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More federal funds for French language instruction coming to Ontario

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The federal government has signed a bilateral agreement with the province to support minority language education and second-language instruction.

Today, Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde announced the signing of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Minority-Language Education and Second Official-Language Instruction 2024-2025 to 2027-2028.

Under the agreement, an investment of more than $523 million has been made in Ontario to help the province offer French as a minority language and second-language instruction for students from preschool to post-secondary.

“Franco-Ontarians know how essential education is in preserving our language and passing on our culture to future generations,” said Minister Lalonde in a statement. “Thanks to this agreement, we are strengthening bilingualism and giving young people the tools they need to develop fully in French and in English.”

An investment by the Ontario government is also planned to support the aims of the agreement.

The bilateral agreement stems from the Protocol for Agreements for Minority-Language Education and Second-Language Instruction for the period from 2024 to 2028, ratified in February.

Minister Lalonde made the announcement on behalf of Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages.

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Province Investing To Boost French Education

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The Ontario government is trying to put more French language teachers in classrooms.

Education Minister Stephen says a four-year, $12.5 million strategy will help recruit, train and retain teachers.

“This strategy will build awareness of teaching pathways, in order to recruit and retain qualified teachers from French-speaking countries, and to promote pathways to teacher training programs for high school students,” he explains.

The province says the number of certified French teachers has decreased by as much as 60 per cent in recent years, leaving a shortage for both French language and French Immersion programs.

Lecce says schools are currently short about 900 certificated teachers.