Table of contents
Executive summary
A. Background and objectives
In 2016, the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (the Office of the Commissioner) commissioned a survey to explore Canadians' opinions on official languages and bilingualism. This research included both a random probability telephone survey of 1,000 Canadians, and an online panel survey of 1,016 Canadians. In 2021, the Office of the Commissioner commissioned Environics Research to survey Canadians again using the same methodologies, but with the sample sizes for each survey increased to 1,500, and largely the same questionnaires as were used in 2016. This enables the Office of the Commissioner to track the results and measure the extent to which public opinion has or has not evolved over the last five years.
This research project had the following key research objectives:
- Gauge Canadians' current attitudes towards the Official Languages Act and towards issues around bilingualism in Canada and how those may correlate with key demographic and regional characteristics.
- Measure Canadians’ exposure to and experience with the other official language and their views on second language education.
- Track and compare whether and to what extent attitudes have evolved since the previous survey on this topic conducted in 2016, and draw observations based on this comparison.
- Determine whether Canadians’ perceptions about official languages correlate to attitudes towards other current issues.
- Explore how perceptions about official languages may intersect with other important contemporary issues, with a limited number of new questions (e.g. , around diversity and COVID-19).
Use of findings of the research
In keeping with the project’s research objectives, the findings of this research are intended to inform the Office of the Commissioner as well as stakeholders in and outside of government about the public’s attitudes and perceptions of official languages and bilingualism. The findings will be of particular use for better understanding the state of public opinion and to challenge certain myths about official bilingualism and misperceptions about Canadians’ attitudes. It is also intended that the findings will be used to develop communications products and research presentations with a view to conveying the results to different audiences, including members of the general public, media, government, community organizations, educators and researchers. As with the 2016 survey results, the 2021 survey results will aid in developing messages and strategies for the promotion of official languages and bilingualism in Canada, in keeping with the Commissioner’s mandate and obligations under Part VII of the Official Languages Act.
B. Methodology
This report is based on data collected through a dual-mode research program: a national probability-based telephone survey of 1,507 adult Canadians, and a national online survey of 1,500 adult Canadians. As was the case in 2016, the 2021 online survey contained additional questions not asked in the shorter telephone survey, the online mode requiring fewer resources than the telephone mode. The online survey was conducted from September 30 to October 19, 2021, and the telephone survey from September 27 to October 16, 2021.
Completions achieved | Total | British Columbia and the territories | Alberta | Saskatchewan and Manitoba | Ontario | Quebec | Atlantic |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of completed telephone interviews (unweighted) | 1,507 | 225 | 204 | 100 | 453 | 375 | 150 |
Percent of completed interviews | 100% | 15% | 14% | 7% | 30% | 25% | 10% |
Margin of error ( ± @ 95% CI ) | 2.5 | 6.5 | 6.8 | 9.7 | 4.6 | 5.0 | 8.0 |
Number of completed online interviews (unweighted) | 1,500 | 204 | 168 | 97 | 577 | 352 | 102 |
Percent of completed interviews | 100% | 14% | 11% | 6% | 38% | 23% | 7% |
Note: As the online survey uses opt-in panels, this is a non-probability sample, and no margin of sampling error is calculated.
A number of questions in the survey were included in a previous survey conducted in 2016; tracking data are shown where applicable. In 2016, the total online survey sample was n=1,016 and the telephone survey sample was n=1,000 (with a margin of error at the national level of ± 3.1%, 19 times out of 20).
Telephone and online surveys use differing methodologies and as such can yield results that may differ but that can nevertheless be considered as equally valid. As in 2016, the initial questions were asked in both the telephone and online surveys and, as previously, the magnitude of support and agreement are higher in the telephone than the online survey. This is a known phenomenon in interviewer-guided surveys. As the online survey uses opt-in panels, however, it is a non-probability sample, and a margin of sampling error cannot be calculated. The margin of sampling error for the 2021 national telephone survey is ± 2.5% at the 95% confidence interval; margins of error are greater for subsamples of the population. Per the 2016 survey, and to maintain comparability, the results of the telephone and online surveys have not been merged.
In this report, results are expressed as percentages unless otherwise noted. Results may not add to 100% due to rounding or multiple responses. All results are weighted (by gender, age and region, per the 2016 survey) and are based on the entire sample unless otherwise noted. Data labels for values less than 4% may not be shown on some charts.
Note: All survey respondents were given the choice of completing the telephone or online survey in English or French. For the purposes of analysis of these survey results, Anglophones and Francophones are defined by which language respondents selected to complete the survey.
More information about the methodology for these surveys is included in Appendix A.
C. Contract value
The contract value was $136,173.93 (HST included).
D. Report
This report begins with an executive summary outlining the background and objectives, methodology, and key findings and conclusions, followed by a detailed analysis of the survey data conducted by Environics and research personnel of the Office of the Commissioner. Where data for both modes (telephone and online) is available, all statements of analysis have been worded so as to be consistent with the results of both unless specified otherwise. Provided under a separate cover is a detailed set of “banner tables” presenting the complete results for all questions for the total and identified subgroups of interest in both modes. These tables are referenced by the survey question in the detailed analysis.
In this report, quantitative results are expressed as percentages unless otherwise noted. Results may not add to 100% due to rounding or multiple responses. Net results cited in the text may not exactly match individual results shown in the tables due to rounding.
E. Key findings
The key findings and conclusions of the survey are as follows:
- Support for official languages remains resilient
- Support for official languages is high and it is consistent; it appears to be a core Canadian value in 2021 as it was in 2016.
- A strong majority of Canadians, in all regions studied and within all demographic segments studied, continue to express support for official languages in 2021, at levels similar to 2016.
- Support for official languages is consistent with support for other forms of diversity
- Strong majorities of Canadians agree with statements about the mutually reinforcing potential of official languages and other forms of diversity.
- Those from diverse backgrounds also tend to agree with statements about official languages as something that can accompany or reinforce other forms of diversity, at rates similar to, and sometimes greater than, other respondents.
- There is majority support for official language minorities, but some myths persist
- Majorities of Canadians agree with specific measures in support of official languages and official language minorities.
- Some key myths about official languages and official language minorities persist among some populations, notably the perception that the French-speaking minority outside Quebec is less numerous than it really is, or that the English-speaking minority in Quebec is more socio-economically privileged.
- Quebecers continue to have far greater exposure to the two languages
- Quebecers are far more likely to encounter people using the other official language or to be exposed to media and cultural products in the other official language.
- Among all bilingual Canadians, Francophones are more likely than Anglophones to have learned the other official language outside of school, whereas Anglophones are more likely to have learned it only in school.
- Strong majorities continue to support second-language education in the other official language
- Most Canadians strongly agree that both official languages should continue to be taught in elementary schools across Canada.
- Majorities of Canadians agree that governments should implement measures to make second-language learning more accessible.
- A strong majority of parents, notably in Quebec but also outside Quebec, feel it is important that their children have the opportunity to learn the other official language.
- There is some correlation between environmental concerns, support for rights and support for the Official Languages Act
- Correlation between attitudes towards official languages and other contemporary issues is modest, suggesting overall support for official languages across a spectrum of social values.
- There is some correlation between support for official languages, environmental concerns and equal rights.
- Opposition correlates somewhat with feelings that government is inefficient and has gone “too far” on equal rights.
F. Political neutrality statement and contact information
I hereby certify as senior officer of Environics that the deliverables fully comply with the Government of Canada political neutrality requirements outlined in the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity of the Government of Canada, and Procedures for Planning and Contracting Public Opinion Research. Specifically, the deliverables do not include information on electoral voting intentions, political party preferences, standings with the electorate, or ratings of the performance of a political party or its leaders.
Derek Leebosh
Vice President, Public Affairs, Environics Research Group
Supplier name
Environics Research Group
For more information, contact the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages(link sends e-mail)
I. Detailed findings
A. Bilingualism and Official Languages Act – general attitudes
1. Support for the Official Languages Act
The vast majority of Canadians in all regions continue to support the aims of the Official Languages Act (the Act); support is somewhat higher and more intense in the telephone survey
Canadians overwhelmingly support the aims of the Official Languages Act. When the question was posed by telephone, support was particularly high with 87 percent saying they support it strongly (56%) or somewhat (32%). Only ten percent of Canadians express any degree of opposition to the aims of the Act in this case. When the question was posed online support was only slightly lower at 81 percent. In both cases, support for the Act is almost identical to what it was in 2016.
