Toronto Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee Meeting

The Toronto Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee held its eighth meeting in a hybrid format chaired by Councillor Alejandra Bravo. Members reviewed the committee's end-of-term work, discussed an inventory of City services available in French, considered Toronto joining the Association francophone des municipalités de l'Ontario, heard a presentation from Quebec's Toronto office on francophone partnership funding, requested renewal of the advisory committee after the 2026 election, and adopted a motion related to Théâtre Français de Toronto.

Topics Discussed

1. End-of-term report and committee renewal

The committee reviewed its end-of-term progress report, FA 8.1, and discussed renewing the Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee after the 2026 municipal election. Councillor Bravo said the staff report "has made it possible to build bridges between the city and various Francophone organizations and leaders to ensure the representation of the Francophone reality in municipal projects." Councillor Mike Colle said "the city needs mechanisms to allow this community to have a continuous voice," adding, "We don't really know the way or the vehicle for it, but we need a voice for the community." Members supported asking that the committee continue into the next term.

2. Inventory of City services in French

Under FA 8.2, staff presented an analysis of municipal services offered in French. Mar N., director of strategic policy management services in Economic Development and Culture, said a survey was sent across City divisions and agencies. Staff reported that "of the 75 respondents 65 indicated they delivered services to the public" and "of those 65 delivering services to the public we had 26 who identified that they delivered some services in French."

Members focused on how difficult it can be for residents to identify those services. Councillor Paula Fletcher said she had often received City information translated into many languages but not French, and asked whether French could be treated as a priority language as well. Staff replied that the City's multilingual information provision policy governs information materials, but "does not direct service provision."

3. French-language staffing and access gaps

The committee also discussed French-language hiring and service access. Staff said that since the current hiring system was introduced in 2020, the City had filled "about 827 positions where French languages identified either as a requirement or as or as um or as a strong asset," mostly in outreach roles such as nurses, child and youth workers, and shelter workers. Staff added that "the language requirement is determined by the hiring division or or the hiring agency or corporation," not centrally.

Councillor Lily Cheng said that from the perspective of a francophone resident, "it's very difficult" to know which services are available in French, and said the City should consider "un portail numérique pour regrouper l'ensemble des services francophones disponibles dans la ville." The committee discussed requesting a report back on options for a centralized French-language services portal.

4. Toronto joining AFMO

The committee considered FA 8.3 on Toronto joining the Association francophone des municipalités de l'Ontario. Staff from Economic Development and Culture said AFMO "was created to advocate for the maintenance and improvement of the governance and delivery of municipal services in French and English" in designated Ontario communities and said Toronto's membership would give the City "a voice" in that advocacy space.

Councillor Neethan Shan said the agreement was significant because francophone communities in Ontario "have experienced a loss of service in this official language of Canada," and said adoption of the recommendation would allow the work to begin immediately. The motion to join AFMO was adopted.

5. Quebec office presentation and Théâtre Français de Toronto

The committee heard a presentation from Quebec's Toronto office about interprovincial francophone partnerships and funding programs. A speaker from the Quebec government said the office's objectives include "creating links outside our borders with all of our partners in Canada." Another speaker said organizations, including municipalities, could seek financial support for eligible French-language projects carried out with Quebec partners.

The committee also added and adopted a motion concerning Théâtre Français de Toronto. Councillor Fletcher said, "The French theater is also a gateway for our Anglophone citizens since everything is accessible bilingually. So it really creates bridges between our communities." Members supported asking staff to explore options for dedicated permanent space for the theatre.

Motions

Passed: - Motion to add an item regarding Théâtre Français de Toronto to the agenda - Motion regarding support for Théâtre Français de Toronto and exploration of options for dedicated permanent space - FA 8.3: Toronto joining the Association francophone des municipalités de l'Ontario

Recommended: - Request to renew the Francophone Affairs Advisory Committee following the 2026 municipal election

Attendees

• Councillor Alejandra Bravo (Chair)
• Councillor Paula Fletcher
• Councillor Mike Colle
• Councillor Lily Cheng
• Councillor Neethan Shan