TORONTO — On the occasion of International Francophonie Day, the Minister of Francophone Affairs, Caroline Mulroney, issued the following statement:
“It is with great pride that our government marks International Francophonie Day and acknowledges its symbolic importance for the Francophones and Francophiles of Ontario, Canada and the world.
With its rich heritage and a history spanning more than 400 years, Ontario’s Francophonie is an invaluable asset to our province. We salute Francophones’ commitment, energy and know-how as they work passionately to bring about a modern Francophonie and secure a promising cultural, social and economic future.
As evidenced by Ontario’s participation in the 18th Summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie, our government is actively striving to promote Ontario’s French-speaking community and to highlight its institutions, its businesses and its associations. In fact, the signing at the Summit of a memorandum of understanding with the Francophone community of Belgium was Ontario’s first international agreement to advance the Francophonie.
French-speaking Ontario, which is a choice destination for the broader Francophone community, is more dynamic than ever, and its openness to the world bodes well for the increasing reach of the French language in Canada and beyond.”
SOURCE Province of Ontario
Leave a Reply