The electoral demands of the Fédération nationale des conseils scolaires francophones (FNCSF) focus on four key issues for education in French as a first language, within a minority context.
The FNCSF believes that the next government will need to increase its financial support for French-language education, be committed to modernizing the Official Languages Act, strengthen a complete French-language education, from early childhood to post-secondary, and address the shortage of French-speaking school staff.
Although education is an exclusive area of provincial and territorial jurisdiction, the federal government has a constitutional duty to the education of the official language minorities.
Priority No. 1: Enhance federal financial support for education through the Official Languages in Education Program (OLEP).
"By giving roots and wings to young Francophones, French-language schools play a decisive role in strengthening the vitality of French in Canada. However, school boards struggle to obtain adequate funding to support their specific needs. In addition, many school boards face chronic underfunding on an ongoing basis," points out Louis Arseneault, President of the FNCSF.
He adds: "The provinces and territories are responsible for covering the essential expenses of education, but the federal government is required to reimburse the additional costs associated with maintaining and developing educational programs in the language of the minority. This envelope reserved for the additional costs has hardly been increased in 15 years despite a 20% growth in registration and the increased cost of living. An additional $455 million in catch-up funding over four years is required."
Priority No. 2: Modernize the Official Languages Act
Since Francophone communities in a minority context face risks of assimilation, French-language schools must be able to rely on updated mechanisms in connection with the modernization of the Act to ensure more effective delivery of educational services.
The FNCSF demands a commitment to adopt the new bill intended to reform the Official Languages Act, by adding the disposal of surplus federal properties and land. This process needs to be reviewed to ensure that the interests of official language minority school boards are truly taken into account.
As confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in June 2020, French-language educational facilities must offer an education at least on par with that offered to the majority in the neighbouring schools.
Mr. Arseneault explains: "To accomplish this, our network needs new schools, on the one hand to address the steady growth of our school population, and on the other hand to replace the schools that are shared with Anglophones or that are outdated."
Priority No. 3: Strengthen a complete French-language education, from early childhood to post-secondary
The post-pandemic recovery plan should take into account the specific situation in the education sector. The needs are substantial, both in terms of material and human resources, to ensure a quality educational continuum, from early childhood to post-secondary, to foster students' identity-building, and to continue to offer a rich, inclusive educational environment that reflects the diversity of the Canadian Francophonie.
Mr. Arseneault specifies: "There are currently as many toddlers registered in early childhood services (9,000) as there are children on waiting lists. This situation is unacceptable and precipitates the assimilation of Francophones." See État de la petite enfance au Canada. (in French: status of Francophone early childhood facilities in Canada)
Priority No. 4: Promote the hiring and maintaining of Francophone teachers and school staff in the midst of a shortage
The FNCSF expects continued growth over the next few years, particularly due to Francophone immigration. If the trend continues, by 2030, the network will have more than 200,000 students. It is therefore necessary to immediately identify concrete solutions to mitigate the shortage of Francophone labour and therefore address the growing demand of the school boards.
For more information
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Ottawa Ontario
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www.fncsf.ca
