On March 20, CUPE Ontario marks International Day of la Francophonie, celebrated as part of Month of la Francophonie. These occasions give us the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the French language, Franco-Ontarian cultural diversity, and the role we play, as union members, in promoting the rights of Francophone members.
French is the language of work for tens of thousands of CUPE Ontario members—in our schools, hospitals, universities, municipalities, daycares, long-term care homes, and many other workplaces. For our union, la Francophonie is not just about language, but also about justice, equity, and representation.
That is why we were proud to announce in 2024 the creation of a seat dedicated to Francophone representation on our executive board. This concrete initiative demonstrates our commitment to giving Francophone members a strong and clear voice in our union.
On this International Day of la Francophonie, we also salute the work of our members, who will ensure that Francophone voices are heard and respected throughout the province.
Yet we know that obstacles remain. Since 2018, decisions made by Doug Ford’s Conservatives in Ontario have undermined progress toward Francophone vitality. They are responsible for scrapping plans to create an exclusively French-language university in Ontario, eliminating the position of Minister of Francophone Affairs, and dismantling or underfunding programs for Francophone communities.
Overall, this sends a message of contempt and disrespect toward Ontario’s Francophone communities. These policy choices reduce access to higher education in French and weaken the public services on which Francophone families depend every day.
On the International Day of la Francophonie, CUPE Ontario affirms that Francophone rights and institutions are priorities for our province and our union. Defending language rights and promoting la Francophonie are part of our struggle for dignity and equality for all.
Together, let’s continue to build a union where every member can express themselves, learn, and thrive in their own language, and where la Francophonie is a unifying force in our province.
