Keeping Franco-Ontarian Bookstores Alive: Why Bill 58 Matters

This summer, I visited the bookstore Le Coin du Livre in Ottawa, and more recently, I also visited Il Était Une Fois in Oakville. These are essential spaces for Franco-Ontarian culture and community.

Fifteen years ago, Ontario had 12 Franco-Ontarian bookstores. Today, there are only three left. This reality shows just how crucial it is to support our cultural institutions and protect access to French-language books.

The survival of our Franco-Ontarian bookstores is threatened by competition from large American chains and the Quebec market.

My Bill 58 requires publicly funded institutions to purchase their French-language books from Franco-Ontarian bookstores.

This is a simple and effective way to support these small businesses, strengthen Ontario’s publishing industry, and keep our tax dollars here at home.

Let’s continue to value, promote, and bring our Francophone spaces to life across the province.