© COURTESY OF CANADIAN PARENTS FOR FRENCH
For decades, official bilingualism has been promoted as a cornerstone of Canadian identity. It remains a source of national pride and a symbol of the pluralistic society Canadians aspire to build. Yet behind that aspiration lies a difficult reality: Canada’s progress toward bilingualism has largely stalled.
A NATIONAL GOAL LOSING MOMENTUM
For the past two decades, the national bilingualism rate has remained stuck at roughly 18 per cent. Francophone communities have carried much of the responsibility for sustaining this objective, while bilingualism among the Anglophone majority has plateaued at just 7.4 per cent.
This stagnation is not the result of a lack of public interest. Eight in ten Canadians believe more should be done to help young people become bilingual, while three in four parents view bilingualism as an important asset for their children’s future.
Canada already has a proven solution. French Immersion remains the most effective and accessible pathway for Anglophone and Allophone students to achieve meaningful proficiency in French.
TURNING A PROMISE INTO ACCESS
As French Immersion approaches its 50th anniversary in 2027, Canadian Parents for French believes it is time to fulfil a promise first articulated nearly half a century ago. In 1977, Education Minister Thomas L. Wells described access to effective French-language instruction as the “basic right of every child” in Ontario.
Guaranteeing access to French Immersion is not simply an educational issue. It is an economic and cultural imperative. Expanding access would reduce barriers for families, strengthen Canada’s bilingual workforce, and foster deeper connections between English-speaking Canadians and Francophone communities.
BUILDING A MORE BILINGUAL CANADA
If Canada is serious about building a more bilingual future, French-language education cannot remain an opportunity available only to some students. It must be accessible to all those who want it.
A more bilingual Canada starts with greater access to French-language education. Learn more about Canadian Parents for French and how you can help ensure more young people have the opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive in both of Canada’s official languages.
Find out more at SayOui.ca
Bilingualism Makes Canada a Oui Bit Better
© Pexels/Max Fischer Canadian Parents for French furthers bilingualism by promoting an creating opportunities for students to learn and use French “Speaking English and French
Young Bilinguals Make French in Canada Thrive
Top Image: © Pexels/RODNAE Productions There are many reasons to support bilingualism… Our two official languages are a fundamental element of the Canadian identity; English
Get your free copy of Global Heroes, jam-packed with positive news, straight in your inbox.
Canadian Parents for French are a national network of parents, volunteers, and advocates dedicated to the promotion and creation of French-second-language learning opportunities for young Canadians.