(December 10, 2025) As French Language Services Commissioner, I am pleased that our recommendations were integrated in the Ontario government’s update to the map of Ontario’s designated areas under the French Language Services Act, announced yesterday.
The map now reflects current municipal boundaries, an issue we highlighted in our 2019-2020 Annual Report on French Language Services, as the outdated designated regions map had been an obstacle to compliance with the Act. The changes made by the ministry of Francophone Affairs also take into account the proposals we made in January 2025 during the public consultations conducted by the Ministry on this important project.
I welcome this initiative from the Ministry: In addition to clarifying the application of language rights in designated areas, this update increases access to French-language government services for thousands of Ontarians.
This expansion also brings a larger area of Ontario under our oversight regarding the application of the French Language Services Act. It means that thousands more Francophones can now contact us if they experience a lack of services in French in their region.
Carl Bouchard
French Language Services Commissioner