Nase Novine, May 31, 1978

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What is being done in Ontario to guarantee the Franco-Ontaria- ns
the education in French language and to expand govern-ment
services in that language? Here are the official views of the
Ontario government on the subject..
Extract from the Speech from the
Throne, delivered by the Honou-rable
Pauline M. McQIbbon on the
opening of The Second Session of
the 21st Parliament of the Province .
of Ontario February 21st, 1978.
The fundamental rights of Franco-Onta-rla- ns
to education In the French Janguage
have long been recognized in Ontario.
Franco-Ontaria- ns ajso have a commitment
from the Government,for the expansion of
government services in the French lan-guage
in accordance with need and popu-lation
distribution.
We shall continue to build upon the
strong foundation already laid in the field
of education to ensure that French-languag- e
programs are available at all levels,
where practicable, to French-speakin- g On-taria- ns.
At the same time, the expansion of
opportunities for English-speakin- g pupils
to develop French-languag- e capacity re-mains
a priority. -
During this Session, there will be legi-slation
to increase the availability- - of
French-languag- e court trails In areas of the
province where this service is needed.
Amendments to The Judicature Act and
The Juries Act will guarantee the steps
taken in this direction. As well, the
Government will review proposals related
to the use pf French In regulatory and
other administrative tribunals.
Present governmenUranslation services
will be augmented to make more public
documents, publications, and forms avai-lable
In both French and English. Of parti-cular
importance, a special section will be
established to begin work on translating
Ontario's statutes into French.
All ministries will undertake a program
to identify government buildings and give
higway directions in both English and
French in predominantly Francophone
areas.
The, appointment of full-tim- e coordi-nators
of French-languag- e services in an
additional number of ministries will eh-han- ce
the capability of the Government in
responding to the community.
Minority-languag- e rights in the larger
national context .must be viewed from a
national perspective. The% spirit of the St.
Andrew's meeting of Provincial Premiers,
in the consensus reached on economic
matters and theadvaricement of minority-languag- e
education, should give us much
hope. Ontario will be an active participant
when the Premiers meet again later this
week to pursue these discussions and will
continue to advance the case for minority-languag- e
educationaf guarantees as a
matter that falls more appropriately within
. the context of Constitutional change.
¥r ¥r
Notes for address by D.W. Steven-- ,
son to the seminar for presidents
and executive directors of Social
Agencies on languages of service
sponsored by the Social Planning
Council of Ottawa-Carleto- n, Fri-day,
November 25, 1977
I must say that since I became the
government's Coordinator on Bilinguallsm,
I have on the whole been pleasantly
surprised with the degree of progress that
has been made in the provision of French
language services by Ontario Government
ministries and agencies' over the past few
years. The progress has been quite uneven
from ministry to ministry but it has been
reasonably steady oyer the past six years
and 'promises to.be ,much,more ra'pld in.the
coming months. ,., ,t . Y ...
I think one сапДгасе some' change in
speed to: %rx, '. '
An Increaslnggeneral awareness of the
French fact In Ontario. ' '
v While the majbr changes Iri theVedu-catio- n
systern -- tobk'pjace'' In 1968; 'the
products' of ithatisystertf have much'''ntibre
,
recently been 'making theirpr'esence'fBlt'ltf,
the professions, In government and In the
public life of the province generally. The
Franco-Ontaria- ns themselves have increa-singly
been moving from the rural areas of
Northeastern andEastern Ontario into the
major centres of the province and thU3 new
areas of demands for French language
services have been created.
French language radio and television now
covers the bulk of the population of the
province. Hearing French spoken is no
longer something strange for most Onta-rlan- s.
In a number of areas a basic capacity to
provide services has now been established
and it has been somewhat easier for admi-nistrators
to declare publicly that they are
ready to provide services. A few years back
there was a considerable fear of not being
able to meet declared targets.
A few key Individuals have. got things
moving in particular areas where little had
previously happened. In the'judicial. sys-tem
,the determination of the current Attor-ney
General, for example, has been the
spark plug for the establishment of bilin-gual
courts. In this group I should also
count the number of extremely able and
active Franco-Ontaria- ns who have been
Increasingly moving into key positions In
ministries such as Education, Colleges
and Universities, Culture and Recreation,
Ontario TV, the Ontario Arts Council and
other bodies. They have helped bring a real
awareness of the French language di-mension
of Ontario to their ministries and
have helped in the development of specific
programs.
In an address to the Legislature on May
3rd, 1971, Premier Davis reiterated the
Government of Ontario's basic commit-ment
to the principle of Its bilinguallsm
policy which is to provide, wherever
feasible, public services in French as well
as in English so that the people of On-tario
would be able to deal in either lan-guage
with the various levels of Govern-ment
with which they come into contact.
Since then, the policy has been imple-mented
by ministries at a varying pace
commensurate with the degree of direct
contact each have with the public. Priority
areas have been identified In order to
provide more immediate services In those
areas with a higher concentration of
Francophones. To give a definite frame-wor- k
to the provision of bilingual public
services in Ontario, all ministries and
agencies of the Government have been
directed to give attention to the provision,
wherever feasible, of a full range of bilin-gual
services, beginning in those areas
where there are concenlratlons of French-speakin- g
people. The main concentra-tions
were identified as Eastern and
Northeastern Ontario.
Among more-speclfl- c aspects of the
policy is a guideline that those who com-municate
with the Government of Ontario
in English or in French can expect a
response 'In the same language. This
applies equally to oral communication
subject to the ability of personnel In the
office concerned to speak the language of
the person making the enquiry.
