Introduction: Social services and health services in minority-language communities: Towards an understanding of the actors, the system, and the levers of action

This introduction provides an overview of Francophone minority communities (CFSM) in Canada, as well as the issue of access to social and health services in French within a linguistic minority context, the importance of access to services in the official language of one’s choice, and the key factors justifying the active provision of social and health services in French within CFSMs. It also lays the groundwork for a definition of active provision and outlines certain political and historical factors that shape social and health services in French within a Francophone minority context. Finally it outlines the book’s common thread, as well as providing an introduction to each of its chapters.