french university toronto

Ontario government cancels French university and Toronto's not happy

Sorry, Francophones: Doug Ford announced Thursday that he's scrapping the province's plans to open Toronto's first ever French-language university.

The premier's decision was part and parcel with the release of his fiscal roadmap for the rest of the year, which included other controversial decisions like scrapping rent control and dismantling the Ontario Place Corporation.

Ford met with Quebec's new premier François Legault today, who said he was "disappointed" with Ford's decision. 

Franco-Ontarians and French speakers across the country—including Canada's most famous Francophone, Justin Trudeau—have also weighed in on Ford's decisions.

Kathleen Wynne's Ontario government had announced its plans for an exclusively French-language university last year, catering to the province's fast-growing Francophone population (the largest in Canada outside of Quebec). 

The intention was to eventually open the university somewhere in downtown Toronto, possibly somewhere in the East Waterfront development. 

Ford has cited the province's $15-billion deficit as his reason for cutting funds to the university, as well last month's decision to pull funds for three university expansions

But more troubling than the axeing of the French-language university is the province's plans to eliminate the position of a French language services commissioner, whose job is to ensure that the government abides by the French Language Services Act. 

Many had hoped that Ford's mind could be changed at today's meeting with Legault, but evidently, the Premier refused to reverse the decision. 

Lead photo by

Nuno Salgado


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

Toronto won't see sunsets after 5 p.m. until 2025 and here's how to stay sane until then

Ontario family worth over $98 billion just keeps getting richer

Toronto's human-made waterway is finally a real river after biggest breakthrough yet

Toronto's most cursed intersection could be getting even more changes

Toronto's Gardiner Expressway construction is now way ahead of schedule

Toronto Santa Claus Parade in jeopardy as organization launches GoFundMe

Detour-plagued TTC streetcar route is finally getting a fix

Here's where Toronto sits in latest global 'top cities' ranking