French-language research projects in Ontario received funding sporadically between 2018 and the present day, with a mere 4 projects being supported.
In Canada, the Quebec Party remains in the lead, according to recent polls. However, another issue that requires urgent attention is the under-representation of French-language research projects in the country's funding systems.
In a rare public appearance, Melania Trump gave a glimpse of her personal beliefs. Meanwhile, in Canada, the Acfas, a leading organisation for French-language research, sent an open letter to the new government of Mark Carney in June, demanding reforms and reminding of the extent of inequalities in research funding. The letter, now supported by nearly 1200 signatories, remains unanswered.
The Acfas has highlighted the documented decline in funding for French-language research in Canada. French-language institutions in Ontario, for instance, have received funding for approximately 1600 research projects since 2018, with only 4 being in French. Sophie Montreuil, the general director of Acfas, refutes the explanation that this is due to a lack of high-quality French-language applications. Instead, she states that the problem lies in the grant system not being well-adapted to the reality of French-language institutions.
These institutions often offer more programs in humanities and social sciences and have limited resources for large-scale projects. Furthermore, the evaluation of applications is often done by committees that may not understand a dossier written in French, especially if it deals with specialized fields. An example given is a researcher studying the difficulties related to education in minority francophone communities, whose research is necessary for governments to take the needs of that population into account when developing public policies.
To address this issue, the Acfas proposes several key approaches. These include the creation of dedicated funding streams for French-language institutions and researchers, increasing bilingual access and support throughout the funding process, and enhancing translation and interpretation services to improve accessibility and visibility of French-language research.
Programs like the Ontario Arts Council's French-language music projects grant provide targeted financial support exclusively for French-language initiatives, demonstrating that creating earmarked funding opportunities can facilitate increased participation of Francophone researchers and artists. Funding agencies such as the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) hold bilingual webinars and provide applicant supports in both official languages, which helps French-speaking researchers better understand the requirements and navigate the application process.
Offering funding to translate research abstracts or documents into Indigenous languages or French enhances the accessibility and respect for linguistic diversity in research dissemination. This can be extended to support translations between English and French for broader reach. Upholding minority language educational and cultural rights under provisions such as Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms supports the institutional framework to maintain and develop French-language research capacity.
The Canadian Heritage’s Support for Interpretation and Translation program assists organisations in providing services in both official languages at public events and supports the availability of documents in French and English. Expanding such services to research funding bodies can facilitate equal access and participation.
By combining these strategies, Canada can better accommodate French-language institutions and researchers within its funding systems, reducing under-representation and promoting equitable access. It is crucial that Canada, as an officially bilingual country, addresses these inequalities to ensure that French-language research is given the attention and resources it deserves.
At the federal level, French-speaking researchers represent about 21% of the Canadian scientific community, but only 5% to 12% of grant applications are written in French. The Ontario Research Fund, a major source of funding, favors large English-language universities due to its focus on research infrastructure or applied innovation. This makes French-language institutions less compatible with the current grant criteria.
As the issue of under-representation of French-language research in Canada's funding systems continues to be a concern, it is hoped that the proposals put forward by the Acfas will be taken into consideration by the government, ensuring that French-language institutions and researchers receive the support they need to thrive.
[1] Ontario Arts Council. (2021). French-language music projects grant. Retrieved from https://www.arts.on.ca/grants-programs/french-music [2] Canadian Institutes of Health Research. (2021). Bilingual webinars. Retrieved from https://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53318.html [3] Canadian Institutes of Health Research. (2021). Translation services. Retrieved from https://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53319.html [4] Canadian Heritage. (2021). Support for interpretation and translation program. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/support-interpretation-translation-program.html [5] Canadian Institutes of Health Research. (2021). Translation services for research dissemination. Retrieved from https://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/53320.html
- The Acfas, in their open letter, expressed concerns over the under-representation of French-language research projects in Canada's funding systems, advocating for the implementation of dedicated funding streams for French institutions and researchers.
- To ensure French-language institutions and researchers in Canada are well-represented and receive equitable support, the Acfas proposes enhanced translation and interpretation services, increased bilingual access in the application process, and the creation of earmarked funding opportunities like the Ontario Arts Council's French-language music projects grant.