Support for the Act - by mode | Net: Support | Strongly support | Somewhat support | Somewhat/strongly oppose | Don't know/refused |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021 Telephone | 87% | 56% | 32% | 10% | 2% |
2021 Online | 81% | 47% | 34% | 14% | 5% |
2016 Telephone | 88% | 55% | 33% | 9% | 2% |
2016 Online | 78% | 45% | 33% | 16% | 5% |
- Question 1
- The Official Languages Act officially recognizes the equal status of both English and French and seeks to ensure that Government of Canada services are provided in both English and French. Would you say that you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose these aims of the Official Languages Act?
It is notable that support for the Act is consistently high in all regions of Canada. Any changes in support since 2016 at the regional level are relatively small and within margins of error. Moreover, in some cases, support went down slightly in one mode and up in the other. As such, caution should be exercised when attributing significance to changes at the regional level between the 2021 and 2016 results.
Support for the Act - by jurisdiction | 2021 Telephone | 2021 Online | 2016 Telephone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada – total | 87% | 81% | 88% | 78% |
Atlantic provinces | 86% | 86% | 91% | 87% |
Quebec | 95% | 95% | 92% | 89% |
Ontario | 87% | 78% | 87% | 80% |
Manitoba and Saskatchewan | 78% | 74% | 83% | 64% |
Alberta | 80% | 68% | 90% | 61% |
British Columbia and Territories | 87% | 78% | 84% | 67% |
- Question 1
- The Official Languages Act officially recognizes the equal status of both English and French and seeks to ensure that Government of Canada services are provided in both English and French. Would you say that you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose these aims of the Official Languages Act?
Support for the aims of the Act is also consistently high among all demographic segments. It is notable that support for the Act is almost unanimous among Francophones (95% telephone) and almost as high among Anglophones (85% telephone). It is also notable that people whose mother tongue is a language other than English, or French are just as supportive (87% telephone) of the Act as are Canadians as a whole.
2. Reasons for supporting or opposing the Official Languages Act
The most common reasons for supporting the Act are Canada’s history as a bilingual country, and the right to be served in one’s preferred official language. The small minority opposing the Act most commonly say this is because English is dominant
Those who support the aims of the Act were asked for the main reason for their support. The most common responses in both modes are: that the Act recognizes Canada’s history, status and culture as a bilingual country; that everyone should be able to communicate and be served in their preferred official language; that the Act promotes fairness and equality; and personal experience with the other official language. It is notable that there is very little difference between Anglophones and Francophones in terms of their reasons for supporting the Act. These findings are remarkably consistent with those from 2016 and there is little significant difference between those who completed the survey online or by phone.
Reasons for supporting the Act, among the majority supporting
Note: results exceed 100% as respondents could provide multiple responses
Reasons for supporting the Act | 2021 Telephone (n=652) | 2021 Online (n=1,215) | 2016 Telephone (n=451) | 2016 Online (n=792) |
---|---|---|---|---|
Act recognizes Canada’s history/status/culture as a bilingual country | 34% | 31% | 33% | 30% |
Everyone should be able to communicate/get services in their preferred language | 13% | 18% | 11% | 12% |
Act promotes fairness/equality | 12% | 9% | 11% | 11% |
Personal experience with French/English/being bilingual | 10% | 2% | 5% | 3% |
Useful to speak more than one language | 8% | 7% | 8% | 3% |
There are bilingual people/people strive to learn both languages | 5% | 7% | 4% | 2% |
Canada has many French speakers | 4% | 5% | 5% | 2% |
Not everyone is bilingual | 4% | 2% | 5% | 2% |
Protection of French language/communities is important | - | 8% | - | - |
Other | 3% | 3% | 7% | 6% |
Not sure/prefer not to say | 6% | 23% | 6% | 27% |
- Question 2a
- What would you say is the main reason for your support of the Official Languages Act?
Subgroups: Those who support the Act ( Note: half of telephone respondents were asked one of two follow-up questions; others skipped
Reasons for opposing the Act, among the minority opposing
Note: results exceed 100% as respondents could provide multiple responses
Reasons for opposition to the Act | 2021 Telephone (n=101) | 2021 Online (n=207) | 2016 Telephone (n=50) | 2016 Online (n=169) |
---|---|---|---|---|
English is predominant/French is diminishing | 28% | 35% | 24% | 31% |
Act discriminates against other languages | 14% | 14% | 5% | 6% |
Act discriminates against English language speakers | 13% | 3% | - | - |
High costs/expensive to maintain | 10% | 17% | 22% | 19% |
Quebec does not recognize the need for English services | 10% | 12% | 4% | 8% |
There should only be one official language | 8% | 31% | 10% | 11% |
Act blocks unilinguals from government jobs | 2% | 9% | 10% | 3% |
Other | 9% | 5% | 12% | 10% |
Not sure/prefer not to say | 5% | 13% | 4% | 12% |
- Question 2b
- What would you say is the main reason for your opposition to the Official Languages Act?
Subgroups: Those who oppose the Act ( Note: half of telephone respondents were asked one of two follow-up questions; others skipped)
While sample sizes remain low in opposition to the Act, the most common response in both modes is that English is predominant while French is diminishing. This finding is quite consistent with that from 2016.
3. Effectiveness of arguments against the Official Languages Act
The most persuasive argument against the Act continues to be the argument that offering bilingual access to services may be too expensive
In the online survey, Canadians were asked which of three arguments against the Act they found the most persuasive – even if they themselves may be supportive of the Act and may not agree with any of the arguments. Among those choosing an argument, by far the most persuasive argument continues to be that ensuring people can access services in both official languages is simply too expensive. It should be noted that in the 2016 survey all respondents were forced to choose one of the three arguments. In the 2021 online survey, respondents were given the option of not providing an answer, and three in ten (29%) opted not to respond. For the purposes of comparing the 2021 results with those collected in 2016, the table below also displays the results excluding those who did not respond.
Arguments that are most persuasive | 2021 | 2021
(Excluding “not sure”)Footnote * |
2016 |
---|---|---|---|
Ensuring that people can access services in both official languages is simply too expensive | 40% | 57% | 60% |
There are other languages which should be considered ‘official’ in addition to just English and French | 20% | 29% | 22% |
The government just should not be involved with promoting or protecting official languages in Canada | 10% | 14% | 18% |
Not sure/prefer not to answerReturn to footnote * referrer | 29% | - | - |
- Question 13
- People have given a number of reasons for opposing the Official Languages Act in Canada. Which of the following reasons would you say is the most persuasive for you, even if you don’t necessarily agree with it or any of them?
It is notable that the small minority of Canadians who oppose the Act are more likely than those who support the Act to find the argument that the government just should not be involved with promoting or protecting official languages in Canada to be the most persuasive argument (34% compared to 10%).
4. Attitudinal statements about Canada’s official bilingualism
Large majorities agree with statements about positive attributes of Canada’s official bilingualism as it relates to national identity and diversity
Canadians were asked of their level of agreement or disagreement with a series of statements about Canada’s official bilingualism. Eight of those statements were positive towards bilingualism and its implications for diversity in Canada. Strong majorities of Canadians expressed agreement towards all eight of these positive statements in both the telephone and online surveys, though in every case agreement was stronger in the telephone survey. It should be noted that there has been no significant change in reaction to these statements in 2021 compared to 2016. The statements are discussed below by theme:
Official bilingualism and national identity
Large majorities agree with statements about support for official bilingualism in general and how it relates to Canada’s history and national identity. Canadians are in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada and agree that having two official languages is positive for Canada’s international image, that it makes sense that English and French have equal status because they are part of our history, and that having two official languages is one of the things that really defines Canada.
Official bilingualism and diversity
Large majorities also agree with statements that relate to official bilingualism and diversity. These include that having two official languages signals that Canada values linguistic diversity, makes Canada a more welcoming place for immigrants and that Canada can and should promote both official languages and Indigenous languages at the same time. It is notable that agreement with this last statement is markedly higher among people who completed the survey by phone (78%) than among those completing it online (61%).
Those from diverse backgrounds also tend to agree with statements about official languages as something that can accompany or reinforce other forms of diversity, at rates similar to and sometimes greater than other respondents. This includes respondents who were born outside Canada (n=315 in the telephone survey, unweighted), have a mother tongue other than English or French (n=239), are from racialized groups (n=198), or who are Indigenous (n=57).
