Measles should be addressed in the French language, as asserted by both the AFO and Ontario Public Health.

Measles should be addressed in the French language, as asserted by both the AFO and Ontario Public Health.

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Measles Surge in Ontario - A French Language Crisis

Ontario is struggling to control a measles outbreak, leaving many residents, particularly the French-speaking community, at risk. The Ontario French Assembly (AFO) stresses the importance of providing information in French to ensure everyone's safety, including that of Quebec residents.

Since October 2024, measles cases in Ontario have escalated significantly, reaching 1440 by May 6. To combat the issue, public health organizations in the province are distributing prevention information. However, most of this information is only available in English, according to AFO President Fabien Hebert.

"Communities like Hearst, with a large number of students and newcomers, have many individuals whose third language is English," Fabien explained. "How are they supposed to understand?"

Many Ontarians struggle to comprehend complex texts in English, and the term "measles" is not consistent across languages. Fabien feels that the Ontario government should require the dissemination of information in both of Canada's official languages.

While some regional public health offices provide French resources, others cater exclusively to English speakers. The South West Public Health Office, located in the area most impacted by measles, does not offer French resources, citing a lack of statistically significant French-speaking populations in their reports.

Ontario Public Health encourages regional offices to translate their materials, even offering free translation services. "To ensure all Ontarian residents have access to reliable information, public health offices have been reminded of the importance of offering French resources on measles," Ema Popovic, spokesperson for the Minister of Health, stated in an email.

The AFO has been lobbying to expand the French Language Services Act since the COVID-19 pandemic. This law mandates certain government services to be offered in French in specific regions of the province, but it does not apply to public health offices. According to the AFO president, this is due to a lack of understanding on the government's part.

The law currently requires resources from the provincial vaccination program to be offered in both English and French. "Vaccination is the most effective way to stop the spread of measles," Popovic added.

This report is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.

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To effectively push for the expansion of the French Language Services Act (FLSA) to require all local public health offices in Ontario to provide measles prevention information in French, the Ontario French Assembly can:

1. Collaborate with Ontario Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to draft and sponsor a bill or amendment, presenting evidence on the need for French-language health resources to protect Francophone communities’ health rights.
2. Work with the Ministry of Health to integrate French language obligations into public health policy and operational guidelines, encouraging local public health offices to allocate resources or develop partnerships to translate and distribute measles prevention materials in French.
3. Collaborate with Francophone community organizations, health advocates, and language service providers to develop culturally appropriate French-language measles prevention materials and partner with universities and institutions specializing in French language education and health communication to support resource development and training.
4. Launch an advocacy campaign to raise public and political awareness about the importance of French-language health information access, highlighting the benefits of bilingual communication in health services.

By taking these strategic and proactive steps, the Ontario French Assembly can influence the Ontario government to ensure the health needs of Francophone Ontarians are met in compliance with the spirit of the French Language Services Act and recent provincial commitments to linguistic accessibility.

1. The Ontario French Assembly (AFO) is advocating for providing information about measles prevention in both official languages, English and French, to ensure the safety of all residents, including those from Quebec.
2. Since October 2024, measles cases in Ontario have increased significantly, reaching 1440 by May 6, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
3. AFO President Fabien Hebert emphasizes that many people, especially in Hearst with a large number of students and newcomers, may not understand English-only information, making it crucial to disseminate information in both languages.
4. The Ontario government should require the dissemination of measles prevention information in both official languages to ensure everyone's safety and comprehension.
5. While some regional public health offices provide French resources, others cater exclusively to English speakers, leaving many at risk, including Quebec residents.
6. The South West Public Health Office, in the area most impacted by measles, does not offer French resources, causing concern among Francophone communities.
7. Ontario Public Health encourages regional offices to translate their materials, offering free translation services to ensure all Ontarian residents have access to reliable information.
8. The AFO has been lobbying to expand the French Language Services Act since the COVID-19 pandemic, as it currently does not apply to public health offices.
9. Vaccination is the most effective way to stop the spread of measles, and resources from the provincial vaccination program are already required to be offered in both English and French.
10. The following sectors can play a role in promoting health and wellness in diverse communities: science, workplace-wellness, medical-conditions, chronic-diseases, cancer, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, sexual-health, autoimmune-disorders, climate-change, manufacturing, mental-health, mens-health, skin-care, therapies-and-treatments, nutrition, aging, women's-health, parenting, weight-management, cardiovascular-health, industry, medicare, cbd, neurological-disorders, environmental-science, finance, energy, skin-conditions, space-and-astronomy, retail, public-transit, entrepreneurship, transportation, leadership, diversity-and-inclusion, automotive, small-business, investing, aviation, business, careers, venture-capital, personal-finance, banking-and-insurance, fintech, real-estate, stock-market, private-equity, saving, debt-management, budgeting.
11. Effective communication is vital in health care, and understanding complex texts in English can be challenging for many Ontarians, especially when dealing with terms not consistent across languages, like "measles."
12. To combat the measles outbreak, public health organizations in Ontario are distributing prevention information, but most of this information is only available in English, according to AFO President Fabien Hebert.
13. The need for French-language health resources is crucial to protect the health rights of Francophone communities in Ontario.
14. The Ontario government should consider the integration of French language obligations into public health policy and operational guidelines.
15. Collaboration between the Ontario French Assembly, Ontario Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs), Francophone community organizations, health advocates, and language service providers can support the development of culturally appropriate French-language measles prevention materials.
16. The Ontario French Assembly advocates for the expansion of the French Language Services Act to require local public health offices to provide measles prevention information in French.
17. An advocacy campaign can be launched to raise public and political awareness about the importance of French-language health information access, highlighting the benefits of bilingual communication in health services.
18. The expansion of the French Language Services Act will ensure the health needs of Francophone Ontarians are met in compliance with the spirit of the law and recent provincial commitments to linguistic accessibility.
19. The Ontario French Assembly's efforts can potentially prevent the spread of not only measles but other health issues among Francophone communities in Ontario.
20. The AFO's work represents a significant step towards promoting health equity and inclusion for French-speaking communities in Ontario.
21. By addressing the gap in French-language health resources, the Ontario government can avoid potential legal and reputational issues, demonstrating its commitment to promoting health and well-being for all residents.
22. The Ontarian child care system should also consider offering resources in both official languages to cater to the diverse needs of families in the province.
23. Health care providers should be equipped with the resources and training to communicate effectively in both English and French to better serve their patients.
24. By implementing comprehensive and culturally sensitive health initiatives, the Ontario government can eliminate health disparities among Francophone communities and promote health equality in the province.
25. A continued focus on improving health outcomes for Francophone Ontarians will not only benefit the individual residents but also contribute to overall economic growth and prosperity in the province.
26. By ensuring the availability of French-language health resources, the Ontario government can foster health literacy, leading to more informed decisions about health-related matters among Francophone communities.
27. The integration of French-language health resources into public health policy and operational guidelines can help bridge governance gaps, ensuring all Ontarians have access to essential services, regardless of their language preference.
28. The Ontario French Assembly's advocacy efforts can inspire other provinces to address similar issues, contributing to a more unified, equitable, and accessible health care system across Canada.
29. The commitment to linguistic diversity and inclusion is a vital aspect of a thriving, progressive, and inclusive society, emphasizing the need for ongoing action and support from the Ontario government, policymakers, and community organizations to ensure the well-being of all residents.

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