5.2 Investigation Report – Cancellation of the Fellowships for Studying in French: It pays to do your homework
Fellowships for Studying in French
| Year | 2013 |
|---|---|
| Issue | Cancellation of the Fellowships for Studying in French program |
| Impact following FLSC’s intervention | Broader eligibility criteria for Travel Grants and Commuting Grants for Francophones and Francophiles |
| Current status | Follow-up in progress on the continuing inequality between French and English college and university program availability in Ontario |
The Fellowships for Studying in French program was introduced by the Ontario government in 1975. Every year, nearly 800 postsecondary students were eligible for a non-renewable $1,500 grant based on academic performance.
In April 2012, however, after nearly 40 years, the government cancelled the program so that it could create the 30% Off Ontario Tuition program. The cancellation came in the wake of the elimination of a number of other Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) measures.
These announcements by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (formerly MTCU) generated numerous complaints, leading to an investigation by the Commissioner’s Office, and many other actions by Francophone groups.58
Effectiveness of the intervention
In October 2013, the Commissioner published an investigation report entitled Cancellation of the Fellowships for Studying in French: It pays to do your homework.59 In it, he concluded that the Ministry should have analyzed the impact of cancelling the program proactively instead of reactively.
He urged the government to consider Francophone and Francophile needs proactively when planning to modify or eliminate programs that sustain their vitality and development. The report also reviewed the factors that made it essential for the government to introduce a new incentive to pursue postsecondary education in French in Ontario as a replacement for the fellowships.
In response to the report, the government expanded eligibility for the Ontario Distance Grant program to include Francophones and Francophiles who have to travel at least 80 kilometres to attend a French-language full-time program, even if there is a college or university closer to their permanent home address.
Nevertheless, the Commissioner still believes that this measure is not sufficient to make up for the blatant inequality between French and English college and university program availability in Central-Southwestern Ontario.
58. At the time, the University of Ottawa and La Cité collégiale expressed their concerns to the government and requested a reversal of the decision. In addition, the Regroupement étudiant franco-ontarien (RÉFO) launched a petition asking the government to reinstate the program.
59. For more details, see https://csfontario.ca/en/articles/4602 (page consulted in March 2017).