A drive is underway to create Ontario`s first ever 100 percent French-language university. At the moment, Francophone students can get some French studies at schools like the University of Ottawa which offer some French language programs in addition to its English studies. They can also study at College Boreal, which offers 100 percent French programming but is not a university. Legislation the Ontario government plans to introduce in the near future changes all that. The Wynne Liberals call it an historic milestone for French-language postsecondary education which they say will give students more opportunities to learn a discipline in French. The plan to is build the Francophone university somewhere in Central or Southwestern Ontario but it would be accessible to all Francophone students including those from Northern Ontario.
Ontario is home to 611,500 Francophones making it the largest population of French-speaking residents in Canada not counting Quebec. The Central – Southwestern part of the province is being picked as the site for the new university because that`s the area that is currently experiencing the fastest Francophone population growth. A French-language University Planning Board consulted with Francophones to come with recommendations it`s given to the Ontario government on creating a Francophone university. The Liberals are expected to accept the report recommending the new school and where to situate it. Once formed the university would be governed by a Francophone board.
