Toronto getting Ontario's first French-language university next year

Toronto will be welcoming the province’s first French-language university in September of 2021, the provincial government announced on Wednesday.

On behalf of the governments of Ontario and Canada, Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities, joined Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs and Mélanie Joly, Federal Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, to sign a historic funding agreement supporting the Université de l’Ontario français.

Opening to its first cohort of students in September 2021, the institution will be the first French-language university governed by and for Ontario Francophones.

“We are excited to be able to move forward with full implementation of the Université de l’Ontario français,” said Minister Romano.

“Our government has always been committed to the university and to supporting access to the education and training needed for rewarding careers and meeting labour market demands for Ontario’s Francophone students.”

Excited to announce that Minister @C_Mulroney and I have signed an eight year joint funding agreement with the Federal government to support @universiteON , Ontario’s first French-language univeristy governed by and for francophones in Ontario #onpoli https://t.co/mgAzZ2unV2 pic.twitter.com/2f1Z9zaw6C

— Ross Romano (@RossRomanoSSM) January 22, 2020

Over the course of eight years, the university will be supported by an investment of $126 million. The agreement signed by the ministers confirms that the Government of Canada will assume up to 50% of the project’s total investment — a total of $63 million over five years.

The provincial and federal governments formally agreed to work together to establish the university in September 2019.

It’s with great joy that I signed, with the Minister of @ONtrainandstudy, @rossromanossm, a funding agreement with the federal government to complete the great project of the @universiteON. This is excellent news for Francophones!

— Caroline Mulroney (@C_Mulroney) January 22, 2020

“The Université de l’Ontario français is an important and long awaited-for project, critical to future generations of Franco-Ontarians,” said Minister Mulroney.

“The new university is a great example of our government’s commitment to strengthening the Francophone community, investing in its future and ensuring the community’s continued contribution to Ontario’s prosperity.”