Ottawa, August 1st, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Appointment of Ontario Commissioner of French Language Services: A Significant Moment for the Franco-Ontarian Community
The Commissioner of Official Languages, Graham Fraser, made the following statement following the appointment of François Boileau as Ontario’s Commissioner of French Language Services.
“I applaud the Government of Ontario, and more specifically Minister Madeleine Meilleur, for their leadership in creating the Office of French Language Services and for naming its Commissioner so quickly. This is a significant step forward that clearly demonstrates the province’s commitment to improving the services that Canada’s largest Francophone community in a minority setting is entitled to receive.”
“Ontario is the most populous province in Canada and home to over half a million Francophones, or about half of all Francophones in Canada outside Quebec. Franco-Ontarians are increasingly diverse in both their origins and their interests. This calls for creative approaches to service delivery and determining community needs. The naming of a Commissioner of French Language Services presents an opportunity to address these issues.”
“I am convinced that Mr. Boileau will do an excellent job as Commissioner of French Language Services in Ontario. During his four years as Legal Advisor for the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages, he has demonstrated leadership, excellent judgment and, of course, a keen understanding of language issues. I am proud that a member of our team at the Office of the Commissioner has been selected to fill this important position. He will have my full cooperation and I wish him all the best in his new role.”
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For more information, contact:
Julie Noël
Media Relations Advisor
Telephone: 613-995-0649
julie.noel@ocol-clo.gc.ca
