The Official Languages Act is poised to go through a major transformation. That is, if the Minister of Economic Development and Official Language’s aims are truly reflected in the document "English and French: Towards a Substantive Equalization of Official Languages" in Canada, which was tabled in the House of Commons earlier this year. In June 2021, the federal government introduced a parliamentary bill to modernize the latter for a changing and digitizing society. The suggested policy agenda is more than just a tweak to the 1969 statute, but rather constitutes a mini-revolution in its fundamental ideology something which will undoubtedly surprise many outside of Quebec. The proposed change focuses on preserving the French language outside Quebec and no longer relies simply on bilingualism. Canada has a difficult task ahead of itself if it wants to remain a bilingual nation. Inevitably, the 2021 Census will report a continuation of the ongoing substantial decrease in the share of Canadians listing French as their mother tongue. Francophone communities outside Quebec made up seven percent of the country’s population in 1971 and  in 2011, their share had decreased to four percent. The language’s use has undoubtedly deteriorated despite the implementation of the Official Languages Act across Canada, including in Quebec. 

Preserving the French Language

The document goes on to mention “positive measures’’ as a means to achieve the objective of maintaining the share of French speakers outside Quebec above four percent. The current government’s dream of reversing the decline of  the Francophone population outside Quebec remains a major challenge. Provinces have long been reluctant to implement policies or preserve institutions which support bilingualism. Not only are many provinces unwilling partners in the promotion of French, but demographics--including low fertility rates among francophones and low franco-immigration - are not favourable. The document rarely goes beyond the emphasis of minority rights: the right to French schooling, the right to have federal services provided in French, the right to work in French in federally administered positions, etc. Strengthening these rights is desirable, but they are not concrete measures to curb the deterioration of the French language and the shrinking of the francophone population. 

Language survivability requires strong numbers and territories.The document introduces the notion of regions with strong francophone presence (RSFP) - taking a first step towards recognizing the importance of terrains for the French language's survivability. Ensuring the right of francophones in English-majority jurisdictions to French schools, fortifying their community institutions, and facilitating the learning of French by all English speakers are sound objectives. However, it is improbable that English-speaking provinces will provide for an environment where French can be the language of everyday life. If the use of French is to increase outside Quebec, it needs cities, towns, and institutions where French is the dominant language and its use is not only a right, but an obligation. The unequal relationship between English and French means that the latter’s maintenance will require some form of coercion. Bill 101 is a prime example, deemed necessary even in majority-French Quebec. This historic legislation has often been credited to effectively integrating non-francophone communities into Quebec’s predominantly French-speaking society. A shopkeeper in Abbotsford will not advertise in French, nor will a retail manager naturally allow employees to work in French unless obliged to do so. Ottawa alone cannot solve this issue. The federal government, with its few tools, cannot single-handedly revive what seems to be a dying language by strengthening francophone rights.

Is Franco-Immigration the Answer?

Over 70% of Canada’s foreign-born population lives in two provinces: Ontario and British Columbia - with the vast majority of these immigrants settling in urban centers. In other words, new arrivals are disproportionately exposed to, and assimilated in, English-speaking communities -- making them less likely to learn French. This is not the case in Quebec, as its majority-French demographics make it essential for newcomers to communicate in French. In Quebec, over two-thirds of immigrants report having French as their official language. In Canada as a whole, however, there has been a steady 40-year decline in the proportion of the population able to conduct a conversation in French. This indicates that the demographic weight of Francophones outside Quebec is following a similar pattern. 

As the world continues its trend towards mass digitization, the English language has also become more practical and favourable to learn. As trade, information exchange, and entertainment become more globalized, the use of English becomes essential. This is the reality for both native and foreign-born populations in Canada. Even in Quebec, the demand for bilingualism on job postings has become more prevalent. 

The Minister’s document puts great emphasis on Francophone immigration to reverse this worrisome trend. Immigration is a jurisdiction that Ottawa directly controls and the document clearly states that it is counting on immigration from French-speaking nations to increase the number of French-speaking communities outside Quebec. However, the document’s optimism is short-sighted. Immigrants tend to settle in urban areas. Moncton and Sudbury are the only metropolitan areas outside Quebec where French speakers are more than a quarter of the city’s population. Despite this, English remains more attractive and useful even for francophones who do live in these two cities.Unless the local governments are reactive and foster an environment conducive to the transmission of French, the newly settled French-speaking immigrants will, like previous francophones outside Quebec, cascade into the Anglophone maelstrom.

Creating French-dominant environments is key to promoting the language outside Quebec. The proposed document rarely goes beyond a rights-based perspective and fails to create incentives for other jurisdictions to create French-dominant environments. Whether the government will be successful in defending its ideology will be up to what extent it is willing to do so.