All forms used.by the general public
should be produced in French or In a bilin-gual
form. It Is gradually, being achieved, as
existing stocks are replaced.
Publications to be used by the general
public should be available in English and
French. Today some 800 publications and
350 forms and documents have been publi-shed
in both languages. It Is the govern-ment's
policy , that any member of the
Legislature may address the Assembly In
eitherEngllsh or Frenqh.
Turning now to the activities of parti-cular
ministries — first' — Education. The
Ministry1 of Education recognizes the
rights of French language v students to
receive 'their education: In-the- ir own1 lan-guage
wherever It Is feasible. 'As' V mentl-oned- ,-
thejP.ounc.il1 Qn.'-Fjenc- h, Language
Schools attempts to ensure that this pojicy
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..A recent spate of letters to The Star attacking the rights of im-migrants
Indicates how easy It is to forget the important role immigration
has played, not only In building this country but also in making it a more
civilized and dynamic society.
It's almost trite to say we are a nation of Immigrants. Our railways
would not have been buHt, our West settled, our mining industry manned,
our commerce developed and our art and science advanced without the
successive waves of immigration.
Moreover, immigrants have helped our economy grow: Their need for
housing, clothing, furniture, food and entertainment has stimulated our
commerce and Industry. In many instances, they have been willing to do
work Canadians no longer care to do. And their eager minds and energy
have created new businesses that have provided jobs for those that came
before.
it is true, as some of the letter writers insist, that almost everyone
went through a period of privation and discrimination before they won full
acceptance in Canadian society.
However, there is no reason to believe that the senseless prejudices
they encountered did anything to make them better citizens.
Curiously, many of the letters critical of immigrants are from people
who themselves came to Canada 15 or 20 years ago. Keep your eyes
'down, your hopes low, work hard and be very polite and you will win
acceptance as we did, their letters say.
Such advice is unfortunate, ill-infor-med
and perhaps even dangerous
because so many Immigrant groups that "made it" in Canada did so by
fighting for their rights.
The memories of some earlier immigrants are short; but let us recall
that the Irish formed a number of protective societies and campaigned
against religious Intolerance through the Knights of Columbus.
The Japanese-Canadia- n Citizenship Association was organized to
rectify the Injustices imposed during the war years. The Jewish communi-ty
worked through the Antl-Defamatl- on League and the Canadian Jewish
Congress.
The various South Asian and black organizations protesting today
are simply continuing a longstanding,Canadian tradition.
Another fallacy of the letter writers Is that recent immigrants are
demanding something to which they have no right.
But how can this be when every resident in Canada, no matter how
recently arrived, has a right to be safe from abuse and assault. They have
the same right to police protection as the oldest, most prominent citizen.
All have equal right under the law.
They also have a right to an equal chance at education and housing.
They have a right to be hired on the basis of their ability to do the job. No
one can deny them this right because of their skin color, religion or where
they came from.
This Is not only the law of the land but an expression of the nation's
conscience. It is not "whining" or "complaining" to demand that the law
be enforced.
There Is nothing here that diminishes the rights of the majority. The .
majority of Canadians want people to be treated fairly. The majority
condemns mindless violence against innocent people. The majority
believes In equal opportunity — the right to compete on equal terms
without prejudice. The South Asian, black and Chinese communities are
asking nothing more. We are makjng no sacrifice in welcoming recent
arrivals. When we protect their rights, we expand our own. When we
accept their contribution, we add to our own wealth and well-bein- g.
Canada got the best of the bargain all newcomers make with their
adopted land. _ Contrast
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Is Implemented.
Major amendments to the Education Act
with respect to French language education
were adopted In 1968. They dealt with the
establishment of French language units or
schools at the elementary and secondary
levels and provided for the establishment
of French Language Advisory Committees
to Board of Education. Further amend-ments
In 1973 provided for the establish-ment
of a five-memb- er "Languages of
Instruction Commission". Its' main role is
to provide advice to committees, school
boards, representative minority groups as
well as the Minister and to seek solutions
In contentious matters referred to It by the
above.
A few statistics about schools. There
are:
Elementary French language or bilingual
schools 303
Total enrolment, French-languag- e
clases and schools 74,933
French-languag- e secondary schools 24
Bilingual secondary schools 59
Enrolment In French private and
intermediate schools or classes 561
Total enrolment In French-languag- e
secondary schools or classes 32,279
The province's court, administration pro-vides
French language court services in
the provincial courts (Crlrninal and Family
Divisions) 'In designated regions of the
province where such services are required
ana Teasjp,e„. f .'
(Toronto, Feb. 28,1978)
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French language services In the Provin-cial
Court (Criminal Division) are now
offered in the Judicial Districts of Sud-bury,
Ottawa, I'Orignal, Kapuskaslng,
Cochrane, Hearst, Smooth Rock Falls, and
Hornepayne, Ontario.
Since September of 1977, special funds
have been provided to the University of
Ottawa for Common Law courses In the
French language.
17.2% of the TV Ontario broadcast sche-dule
is In the French language and 16% of
TV Ontario's programming budget is
devoted to the production and utilization
of French-languag- e programs.
TV Ontario has supplied French-lan-guah- e
programs, to a number of other
jurisdictions such as Quebec, France,
Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Louisi-ana,
and In return, has used French-languag- e
programs produced elsewhere.
MULTICULTURALISM
TO RECEIVE $50 MILLION
According to information released by
the Ministry of State for Multiculturalism,
the federai government intends to set
aside over 50 million dollars for providing-,equa- l
opportunities to all of Canada's cul-tural
groups over the next 5 years to share
their rich cultural traditions with. all. Car
nadlans. ". ' - r e