What's up with French in Canada?

[iamcanadian2]

80% of Canadians don't understand any French.

Almost all of the 20% that do understand French also understand English better than most foreign language Immigrants who live and work here for 30 years and are all equally Canadian Citizens.

80% of the 20% Francophones live in Quebec.

Outside of Quebec Francaphones are the among the smallest of Canada's minority languages. In most of Canada outside of Quebec they are not even represented in the general population since they are concentrated in small pockets of communities here and there.

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

What's all of the Billions upon Billions in money being spent on French outside of Quebec realy all about?

[geoffrey]

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

I'm going to call you on that one. Provide some proof instead of just ranting.

[Wilber]

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

I'm going to call you on that one. Provide some proof instead of just ranting.

I'll bet it is less than 4% in some parts of the country. Wonder what the average is.

[Leafless]

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

I'm going to call you on that one. Provide some proof instead of just ranting.

I'll bet it is less than 4% in some parts of the country. Wonder what the average is.

The number of bilingual Canadians outside Quebec is 18%.

http://www.answers.com/topic/languages-of-canada

But out of that number 10% are Quebecers living outside Quebec, which actually reduces the number of bilingual Canadians to 8%.

Perhaps there was some confusion to the number of Francophone's living outside Quebec which is 4.4%.

But the question is: "What's all of the Billions upon Billions in money being spent on French outside of Quebec really all about?"

This is what the question is.

[seabee]

Even though I can't provide the specific references, in think the above numbers are about right, with one detail to correct. Outside Québec, the percentage of people who speak french is considerably higher than 4%, but if you subtract from these numbers those who speak french as a mother tongue, then the percentage drops to about 4%. In other words, this figure refers to people who have learned french as a second language. It is also correct that there are very large areas, particularly in rural area, that no french is spoken at all.

[Wilber]

But out of that number 10% are Quebecers living outside Quebec, which actually reduces the number of bilingual Canadians to 8%.

The number of bilingual Canadians is far greater than 8% but for a large number of them, French is no longer one of their languages.

[nickjbor]

I'm pretty sure that more than 4% of non-quebecois canadians know french.

but lets find out:

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/P.../lang/provs.cfm

Outside Quebec, francophones accounted for 4.4% of the population in 2001, virtually the same as the level of 4.5% in 1996.

surprising

from this:

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/p...=Counts&B2=Both

I get numbers that back that first statistic up.

but from this: http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/p...=Counts&B2=Both

I get 10.8% of people from outside quebec that know french.

but according to the first table, 20% of canadians from english canada have a mother language that is neither english nor french.

according to wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_in_Canada 753,745 people speak chinese. while this is close to the number that speak french as a mother tounge outside of quebec, it is not more. French is still the #2 mother tonge language outside of quebec, but it IS quite clear that wont always be the case.

[Leafless]

What's all of the Billions upon Billions in money being spent on French outside of Quebec realy all about?

Could it have anything to with 'Official Languages of Canada', item#16-(3), which states:

" Nothing in this Charter limits the authority of Parliament to advance the equality of status or use of English or French."

[Argus]

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

I'm going to call you on that one. Provide some proof instead of just ranting.

There are approximately twenty five million people outside of Quebec, of which approximately 1 million are Francophones. That's about 4% of the population.

[geoffrey]

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

I'm going to call you on that one. Provide some proof instead of just ranting.

There are approximately twenty five million people outside of Quebec, of which approximately 1 million are Francophones. That's about 4% of the population.

His statement was 'outside of Quebec understand French.' I understand French, but I'm not a francophone.

[iamcanadian2]

Could it have anything to with 'Official Languages of Canada', item#16-(3), which states:

" Nothing in this Charter limits the authority of Parliament to advance the equality of status or use of English or French."

Nothing limits it from French being abolished from the public service outside of Quebec either.

25 Million people that don't care to hear or see French in their daily lives have to pay for provide the priviledge to 1 million francophones to choose to speak french outside of Quebec and with this excuse get a segragated Education (without migling with all the new immigrants) and a no line-up Health Care so they can enjoy a better standards and get more gtovernment jobs for themselves at the expense of the rest.

