Canada: English-French bilingualism

[Harold F. Schiffman]

>>From Statistics Canada:

English-French bilingualism

Increase in rate of English-French bilingualism nationally
Bilingualism losing some ground among young anglophones outside Quebec
Bilingualism on the rise in Quebec

Increase in rate of English-French bilingualism nationally About 5,231,500
people reported to the 2001 Census that they were bilingual, compared with
4,841,300 five years earlier, an 8.1% increase.  In 2001, these
individuals represented 17.7% of the population, up from 17.0% in 1996.
Nationally, 43.4% of francophones reported that they were bilingual,
compared with 9.0% of anglophones. Within Quebec, the growth in the
bilingualism rate from 1996 to 2001 was even greater than in the previous
five-year period. In 2001, two out of every five individuals (40.8%)
reported that they were bilingual, compared with 37.8% in 1996 and 35.4%
in 1991.

Outside Quebec, however, the rate remained almost unchanged at 10.3% in
2001 compared with 10.2% in 1996. The bilingualism rate increased in every
province except Manitoba and Saskatchewan. However, in almost every case,
the rate of increase was slower than or equal to the gain between 1991 and
1996. The decline in Manitoba and Saskatchewan was related to the decrease
in their francophone populations. In New Brunswick, 34.2% of the
population reported that they were bilingual in 2001, compared with 32.6%
in 1996 and 29.5% in 1991.

Ontario's rate edged up from 11.6% to 11.7%. In Prince Edward Island, it
rose a full percentage point, from 11.0% to 12.0%.
 Rate of English-French bilingualism, Canada, provinces, territories and
Canada less Quebec, 1991, 1996 and 2001

Bilingualism losing some ground among young anglophones outside Quebec
Most anglophones outside Quebec learn French at school. As a result, the
bilingualism rate peaks in the age group 15 to 19, when young people
complete their high school education. Many teenagers in that age group had
been enrolled in French as a second language or immersion programs.
However, from 1996 to 2001, bilingualism lost some ground among
anglophones aged 15 to 19 outside Quebec. In 2001, 14.7% of anglophones in
this age group outside Quebec were bilingual. While this was twice the
proportion for the anglophone population as a whole (7.1%), it was lower
than the proportion of 16.3% among anglophones aged 15 to 19 in 1996.

Even in the age group 10 to 14, the bilingualism rate fell from 12.9% in
1996 to 11.5% in 2001. The pattern was the same in every province west of
Quebec. In the Atlantic provinces, only Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova
Scotia recorded an increase in the bilingualism rate among anglophones in
these two age groups. In Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, the
proportion rose among youngsters aged 10 to 14, but declined in the age
group 15 to 19. Furthermore, the ability of young anglophones to maintain
their knowledge of French as a second language appears to fade over time.
In 1996, the bilingualism rate among young people aged 15 to 19 was 16.3%.
By 2001, when this group was five years older, or aged between 20 and 24,
the rate had dropped to 13.5%. This followed a similar pattern from 1991
to 1996.

 Proportion of English-French bilingual anglophones in each five-year age
groups, Canada less Quebec, 1991, 1996 and 2001

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/analytic/companion/lang/bilingual.cfm



Bilingualism on the rise in Quebec
In Quebec, anglophones had a very high rate of bilingualism in all age
groups. Between 1996 and 2001, the bilingualism rate for the anglophone
group as a whole rose from 61.7% in 1996 to 66.1% in 2001.

The bilingualism rate among francophones climbed from 33.7% in 1996 to
36.6% in 2001. Since many francophones learn English once they have
completed their full time schooling, the rate peaked in the age groups 20
to 24 (53.6%) and 25 to 29 (53.7%).

In addition, the rate increased substantially in every age group. In 2001,
for example, 41.5% of francophones aged 15 to 19 reported they were
bilingual, compared with 35.3% in 1996.

 Proportion of English-French bilingual francophones in each five-year age
groups, Quebec, 1991, 1996 and 2001



Even among allophones, for whom English-French bilingualism means learning
two second languages, the rate was very high, and still climbing. From
1996 to 2001, it jumped from 46.7% to 50.4%.


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



Moreover, 73.1% of allophones in Quebec, were able to conduct a
conversation in French in 2001, compared with 69.3% in 1996. In 2001,
69.1% were able to speak English, up from 66.4% in 1996.

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/analytic/companion/lang/bilingual.cfm