The 2018 Franco-Ontarian Black Thursday (French: Jeudi noir des Franco-Ontariens de 2018) occurred on 15 November 2018, when the government of Ontario, led by Doug Ford, announced a number of cuts to Franco-Ontarian institutions in the province, notably the elimination of the office of the French Language Services Commissioner and of the soon-to-be-opened Université de l'Ontario français.

[3][4] With a population measuring close to a million and a historical presence dating back to the 1600s, the francophone community in Ontario is one of the largest minority groups in the province.

[5] Franco-Ontarians, however, have historically faced oppression from the anglophone majority, notably the Regulation 17, which outlawed education in the French language in the province.

There had also previously been questions raised about his ability as a leader attract Franco-Ontarian voters and overcome the lingering distrust from the Harris leadership.

[22] On 15 November 2018, the government announced that, as a part of a number of budget cuts, the office of the French Language Services Commissioner and the soon-to-be-opened Université de l'Ontario français would both be eliminated in their entireties.

[27] The Canadian Union of Public Employees called for university workers in Ontario to fight the cuts, stating that "the Ford government is using the disguise of fiscal restraint to try and pit communities against one another.

"[28] Some commentators argued that the cuts were counter-productive, noting that demand for primary and secondary school education in French in Ontario and across Canada was significantly increasing.

[29] The outgoing French Language Services Commissioner, François Boileau, stated that he learned the position was being eliminated half an hour before the government's announcement and expressed concerns that the ombudsperson's office wouldn't have the same mandate to actively advocate for francophone rights in Ontario.

[31] Some commentators accused Ford's government of being too Toronto-centric, arguing that the cuts demonstrated a lack of concern to issues affecting the rest of the province.

[33] Writing for the Institute for Research on Public Policy magazine, University of Amsterdam professor Mike Medeiros stated that from his analysis of polling data: "if francophobia is at play it is most likely a tacit, subtle form of it rather than an overt anti-francophone sentiment," and that "non-francophones are clearly unconvinced of the need to further promote bilingualism in Canada.

[41] The Mayor of Montréal Valérie Plante denounced the cuts, with the Franco-Ontarian flag later being flown in front of Montreal city hall in solidarity.

[43][44] In early December 2018, over 200 Franco-Manitobans held a solidarity demonstration in Winnipeg, raising the Franco-Ontarian flag over the Saint-Boniface town hotel.

During the calls, Ford defended the cuts, stating that the province's budget didn't have enough money, and blamed the previous government of Kathleen Wynne for the deficit.

[56] On 22 November, the Assemblee de la francophonie de l'Ontario held a press conference decrying the cuts, with AFO president Carol Jolin stating that "if I look at everything that has been done since the government took power, it is starting to look like an attack on francophones," and announcing that they had held a conference call with a number of lawyers to prepare a legal challenge against the government.

During the debate, Glengarry—Prescott—Russell MPP and the only francophone member of Ford's caucus Amanda Simard made an impassioned speech in parliament asking the government to reverse the cuts, noting that she had attended the SOS Montfort protests as a child and that "20 years later, we're still fighting to preserve the rights that we have gained."

[83] In July 2020, several anglophone schools in the province found themselves unable to offer French classes to students due to the re-opening restrictions imposed by the government.

[86][87] Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, l'Université de l'Ontario français reported significantly lower than expected applications for its opening year of studies and with rector André Roy resigning at the beginning of February 2021.

[88][89] Questions were raised surrounding the location of the university in a predominantly-anglophone city, a lack of advertising, and the limited nature of degree programmes offered.