CORNWALL, Ontario – Our city has not been selected to host the Université de l’Ontario français, the first French-language institute of its kind.
On Wednesday, Jan. 22 it was announced that the university will be located in Toronto and is set to open its doors to students by September 2021. The establishment will be supported by a historic funding investment of $126 million, which equates to 50 per cent or $63 million split both ways between the Canadian and the Ontario government.
In September 2019, the governments of Canada and Ontario signed a Memorandum of Understanding that formally committed their collaboration and establishment of the French university. Since then, the governments have signed and completed an eight-year funding agreement. Both governments aim to assert their commitments in addressing the needs of over 620,000 Francophones in Ontario.
Cornwall City Councillor Syd Gardiner presented a motion to Council in September 2019 to ask the province to consider Cornwall for the location of the French university. Councillor Gardiner cited the affordability of living in our city, the high population of Francophone residents in Eastern Ontario and the growing enrollment of the French Catholic School Board (CSDCEO) students.
“There’s a lot we can offer in terms of affordability for students,” said Councillor Gardiner in September 2019. “I wanted to work to get this done before they put it in Toronto.”
RELATED: Councillor seeks to bring French university to Cornwall
Councillor Gardiner was not available for a comment on the announcement that Cornwall was not selected at the time of publication.
“Our future depends on providing the best education possible for our Ontario Francophone students, many of who live in our riding. We are happy to reach a fair funding agreement with our federal partners that will better address their post-secondary needs,” said local MPP Jim McDonell.
“This is an historic day for Franco-Ontarians and Francophones all across Canada,” said Minister of Francophone Affairs Mélanie Joly. “It is an unprecedented step that will make a difference in the lives of thousands of Canadians who will now have the opportunity to pursue higher education in French here in Ontario and will unite francophones from all regions of our country.”