Education for official language minority communities
A large majority also agree that resources should be made available to guarantee the same quality of education to official language minority students (e.g. , English minority children in Quebec and French minority children elsewhere in Canada). There is also a notable modal difference in levels of agreement with this statement (81% agree by phone and 65% agree online).
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Having two official languages is positive for Canada’s international image | 86% | 55% | 30% | 7% | 6% | 1% |
Having two official languages, instead of just one official language, sends the signal that Canada values linguistic diversity | 86% | 53% | 33% | 6% | 7% | 2% |
I am personally in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada | 84% | 52% | 32% | 9% | 7% | 0% |
If it takes more resources per student to guarantee the same quality of education for [official language] minority children [where I live] as for children of the [official language] majority, I feel that these resources should be made available | 81% | 48% | 33% | 8% | 7% | 4% |
Because English and French are part of our history, it makes sense they have equal status | 79% | 50% | 30% | 11% | 9% | 1% |
Having two official languages has made Canada a more welcoming place for immigrants from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds | 79% | 44% | 34% | 10% | 9% | 2% |
Having two official languages is one of the things that really defines Canada | 78% | 46% | 32% | 12% | 9% | 2% |
Canada can and should promote both official languages and Indigenous languages at the same time | 78% | 48% | 30% | 11% | 9% | 2% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Having two official languages is positive for Canada’s international image | 75% | 41% | 34% | 11% | 8% | 6% |
I am personally in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada | 75% | 38% | 37% | 11% | 10% | 4% |
Having two official languages, instead of just one official language, sends the signal that Canada values linguistic diversity | 75% | 37% | 38% | 11% | 8% | 5% |
Having two official languages is one of the things that really defines Canada | 72% | 36% | 37% | 13% | 11% | 5% |
Because English and French are part of our history, it makes sense they have equal status | 71% | 38% | 33% | 14% | 11% | 4% |
Having two official languages has made Canada a more welcoming place for immigrants from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds | 69% | 30% | 39% | 14% | 10% | 7% |
If it takes more resources per student to guarantee the same quality of education for [official language] minority children [where I live] as for children of the [official language] majority, I feel that these resources should be made available | 65% | 28% | 36% | 15% | 11% | 9% |
Canada can and should promote both official languages and Indigenous languages at the same time | 61% | 30% | 31% | 16% | 15% | 8% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
It is notable that in every case, Francophones (defined here and throughout this report as those who chose to complete the survey in French) are more likely than Anglophones (those who chose to complete the survey in English) to agree with these statements, but in all instances agreement among Anglophones was also high.
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Net agree | French (n=324) | English (n=1,183) |
---|---|---|---|
Having two official languages is positive for Canada’s international image | 86% | 94% | 83% |
Having two official languages, instead of just one official language, sends the signal that Canada values linguistic diversity | 86% | 93% | 84% |
I am personally in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada | 84% | 95% | 81% |
If it takes more resources per student to guarantee the same quality of education for [official language] minority children [where I live] as for children of the [official language] majority, I feel that these resources should be made available | 81% | 89% | 79% |
Because English and French are part of our history, it makes sense they have equal status | 79% | 92% | 76% |
Having two official languages has made Canada a more welcoming place for immigrants from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds | 79% | 91% | 76% |
Having two official languages is one of the things that really defines Canada | 78% | 88% | 76% |
Canada can and should promote both official languages and Indigenous languages at the same time | 78% | 82% | 77% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
As noted earlier, the levels of agreement with these statements are virtually unchanged from what they were in 2016 in both the telephone and online surveys.
Net agree | 2021 Phone | 2021 Online | 2016 Phone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
Having two official languages is positive for Canada’s international image | 86% | 75% | 87% | 76% |
Having two official languages, instead of just one official language, sends the signal that Canada values linguistic diversity [New] | 86% | 75% | - | - |
I am personally in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada | 84% | 75% | 84% | 74% |
Having two official languages has made Canada a more welcoming place for immigrants from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds | 79% | 69% | 79% | 68% |
Having two official languages is one of the things that really defines Canada | 78% | 72% | 83% | 72% |
Because English and French are part of our history, it makes sense they have equal status | 79% | 71% | 84% | 73% |
If it takes more resources per student to guarantee the same quality of education for [official language] minority children [where I live] as for children of the [official language] majority, I feel that these resources should be made available | 81% | 65% | 81% | 63% |
Canada can and should promote both official languages and Indigenous languages at the same time [New] | 78% | 61% | - | - |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
Most disagree with statements that bilingualism is too expensive, is not practical or that additional languages should be made official
The sequences of statements about bilingualism also include three that tested more potentially ambivalent attitudes towards Canada’s policy of having two official languages. Almost half of Canadians agree that “maintaining two official languages just doesn´t make sense for parts of the country which overwhelmingly speak only English or only French”. It is notable that just over half of Anglophones agree with this statement, compared to one third of Francophones (telephone survey). There is also some tendency for men, older people, and those with lower levels of education to agree with this statement.
Most Canadians reject the notion that “too much money is spent on bilingualism by the Government of Canada”. There is a notable linguistic difference in response to this statement; 69 percent of Francophones disagree with it compared to 48 percent of Anglophones (telephone survey). Younger people and those with university education are also much more likely to disagree with this sentiment.
While most Canadians disagree that there are languages other than English and French that should be made official, this is one item where there has been a significant shift over the past five years. Four in ten (41%) of those responding to the survey by phone now agree that other languages should be made official (not necessarily to the exclusion of English or French). This marks a 16 percent increase from 2016. There is a similar increase in agreement with this sentiment in the online survey, though agreement there is lower. It is notable that agreement with giving other languages official status is higher among those whose mother tongue is English (43% by telephone) or another language (45%) than among those whose mother tongue is French (29%).
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maintaining two official languages just doesn’t make sense for parts of the country which overwhelmingly speak only English or only French | 48% | 21% | 27% | 24% | 24% | 3% |
There are languages other than English and French which should be made official | 41% | 19% | 21% | 22% | 33% | 4% |
Too much money is being spent on bilingualism by the Government of Canada | 35% | 17% | 18% | 27% | 24% | 13% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maintaining two official languages just doesn’t make sense for parts of the country which overwhelmingly speak only English or only French | 45% | 19% | 26% | 25% | 25% | 5% |
Too much money is being spent on bilingualism by the Government of Canada | 39% | 19% | 20% | 25% | 24% | 13% |
There are languages other than English and French which should be made official | 28% | 9% | 18% | 21% | 41% | 9% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Net Agree | French (n=324) | English (n=1,183) |
---|---|---|---|
Maintaining two official languages just doesn’t make sense for parts of the country which overwhelmingly speak only English or only French | 48% | 32% | 52% |
There are languages other than English and French which should be made official | 41% | 29% | 43% |
Too much money is being spent on bilingualism by the Government of Canada | 35% | 21% | 39% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
Net agree | 2021 Phone | 2021 Online | 2016 Phone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
Maintaining two official languages doesn’t make sense for parts of the country which overwhelmingly speak only English or only French | 48% | 45% | 49% | 44% |
Too much money is being spent on bilingualism by the Government of Canada | 35% | 39% | 36% | 39% |
There are languages other than English and French which should be made official | 41% | 28% | 25% | 19% |
- Question 3
- In Canada, we have two official languages, English and French. This means, among other things, that citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language of their choice where numbers warrant it. Below are a series of statements about this topic. For each statement, please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree
B. Measures and myths of official languages
1. Preferences around official bilingualism
Canadians overwhelmingly agree people should be able to obtain federal services in either official language. There is also agreement that the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, Supreme Court justices and major events in Canada should be bilingual
Survey respondents were asked whether they agree or a disagree with a series of statements dealing with what should be offered in both languages, or ought to be bilingual in Canada. The vast majority of Canadians agree that all Canadians should be able to obtain federal services in English or French and this sentiment is overwhelming among both Anglophones and Francophones. There is also strong agreement that the Prime Minister, judges of the Supreme Court and cabinet ministers should be bilingual, that major events held in Canada should be bilingual and that in times of crisis it is important to be by addressed by political leaders in one’s own language.
