[1][2] One of the largest mass movements in Franco-Ontarian history, the level of mobilisation it saw and the ultimate success of the campaign has been noted as a significant moment in the struggle for French-language rights in Ontario and in the wider Canada.
[3][4] [5] The francophone communities in Ontario have historically faced oppression from the anglophone majority, notably the Regulation 17, which outlawed education in the French language in the province.
[9] The programme drew comparisons to the policies of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and former American president Ronald Reagan.
[11] In 1996, the Harris government formed the Ontario Health Services Restructuring Commission as part of its Common Sense Revolution programme.
[18][19] Montfort Hospital Foundation president Jacques Blouin led the organisation of buses to transport protestors to Ottawa from around the province, bringing in additional thousands to the protest.
As well as the rally being broadcast live by Radio-Canada, Franco-Ontarian newspaper Le Droit additionally thrown its support behind the movement, repurposing its slogan of "L'avenir est à ceux qui luttent" ("the future belongs to those who fight for it") for the campaign.
By mid-August 1997, the Commission announced that it would be partially reversing its decision, allowing the hospital to stay open with its own administration, but with a greatly reduced level of services.
[22] Despite healthcare being provincial jurisdiction, a number of federal MPs, notably Ottawa-Vanier representative Mauril Bélanger, spoke up in favour of the movement.
Montfort, with Premier Lucien Bouchard holding an official meeting with Mike Harris over the issue and Québec Minister of Finance Bernard Landry announcing funds to support the campaign.
In late 2001, the Court of Appeal announced its decision, unanimously confirming the ruling of the division court and once again ruling in favour of Montfort, stating that "the principle of respect for and protection of minorities is a fundamental structural feature of the Canadian Constitution" and that the Health Services Restructuring Commission failed to respect the French Language Services Act.
[35] In October 2003, Michel Gratton released a book titled Montfort, la lutte d'un peuple, chronicling the events of S.O.S.
[37][38] In 2010, a La Francophonie Monument was unveiled on the hospital grounds, including one of the largest Franco-Ontarian flag poles in the province.
[44] In 2016, Ronald Caza was honoured by the Law Society of Ontario for his defences of francophone minorities in Canada, notably his role in S.O.S.
[47] A speech by Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, however, was interrupted by chants from the crowd criticising him for his refusal to make the city officially bilingual.
[48][49] As part of the events, a reenactement of the student march and humain chain protest was held, with hundreds students from La Cité, the Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, and the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario, marching from La Cité to the hospital.
[54] In August 2019, the government of Ontario announced $75-million dollars for the construction of a bilingual health hub in Orléans, to be led by Montfort Hospital.
[56][57] In 2018, after the return of the Progressive Conservative Party to government in Ontario, led by Doug Ford, another movement of Franco-Ontarian protests was formed after the Black Thursday of the 15 November, where the Ford government announced major cuts to Franco-Ontarian services, including the elimination of funding for the Université de l'Ontario français and the elimination of the French Language Services Commissioner.
[60] When Progressive Conservative MPP Amanda Simard quit the party over the cuts, she noted that she had participated in SOS Montfort as a child, and that "now, 20 years later, we're still fighting to preserve the rights that we have gained.