Highly unfair and unethical application of allowing some to be more equal than others in a most racist kind of way. Canada is the last Aparthied State of the British Colonies. It's about time we kept up with the rest of the world on human rights and equality.

Segragated Public Services of every kind in the French language outside of Quebec needs to be abolished in Canada. French should be treated as any other minirity language outside of Quebec.

[Rue]

"Almost all of the 20% that do understand French also understand English better than most foreign language Immigrants who live and work here for 30 years and are all equally Canadian Citizens."

"What's all of the Billions upon Billions in money being spent on French outside of Quebec realy all about?"

Here are the 2001 statistics from Statistics Canada: (the 2006 census is not available for another year)

I prefer to work with reality rather then someone's off the cuff made up numbers.

Now as for the slur about immigrants being here for 30 years and not speaking English - I suppose it goes hand in hand with your anti French tirade barely disguised intolerance of anything non English which evidently is also a code reference against immigrants as well.

You want to in-breed and hide from diversity be my guest. Just remain in your small town. I don't want to run into your children.

Rate of English-French bilingualism, Canada, provinces, territories and Canada less Quebec, 1991, 1996 and 2001

%

1991 1996 2001

Canada 16.3 17.0 17.7

Newfoundland and Labrador 3.3 3.9 4.1

Prince Edward Island 10.1 11.0 12.0

Nova Scotia 8.6 9.3 10.1

New Brunswick 29.5 32.6 34.2

Quebec 35.4 37.8 40.8

Ontario 11.4 11.6 11.7

Manitoba 9.2 9.4 9.3

Saskatchewan 5.2 5.2 5.1

Alberta 6.6 6.7 6.9

British Columbia 6.4 6.7 7.0

Yukon Territory 9.3 10.5 10.1

Northwest Territories 7.7 8.3

Nunavut 4.1 3.8

Canada less Quebec 9.8 10.2 10.3

Name

Mother Tongue

English1

French2

English and French3

Other4

Total

Canada

17,572,170 6,741,955 122,660 5,202,240 29,639,035

Newfoundland and Labrador 500,065 2,180 335 5,495 508,075

Prince Edward Island 125,215 5,670 440 2,065 133,385

Nova Scotia 834,315 34,155 2,590 26,510 897,570

New Brunswick 465,720 236,775 5,290 11,935 719,710

Quebec

572,085 5,788,655 55,420 709,425 7,125,580

Ontario

8,079,500 493,630 40,340 2,672,080 11,285,550

Manitoba

836,980 44,775 2,780 219,160 1,103,700

Saskatchewan

825,865 18,035 1,490 117,765 963,150

Alberta

2,405,935 59,735 6,260 469,225 2,941,150

British Columbia

2,865,300 56,100 7,525 939,945 3,868,875

Yukon Territory 24,840 890 85 2,700 28,525

Northwest Territories

28,985 965 90 7,065 37,105

Nunavut

7,370 400 20 18,875 26,665

[guyser]

Whats up with all the English in Canada ?

25 Million people that don't care to hear or see French in their daily lives have to pay for provide the priviledge to 1 million francophones to choose to speak french outside of Quebec and with this excuse get a segragated Education (without migling with all the new immigrants) and a no line-up Health Care so they can enjoy a better standards and get more gtovernment jobs for themselves at the expense of the rest.

Spent a lot of time polling all 25M I take it? If so you can't add.

[iamcanadian2]

As they say... there are lies, damnd lies, and then there are statistics.

[guyser]

As they say... there are lies, damnd lies,

Fixed it for ya!

[Argus]

4% of Canadians outside of Quebec understand French.

I'm going to call you on that one. Provide some proof instead of just ranting.

There are approximately twenty five million people outside of Quebec, of which approximately 1 million are Francophones. That's about 4% of the population.

His statement was 'outside of Quebec understand French.' I understand French, but I'm not a francophone.

I don't think that's what he meant, though. Government French programs are not in place for your benefit.

