Mr. Chair, members of the committee, thank you for having us here today.
I'm accompanied by Sonia Behilil, director of policy and government relations, as well as Noura Abdi Farah, policy analyst.
The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario has been the organization representing Franco-Ontarians since 1910. We represent 795,760 francophones in Ontario, the largest francophone community outside Quebec.
At the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario, we welcome the federal government's intention to bring the Use of French in Federally Regulated Private Businesses Act into force. These regulations are important: They give concrete effect to new language rights in sectors that are part of the daily life of francophones. However, outside Quebec, these rights will depend on a key element: the designation of regions with a strong francophone presence. This is precisely where the main challenge lies for French Ontario. The definition of regions becomes the gateway to rights.
The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario recognizes that the draft regulations already propose an initial list of Ontario regions. This one covers several major hubs of French Ontario, notably in the east and in the north of the province. However, this list should be understood as the minimum standard of protection, not the maximum. It must not be reduced, weakened or interpreted in a restrictive manner.
The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario does not question the use of demographic criteria or census divisions as an administrative basis. These tools are necessary and allow for a predictable and applicable method, but they cannot be the only reference points.
In Ontario, the francophonie does not exist solely in statistical percentages. It also exists in institutions; it exists in service hubs; it exists in employment pools; and it exists in schools, colleges, universities, health centres, community centres, economic networks and transportation corridors.
In some regions, the francophone presence is strong in terms of proportion. In others, it's important in terms of absolute numbers or it provides structure in institutional, economic or administrative terms. This is also what we hear during the États généraux de l'Ontario français. Many historic communities remind us that they exist and contribute to the vitality of French Ontario, but they too often feel invisible within federal frameworks.
An overly strict quantitative interpretation runs the risk of overlooking actual francophone concentrations. It may also underestimate the role of certain areas that act as regional hubs for much larger communities. In this regard, the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario supports the position proposed by the Fédération des communautés francophones et acadienne du Canada, particularly when it recommends a more nuanced understanding of the regions and better consideration of provincial regimes, francophone institutions, historical communities and the realities specific to minority settings.
For Ontario, this means that the regulations should avoid introducing a regional designation that would be perceived as disconnected from existing frameworks. This approach does not replace the proposed method; it complements it. It helps ensure better compliance with the spirit of the act, which is not only intended to count francophones but also to protect their actual ability to live, work and access services in French.
We also request that the final regulations or the accompanying tools clearly specify the regions that will be designated. Communities need to know if they are covered. Businesses must understand their obligations. Furthermore, workers and consumers need to know where their rights apply.
If there is confusion between census divisions, territorial designations and public codes, it could directly harm how rights are exercised. A right that is poorly understood becomes a right that is difficult to exercise, and a designation system that is poorly understood is likely to produce the opposite effect of what is intended. Rather than strengthening access to French, it could create areas of uncertainty, frustration and inequality between communities.
Finally, we want to draw the committee's attention to implementation. The system should not rely solely on a person's ability to file complaints. In a minority context, many francophones switch to English out of habit, fatigue, discomfort or because they still do not know that they can ask to receive service in French. If implementation relies solely on individual complaints, it will not fully capture the obstacles experienced on the ground. Proactive, clear and consistent implementation with the recommendations we make in our report will therefore be necessary.
The Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario supports these regulations coming into force. We believe they can become an important way to strengthen French in services, workplaces and the daily lives of people in francophone minority communities. However, for this system to truly achieve its objective, the definition of regions with a strong francophone presence must accurately reflect the Franco-Ontarian reality. It is achieved when a francophone person can receive a service, work, be informed and fully participate in the economic life of their region in French, because the system recognizes the reality of their community. It is this consistency, clarity and recognition that these regulations must enable.