French speaking canadians - Research Paper Example

Demographic Facts: French-speaking Canadians have different cultures, religious beliefs and cultures. These differences existed since the occupation of Canada by the French. Concerning first language, 59% of all Canadians confirm English as the preferred, with 23% reporting French, 2.9%, Chinese, 1.6% Italian, 1.5% German and 18% Other. This figure demonstrates a survey based on Canada's 2001 national census. Among ethnic minorities in Quebec, 6% of Quebecans are South Asian, 3% Black, 1.5% Aboriginal Indian.

Quebec contains ten Native Indian tribes: Atikamekw, Crees, Hurons-Wendat, Maliseet, Micmacs, Mohawks, Innus, Inuits and Naskapis (Indian and Northern Affairs). They are counted as visible minorities. Based on the 2001 census, about one million Canadians and Canadian residents are Native Indians with approximately 100,000 dwelling in Quebec. Regarding religion, Quebec has a religious composition of 85% who profess Catholicism, 6% other Christian denomination, 1% Jewish, 1% Muslim and 6% no religion or Atheist (Stats and Facts).

  Language Figures:  80% of Canadians agree that Canadian residents and citizens should have service available in the language of their choosing. The Centre for Research and Information on Canada (CRIC) reveals that a greater portion of the French-speaking minority are more open to learning English or another language than the English-speakers. 24.1% of Canada is French-speaking, while 74.5% are English-speaking. Among French speakers, 43.4% also know English well. On the other hand, only 9% of English-speaking Canadians have a command of French (Office of the Commissioner).

  Political Situation The government system of Quebec is a pattern from the French, having a Parliament or Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly). Quebec established its own provincial government which makes laws, organizes, sets up institutions and manages several ministerial departments. The French Canadian government of Quebec elects its own Prime Minister and assembles a Cabinet or Conseil Executif (Government of Canada Policy Research). Cabinet ministers are appointed to perform duties.

Jean Charest is the current Prime Minister or Premier. Although granted powers of autonomy, the Quebec government is subject to the British North America Act signed in 1867 and updated to the Canada Act of 1982. The Bloc Quebecois (Quebec block) is the political party connected to Quebec and represents Quebec's interests before the Canadian Parliament General Assembly (Quebec Portal). This party is a minority, however it is an important voice for French-speaking Canadians to be recognized in a predominantly English country.

Also, the Quebec block also has a vision to make Quebec an independent nation since it always sends a separate delegation to international political conferences ("Bloc Quebecois"). This independence voice which continues to lobby for Quebec sovereignty proves that English and French ties within Canada are tenuous and fragile.  Linguistic Overview Quebec put into effect the Charter of the French Language or La charte de la langue francaise which made French the official language and empowered French-speaking Canadians through this law with the right to speak their native tongue in business and social affairs.

The conflict between French-speaking Canadians and English-speaking