FSL in the News

CPF was troubled by an article published by the Globe and Mail on October 16, 2023. Read our reaction to the article in which we voiced our concerns and responded to the issue.

A nationwide survey conducted by the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages found that support for bilingualism remains extremely high. Roughly 87% of the overall population supports Canada’s status as a bilingual state and the availability of services in both English and French, a win for the Francophone minority and those seeking to take advantage of French Second Language Programs.

A report conducted by the provincial government of New Brunswick has found the education system to be falling far short of French language education goals with close to half of anglophone students graduating without conversational skills. The report points to a need to increase French educational programming in anglophone regions as more than 60% of anglophone students avoid second language education entirely.  

This uneven availability of French immersion speaks of an urgent need for reform as many who are interested in developing skills in French are structurally prohibited from doing so. French immersion has been proven to be a net gain for students; French language programs in addition to their numerous professional advantages are proven also to improve overall communication skills rather than diminish students’ performance in their English classes.

Ontario is currently facing a severe shortage of French language teachers, therefore threatening the integrity and survival of the province’s French immersion program. Through a mix of increased funding and a new training program, Ontario is seeking to fast-track the process of filling vacant positions to meet high demand for immersion. The provincial government is collaborating with French language postsecondary institutions to make teaching programs more accessible.

Bill C-32, introduced on June 2021, attempts to amend the Official Languages Act to reflect the contemporary political/linguistic landscape in Canada and protect language rights.

The Canadian government has released a plan to heavily invest in French postsecondary education programs to meet increasing demand from both students and the professional world. As part of the effort to revitalize the Official Languages Act, the government will invest roughly 121 million between 2021 and 2024 in making French programs more accessible. This investment will primarily go towards boosting the capacity of existing programs.