Subjective vitality and a sense of belonging

Portrait of Official-Language Minorities in Canada

Catalogue number: Catalogue number: 11-629-x

Issue number: 2015010

Release date: April 17, 2014
Subjective vitality and a sense of belonging - Transcript

Description of visuals

Francophones outside Quebec and Anglophones in Quebec share a strong attachment to their language, and they are clear about its importance for them.

(A bar chart appears on the screen, representing the value given to language. On the left axis are percentages from 0 to 100.)

A large majority of Francophones and Anglophones living in minority communities report that it is important or very important to be able to use their language in their daily life, that government services be provided to them in the

(87% of francophones in Quebec, 79% of anglophones outside Quebec.)

minority language, that their language rights be respected,

(94% of francophones in Quebec, 87% of anglophones outside Quebec.)

(96% of francophones in Quebec, 92% of anglophones outside Quebec.)

and that organizations -work for the development of their community.

(79% of francophones in Quebec, 81% of anglophones outside Quebec.)

When it comes to a sense of belonging, Francophones appear to have a dual ethnolinguistic identity.

In most provinces outside Quebec, a majority of Francophones report that they identify with the Francophone group and the Anglophone group equally.

(A bar chart appears on the screen, representing sense of belonging. On the left axis are the provinces, and on the bottom axis are percentages from 10 to 100. The chart shows the following:

  • Sense of belonging mainly or only with the francophone group
  • Newfoundland and Labrador 19%
  • Prince Edward Island 20%
  • Nova Scotia 18%
  • New Brunswick 63%
  • Ontario 36%
  • Manitoba 16%
  • Saskatchewan 10%
  • Alberta 14%
  • British Columbia 14%
  • Sense of belonging mainly or only with the anglophone group
  • Quebec 55%
  • Sense of belonging with both groups equally
  • Newfoundland and Labrador 47%
  • Prince Edward Island 60%
  • Nova Scotia 58%
  • New Brunswick 34%
  • Québec 37%
  • Ontario 52%
  • Manitoba 55%
  • Saskatchewan 51%
  • Alberta 54%
  • British Columbia 51%)

When those who report identifying mainly or only with the Francophone group are taken into account, it becomes clear that Francophones outside Quebec feel a strong sense of attachment to the French language.

Quebec Anglophones also feel a strong sense of attachment to their language. 37% of them report identifying with the Anglophone group and the Francophone group equally. Fifty-five percent identify mainly or only with the Anglophone group.

Although Francophones outside Quebec share a strong sense of belonging to their community, they are divided on how they perceive the vitality of the Francophone community in their home municipality.

(A bar chart appears on the screen, representing the vitality of their community, perceived as strong or very strong. On the left axis are the provinces and on the bottom axis are percentages from 10 to 100. The chart shows the following:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador 30%
  • Prince Edward Island 44%
  • Nova Scotia 38%
  • New Brunswick 72%
  • Ontario 39%
  • Manitoba 43%
  • Saskatchewan 27%
  • Alberta 26%
  • British Columbia 17%
  • Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut 70%)

While more than 70% of Francophones in New Brunswick and the territories feel that the vitality of their community is strong or very strong, Francophones in Saskatchewan,

(Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia are highlighted.)

Alberta and British Columbia are much less likely to feel the same.

Notwithstanding, a majority of Francophones outside Quebec believe that the place of French in their municipality has increased or remained the same in the previous 10 years.

Most of them believe that the place of French will remain stable or increase in the following 10 years.

(A bar chart appears on the screen, representing the perception of evolution of the language's place in the community. On the left axis are percentages from 0 to 100, while the bottom axis shows the increase in or stabilization of the perception that the place of the language is changing.)

(Canada outside Quebec > Past evolution > 20% see an increase and 51% see no change in the place of French in their community.)

(Canada outside Quebec > Future evolution > 37% foresee an increase and 42% foresee no change in the place of French in their community.)

Quebec Anglophones' perception of the vitality of their community is similar to that of Francophones outside Quebec. However, they are a little less positive about how the place of their language has evolved in the previous 10 years in their municipality, and they are also a little less optimistic about how it will continue to evolve.

(Quebec > Past evolution > 25% see an increase and 44% see no change in the place of French in their community.)

(Quebec > Future evolution > 38% foresee an increase and 34% foresee no change in the place of French in their community.)

Perceptions are one measure: next, let's look at the extent to which official-language minorities use their language in their daily life.

(The image fades into the Canada wordmark against a black background.)


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