English-speaking Quebecer - Population

Population

See also: Language demographics of Quebec

Number of English-Speaking Quebecers (2001) Criteria Quebec Montreal Mother tongue Official 591,379 (8.3%) 401,183 (10.5%) Eng only 557,040 379,570 Eng + Fr 50,060 Eng + Other 15,040 Total 622,140 424,355 Home language Official 746,895 (10.5%) 552,610 (19.7%) Eng only 480,400 376,720 Mostly 220,850 175,990 Equally 95,970 74,350 Regularly 393,575 202,465 Total 1,190,435 886,050 First official language Off lang minority 918,955 (12.9%) 699,203 (25%) Eng only 828,730 619,790 Eng + Fr 180,450 158,885 Total 1,009,180 778,645 Knowledge of English 3,234,740 2,047,520 Total Population 7,125,580 2,796,390

English-language population in Quebec Year Mother tongue Home language 1st official language 1951 558,256 (13.8%) No data No data 1961 697,402 (13.3%) No data No data 1971 788,830 (13.1%) 887,875 (14.7%) 992,368 (16.5%) 1981 693,600 (10.9%) 806,785 (12.7%) 889,612 (14.0%) 1991 626,200 (9.2%) 761,810 (11.2%) 904,301 (13.3%) 1996 621,863 762,457 925,833 (13.1%) 2001 591,365 (8.3%) 746,895 (10.5%) 918,956 (12.9%) 2006 607,165 (8.2%) 757,830 (10.3%) 994,723 (13.4%)

Interprovincial migration between Quebec and other provinces by Mother Tongue Year French English Other 1971–1976 −4,100 −52,200 −5,700 1976–1981 −18,000 −106,300 −17,400 1981–1986 −12,900 −41,600 −8,700 1986–1991 5,200 −22,200 −8,600 1991–1996 1,200 −24,500 −14,100 1996–2001 −8,900 −29,200 −19,100 2001–2006 5,000 −8,000 −8,700 Total −32,500 −284,000 −82,300

Statistics Canada uses census data to keep track of minority language communities in Canada. It has recorded mother tongue (the first language learned as a child and still spoken) since 1921, home language (language spoken at home) since 1971, and first official language learned (English or French) since 1991. In addition, conversational knowledge of English and French is documented.

A considerable number of census respondents in each category cite equal proficiency, knowledge, and use of different languages. In this case, census respondents are divided evenly among the language groups involved.

As allophone immigrants (mother tongue other than English or French) generally arrive with knowledge of either English or French and eventually integrate into these two linguistic groups, first official language learned is used to determine the Official Language minority population. It is used by the federal government and Quebec anglophone community organizations to determine the demand for minority language services. Specifically, it classifies members of immigrant groups who learn English before French as English-speaking. Half of the people equally proficient since childhood in both English and French are placed into each linguistic community.

The English-speaking population has shown an accelerated decline in population between 1971 and 2001. During this interval, the number of mother tongue anglophones has decreased from 788,830 to 591,365 representing a drop in its share of the Quebec population from 13.1% to 8.3%. This is attributed primarily to an exodus of anglophones to other provinces and raised questions about the sustainability of the community.

Immigration from other countries and integration of allophones helped to partially alleviate the impact of this trend. In 2001, one in three immigrants to Quebec was English-speaking and settled in Montreal. This made the decrease in home-language anglophones less pronounced, particularly in the Montreal area. This situation is rapidly changing as the vast majority of immigrants now adopt French as their first language: three quarters of linguistic transfers of allophones arriving between 2001 and 2006 allophones arriving have been towards French instead of English.

The 2006 census showed an increase of the Anglophone population in Quebec. The rise of 16,000 people (from 591,000 in 2001 to 607,000 in 2006) represents a growth rate of +2.7%, which is higher than that for the Francophone population (+2.0%) for the same period. This increase is attributed to a much reduced net outmigration of Anglophones, with some 34,000 departures vs 26,000 arrivals (primarily from Ontario).

Emigration to other Canadian provinces was perceived as the biggest challenge facing the continued presence of English-language communities in Quebec, particularly outside Montreal, during the 1976 to 2001 period. English-speakers accounted for half the out-migrants from Quebec as they are extremely mobile compared to their francophone neighbours because they share a language and cultural identity with most other Canadians and North Americans. In a survey on the matter, English-speaking Quebecers cited limited economic prospects and politics (Quebec's language policies and the Quebec independence) as primary reasons for leaving. These political factors are also cited as having led to fewer Canadians from other provinces settling in Quebec.

Anglophones are also less likely to migrate within the province than Francophones and Allophones. This is due to a strong sense of belonging among those in the Montreal area, the relative lack of English-language services and institutions outside Montreal, and a weak sense of identification with Quebec.

Despite a lull in this outflux during an economic boom and break from separatist governments in 2003, this outmigration had returned to established levels by 2006 and is projected to continue at these rates over the next five years. At the time, this forecast made researcher Jac Jedwab predict a continued long term decline of the community.