Francophone Economic Development Strategy

Introduction We recognize the significant asset that Ontario’s Francophonie represents for our economic development. The Ministry of Francophone Affairs, in collaboration with several partner ministries, has developed a Francophone Economic Development Strategy. The strategy is based on findings from roundtable consultations held in 2018 and 2019 to identify challenges facing Ontario’s Francophone businesses, and on recommendations proposed by the Ministerial Advisory Council on Francophone Economic Recovery Post COVID‑19 as part of its work in the Spring of 2020. This strategy is supported by three strategic pillars: Francophone entrepreneurship and innovation bilingual skilled workforce: education, training and employability promoting Ontario’s Francophonie as an economic asset The strategy identified several existing programs and initiatives in response to the issues raised by the business and social enterprise communities. The implementation will be done through a gradual approach aimed at promoting existing programs to Francophone businesses so that they can benefit from them and enhancing these programs as needed. The results targeted by the implementation of the strategy include: increasing the Francophone economic footprint improving access to a qualified and bilingual workforce creating jobs and expanding market opportunities Initially, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs moved forward with the implementation of new initiatives such as the creation of the new Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario, as well as the creation of Quartier d’Affaires (in French), a platform to promote products and services of Francophone businesses. These two unifying projects bring together key players in the Francophone economy and offer a range of business-support and coaching services to Francophone businesses and entrepreneurs in Ontario. In addition to helping better identify and define the Francophone economic environment, these initial achievements have set the stage to better support Francophone businesses and organizations and contribute to Ontario’s prosperity.

The objectives of our Francophone Economic Development Strategy are to: encourage and stimulate Francophone economic recovery through actions targeted specifically at Francophone organizations and entrepreneurs increase awareness in the Francophone business community of existing initiatives and programs that focus on economic development and recovery, as well as training and business support create meaningful convergence among key ministries and stakeholders to encourage an integrated approach reduce the administrative burden of businesses through structuring initiatives such as the promotion and the simplified access to information on programs that foster growth of the Francophone economy maximize the effectiveness of programs and initiatives and increase their reach to Ontario Francophones and businesses The strategy is based on an inclusive definition of a Francophone business in Ontario which: is partially or fully Francophone-owned or -led has a significant proportion of Francophone or bilingual employees offers or aims to offer products/services to a Francophone market

Log in with Google

OR

Get Started to Apply