Ontario Expanding French-Language Government Services

Provincial agencies and partners in six expanded communities will be required to offer their services in French to better serve Francophone residents

The Ontario government is increasing access to provincial services for Francophones by expanding six designated areas across Ontario under the French Language Services Act. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario and improve access to the public services people rely on, this expansion will require provincial agencies and partner organizations in these regions to offer their services in French to local residents.

“The expansion of government services in French in six communities across Ontario will help thousands more Francophone residents access the services they need, in their language of choice,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs. “Marking the anniversary of the modernization of the French Language Services Act with this new milestone reflects the progress we have achieved to strengthen our Francophone communities now and into the future.”

After an implementation period, French-language government services will be available across an additional 6,300 square kilometres, to reflect current municipal boundaries in:

• The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
• The County of Essex
• City of Hamilton
• Municipality of Chatham-Kent
• The County of Renfrew
• The District of Thunder Bay

“For more than three decades, Francophone communities have worked to strengthen the French Language Services Act, and today we are seeing the concrete results of this modernization, particularly with the expansion of designated areas and the continued progress of its implementation,” said Fabien Hébert, President of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l'Ontario. “The AFO welcomes this new milestone with appreciation and recognizes the ongoing collaboration of the Ontario government. Together, we have built on the progress made in recent years, and together we will continue to bring the spirit of the Act to life in the daily lives of Francophone Ontarians.”

Under the French Language Services Act, the Ontario government is required to offer provincial services in French in designated areas, where the majority of Ontario’s Francophone population lives. Expanding the designated areas will ensure Francophones can continue to receive key services in French, including accessing certain justice and social services, as well as business resources.

Today marks the fourth anniversary of the modernization of the French Language Services Act which received Royal Assent on December 9, 2021, marking its first significant update in over 35 years. These initiatives build on the government’s plan to strengthen Ontario’s Francophone community and follows the designation of the city of Sarnia which came into force on November 1^st, 2024.

Quick Facts

• Full implementation is underway, following a transition period during which ministries, agencies, and third-party service providers are strengthening their capacity to deliver French-language services equivalent in quality to those offered in English.
• Last year, the Ministry of Francophone Affairs invited the public to provide feedback on the proposal to expand six designated areas to reflect current municipal boundaries.
• As part of this exercise, the government is also updating the names of four areas to reflect their current names:
  • Prescott and Russell: The former Counties of Prescott and Russell have been amalgamated into the United Counties of Prescott and Russell, effective January 1, 2026, to reflect their unified governance structure.
  • City of Sarnia: The designation now distinguishes between the County of Lambton and the City of Sarnia, ensuring clarity about the scope of coverage within the area, effective January 1, 2026.
  • City of Greater Sudbury and District of Sudbury: Redundant reference eliminated as the city is geographically a part of the District of Sudbury. Effective January 1, 2026.
  • Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry: The three counties merged into the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry. This change with respect to the FLSA is scheduled to take effect in January 2029.