Public Opinion and Bilingualism: A Summary of CRIC Research : Public Opinion and Bilingualism: A Summary of CRIC Research March 2003
Relations Between Linguistic Groups : Relations Between Linguistic Groups Do you think relations between the following groups in Canada are very good, good, bad, very bad – or are they neither good nor bad? Anglophones
from Quebec Francophones
from Quebec Anglophones
outside Quebec Francophones
Outside Quebec Portraits of Canada 2002
Support for Bilingualism and Multiculturalism: By Region: Support for Bilingualism and Multiculturalism: By Region ‣ How important is preserving French and English as the two official languages of Canada -- is it very important, somewhat important, or not important? (Figure shows the proportion saying it is very or somewhat important.)
‣ The constitution contains a clause that tells judges to interpret the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in a manner that is consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians. Do you strongly approve, approve, disapprove, or strongly disapprove of this clause? Portraits of Canada 2002
Support for French Language Rights: By Region: Support for French Language Rights: By Region ‣ Do you think French Canadians living outside of Quebec should or should not have the right to have federal government services available in French? [Note: ½ of sample received a variation of this question.]
‣ Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree that French-speaking families living in your province [for Quebec: living in provinces outside of Quebec] should have the right to have their children educated in French? [Note: ½ of sample received a variation of this question.] Portraits of Canada 2002
Minority Language Education Rights: Reciprocity: Minority Language Education Rights: Reciprocity ‣ Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree that French-speaking families living in your province should have the right to have their children educated in French? [Note: ½ of sample received a variation of this question.]
‣ Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree that English-speaking families living in Quebec should have the right to have their children educated in English? [Note: ½ of sample received a variation of this question.] The Charter: dividing or uniting Canadians? 2002
Minority Language Education Rights: “Where Numbers Warrant”?: Minority Language Education Rights: “Where Numbers Warrant”? Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree that French-speaking families living in your province should have the right to have their children educated in French, [for ½ of sample only ] as long as the number of French-speaking children was large enough that this education could be provided at a reasonable cost? (A comparable question was asked regarding Anglophones in Quebec.) The Charter: dividing or uniting Canadians? 2002
The English and French Language: The English and French Language - In your opinion, is the French language in Quebec threatened or not?
- In the years to come, do you think that the survival of the language and culture of the [francophone / anglophone] minority in your province will be very assured, somewhat, not very, or not at all assured? Portraits of Canada 2001
Support for Official Bilingualism: Support for Official Bilingualism * Canada currently has two official languages - English and French. This means that all citizens can get services from the federal government in the official language that they speak. Do you strongly support, moderately support, moderately oppose, or strongly oppose this policy?
* Do you strongly agree, agree, disagree or strongly disagree that (name of province) should be officially bilingual, meaning that all citizens can get services from the provincial government in either English or French? NB = 83 % MA = 62 % Portraits of Canada 2001
Learning a Second Language (Anglophone Respondents Only in Provinces Outside Quebec; Francophone Respondents Only in Quebec): Learning a Second Language (Anglophone Respondents Only in Provinces Outside Quebec; Francophone Respondents Only in Quebec) * How important to you is it that your children learn to speak a second language? (Chart shows the number saying it is very or somewhat important).
* Which second language in particular do you think is important for your children to learn? (This question was asked to respondents who said it is very or somewhat important that their children learn to speak a second language.) (Source: CRIC, Portraits of Canada 2001) Portraits of Canada 2001
In Favour of “Bilingualism for All of Canada” (By Respondents’ Home Language): In Favour of “Bilingualism for All of Canada” (By Respondents’ Home Language) As you may know, English and French are Canada's two official languages. Are you, personally, in favour of bilingualism for all of Canada? (Figure shows percent saying “yes”.)
Source: Environics Focus Canada / Canadian Opinion Research Archive, Queen’s University
Bilingualism is Important to the Canadian Identity. (By Respondents’ Home Language): Bilingualism is Important to the Canadian Identity. (By Respondents’ Home Language) How important are the following to the Canadian Identity: very important, somewhat important, not very important or not at all important? Bilingualism. (Figure shows percent saying it is very or somewhat important.)
Source: Environics Focus Canada / Canadian Opinion Research Archive, Queen’s University
In Favour of “Bilingualism for your Province” (By Respondents’ Home Language): In Favour of “Bilingualism for your Province” (By Respondents’ Home Language) Are you in favour of bilingualism for your province? (Figure shows percent saying “yes”.)
Source: Environics Focus Canada / Canadian Opinion Research Archive, Queen’s University
Slide13: These findings are based on the results of the Portraits of Canada 2002 and 2001 and The Charter: Dividing or Uniting Canadians? public opinion surveys.
Portraits of Canada 2002 was conducted between September 27 and October 16,2002, by Environics Research Group and CROP on the basis of telephone interviews with 2,939 Canadians (1,014 in Quebec). The results of a survey of this size have a margin of error of approximately plus or minus 1.8% (plus or minus 3.1% in Quebec), 19 times out of 20.
Portraits of Canada 2001 was based on telephone interviews of 2,940 Canadians (1,001 in Quebec) conducted by the same two polling firms between September 28 and October 14, 2001. The results of this survey also have a margin of error of plus or minus 1.8% (plus or minus 3.1% in Quebec), 19 times out of 20.
The Charter: Dividing or Uniting Canadians, conducted by Environics Research Group, surveyed 1,402 Canadians between February 11 and 17, 2002. The results of a survey of this size have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6%, 19 times out of 20. It is the largest public opinion survey carried out on Canadian rights and freedoms since 1987.
Some additional data has been provided by Environics Focus Canada and Queen’s University’s Canadian Opinion Research Archive.