TORONTO — During a special event organized jointly by the Club canadien de Toronto and the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario, Francophone Affairs Minister Caroline Mulroney shared her vision of promoting Ontario’s Francophonie as a significant economic asset to grow the province’s economy.

“Ontario’s Francophonie and its bilingual workforce represent a competitive advantage that we need to leverage to support the province during the pandemic and to ensure this community’s and Ontario’s long-term economic prosperity. I wish to acknowledge the concerted efforts of our partner ministries and key Francophone stakeholders who are helping us achieve this goal,” said Minister Mulroney. “Additional investments announced in the 2021 Ontario budget will build on these efforts and ensure that Francophones are supported as they contribute to our province’s economic growth.”

Ontario has led concrete initiatives to stimulate the francophone economy. Under the leadership of Minister Mulroney, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs funded the creation of the first province-wide Franco-Ontarian Business Network. Launched in January 2021, the new Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario has already brought together 14 corporate and 13 association members.

On May 20, Ontario and Québec also announced the creation of the Ontario-Québec Francophonie Trade Award that will highlight Francophone businesses from both provinces that contribute to increasing and encouraging trade between Québec and Ontario.

“Through our targeted investments into Francophone economic development in the 2021 Budget, and the new Ontario-Québec Francophonie Trade Award, our government continues to look for new ways to ensure francophones are able to lead and participate in Ontario’s economic recovery,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Ontario’s vibrant Francophone business community is an important part of our province’s cultural fabric and our economy, and we are committed to supporting the Francophone community with investments that will help to ensure their success for years to come.”

Since 2018, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs has been carrying out Minister Mulroney’s goal of uniting key players from the business sector and driving greater cross-ministry collaboration in order to promote francophone economic development in three priority areas: Francophone entrepreneurship and innovation; a skilled bilingual workforce developed through education, training and employability; and promoting Ontario’s Francophonie as an economic asset.

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