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A motion to fully restore the position of French Language Services Commissioner and to create a French-language university in Ontario was rejected.
The NDP introduced the motion at Queen's Park. It was debated Wednesday afternoon.
In its fall economic statement, the Progressive Conservative government announced its intention to abolish the French Language Services Commissioner position and remove the construction of a French university as part of its plan to balance the budget.
This decision provoked a brutal reaction from francophones, the federal government and the new premier of Quebec.
The province has revised its plans to state that the position of the French Language Services Commissioner would report to the Ombudsman's Office. However, he indicated that he would not restore funding to the francophone university.
During Wednesday's debate, members of a number of political parties took the floor.
France Gelinas, NDP member for Nickel Belt, said the cuts imposed by the Ford government were a stab at the francophones.
France Gelinas is the NDP Member of Parliament for Nickel Belt. (Legislative Assembly of Ontario)
She says that the work to get a French-language university in Ontario has been going on for 40 years.
"Then, at the bottom of a page of a document, the dream and the hard work of Francophones … will not be realized," she said.
"This is not acceptable."
Jeremy Roberts, MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean, said the government had already solved the problem by revising its initial plans. He says the government remains firm in its decision to cancel the French university.
"We were elected with the promise of putting our finances in order," he said.
"We had a $ 15 billion shortfall from the previous government, which I take very seriously because I know that my generation and my children's generation, as well as my grandchildren, will face this challenge. "
PC MP Amanda Simard called on her colleagues to support the NDP motion. (CBC)
But not all Progressive Conservative members agree with the party's decision. PC MP Glengarry-Prescott-Russell Amanda Simard openly criticized her party for these cuts. On Wednesday, she spoke during the debate.
"The government's proposal is a step forward but three steps back," she said.
"If we make this concession, there will be nothing left in a few years."
She asked her colleagues to support the motion, which was ultimately rejected.
Despite the government's revised plans, protest rallies will be held in front of 41 deputies' offices this Saturday.
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