Article published In: 40 Years of Bill 101 in Québec
Edited by François Vaillancourt
[Language Problems and Language Planning 43:2] 2019
► pp. 198–229
Evaluating the impact of Bill 101 on the English-speaking communities of Quebec
Published online: 22 July 2019
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00042.bou
https://doi.org/10.1075/lplp.00042.bou
Abstract
Though forty years of language policies much improved the status and use of French in Quebec, laws such as Bill
101 played a role in reducing the demographic and institutional vitality of the English-speaking communities of Quebec (ESCQ).
Pro-French laws maintained Francophones at close to 80% of the Quebec population and ensured that 95% of the Quebec population
acquired knowledge of French. Language laws contributed to the decline of Anglophone mother tongue speakers from 13% of the
population in 1971 to 7.5% in 2016, while increasing to 70% French/English bilingualism amongst Anglophones. With a net
interprovincial loss of over 310,000 Anglophones who left Quebec for the rest of Canada (ROC), results show that Anglophones who
stayed in Quebec are less educated and earn lower income than Quebec Francophones. Language laws limiting access to English
schools succeeded in reducing the size of the English school system from 256, 251 pupils in 1971 (100%) to only 96,235 pupils in
2018 (37%). While the Anglophone minority bemoan their demographic and institutional decline in education, health care, and
government services, many Francophones remains concerned about threats to French by bilingualism in Montreal and their minority
status in Canada and North America.
Résumé
Quatre décennies d’aménagement linguistique ont assuré le statut et l’usage du français au
Québec. La Charte de la langue française (loi 101) a contribué à la connaissance du français pour 95 % de la population du Québec
et au maintien de 80 % de sa population ayant le français comme langue maternelle. Par contre, cette loi a contribué au déclin de
la minorité de langue maternelle anglaise au Québec : de 13 % en 1971 à 7.5 % en 2016, tout en contribuant au taux de bilinguisme
chez ces Anglophones : de 37 % en 1971 à 69 % en 2016. Des facteurs économiques et politiques, ainsi que le sentiment
d’être peu toléré par la majorité, expliquent l’exode de 310,000 Anglophones vers le reste du Canada depuis
l’adoption de la loi 101. Bien que bilingues, les Anglophones qui sont restés au Québec sont moins scolarisés et ont un
revenu moindre que les membres de la majorité francophone. Les nombreuses législations limitant l’accès aux écoles
anglaises ont eu l’effet de réduire la taille du système scolaire anglophone: de 256,251 élèves en 1971 (100 %) à 96,235
élèves en 2018 (37 %), minant ainsi la vitalité institutionnelle de cette minorité anglophone en déclin démographique au
Québec.
Resumo
Kvardek jaroj de lingvopolitiko multe plibonigis la statuson kaj la uzon de la franca en Kebekio. La Ĉarto de la franca lingvo (leĝo 101) kontribuis al la disvastiĝo de la franca, kiu estas konata fare de la 95% de la homoj en Kebekio, kaj krome 80% deklaras ĝin kiel gepatran lingvon. Aliflanke, ĉi tiu leĝo kontribuis al la maldisvastiĝo de la Kebekia malplejmulto kiu parolas la anglan kiel gepatran lingvon: ekde 13% en 1971 ĝis 7,5% en 2016. Samtempe, la dulingveco angla-franca inter anglaparolantoj altiĝis ekde 37% en 1971 ĝis 69% en 2016. La faktoroj ekonomiaj kaj politikaj montras, ke la anglaparolantoj kiuj restas en Kebekio estas malpli bone edukitaj ol tiuj kiuj loĝas en la resto de Kanado, en la periodo ekde la efektivigo de leĝo 101. Fakte, en tiu periodo pli ol 310.000 anglaparolantoj foriris Kebekion. La leĝofarado kiu limigas la aliron al la anglalingvaj lernejoj sukcese malaltigi la grandon de la anglalingva anaro ekde 256.251 lernejanoj en 1971 (100%) ĝis nur 96.235 lernejanoj en 2018 (37%). Dum kiam la anglalingva malplejmulto plendas pro sia reduktiĝo en demografiaj terminoj kaj specife pri la limigoj en la kampo de edukado, la franclingva plejmulto daŭre maltrankvilas pri la minaco kontraŭ la franca fare de la dulingvismo en Montrealo kaj pri sia statuso kiel minoritato en Kanado kaj ĝenerale en Nordameriko.
Article outline
- 1.The ethnolinguistic vitality construct
- 2.Brief overview of French and English languages communities in Quebec
- 3.Language policies in Canada and Quebec
- 4.Demolinguistic and sociolinguistic impact of Bill 101
- 5.Bill 101 and the Institutional vitality of the ESCQ: Decline of the English school system
- 6.Concluding notes
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