The Ontario government is improving access to French-language services for Francophones in Chatham-Kent.
The province has announced that it is expanding six designated areas across Ontario under the French Language Services Act, including in Chatham-Kent.
“The expansion of government services in French… will help thousands more Francophone residents access the services they need, in their language of choice,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Francophone Affairs, in a news release.
The expansion will require all ministries, agencies, and third-party service providers across the municipality to offer French-language services equivalent in quality to those offered in English.
A three-year implementation period is currently underway, with French-language services expected to be available as of January 1, 2029.
The province is also expanding designated areas in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Essex County, Hamilton, Renfrew, and Thunder Bay.
