From www.languagefairness.ca
Jeffrey Morris of the Barrhaven Independent circulated this item about the government of Ontario's generous efforts towards promoting French-language education in Ontario. As we know, the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty has embarked on a course that will lead to the eventual declaration of Ontario as an officially bilingual province and with the enthusiastic help of Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Francophone Affairs, he is well on his way. The McGuinty government "will invest $6.2 billion more in postsecondary education and training by 2009-10 - the single largest infusion of funds in the sector in 40 years". It is not clear exactly how much of this amount will be spent on the French-language program but whatever the total sum is, it is a disproportionate amount for the number of students. It would be very interesting to find out exactly how much is spent per student in each system. It is very likely that the amount of money spent, per student, on the French-language system, is higher than the amount of money, per student, spent on the English-language system. This is because they are smaller in number and more scattered so that they don't have the advantage of economy of scale. Gary Robichaud did a study on this for Newfoundland (see attached). Please note that the 268 French children are educated at the cost per child of $1,818 (admin.), $5,179 (instruction); $836 (oper. & maint.) & $551 (transportation). Compare this with educating a child in any of the English-speaking school districts. If we can find someone who has the time & interest to do the same for Ontario, we would be totally shocked.
The industrial & economic development of Ontario will not depend on the quality or quantity of French-language education. If anything, it will depend on the quality of our English-language education. Our closest and best customers are the Americans and technical qualifications are most easily available and most useful in the English language. French may be the language of diplomacy and government, it is hardly the language of business & trade with most of the world. Even China will be communicating to us in the English language. Why would the Ontario government waste so much of our money, time and energy on the French language and pretend that this will do anything to help in the industial & economic development of this province?
AND THEY SAID THERE'S "NO MONEY" FOR HEALTHCARE OR EDUCATION!! WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
Jeffrey Morris of the Barrhaven Independent circulated this item about the government of Ontario's generous efforts towards promoting French-language education in Ontario. As we know, the Liberal government of Dalton McGuinty has embarked on a course that will lead to the eventual declaration of Ontario as an officially bilingual province and with the enthusiastic help of Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of Francophone Affairs, he is well on his way. The McGuinty government "will invest $6.2 billion more in postsecondary education and training by 2009-10 - the single largest infusion of funds in the sector in 40 years". It is not clear exactly how much of this amount will be spent on the French-language program but whatever the total sum is, it is a disproportionate amount for the number of students. It would be very interesting to find out exactly how much is spent per student in each system. It is very likely that the amount of money spent, per student, on the French-language system, is higher than the amount of money, per student, spent on the English-language system. This is because they are smaller in number and more scattered so that they don't have the advantage of economy of scale. Gary Robichaud did a study on this for Newfoundland (see attached). Please note that the 268 French children are educated at the cost per child of $1,818 (admin.), $5,179 (instruction); $836 (oper. & maint.) & $551 (transportation). Compare this with educating a child in any of the English-speaking school districts. If we can find someone who has the time & interest to do the same for Ontario, we would be totally shocked.
The industrial & economic development of Ontario will not depend on the quality or quantity of French-language education. If anything, it will depend on the quality of our English-language education. Our closest and best customers are the Americans and technical qualifications are most easily available and most useful in the English language. French may be the language of diplomacy and government, it is hardly the language of business & trade with most of the world. Even China will be communicating to us in the English language. Why would the Ontario government waste so much of our money, time and energy on the French language and pretend that this will do anything to help in the industial & economic development of this province?
AND THEY SAID THERE'S "NO MONEY" FOR HEALTHCARE OR EDUCATION!! WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?