While clear majorities agree with all these statements, agreement is less strong among those who completed the survey online than among those who completed the survey by telephone, which is consistent with the survey as a whole. There is also a noticeable difference in how Anglophones and Francophones respond to some of these statements. Among Francophones there is almost unanimous agreement with statements about how offices and institutions should be bilingual. Among Anglophones, agreement is also strong, but not always to the same extent. For example, in the telephone survey 94 percent of Francophones agree that federal cabinet ministers should be bilingual, whereas 67 percent of Anglophones agree.
Agreement with statements about aspects of bilingualism | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not
sure/ prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadians should be able to obtain Federal services in English or French | 94% | 73% | 22% | 2% | 3% | 1% |
The Prime Minister of Canada should be bilingual | 82% | 61% | 20% | 9% | 8% | 1% |
In times of crisis, it is personally important to me to hear and see political leaders speak in my preferred official language - and not only through an interpreter or a translation | 77% | 47% | 30% | 14% | 7% | 3% |
Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada should be bilingual | 77% | 49% | 28% | 12% | 9% | 1% |
Major events in Canada such as a world’s fair, the World Cup, or the Olympics should be required to take place in both official languages | 75% | 42% | 33% | 14% | 9% | 2% |
Federal Cabinet Ministers should be bilingual | 72% | 40% | 32% | 15% | 11% | 2% |
More support is needed for the Anglophone minority communities inside Quebec | 68% | 36% | 32% | 13% | 8% | 11% |
More support is needed for the Francophone minority communities outside Quebec | 66% | 30% | 36% | 16% | 10% | 8% |
Canada’s official bilingualism policy and its multiculturalism policy work well together | 68% | 25% | 44% | 13% | 8% | 11% |
- Question 4
- Below are a series of statements about some specific aspects of bilingualism in Canada. Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them
Agreement with statements about aspects of bilingualism | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canadians should be able to obtain Federal services in English or French | 86% | 56% | 30% | 5% | 5% | 4% |
The Prime Minister of Canada should be bilingual | 77% | 52% | 25% | 11% | 9% | 4% |
In times of crisis, it is personally important to me to hear and see political leaders speak in my preferred official language - and not only through an interpreter or a translation | 72% | 42% | 30% | 14% | 8% | 6% |
Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada should be bilingual | 67% | 40% | 28% | 16% | 10% | 7% |
Federal Cabinet Ministers should be bilingual | 64% | 33% | 30% | 18% | 12% | 7% |
Major events in Canada such as a world’s fair, the World Cup, or the Olympics should be required to take place in both official languages | 63% | 35% | 28% | 17% | 13% | 7% |
More support is needed for the Anglophone minority communities inside Quebec | 60% | 29% | 31% | 15% | 9% | 16% |
Canada’s official bilingualism policy and its multiculturalism policy work well together | 54% | 17% | 37% | 19% | 11% | 16% |
More support is needed for the Francophone minority communities outside Quebec | 52% | 24% | 28% | 20% | 14% | 14% |
- Question 4
- Below are a series of statements about some specific aspects of bilingualism in Canada. Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them
Most agree official language minorities need more support, and that Canada’s bilingualism policy works well with its multiculturalism policy
A majority of Canadians in both survey modes agree that more support is needed for Francophone minority communities outside Quebec and for Anglophone minority communities in Quebec. It is notable that in both cases levels of agreement are much higher in the telephone survey than in the online survey. Also, Francophones are much more likely to agree that more support is needed for the Francophone minority outside Quebec than Anglophones are to agree that more support is needed for the Anglophone minority in Quebec.
Most Canadians also agree that Canada’s bilingualism policy works well with its multiculturalism policy. Again, agreement is stronger among those who did the survey by telephone. On this question, it is notable that agreement is particularly high among those whose mother tongue is neither English nor French and those who are racialized (76% and 75% respectively in the telephone survey). It is also notable that, overall, Anglophones and Francophones agreed with this statement to the same extent (68% for both in the telephone survey).
Agreement with statements about aspects of bilingualism | Net agree | French (n=324) | English (n=1,183) |
---|---|---|---|
Canadians should be able to obtain Federal services in English or French. | 94% | 96% | 94% |
The Prime Minister of Canada should be bilingual. | 82% | 98% | 78% |
Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada should be bilingual. | 77% | 96% | 73% |
In times of crisis, it is personally important to me to hear and see political leaders speak in my preferred official language - and not only through an interpreter or a translation. | 77% | 92% | 73% |
Major events in Canada such as a world’s fair, the World Cup, or the Olympics should be required to take place in both official languages. | 75% | 93% | 71% |
Federal Cabinet Ministers should be bilingual. | 72% | 94% | 67% |
Canada’s official bilingualism policy and its multiculturalism policy work well together. | 68% | 68% | 68% |
More support is needed for the Anglophone minority communities inside Quebec. | 68% | 63% | 69% |
More support is needed for the Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. | 66% | 91% | 60% |
- Question 4
- Below are a series of statements about some specific aspects of bilingualism in Canada. Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them
Net agree | 2021 Phone | 2021 Online | 2016 Phone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canadians should be able to obtain Federal services in English or French. | 94% | 86% | 96% | 85% |
The Prime Minister of Canada should be bilingual. | 82% | 77% | 86% | 75% |
Judges of the Supreme Court of Canada should be bilingual. | 77% | 67% | 81% | 68% |
In times of crisis, it is personally important to me to hear and see political leaders speak in my preferred official language - and not only through an interpreter or a translation. [New] | 77% | 72% | - | - |
Major events in Canada such as a world’s fair, the World Cup, or the Olympics should be required to take place in both official languages. [Modified] | 75% | 63% | 83% | 65% |
Federal Cabinet Ministers should be bilingual. | 72% | 64% | 74% | 64% |
Canada’s official bilingualism policy and its multiculturalism policy work well together. [New] | 68% | 54% | - | - |
More support is needed for the Anglophone minority communities inside Quebec. [New] | 68% | 60% | - | - |
More support is needed for the Francophone minority communities outside Quebec. [New] | 66% | 52% | - | - |
- Question 4
- Below are a series of statements about some specific aspects of bilingualism in Canada. Please indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them
2. Advantages of knowing both languages
The vast majority feel that knowing both English and French offers advantages for a Canadian, particularly when it comes to increasing employment opportunities and providing better service to the public
Survey respondents were asked to rate a series of potential advantages of bilingualism as a ‘major advantage,’ a ‘minor advantage’ or no advantage at all. In both modes, the vast majority acknowledge that knowing both languages offers a Canadian at least some advantage. Clear majorities in both modes feel that increasing employment opportunities and providing better service (for those who work with the public) are major advantages of being bilingual. While there is general agreement across all demographic groups, there are some demographic patterns in the extent to which Canadians feel that being bilingual is advantageous. Women, younger people, those with university education and those whose mother tongue is a language other than English or French are more likely to regard knowing both languages as a major advantage in all areas.
Agreement with advantages of being bilingual | Major advantage | Minor advantage | No real advantage | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|
To increase employment opportunities | 67% | 26% | 6% | 1% |
To provide better service (for those who work with the public) | 67% | 26% | 6% | 1% |
To meet Canadians who speak the other official language | 58% | 31% | 10% | 1% |
To facilitate travel to other countries | 58% | 30% | 11% | 1% |
To become familiar with another culture | 57% | 31% | 11% | 2% |
- Question 6
- For each of the following, please indicate if you feel that knowing both official languages would be a major advantage for a Canadian to have, a minor advantage, or no real advantage?
Agreement with advantages of being bilingual | Major advantage | Minor advantage | No real advantage | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|
To increase employment opportunities | 63% | 24% | 10% | 3% |
To provide better service (for those who work with the public) | 57% | 26% | 13% | 3% |
To meet Canadians who speak the other official language | 49% | 30% | 17% | 4% |
To facilitate travel to other countries | 52% | 31% | 14% | 3% |
To become familiar with another culture | 45% | 35% | 16% | 4% |
- Question 6
- For each of the following, please indicate if you feel that knowing both official languages would be a major advantage for a Canadian to have, a minor advantage, or no real advantage?
Francophones are much more likely than Anglophones to feel that knowing both official languages is a major advantage in all of these areas, but many Anglophones also agree. About nine in ten Francophones (telephone) feel it is a major advantage for employment opportunities, offering services to the public and travelling to other countries. Among Anglophones the proportions regarding these as major advantages are in the 50 to 60 percent range.
