Members of the French Language community gathered on the steps of North Bay City Hall on Thursday to hear about the Franco-Ontarian Manifesto.

Events like this are being held around the province with another planned for Saturday in Sudbury.

President of the Assemblée de la francophonie de l’Ontario (AFO), Carol Jolin says they’re concerned about their rights in light of recent action by the provincial government to eliminate a french language university planned for Toronto.

“We’ve been here for 400 years. We have rights through the constitution. We are an economic force as well. We are involved in every level of society and we want to make sure we have the services to move forward,” he says.

He says the feds have promised they will pay the cost of such a university and the province wouldn’t be asked to chip in for years while they work out their financial problems.

“That would give the government 4 years to address the financial situation in Ontario and address the financing for the university over the next 4 years,” he says

As well, they’re upset about the downgrading of the autonomy of the French Language Services Commissioner.

(Photo  by Joël Ducharme)

Filed under: Franco-Ontarian, manifesto, university