Unacceptable setback for Francophone communities in Ontario

Montfort's reaction to the fall economic outlook of the provincial government

Ottawa, November 15, 2018 - It was with great dismay that Hôpital Montfort was made aware of the provincial government's fall economic outlook, earlier today. 

“The Ontario government has brushed aside Franco-Ontarian achievements; it has cut programs that are vital to the future of our community,” says Dr. Bernard Leduc, President and CEO of Montfort. “Has the provincial government forgotten that the Francophone community is one of the founding peoples of Canada, and that today's decision goes against the spirit of the Canadian Constitution?”

It should be recalled that Lalonde v. Ontario, issued in 2001 by the Ontario Court of Appeal, had ruled that the direct result of the implementation of the directives would be to increase the assimilation rate of the Franco-Ontarian minority into the English-speaking majority.  “We could take that judgment word for word and apply it to today's announcement at Queen's Park,” added Dr. Leduc.

“The decision to abolish the position of French Language Commissioner and the Franco-Ontarian university project is a serious mistake on the part of the Ontario government. The vitality of Franco-Ontarian communities depends on the opportunity to live and learn in French in Ontario. We implore the Ontario government to reconsider this decision,” concluded Carl Nappert, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Montfort.

About Montfort 

Montfort is Ontario’s Francophone Academic Hospital, offering exemplary person-centred care. Affiliated to the University of Ottawa, the hospital serves over 1.2 million people in Eastern Ontario, in both official languages. Thanks to its partnership with the Institut du Savoir Montfort, a knowledge institute, Montfort has joined the ranks of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals. The daily actions of the Montfort team are guided by compassion, respect, mutual support, excellence and accountability. 

- 30 -

Information and interview requests:

Department of Communications
Hôpital Montfort
613-746-4621, ext. 2049
communications@montfort.on.ca