Agreement with statements about Canada’s bilingualism | Major advantage | French (n=324) | English (n=1,183) |
---|---|---|---|
To increase employment opportunities | 67% | 90% | 61% |
To provide better service (for those who work with the public) | 67% | 92% | 61% |
To meet Canadians who speak the other official language | 58% | 79% | 53% |
To facilitate travel to other countries | 58% | 88% | 50% |
To become familiar with another culture | 57% | 78% | 51% |
- Question 6
- For each of the following, please indicate if you feel that knowing both official languages would be a major advantage for a Canadian to have, a minor advantage, or no real advantage?
There is virtually no change since 2016 in the extent to which Canadians feel that knowing both languages is a major advantage in all these areas.
Major advantage | 2021 Phone | 2021 Online | 2016 Phone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
To increase employment opportunities | 67% | 63% | 71% | 63% |
To provide better service (for those who work with the public) | 67% | 57% | 70% | 59% |
To meet Canadians who speak the other official language | 58% | 49% | 61% | 49% |
To facilitate travel to other countries | 58% | 52% | 56% | 51% |
To become familiar with another culture | 57% | 45% | 55% | 44% |
- Question 6
- For each of the following, please indicate if you feel that knowing both official languages would be a major advantage for a Canadian to have, a minor advantage, or no real advantage?
3. Myths about official bilingualism
Many Canadians continue to believe some myths about official bilingualism including that French is no longer the second most common language outside Quebec or that being bilingual is a prerequisite to work for the federal government
Online survey respondents were presented with seven myths about official bilingualism and language policy and were asked if they felt each was “true” or “false”. It should be noted that while six of the seven statements are very definitely myths, the statement “Canada’s language policy means that all federal services must be offered in both official languages coast to coast”, while strictly speaking not completely true, could be open to interpretation.
Over eight in ten think it is true that Canada’s language policy means that all federal services must be offered in both official languages. A majority also believe that in Canada outside of Quebec, French is no longer the second-most common language after English, despite the most recently available census data showing otherwise. Significantly, Francophones as well as Anglophones tend to believe this myth to be true. It is also notable that four in ten believe that one must be bilingual to work for the federal public service and one quarter believe that only those who grew up in a French environment will ever become proficient enough to meet the bilingualism criteria of the federal public service. Only a small minority of Canadians think that the official language policy requires that all Canadians must speak both languages.
It is notable that 26 percent think that the Quebec government does not have to provide any services in English and 20 percent think that the English-speaking minority in Quebec is more socio-economically privileged than the French-speaking majority – though in both cases many, particularly those living outside Quebec are not sure.
Myths, true or false | True | False | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|
Canada’s language policy means that all federal services must be offered in both official languages coast to coast. | 83% | 7% | 10% |
In Canada outside of Quebec, French is no longer the second-most common language after English. | 64% | 16% | 20% |
You must be bilingual to work for the federal public service. | 40% | 44% | 15% |
The Quebec government does not have to provide any services in English. | 26% | 51% | 23% |
Only those who grew up in a French environment will ever become proficient enough to meet the bilingualism criteria of the federal public service. | 25% | 62% | 14% |
The English-speaking minority in Quebec is more socio-economically privileged than the French-speaking majority. | 20% | 47% | 33% |
Canada’s language policy means that all Canadians must speak English and French. | 12% | 77% | 11% |
- Question 12
- Based on your understanding, are each of the following statements true or false?
For the most part there is little difference between Anglophones and Francophones in the extent to which they believe each myth. However, in two instances there are very significant differences with almost half of Francophones believing that the English minority in Quebec is more privileged than the French majority and 28 percent of Francophones thinking that Canada’s language policy means that all Canadians must speak English and French. Only very small proportions of Anglophones think either of these statements are true.
Myths, true or false | True | French (n=347) | English (n=1,153) |
---|---|---|---|
Canada’s language policy means that all federal services must be offered in both official languages coast to coast. | 83% | 80% | 83% |
In Canada outside of Quebec, French is no longer the second-most common language after English. | 64% | 58% | 65% |
You must be bilingual to work for the federal public service. | 40% | 42% | 40% |
The Quebec government does not have to provide any services in English. | 26% | 23% | 27% |
Only those who grew up in a French environment will ever become proficient enough to meet the bilingualism criteria of the federal public service. | 25% | 23% | 25% |
The English-speaking minority in Quebec is more socio-economically privileged than the French-speaking majority. | 20% | 48% | 12% |
Canada’s language policy means that all Canadians must speak English and French. | 12% | 28% | 7% |
- Question 12
- Based on your understanding, are each of the following statements true or false?
In the 2016 survey, respondents were forced to say that they considered each statement to be either true or false. They were not given the option of responding that they were “not sure”. For the sake of being able to compare the 2021 results with the 2016 results, the table below depicts the proportions only of respondents to the 2021 online survey who provide and “true” or “false” response. There has been no significant change in the extent to which Canadians believe any of these myths.
Myths, true or false | 2021 True | 2021 False | 2016 True | 2016 False |
---|---|---|---|---|
Canada’s language policy means that all federal services must be offered in both official languages coast to coast. | 92% | 8% | 87% | 13% |
You must be bilingual to work for the federal public service. | 48% | 52% | 49% | 51% |
Only those who grew up in a French environment will ever become proficient enough to meet the bilingualism criteria of the federal public service. | 28% | 72% | 25% | 75% |
Canada’s language policy means that all Canadians must speak English and French. | 13% | 87% | 16% | 84% |
In Canada outside of Quebec, French is no longer the second-most common language after English. [New] | 80% | 20% | - | - |
The Quebec government does not have to provide any services in English. [Modified] | 34% | 66% | - | - |
The English-speaking minority in Quebec is more socio-economically privileged than the French-speaking majority. [New] | 30% | 70% | - | - |
- Question 12
- Based on your understanding, are each of the following statements true or false?
C. Language proficiency and exposure
1. Self-assessed language proficiency
About one half of all Canadians, including over three-quarter of Francophones, describe themselves as fluent or at least conversant in the other official language
As was the case in 2016, about one half of Canadians describe themselves as fluent or at least conversant in the other official language and about one half say they are unable to converse in the other language. Second language ability is highest in Quebec and to a lesser extent in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and BC. Second language ability is lower in the Prairie provinces.
While there is some tendency for people with higher incomes and higher levels of education to be more likely to be at least conversant in the other language, the more significant story is the difference between Francophones and Anglophones. In the telephone survey 76 percent of Francophones say they are at least conversant in English compared to 39 percent of Anglophones who say they are at least conversant in French.
Level of other-official language proficiency | 2021 Telephone | 2021 Online | 2016 Telephone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fluent | 16% | 19% | 16% | 15% |
Conversant | 31% | 34% | 32% | 29% |
Unable to converse | 53% | 46% | 51% | 54% |
Don’t know/prefer not to answer | 0% | 2% | 1% | 2% |
- Question 7
- How would you describe your level of proficiency in [French or English]? Would you say that you are…?
(2016: How would you describe your level of proficiency in [French or English] Would you say that you are fluent, conversant, meaning that you are able to have a simple conversation, or that you are unable to converse)
Level of other-official language proficiency | 2021 Total | 2021 Francophone | 2021 Anglophone | 2016 Total | 2016 Francophone | 2016 Anglophone |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fluent | 16% | 39% | 10% | 16% | 35% | 11% |
Conversant | 31% | 37% | 29% | 32% | 50% | 28% |
Unable to converse | 53% | 24% | 60% | 51% | 16% | 60% |
Don’t know/prefer not to answer | 0% | 0% | 0% | 1% | 0% | 1% |
- Question 7
- How would you describe your level of proficiency in [French or English] ? Would you say that you are…?
(2016: How would you describe your level of proficiency in [French or English] Would you say that you are fluent, conversant, meaning that you are able to have a simple conversation, or that you are unable to converse)
2. Reasons for not learning the other official language
Main obstacles to learning the other official language include lack of practice opportunities, lack of access to courses, perceived lack of necessity, or lack of interest
All who were not fluent in the other official language were asked to list the main factors that have prevented them from learning or being more proficient in the other language. The most common reasons cited in the telephone survey include lack of access to language courses, lack of enough opportunities to practice and a lack of necessity or a lack of interest in learning the other language.
