Report of the Expert Panel on French-Language Postsecondary Education: Recommendations in Line with those of the Commissioner

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TORONTO, January 15, 2013 – French Language Services Commissioner François Boileau applauds the findings and conclusions of the Expert Panel on French-Language Postsecondary Education in Central and Southwestern Ontario, as set out in its report entitled Moving Forward, published by the Ontario government.

In this report, the Expert Panel offers concrete, pragmatic solutions to the paradox of Central-Southwestern Ontario having both a growing Francophone population and limited availability of French-language postsecondary education programs.

The Expert Panel’s recommendations are in line with those presented by the Commissioner in his June 27, 2012, report entitled The State of French-Language Postsecondary Education in Central-Southwestern Ontario: No access, no future, particularly with regard to the establishment of an independent secretariat responsible for determining both the need for and delivery of French-language postsecondary education programs and services in the region.

QUOTES

“This report is yet another incontrovertible tool to help the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities meet the growing needs of Francophones, Francophiles and newcomers in Central-Southwestern Ontario with respect to French-language postsecondary education. I congratulate all the members of the Expert Panel on their excellent work, and of course I look forward to the government’s responses to their recommendations,” said the Commissioner.

“In view of the size of the Francophone and Francophile population in Central-Southwestern Ontario, French-language college and university programs in that region are an important element in the survival of the French language and Francophone culture in Ontario. Such programs would most certainly help to generate a fair portion of the skilled, versatile bilingual workforce required to meet the current needs of the government and society, human capital that will be an asset to the entire province of Ontario,” added the Commissioner.

QUICK FACTS

  • It is estimated that by 2020, nearly half of Ontario’s Francophone population will be living in the Central-Southwestern region. The Francophone community of Central-Southwestern Ontario has a higher growth rate than any other Francophone community in the province.
  • Yet Francophones and Francophiles are faced with a very low access rate of 0% to 3% for French-language postsecondary education programs in Central-Southwestern Ontario.
  • The Expert Panel’s mandate was to provide the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities with advice on the most efficient models for increasing the capacity to deliver French-language postsecondary education in Central-Southwestern Ontario.
  • The Expert Panel comprises seven members: Raymond Théberge, Assistant Deputy Minister, French-Language, Aboriginal Learning and Research Division, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (until June 2012; Janine Griffore subsequently); Jean-Luc Bernard, education sector; retired Director of Education, representative of the French-language school boards; Gisèle Chrétien, college sector; President of Collège Boréal until 2006 and currently Chair of the TFO Board; Dr. Stacy Churchill, university sector; Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto; Ordre du mérite francophone, Association canadienne-française d’éducation d’Ontario; Chantal Côté, training sector (until January 2012); former teacher and member of the Appointments Council at the Ontario College of Trades; Dr. Normand Labrie, university sector; Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education/University of Toronto, until April 30, 2012; Scientific Director, Fonds de la recherche du Québec ― Société et culture, since May 1, 2012; David Ip Yam, student sector; Student Affairs Assistant at York University.

LEARN MORE

You can view the report of the Expert Panel on French-Language Postsecondary Education in Central-Southwestern Ontario, entitled Moving Forward, at http://ontario.ca/p56 and the French Language Services Commissioner’s report on The State of French-Language Postsecondary Education in Central-Southwestern Ontario at http://ontario.ca/pz3.

The Office of the French Language Services Commissioner works to ensure active, integrated delivery of French-language services in support of the development of the Francophone community and Ontarian society.

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Simon Côté, Public Relations and Communications Officer
Office of the French Language Services Commissioner
Phone: (416) 314-8247 ou 1-866-246-5262 (toll free)
E-mail: communications.flscCSF@ontario.ca