The Francophone community converged on Main Street outside MPP Vic Fedeli’s office on Saturday to protest against changes to French Language Services.

“We are resisting the announcements made by the Ford Government, the announcements made by Mr. Fedeli, cutting back the rights of Francophones in the province,” rally organizer Michel Pagé tells BayToday.

One change is consolidating the French Language Services Commissioner under the auspices of the Ombudsman.

Pagé tells BayToday the commissioner is there to prevent the law from being broken and prevent their rights from being infringed upon.

“The Ombudsman is there to react, the commissioner as an independent party is there to inform, to educate the government and to accompany the government so they understand the law and they respect the law. It’s two completely different things,” he says.

The province has also announced the cancellation of four university projects, including a stand-alone French Language University.

Photo by Linda Holmes/BayToday.ca 

Filed under: Francophone community, north bay, Résistance Nipissing