Quebec’s Language Policy and Economic Globalization

The author examines the economic situation of language groups in Quebec since the 1970s. Particular attention in his examination is paid to the contexts of economic globalization, where English is the most used world lingua franca, and immigration is now the major source of population growth in Quebec. Viewing language as a market where supply and demand determine outcomes, the author notes that the purpose of the Charter of the French Language (Bill 101) was to increase the value and the use of French in Quebec. He concedes that the relative economic position of Francophones in Quebec has improved and that they now have better purchasing power and control of the economy. However, he argues that the number of Francophones in the population is not expected to increase substantially and their proportion in the population will drop significantly. Due to immigration to Quebec, he further notes, the number and proportion of Allophones will increase, but Anglophones will also benefit since the proportion of immigrants who assimilate to English is larger than the proportion of Anglophones in the population. In the labour market, the author contends, working in English pays more than working in French for immigrants. He concludes that in spite of the progresses made by Francophones, the situation of French in Quebec remains a concern, and the challenge is to integrate more immigrants into the French-speaking majority.

Language Problems and Language Planning

Vol. 43

no. 2

179-197

July 2019

en