There were methodological differences in how this question was posed in the online survey that likely led to significant differences in responses. Those who completed the survey online were prompted with a list of possible factors or reasons that they could check off while those who completed the survey by phone were asked to provide reasons on their own with no prompting. Online respondents therefore provided a larger number of responses and were much more likely to cite such factors as lack of opportunity to practice, lack of time, finding the other language too difficult or, notably, fear of being judged for their accent or grammar.
Reasoning | 2021 Telephone | 2021 Online |
---|---|---|
I have not had access to language courses | 25% | 20% |
I don’t have enough opportunities to practice | 25% | 48% |
Not necessary/no need to | 24% | 32% |
I am just not interested | 16% | 23% |
Poor quality of the public education system (e.g. , language was not mandatory) | 9% | 1% |
I did not/ do not have the time | 8% | 21% |
I already speak another language/s | 7% | 15% |
I find it too difficult to learn other language(s) | 6% | 20% |
Age/ too old to learn | 2% | 0% |
I’m afraid of being judged for my accent, grammar, or vocabulary | 2% | 21% |
I have a learning or other disability | 1% | 0% |
High cost of language classes | 1% | 0% |
Other | 2% | 2% |
Not sure/prefer not to answer | 2% | 3% |
- Question 8
- What are the factors that have prevented you from learning [French or English] or becoming more proficient in it?
Subgroups: Those not fluent in other official language
3. Where the other language was learned
About half of Canadians who learned the other official language did so exclusively in elementary or high school and another four in ten learned both in school and elsewhere
Just under half of Canadians who are at least conversant in the other official language say they learned the language in elementary and/or high school and another four in ten learned both in school and in other places. About one in six say they learned the other language completely in another non-school setting. There is little demographic difference in where Canadians learned the other language except that Anglophones are much more likely to have learned French only in school, while Francophones are more likely to have learned English somewhere else or in a mix of school and somewhere else.
How language was learned | 2021 Telephone (n=704) | 2021 Online (n=792) |
---|---|---|
In elementary or high school | 46% | 48% |
Both in school and somewhere else | 38% | 37% |
Somewhere else, outside of school | 16% | 15% |
Not sure/prefer not to answer | 0% | 1% |
- Question 9
- How did you learn [French or English]? Was it…?
Subgroups: Those fluent or conversant in non-interview language
The vast majority of those who learned the other official language in elementary or high school did so in regular non-immersion language classes in school. In the online survey Anglophones (15%) are more likely than Francophones (6%) to have learned the other language in immersion classes.
School where language was learned | 2021 Telephone (n=583) | 2021 Online (n=673) |
---|---|---|
Regular non-immersion classes in school | 75% | 76% |
Immersion classes in school | 17% | 12% |
Both | 5% | 8% |
Not sure/prefer not to answer | 2% | 4% |
- Question 10
- When you learned [French or English] in elementary/high school was it through a [French or English] immersion program or through regular non-immersion [French or English] classes?
Subgroups: Those learning non-interview language in school
Those who learned the other language at least to some extent outside of elementary and high school were asked where else they learned the other language. There are modal differences in how people responded to this question as a result of online respondents being presented with a check list of possible responses, while telephone respondents had to volunteer where else they learned the other language without prompting. The most common ways in which people learn the other language outside of school include from TV and movies, from socializing with friends, from family, through work, travel and from university level courses or private lessons.
Setting of learning | 2021 Telephone (n=400) | 2021 Online (n=403) |
---|---|---|
Learned from TV, movies etc. | 20% | 38% |
Learned by socializing with friends | 18% | 37% |
Learned at work | 20% | 34% |
Took post-secondary (college/university) classes | 8% | 31% |
Learned from your spouse/family/at home | 28% | 22% |
Took private lessons | 9% | 20% |
Travelled/lived in an English or French-speaking area | 14% | 10% |
French immersion/exchange program | - | 4% |
Born French/my first language | - | 2% |
Government/army language school/training courses | - | 2% |
Learned from apps/the internet | 2% | 2% |
Learned from your community | 5% | <1% |
Learned by reading books | 4% | 1% |
Self-taught (unspecified) | 1% | <1% |
Other | 2% | 1% |
Not sure/prefer not to answer | 2% | 1% |
- Question 11
- How else did you learn [French or English]?
Subgroups: Those learning non-interview language outside school
4. Perceptions of community bilingualism
Most Canadians live in communities where they estimate that most people are not bilingual while about two in ten say a lot of people in their community are bilingual
Respondents in the online survey were asked about their perceptions of bilingualism in their community. Most Canadians (76%) believe that they live in a community where virtually no one or only a small proportion of people are bilingual. Just one in five believe that nearly everyone or a sizeable proportion of people in their community is bilingual. These results are almost identical to what was observed in 2016.
There is wide variance by province and region on this question. Almost half of Quebecers (48%) say that nearly everyone or a sizeable proportion of people in their community are bilingual. This proportion is much lower in the rest of Canada where only 12 percent say that nearly everyone or a sizeable proportion of people in their community are bilingual.
Degree of bilingualism | 2021 Online | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|
Nearly everyone is bilingual | 3% | 3% |
A sizeable proportion of people are bilingual | 17% | 19% |
Only a small proportion of people are bilingual | 54% | 50% |
Virtually no one is bilingual | 22% | 22% |
Not sure/prefer not to answer | 4% | 5% |
- Question 14
- To what degree do you think people in your community are bilingual, that is able to speak both English and French?
5. Exposure to the other official language
Most Quebecers interact with speakers of the other official language and use media or cultural products at least occasionally in the other official language, whereas a minority of Canadians from outside Quebec report similar interaction with and exposure to the other official language
Respondents in the online survey were also asked about their exposure to the other official language. A significant minority of all Canadians report that they at least occasionally interact with people who mainly speak the other official language (31%), use media such as television, radio and internet in the other official language (25%) and enjoy cultural products such as literature, music, cinema, and theatre (26%).
Question | Very often | Occasionally | Rarely | Very rarely | Not at all |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Interact with people who mostly speak the other official language | 14% | 17% | 17% | 26% | 26% |
Use media in the other official language such as television, radio and internet | 13% | 12% | 8% | 13% | 53% |
Enjoy cultural products in the other official language such as literature, music, cinema, theatre | 11% | 15% | 11% | 16% | 46% |
- Question 15
- How often do you interact with people who are mostly [French or English] speaking?
- Question 16
- How often do you use media in [French or English] such as television, radio and internet?
- Question 17
- How often do you enjoy cultural products in [French or English] such as literature, music, cinema, theatre?
The most notable aspect of this response to this question on exposure to the other official language is the major difference between the extent to which Quebecers interact with speakers of the other official language and consume media and cultural products in the other language compared to the reverse among other Canadians. Six in ten Quebecers report that they at least occasionally interact with speakers of the other official language, use media and/or enjoy cultural products in the other language. Among Canadians elsewhere, only two in ten at least occasionally interact with speakers of the other official language and even smaller proportions use media and enjoy cultural products in the other language.
Question | 2021 Very often / Occasionally | Quebec | Canada outside Quebec |
---|---|---|---|
Interact with people who mostly speak the other official language | 31% | 65% | 21% |
Use media in the other official language such as television, radio and internet | 25% | 65% | 13% |
Enjoy cultural products in the other official language such as literature, music, cinema, theatre | 26% | 59% | 16% |
- Question 15
- How often do you interact with people who are mostly [French or English] speaking?
- Question 16
- How often do you use media in [French or English] such as television, radio and internet?
- Question 17
- How often do you enjoy cultural products in [French or English] such as literature, music, cinema, theatre?
Since 2016, results suggest some increase in the proportions of Canadians who interact with media - such as television, radio and internet or enjoy cultural products at least occasionally in the other official language.
Question | 2021 Very often / Occasionally | 2016 Very often / Occasionally |
---|---|---|
Interact with people who mostly speaking the other official language | 31% | 32% |
Use media in the other official language such as television, radio and internet | 25% | 19% |
Enjoy cultural products in the other official language such as literature, music, cinema, theatre | 26% | 21% |
- Question 15
- How often do you interact with people who are mostly [French or English] speaking?
- Question 16
- How often do you use media in [French or English] such as television, radio and internet?
- Question 17
- How often do you enjoy cultural products in [French or English] such as literature, music, cinema, theatre?
