Achi news desk-
The use of French in public spaces has remained stable in Quebec since 2007, according to a new study by the Ministry of the French Language (OQLF).
In 2022, 79% of Quebecers used French most often in public spaces, according to data released Thursday by Quebec’s language watchdog.
This percentage is similar to those observed over the previous 15 years, “reflecting stability in language used outside the home with people who are not relatives or friends,” OQLF says in a press release.
The OQLF study is based on data from a survey of 7,171 Quebecers conducted between March and May 2022 and focus groups to expand on the survey results.
The metropolitan areas of Montreal and Gatineau have the lowest proportions of people who say they use French, compared to the other Quebec regions surveyed. They stand at 68 percent and 63 percent, respectively.
Montreal and Gatineau recorded the highest proportions of people using English most often in public spaces, at 13% and 15%, respectively.
For Quebec as a whole, this percentage fell from 10% to 8% between 2007 and 2022, while the proportion of people using French and English mostly increased from 11% to 13%. The latter indicator climbs to 22% in Gatineau and 18% in the Montreal area.
The OQLF also reveals that the 18-34 age group has the lowest proportion of French speakers outside the home, at 74 percent. However, this is the age group with the highest percentage of people using both French and English (16 percent).
The study also shows that the proportion of people using French often varies depending on the communication situation. For example, it stands at 78 percent when delivering a meal, but rises to 90 percent when communicating with Quebec government services.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 4, 2024.
