Ontario. Office of Francophone Affairs

• Office des Affaires francophones

• Office of Francophone Affairs

The Office of Francophone Affairs was created in June, 1985, replacing the Office of the Government Co-ordinator of French Language Services, which had existed within the Ontario Ministry of Intergovernmental Affairs and briefly within the Ontario Ministry of Health. The Office reported to the Legislature through the Minister responsible for Francophone Affairs. Between 1985 and April of 1990 the Office functioned administratively as part of the Cabinet Office.

Adoption of the French Language Services Act in 1986 recognized the right of Francophones to receive government services in French in the 23 designated areas of the province. The Act came into effect in November of 1989.

In 2004, a Provincial Advisory Committee on Francophone Affairs was established to advise the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs on how to best meet the needs of the Francophone community.

The Office of Francophone Affairs assists with the development of French language initiatives and services throughout the Ontario government. The Office advises the government on the development and implementation of French language services and on relations with the Franco-Ontarian community. The Office also provided grants to assist community services for francophones.

Under the French Language Services Act, the Ontario government provides French language services if a community or region's francophone population exceeds 5,000 or 10 percent of the community's total population. As of 2017, there were 25 areas of the province so designated. The office also has a role in the governance of Ontario's francophone public television network, TFO, as well as francophone school boards and other government offices, and acts as a liaison office between the government and other francophone cultural agencies and social services.

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories, 1985-1998.

KWIK Index to Services of the Ontario Government, 1991-1992.

Annual reports of the Office of Francophone Affairs, 1985-1991.

Archivist(s):
Paquet