MINISTER DION STRESSES THAT FRANCOPHONE
COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE QUEBEC ARE AT THE
HEART OF THE CANADIAN IDEAL
SUDBURY, ONTARIO, December 13, 1996 – Speaking to the Institut
franco-ontarien on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Minister of
Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the Privy Council, Stéphane Dion,
stressed that the Institute reflects the Franco-Ontarian Community:
"courageous, determined, an example for all Canadians."
Mr. Dion remarked that, despite dark pages in our history and numerous
injustices committed against some communities, "the early history of our
Confederation must be judged against attitudes prevailing elsewhere in the 19th
century." The Minister highlighted the great wealth and advantages that
linguistic duality gives all Canadians. He stressed that "linguistic
duality does not only help to create economic wealth", but also "has
helped us greatly to show more solidarity and openness to diversity."
"It would be so regrettable for Canada to break up because of its
linguistic aspect, when it is that very aspect that has helped it so much to
become a model of openness celebrated throughout the world," the Minister
added.
The Minister called on the audience to make an assessment of the current
situation of Francophone minorities outside Quebec that is neither complacent
nor defeatist. Rejecting the thesis of "no future outside Quebec", Mr.
Dion recognized and saluted the cultural and economic dynamism of Francophone
communities outside Quebec.
Mr. Dion outlined the realities those communities have to deal with:
secularisation, communications dominated by English, a falling birth rate, and
urbanization. Looking to the future, the Minister highlighted the assets at
their disposal, the first of which is the tolerance and generosity of Canadians.
In that connection, he mentioned a poll indicating that more than 85% of
Canadians believe that their Francophone and Anglophone fellow citizens can live
harmoniously under one flag. The second asset, Mr. Dion stated, is that more
Anglophone Canadians "now speak French than ever before in the history of
our Confederation." The Minister noted that the third asset is that the
rights of Francophone communities outside Quebec have never been better
established than since the introduction of the Official Languages Act, the
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Constitution Act, 1982.
"Finally, you have another asset, which is the support of the federal
government. That doesn’t mean that the provinces don’t have to help you, but
you know that the Prime Minister and the federal government will always have a
special responsibility in respect of this country’s official-language
minorities," the Minister indicated. He noted that those support measures
comprise support for official-language education, direct support to communities
themselves, equitable representation of Francophones within the public service
and federal institutions, and finally, availability of federal services in
French.
"Your federal government is providing you with support, a framework and
tools, but your vitality comes first and foremost from within yourselves,"
the Minister added.
"Canada itself is a major challenge which we must never take for
granted," the Minister emphasized. "And your communities are at the
heart of the Canadian challenge. You are the very essence of the Canadian
ideal," the Minister concluded.
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