A big step forward for educational TV

NEWS RELEASE

ONTARIO MINISTRY
OF EDUCATION

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McGuinty government enriching Francophone community

TfO to become a stronger, independent organization

TORONTO - The McGuinty government is enriching Ontario's francophone community by strengthening TfO, Ontario's French-language educational media organization, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne announced today.

"TfO is an outstanding asset to French-language students and teachers that helps enhance the classroom experience," said Wynne. "We are keeping our commitment to create an independent TfO to both strengthen the network and enable it to deliver exceptional programming in support of Ontario's francophone community."

On April 1, 2007, TfO will become independent from The Ontario Education Communications Authority (TVOntario) and will have its own board of directors, chaired by Gisele Chretien, former president of College Boreal and current vice-chair of the TVOntario board.

To support this change, the Ontario government is making a one-time investment of $15.4 million for transition, relocation and start-up costs, and for digital conversion.

The conversion is consistent with that being implemented at TVOntario.

"Our French-language broadcasting network has a unique position in Ontario's francophone community," said Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs Madeleine Meilleur. "This transformation and new independence is a natural evolution for TfO, and a boost to the francophone community."

The government will continue to provide approximately $15 million in annual funding to ensure that TfO meets the specific educational and cultural needs of the francophone community and fulfills its broadcasting and communications mandate.

Combined with revenues from the federal government and from cable subscribers, TfO will have a total annual budget of $21 million.

"TfO has always played a unique role in the lives of Franco-Ontarians," said Chretien. "And with this exciting step forward as a fully digital, autonomous organization, the new TfO is ideally positioned to build on its valuable contributions to francophone culture and education in the province. I am very pleased to be involved in the creation of this vibrant and vital new Franco-Ontarian institution."

Creating an independent TfO is the McGuinty government's latest step to ensure a vibrant French-language education system for Ontario's francophone students.

Other initiatives include:

- Implementing the Politique d'amenagement linguistique, which was first introduced in 2004, to help promote French language and culture, improve student achievement and self-esteem and help keep young Franco-Ontarians in French-language schools.

- Creating the Permanent Elementary and Secondary French-Language Education Task Force with a mandate to provide advice about unique issues affecting the French-language education sector.

- Introducing new $220 million four-year capital funding to help French-language school boards acquire, renovate and expand school space in areas where there is an identified need.

- Providing $70 million more to the Language Grant to support French-language school boards.

"TfO host of learning programs and resources are a definite asset to Ontario's French-language schools and communities," said Wynne. "This transition will ensure that TfO can keep meeting the needs of the francophone community and help us reach every student."

Backgrounder

New board of directors for independent TfO

On April 1, 2007, TfO will become independent from The Ontario Education Communications Authority (TVOntario), which also operates English-language TVOntario.

The new TfO will have an annual budget of approximately $21 million in 2007-08, and an estimated 140 employees, with as many as possible transferred from TVOntario.

The new TfO will have its own board, made up initially of the existing francophone members of the TVOntario board:

- Gisele Chretien (chair), former president of College Boreal, currently the vice-chair of the TVOntario board;

- Pierre Belanger, professor of communications at University of Ottawa;

- Diane Desaulniers, president of Groupe Vision Management Consulting, former chair of the Association canadienne-francaise de l'Ontario, for the Ottawa region and board member of Montfort Hospital;

- Lillian Anne Gagne, retired supervisory officer of the French-language-section of the Simcoe Catholic District School Board;

- Paul Lalonde, partner at Heenan Blaikie.

Further appointments to the board will be announced in the near future.

An expert panel, chaired by Suzanne Gouin, president and CEO of TV5, has examined the cost and process of creating an independent TfO with due diligence to ensure a smooth and effective transition.

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