding and enhancing programs and services to support French and bilingual education in the province. We appreciate the Ministry's expression of confidence in supporting curricular development at Glendon College, which ensures we are well-positioned to continue educating Canada's future leaders.”

Dr. Mamdouh Shoukri

President and Vice-Chancellor, York University