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The leaders of the four major federal opposition parties today met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss how to better support Francophones outside Quebec in the aftermath of cuts to French language services in Ontario.
The half-hour meeting – the first of its kind since Trudeau became Prime Minister – ended without any concrete results, even though those present said that she was friendly, open and supportive. non-partisan.
Gathering party leaders is "a useful symbolic statement for governments who might not think that there is any support for protecting the rights of both languages and protecting the francophone minority of Ontario," he said. Green party leader Elizabeth May meeting.
"Has anything new come out, revolutionary news?"
In its fall economic update, the government of Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the cancellation of a plan to create a French-language university as well. expected in Toronto and the removal of the French Language Services Commissioner position.
Last week, after much criticism, Ford retreated to some extent, staying true to its decision to cancel the French university but reinstating the position of French Language Services Commissioner under the Ombudsman's office. Province.
He also appointed Attorney General Caroline Mulroney as Minister of Francophone Affairs and announced the hiring of a Senior Policy Advisor for Francophone Affairs.
Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer, who was criticized for not immediately condemning the cuts or demanding that Ford cancel them, called Monday's meeting in a letter to Trudeau.
Provincial Domain
According to a senior Conservative official who spoke in the background, Scheer hinted that an unused federal-owned building in Ontario could be altered for a university if it was realized. .
Scheer, who did not speak to reporters after the meeting, said he could not do more to pressure a provincial government on an issue within his jurisdiction.
May agreed that the hands of federal leaders are bound to some extent.
"When you talk about what you do when you have a province that does things that seriously erode the protection of the rights of any population, if it falls under provincial jurisdiction, the federal government can only do a lot," May said. . "But they can increase funding for programs in their jurisdiction."
May also said that although party leaders have expressed support for the construction of a French-language university, this can not be done without the province.
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said the meeting was cordial and friendly and that he was encouraged to see all the major leaders of the federal party on the same side of a problem. He added, however, that he was disappointed by the lack of concrete results.
"I wanted to see some concrete action on the table to save this University of Toronto," he said. "There was no concrete proposal, the government said it would be willing to invest and become partners, but I think we really need to come up with something concrete to put more pressure on the provincial government. "
The meeting was also convened to address the concerns of Francophones in other provinces, including New Brunswick, Canada's only officially bilingual province, where the new Progressive Conservative government has only one Francophone member elected.
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