6. Impact of pandemic on exposure to the other official language
Most say the COVID-19 pandemic has made no difference to their exposure to the other official language
The last two years have been marked by the Covid-19 pandemic which has had a major impact on the lives of many Canadians. However, respondents in the online survey were asked about this, and the vast majority (78%) report that the pandemic has made no difference to the extent to which they and their families have been exposed to the other official language. Another one in ten (12%), say the pandemic reduced their exposure to the other language and four percent say the pandemic caused their exposure to the other language to increase. These sentiments are consistent among Anglophones and Francophones and there are no notable significant demographic patterns.
Exposure to ‘Other’ language | Percent |
---|---|
Reduced your exposure | 12% |
Made no difference to your exposure | 78% |
Increased your exposure | 4% |
Not sure/prefer not to answer | 6% |
- Question 18
- What impact has the Covid-19 pandemic had on you and your family’s exposure to the ‘Other’ Language? Has the pandemic…?
D. Attitudes towards official language education
1. Attitudinal statements on official language education
There continues to be very high support for official language education in Canada and for more to be done to make young people bilingual. This includes support for more spaces for immersion programs and for more post-secondary education in French
The vast majority of Canadians in both the telephone and online surveys are in agreement that English and French should continue to be taught in elementary schools across Canada and also that more efforts should be made so that young people can become bilingual and speak in both official languages. These support levels are consistently high across all demographic groupings. Support tends to be particularly strong among young people between the ages of 18 and 34, Francophones and also among those born outside Canada or whose mother tongue is a non-official language. There is also a high level of support for the notion that the Government of Canada should do more to support college and university programs for those who want to study in French outside Quebec and again this is an area where support is particularly strong among Francophones.
On the topic of immersion programs, it is notable that a large majority continue to agree that provincial/territorial governments should make more spaces available in immersion programs and a smaller majority agree that language immersion programs provide a better-quality education than non-immersion programs.
There is also a high level of support for the idea that the Government of Canada should continue to invest in exchange programs as a way to encourage understanding between the country's Anglophones and Francophones and a large majority also agree that they would be (or would have been) interested in participating in school-based language exchanges to interact with young people from the other official language communities.
Most Canadians continue to reject the idea that it is more useful for Canadian children to speak other languages, such as Mandarin or Arabic, than learning to speak both official languages. While this sentiment is shared by both official language groups, there is a notable divide in how they respond to this question. Whereas only one in ten Francophones agree with this sentiment, 38 percent of Anglophones agree (telephone survey). Agreement with this notion is also higher among those whose mother tongue is another language (43%), those born outside Canada (41%) and those who are from racialized groups (47%).
Agreement with statements about official language education | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English and French should continue to be taught in elementary schools across Canada. | 91% | 68% | 22% | 4% | 5% | 1% |
More efforts should be made so that young people become bilingual and can speak in both English and French. | 81% | 52% | 29% | 10% | 7% | 2% |
Provincial/territorial governments should make more spaces available in immersion programs. | 76% | 39% | 37% | 11% | 6% | 7% |
The Government of Canada should do more to support college and university programs for those who want to study in French outside Quebec. | 72% | 37% | 35% | 13% | 12% | 3% |
Language immersion programs provide a better-quality education than non-immersion programs. | 60% | 25% | 35% | 16% | 10% | 13% |
It is more useful for children in Canada to learn to speak other languages like Mandarin, or Arabic than it is for them to learn to speak both official languages. | 32% | 9% | 23% | 29% | 35% | 4% |
The Government of Canada should continue to invest in exchange programs as a way to encourage understanding between the country's Anglophones and Francophones. | Asked online only | - | - | - | - | - |
You would be (or would have been) interested in participating in school-based language exchanges to interact with young people from the other official language communities. | Asked online only | - | - | - | - | - |
- Question 5
- I am going to read a series of statements regarding English- and French-language education. Please tell me/ indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them.
Agreement with statements about official language education | Net agree | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not
sure/ prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English and French should continue to be taught in elementary schools across Canada. | 86% | 55% | 31% | 6% | 6% | 3% |
More efforts should be made so that young people become bilingual and can speak in both English and French. | 73% | 40% | 33% | 13% | 9% | 6% |
The Government of Canada should continue to invest in exchange programs as a way to encourage understanding between the country's Anglophones and Francophones. | 72% | 33% | 39% | 10% | 9% | 9% |
Provincial/territorial governments should make more spaces available in immersion programs. | 67% | 28% | 39% | 12% | 8% | 13% |
You would be (or would have been) interested in participating in school-based language exchanges to interact with young people from the other official language communities. | 63% | 28% | 35% | 13% | 11% | 12% |
The Government of Canada should do more to support college and university programs for those who want to study in French outside Quebec. | 58% | 27% | 32% | 17% | 14% | 10% |
Language immersion programs provide a better-quality education than non-immersion programs. | 54% | 23% | 31% | 17% | 9% | 20% |
It is more useful for children in Canada to learn to speak other languages like Mandarin, or Arabic than it is for them to learn to speak both official languages. | 28% | 8% | 20% | 27% | 35% | 9% |
- Question 5
- I am going to read a series of statements regarding English- and French-language education. Please tell me/ indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them.
Agreement with statements about official language education | Net agree | French (n=324) | English (n=1,183) |
---|---|---|---|
English and French should continue to be taught in elementary schools across Canada. | 91% | 98% | 89% |
More efforts should be made so that young people become bilingual and can speak in both English and French. | 81% | 97% | 78% |
Provincial/territorial governments should make more spaces available in immersion programs. | 76% | 89% | 72% |
The Government of Canada should do more to support college and university programs for those who want to study in French outside Quebec. | 72% | 94% | 67% |
Language immersion programs provide a better-quality education than non-immersion programs. | 60% | 67% | 59% |
It is more useful for children in Canada to learn to speak other languages like Mandarin, or Arabic than it is for them to learn to speak both official languages. | 32% | 10% | 38% |
- Question 5
- I am going to read a series of statements regarding English- and French-language education. Please tell me/ indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them.
Net agree | 2021 Phone | 2021 Online | 2016 Phone | 2016 Online |
---|---|---|---|---|
English and French should continue to be taught in elementary schools across Canada. | 91% | 86% | 89% | 81% |
Provincial/territorial governments should make more spaces available in immersion programs. | 76% | 67% | 78% | 66% |
It is more useful for children in Canada to learn to speak other languages like Mandarin, or Arabic than it is for them to learn to speak both official languages. | 32% | 28% | 28% | 26% |
More efforts should be made so that young people become bilingual and can speak in both English and French. | 81% | 73% | 84% | 73% |
Language immersion programs provide a better-quality education than non-immersion programs. | 60% | 54% | 62% | 56% |
The Government of Canada should continue to invest in exchange programs as a way to encourage understanding between the country's Anglophones and Francophones. | - | 72% | - | 73% |
You would be (or would have been) interested in participating in school-based language exchanges to interact with young people from the other official language communities. | - | 63% | - | 66% |
The Government of Canada should do more to support college and university programs for those who want to study in French outside Quebec. [New] | 72% | 58% | - | - |
- Question 5
- I am going to read a series of statements regarding English- and French-language education. Please tell me/ indicate if you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with each of them.
2. Importance of children learning to be bilingual
A large majority of parents feel it is important that children learn both official languages and become bilingual
The online survey asked respondents whether they had children under eighteen. The vast majority of parents, both in Quebec (99%) and outside Quebec (70%), with children younger than eighteen feel it is important that their children have the opportunity to learn the other official language and become bilingual. A majority of parents in all regions studied share this view. It is notable, however, that parents in Quebec (76%) are much more likely to see this as “very” important than are parents outside Quebec (32%).
Importance of official language education | Total (n=359) |
---|---|
Very important | 41% |
Somewhat important | 35% |
Not very important | 12% |
Not at all important | 10% |
Unsure/prefer not to answer | 2% |
- Question 20
- How important is it to you that your child or children have the opportunity to learn [French/English] and become bilingual? Is it…?
Subgroups: Parents of child/ren <18
Importance of official language education | Total | Quebec (n=78) | Canada outside Quebec (n=281) |
---|---|---|---|
Very important | 41% | 76% | 32% |
Somewhat important | 35% | 23% | 38% |
Not very important | 12% | 1% | 15% |
Not at all important | 10% | 0% | 12% |
Unsure/prefer not to answer | 2% | 0% | 2% |
- Question 20
- How important is it to you that your child or children have the opportunity to learn [French/English] and become bilingual? Is it…?
