Official Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath and\u00a0NDP critic for Francophone Affairs Guy Bourgouin\u00a0are calling on all MPPs from all parties to support Horwath’s motion to restore Ontario\u2019s independent French Language Services Commissioner and the province\u2019s Francophone University.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Franco-Ontarians deserve the long-awaited\u00a0Universit\u00e9 de l\u2019Ontario fran\u00e7ais, as well as a French Language Services Commissioner that is fully independent, and nothing less,”\u00a0said\u00a0Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay), who said that the Ford government\u2019s half-hearted changes \u2014 announced late Friday \u2014 are simply not good enough. “Hiring one advisor on Francophone affairs and changing Caroline’s Mulroney\u2019s title \u2014 that\u2019s simply not good enough, and for Ford to think that’s enough is insulting to the Francophone community.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bourgeon said those two deep and callous cuts come at a time when Ford is also attacking French cultural services. \u201cMention of cuts to the\u00a0Nouvelle-sc\u00e8ne Gilles Desjardins [Ottawa\u2019s Francophone Theatre Centre] in Ottawa, and three French educational magazines for children continue to be absent from your reckless decisions towards Franco-Ontarians,\u201d Bourgouin said during question period on Monday. \u201cIf you claim you are ready to listen to Franco-Ontarians, why don\u2019t you re-establish the cultural subsidies, the Francophone university and the independent French Language Services Commissioner?\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Horwath’s motion will be voted on at Queen’s Park on Wednesday, November 28th.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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