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French Canada reacted with outrage. Quebec journalist Henri Bourassa denounced the "Prussians of Ontario" (see French-Prussian Enmity ). It was strongly opposed by Franco-Ontarian s, particularly in the national capital of Ottawa where the École Guigues was at the centre of the controversy. In 1915 , the provincial government of Sir William Hearst replaced Ottawa's elected Separate School board with a government-appointed commission. After years of litigation from ACFÉO , the directive was never fully implemented.

The regulation was eventually repealed in 1927 by the government of Howard Ferguson . Ferguson was an opponent of Bilingualism , but repealed the law because he needed to form a political alliance with Quebec premier Louis-Alexandre Taschereau against the Federal Government . The Conservative government reluctantly recognized bilingual schools, but the directive worsened relations between Ontario and Quebec for many years and is still keenly remembered by the French-speaking minority of Ontario.

Despite the repeal of Regulation 17, however, French language schools in Ontario were not officially recognized under the provincial Education Act until 1968.

A historical plaque in Ottawa commemorates the role of the École Guigues.


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