Question Period Note: Decline of French in Quebec

On May 13, 2021, the Quebec government unveiled its reform of the Charter of the French Language, commonly known as Bill 101. Draft Bill 96 is entitled An act respecting French, the official and common language of Quebec.

• The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of protecting French across the country, including in Quebec.
• That is why we tabled a Bill to modernize and strengthen the Official Languages Act, which grants workers the right to carry out their activities in French in federally regulated private businesses in Quebec and in other regions with a strong Francophone presence.
• For our government, it is essential to continue to protect language rights of all Canadians, including those of linguistic minorities, both in Quebec and elsewhere in the country. We are closely monitoring the situation surrounding the Quebec Government’s bill 96.

• On March 1st, 2022, the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency tabled Bill C-13 An Act to amend the Official Languages Act, to enact the Use of French in Federally Regulated Businesses Act and to make related amendments to other Acts in the House of Commons. This Bill aims to better support the French language throughout Canada, including in Quebec.
• The mandate letter from the Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency commits her to "Continue to work to secure the future of the French language in Canada by fully implementing measures outlined in the White Paper, English and French: Towards a Substantive Equality of Official Languages in Canada." The letter also asks the Minister to " Swiftly reintroduce An Act for the Substantive Equality of French and English and the Strengthening of the Official Languages Act by early 2022" and to "Protect the institutions of Quebec’s English-speaking community and support the creation of new education and community spaces for the community.”
• In the September 2020 Speech from the Throne, the Government recognized that “the situation of French is unique. There are almost 8 million Francophones in Canada within a region of over 360 million inhabitants who are almost exclusively Anglophone. The Government therefore has the responsibility to protect and promote French not only outside of Quebec, but also within Quebec.”
• In fact in August, 2020, the Office Québécois de la langue française released the results of its Survey on Language Requirements among Montreal Businesses, Municipalities and Boroughs. According to the report:
o 39.8 % of Quebec businesses (62.9 % on the island of Montreal) required or wanted the person hired to have English language skills for the last position filled (2018).
o 23.5 % of Quebec municipalities and Montreal boroughs required or desired French and English or English-only skills when hiring, while on the island of Montreal it is 50.
o More than a quarter (27.8 %) of Quebec businesses required or wanted English language skills for oral communication outside the organization. This proportion is 21 % for municipalities and boroughs.
• According to various scenarios studied by Statistics Canada, the population with French as a mother tongue would decrease from 21.3% in 2011 to 17% or 18% in 2036; while the population with English as a mother tongue would decrease from 58.7% to 52% or 56%. In Quebec, citizens with French as their mother tongue would constitute between 69% and 72% of the population in 2036, compared to 79% in 2011. In the rest of Canada, this same proportion could fall from 3.8% to 2.7% or 2.8%.
• On May 13, 2021 at the Quebec National Assembly, the Minister responsible for the French language tabled Bill 96 which aims "to affirm that the only official language of Quebec is French" and that "French is the common language of the Quebec nation. The detailed study of the Bill continued within the framework of the Committee on Culture and Education, which organized public hearings from September 21 to October 7, 2021, and tabled its report on October 21, 2021 in the National Assembly, pending the next reading of the bill on a date to be confirmed. The Bill proposes several changes with respect to French as a language of work. In particular, it sets out the obligations applicable to employers to ensure respect for the right of workers to carry on their activities in French.
• The Bill stipulates (s. 65) in one new article by insertion (art. 89.1) that "Nothing in this Act may be interpreted as preventing its application to any enterprise or employer carrying on its activities in Quebec. Although federal businesses are not explicitly named, such a provision could have the effect of applying to private enterprises under federal jurisdiction.
• Another important element of Bill 96 is the unilateral amendment of the Constitution Act by insertion (after section 90) to define the fundamental characteristics of Quebec, namely that (90Q.1). "Quebecers form a nation" and (90Q.2). "French is the only official language of Quebec. It is also the common language of the Quebec nation."
• The National Assembly of Quebec is preparing to consider the report of the committee on the detailed study of Bill 96, then a debate and probable amendments. The adoption of the bill remains to come and finally its assent by the lieutenant-governor. The Bill may pass before provincial election.
• In May 2022, the Secretary General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), Louise Mushikiwabo, inaugurated a new "bureau de la Francophonie" in Quebec City, that’s mission will not only be to represent La Francophonie from North America, but also to centralize the action of the OIF on everything concerning the development of French in the world.

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