[Leafless]

Highly unfair and unethical application of allowing some to be more equal than others in a most racist kind of way. Canada is the last Aparthied State of the British Colonies. It's about time we kept up with the rest of the world on human rights and equality.

Segragated Public Services of every kind in the French language outside of Quebec needs to be abolished in Canada. French should be treated as any other minirity language outside of Quebec.

Yes, it's a slippery slope when it comes down to human rights in Canada.

But what do you expect when the cause of a dysfunctional government, pertaining to human rights and other serious divisive issues, is due to the fact, it is directly built in to the political system itself.

This is what happens when basic third world problems are left unattended for 130 years.

[iamcanadian2]

The problem is that the 20% of Canadians who are Francaphones have the advantages of public employment in a Socialist State such as Canada where a good 3 Million People are employed by the government.

All of the top possitions go to Francaphones, the non-elected judges in the higher courts must be francaphones, the federal government jobs all all francaphones, the forein embasies and stations all go to francaphones.

They excuse of French in Canada is used and abused much to much and the people who abuse it are at the top of the command and control centers.

Also it is a hindrence for immigrants that come here who for many generations will never take up French as a second languages since our pushing of multi-culturalism also tends to keep the Francophone families ahead of all others who will tend to advance their ancestral language as their second language rather than French. French is not a very pretty language and quite complicated and cumbersome to learn or use properly so few people will take it up on purpose. I will go so far as say that it is the perfect language if you want to discourage new people to learn it who are not born into it.

The segragated education system and sepaprate no-line up health care ensures their advantages will be preserved for generation unless the is a revolution here that kick out the controlling class from government possition and exiles them to the North West Territories.

[guyser]

The problem is that the 20% of Canadians who are Francaphones have the advantages of public employment in a Socialist State such as Canada where a good 3 Million People are employed by the government.

I agree, we should not let any Francophones work . Nice stat on 3million , but the truth is that there are about 150,000 federal employees. Wow...from 3 million to 150,000 .

All of the top possitions go to Francaphones, the non-elected judges in the higher courts must be francaphones, the federal government jobs all all francaphones, the forein embasies and stations all go to francaphones.

Yes yes....all of the top positions go to French Canadians....right. Kind of like your assertion that there are 3M employees? two for two now. I had a quick cursory look at a handful of embassies/consulates and did not find what you were saying.

Oh but I did find that you were correct in the higher courts, for instance the Supreme Court fo Canada . The Chief Justice of Canada is a frenchy named Beverly McLachlin , born and raised in that horribly French separatist city called Pincher Creek ALBERTA .....

They excuse of French in Canada is used and abused much to much and the people who abuse it are at the top of the command and control centers.

Now there is a fairly truthful statement.

French is not a very pretty language and quite complicated and cumbersome to learn or use properly so few people will take it up on purpose. I will go so far as say that it is the perfect language if you want to discourage new people to learn it who are not born into it.

Oh wow, French is not a pretty language? Yea, right, the language of love baby. Try it, women love to hear, well at least the ones I know.

.... and sepaprate no-line up health care

Care to expand on that one ?

[BC_chick]

As a sympathiser for Quebec-separatism and a staunch defender of the French-Canadians regarding their historical treatment in Canada, even I agree that present-day appeasement for Quebec has gone too far. Too much money is being given to the province, and iamcanadian's point about the futility of bilingualism policy is being lost in discerning the details as opposed to the big picture.

Yes, I sympathise with separatists even though I am a federalist. Yes, I abhor the historical plight of French-Canadians even though I think today being a French-Canadian opens more doors than being English-Canadian (the reverse of Canadian history). I am speaking strictly based on economic reasons when I say too much money is being wasted to appease a group who will never cease dreams of separation.

Yet to the demagogue separatists I am just another example of French-bashing English-Canadians who serve as the quintessential reason Quebec needs to be its own nation.

They (the separatists) will never get over the self-victimization and wake up to see that Quebec is nowhere near being a victim anymore.

If anything, it's quite the opposite.