Subgroups: Parents of child/ren <18
E. Correlation with attitudes towards topical issues
Support for official languages has become normative and there appears to be relatively little significant correlation between attitudes towards current topics and support or opposition to the Act
Respondents to the online survey were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with a series of 16 attitudinal statements that relate to current issues and topics. The statements related to such topics as the place of women in society, environmental concerns, the perceived efficiency of government, labour unions, accommodation of religious minorities, trust in news media, mandatory vaccination policies, immigration and government’s equal rights priorities. The purpose of posing these questions was not to analyse the responses in their own right but rather to explore the extent to which attitudes towards these other issues might correlate with support for or opposition to the aims of the Official Languages Act in question 1 of this survey. The actual results for these 16 statements are described below.
Agreement with current topics | Strongly agree | Some-what agree | Some-what disagree | Strongly disagree | Not sure/prefer not to answer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Canada needs to enact stricter laws and regulations in order to fight climate change. | 40% | 32% | 12% | 10% | 7% |
Women face additional barriers in the workplace that men do not. | 36% | 41% | 11% | 6% | 5% |
We should all be environmentally conscious even if we have to pay higher prices. | 32% | 40% | 13% | 9% | 6% |
Language rights are as important as any other rights guaranteed in the Charter. | 30% | 39% | 15% | 8% | 8% |
Regular people don't have any real say in what elected officials in Ottawa do. | 27% | 35% | 21% | 9% | 7% |
Quebec represents a distinct society within Canada. | 27% | 40% | 14% | 11% | 8% |
I feel more personal connection to <Province> than to Canada as a whole. | 26% | 32% | 23% | 13% | 7% |
Every effort should be made to promote bilingualism among Canadians. | 24% | 36% | 19% | 14% | 7% |
When something is run by the government, it is usually inefficient and wasteful. | 21% | 38% | 23% | 8% | 10% |
I am concerned that governments are collecting too much personal information. | 19% | 36% | 27% | 10% | 8% |
The number of immigrants coming to Canada threatens long-held Canadian values. | 16% | 23% | 24% | 30% | 8% |
Labour unions make life better for all working Canadians. | 13% | 36% | 22% | 15% | 13% |
Mandatory vaccination policies are a dangerous threat to individual rights. | 12% | 10% | 16% | 57% | 5% |
The government has gone too far in pushing equal rights. | 12% | 19% | 28% | 28% | 13% |
Every reasonable accommodation for religious minority groups should be made in Canada, even if their values are not shared by most Canadians. | 10% | 29% | 25% | 23% | 14% |
I trust the news and information I get from social media sources more than I trust what I get from the mainstream media. | 3% | 13% | 22% | 53% | 9% |
- Question 19
- Below are a series of statements that will help us understand how you feel about a number of topics. For each statement, please indicate your level of agreement from completely agree to completely disagree.
1. Correlation with support for the Official Languages Act
The statements that correlate most with support for official languages are those that address bilingualism and language rights, followed by those that address environmental concerns
As one might expect the statements that correlate the most strongly with support for the aims of the Act are the two statements that also relate to bilingualism and language rights. People who would agree that “Every effort should be made to promote bilingualism among Canadians” and that “Language rights are as important as any other rights guaranteed in the Charter” are also highly supportive of the Official Languages Act and its aims. The other issue that correlates significantly with support for the Act are the two that relate to the environment. We can see in the table below that there is notable positive correlation with the statements “Canada needs to enact stricter laws and regulations in order to fight climate change” and “We should all be environmentally conscious even if we have to pay higher prices. ”
There is also some correlation between support for the Act and the sentiment that “Quebec represents a distinct society within Canada,” however it should be noted that support for the Act tends to be higher in Quebec than in the rest of Canada and agreement with that statement about Quebec being a distinct society is mostly found among Quebecers.
There is weaker but still notable correlation between support for the Act and statements saying that “labour unions make life better for all working Canadians” and “women face additional barriers in the workplace that men do not” suggesting that support for bilingualism is linked at least to some extent with support for equity issues and social justice. There is only very weak correlation, however, with the statement “Every reasonable accommodation for religious minority groups should be made in Canada, even if their values are not shared by most Canadians. ”
Statements | Correlation coefficient |
---|---|
Every effort should be made to promote bilingualism among Canadians. | 0.481 |
Language rights are as important as any other rights guaranteed in the Charter. | 0.373 |
Canada needs to enact stricter laws and regulations in order to fight climate change. | 0.251 |
We should all be environmentally conscious even if we have to pay higher prices. | 0.246 |
Quebec represents a distinct society within Canada. | 0.215 |
Labour unions make life better for all working Canadians. | 0.164 |
Women face additional barriers in the workplace that men do not. | 0.156 |
Every reasonable accommodation for religious minority groups should be made in Canada, even if their values are not shared by most Canadians. | 0.084 |
2. Correlation with opposition to the Official Languages Act
Opposition to the aims of the Act correlates most with the notion that government has gone too far in pushing equal rights
In analysing the extent to which these statements correlate with opposition to the aims of the Official Languages Act, in some ways the lack of correlation is as notable as the correlation. The statement that correlates the most strongly with opposition to the aims of the Act is “the government has gone too far in pushing equal rights” which speaks to a suspicion of the equity agenda and another statement that also correlates, albeit weakly, with opposition to the Act is “the number of immigrants coming to Canada threatens long-held Canadian values”. Other statements with weaker levels of correlation such as “when something is run by the government, it is usually inefficient and wasteful” and “regular people don't have any real say in what elected officials in Ottawa do” relate more to a feeling of cynicism about government. But again, it should be stressed that these are relatively modest levels of correlation and that the proportion of Canadians who oppose the Act is quite small.
It is notable that we do not see any significant correlation between opposition to the Act and opposition to vaccine mandates or concerns about government collecting too much personal information. There also does not appear to be any correlation between attitudes towards the Act and the extent to which people trust or mistrust the mainstream media.
Statements | Correlation coefficient |
---|---|
The government has gone too far in pushing equal rights. | 0.233 |
When something is run by the government, it is usually inefficient and wasteful. | 0.173 |
The number of immigrants coming to Canada threatens long-held Canadian values. | 0.165 |
Regular people don't have any real say in what elected officials in Ottawa do. | 0.158 |
I feel more personal connection to <Province> than to Canada as a whole. | 0.105 |
I am concerned that governments are collecting too much personal information. | 0.095 |
Mandatory vaccination policies are a dangerous threat to individual rights. | 0.055 |
I trust the news and information I get from social media sources more than I trust what I get from the mainstream media | 0.039 |
F. Linguistic profile of respondents
The following tables presents the weighted distribution of survey participants by linguistic profile.
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
English | 80% | 77% |
French | 20% | 23% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
English | 59% | 59% |
French | 21% | 24% |
Another language | 19% | 17% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
English | 71% | 68% |
French | 20% | 23% |
Another language | 9% | 8% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 39% | 35% |
No | 61% | 63% |
II. Respondent profile
The following tables presents the weighted distribution of survey participants by key demographic and other variables.
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
18-24 | 10% | 4% |
25-34 | 17% | 23% |
35-44 | 16% | 17% |
45-54 | 18% | 17% |
55-64 | 14% | 14% |
65+ | 25% | 25% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
Woman | 51% | 50% |
Man | 49% | 49% |
Self-identifying as another gender | 1% | <1% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
Under $20,000 | 7% | 4% |
$20,000-<$40,000 | 11% | 12% |
$40,000-<$60,000 | 12% | 13% |
$60,000-<$80,000 | 13% | 12% |
$80,000-<$100,000 | 9% | 14% |
$100,000-<$150,000 | 17% | 17% |
$150,000 or more | 16% | 14% |
Prefer not to say | 14% | 15% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
High school or less | 26% | 14% |
Apprentice/college/some university | 36% | 35% |
University graduate/post-graduate | 37% | 49% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
Canada | 76% | 77% |
Outside Canada | 24% | 22% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
Yes | 11% | 10% |
No | 89% | 88% |
Not sure/prefer not to say | 1% | 2% |
Variable | Telephone sample % | Online sample % |
---|---|---|
White | 75% | 77% |
Racialized (not Indigenous) | 19% | 21% |
Indigenous | 4% | 2% |
Not sure/prefer not to say | 2% | 3% |
Appendix A: Methodology
Appendix A: Methodology
Appendix B: Telephone Questionnaire
Appendix B: Telephone Questionnaire