The Future of Official Language Minorities

Type of resource
Author/collaborator
Title
The Future of Official Language Minorities
Abstract
The author points out that until the 1970s, Anglophones in Quebec had relatively stable numbers, making up approximately 20% of total provincial population during the first half of the twentieth century. However, an important trend during this period was the decline of Anglo-Celts as the mainstay of the English-speaking community. Eighteen percent of English-speaking Quebecers came from Anglo-Celtic backgrounds in 1901; only 11% were of this stock in 1981. At the same time, the ethnic component assimilating into Anglophone ranks climbed steadily, and in about equal proportion to the decline of Anglo-Celts. Incorporation of ethnic groups replenished the ranks of the English-speaking community and kept its numbers stable. However, the author notes that Bill 101 stopped this process abruptly. Bill 101 gives clear, sharp and effective directions to Quebec immigrants to assimilate into the Francophone community, by prohibiting their children from attending English school and by francizing the language of work. Recent arrivals to Quebec have gotten the message, the author argues. English now holds little attraction for those intending to make Quebec their home. The result is that Quebec Anglophones are in a process of rapid and "ineluctable decline".
Publication
Les Cahiers de droit
Volume
Vol. 27
Issue
no. 1
Pages
189-202
Date
1986
Language
en
Citation
Magnet, Joseph Eliot. “The Future of Official Language Minorities.” Les Cahiers de droit Vol. 27, no. 1 (1986): 189–202.
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