two and a half solitudes: shared language versus shared geography in the national capital region

7/31/2019 Two and a Half Solitudes: Shared Language Versus Shared Geography in the National Capital Region

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JackJedwabOctober2012


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Doesthepossessionofacommonlanguagetrumpgeographywhenitcomestoissuesofidentity,intergrouprelationsandperceptionsabouttheconditionofminority?RarelyisthequestionsubjectedtoabettertestthanintheCanadasNationalCapitalRegionwherefrancophonesliveinrelativelycloseproximityacrosstheQuebecandOntarioborderswhereinformertheFrenchlanguagepopulationrepresentsthemajorityinGatineau,QuebecandtheminorityintheOttawa,Ontario.VeryoftenseparatedgeographicallybyonlyafewkilometresfrancophonesoneithersideoftheOntario/

Quebecborderliveunderdifferentlegislativeregimeswhenitcomestolanguage.Notonlydoesthelegislationdifferbutthemessagedirectedtowardslanguagecommunitiesisalsodifferentandthisisalsothecaseforimmigrantsandethnicminoritiesasregardstheirrespectiveprocessofadaptation.ThedegreeofcommutingbetweenthegroupsacrosstheprovincialbordermakesperhapsforthemostmixedofmessageswhenitcomestoissuesoflanguageandculturaldiversityanditalsogivesrisetodivergentperceptionsaroundtheconditionandpresenceofEnglishandFrenchrespectivelydependingonwhereoneresidesandhowtheyunderstandtheirsurroundingenvironment.Doesasharedlanguagetrumpgeographywhenitcomestothe

perceptionsoffrancophonesonopposedsidesoftheprovincialborder?Asweshallobserveitdoesonmattersofnationalidentityaswellasonlanguageissuesbuttoalesserdegree.ThestudyisimportantnotonlyasanexampleofhowminoritiesandmajoritiesshareacommonspacebutalsointheCanadiancontextoverhowwellbilingualismworksinthecapitalpartofthecountrywhichineffectpossessessymbolicimportancefortherestofthecountryasregardstheimportanceofofficiallanguages.


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ThesurveywasconductedviawebpanelbythefirmLegerMarketingfortheAssociationforCanadianStudies.Some627respondentsweresurveyedintheNationalCapitalRegionwithsome350anglophonesontheOntariosideoftheNationalCapitalRegion,100francophonesontheOntariosideoftheNCRand150francophonesontheQuebecsideoftheNCR.ThesurveywasconductedinthefirstweekofJuly,2012.Asitwasconductedviathewebpanel,themarginoferrorisprobabilisticandthusanequivalenttelephonesurveydoneinthenationalcapitalregionwouldhaveamarginoferrorof5.9points9timesoutoften.


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Please indicate whether you feel very attached,

somewhat attached, not very attached or not at all

attached to each of the following: / Canada

Very attachedSomewhatattached Total Attached

Quebec French 19.9% 40.4% 60.3

Ontario English 71.2% 23.3% 94.5

French 59.6% 23.4% 83.0

Total 70.1% 23.4% 93.5%


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7/38

Having a bilingual National Capital Region is an

important source of pride

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree Total Agree

Quebec French 37.1% 35.8% 72.9


French 56.3% 29.2% 85.5

Total21.2% 25.4% 46.8


8/38

Everyone in the NCR should speak both English

and French

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agree Total AgreeQuebec French 53.9% 23.7% 77.6


French 54.2% 22.9% 77.1

Total 16.3% 19.5% 35.8


9/38

Everyone in the NCR should understand both

English and French

Strongly agreeSomewhat

agree Total AgreeQuebec French 59.9% 28.3% 88.2


French 57.4% 27.7% 85.1

Total 17.4% 24.2% 41.6


10/38

Not enough is being done in the schools in the NCR to helpchildren learn the other official language.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 42.8% 33.6% 8.6% 3.3% 11.2%

Ontario English 17.0% 25.5% 20.5% 18.6% 15.8%

French 33.3% 29.2% 16.7% 2.1% 16.7%

Total 18.6% 25.8% 20.1% 16.9% 15.9%


11/38

To be successful in the NCR it is essential to learn the otherlanguage.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 42.8% 34.2% 14.5% 2.0% 6.6%

Ontario English 29.5% 32.8% 20.5% 12.5% 3.8%

French 56.3% 29.2% 8.3% 4.2%

Total 32.2% 32.4% 19.3% 11.2% 3.8%


12/38

Speaking both official languages is important when seekingemployment in the NCR

Strongly

agree

Somewhat

agree

Somewhat

disagree

Strongly

disagree

I don't

knowQuebec French 62.3% 29.1% 5.3% 1.3% 2.0%

Ontario English 40.7% 35.7% 9.9% 10.4% 2.4%

French 66.7% 27.1% 4.2% 2.1%

Total 43.3% 34.8% 9.3% 9.3% 2.3%


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Only those who grew up in a French environment will ever becomeproficient enough to meet the bilingualism criteria of the federal

civil service

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 21.1% 43.4% 21.7% 7.9% 5.3%

Ontario English 22.6% 27.8% 24.5% 20.0% 3.8%

French 29.2% 16.7% 35.4% 14.6% 2.1%

Total 23.3% 26.7% 25.6% 19.5% 3.6%


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15/38

French is on the decline in the NCR

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 19.2% 49.0% 14.6% 2.0% 15.2%

Ontario English 5.9% 17.3% 30.7% 26.2% 17.3%

French 19.1% 25.5% 34.0% 6.4% 12.8%

Total 7.2% 18.1% 31.1% 24.3% 16.8%


16/38

More than ever, I hear French spoken in Ottawa

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 3.3% 19.2% 51.7% 17.2% 7.9%

Ontario English 19.4% 35.7% 21.7% 8.7% 12.3%

French 12.5% 29.2% 29.2% 8.3% 18.8%

Total 18.7% 35.0% 22.5% 8.7% 13.0%


17/38

More than ever, I hear English spoken in Ottawa

Strongly

agree

Somewhat

agree

Somewhat

disagree

Strongly

disagree

I don't

knowQuebec French 27.3% 45.3% 18.0% 8.0% .7%

Ontario English 5.4% 15.5% 20.7% 21.6% 33.9%

French 17.0% 25.5% 14.9% 6.4% 34.0%

Total 6.6% 16.5% 20.1% 20.1% 33.9%


18/38

More than ever, I see French on public signs in Ottawa

Strongly

agree

Somewhat

agree

Somewhat

disagree

Strongly

disagree

I don't

knowQuebec French 3.9% 19.1% 39.5% 18.4% 12.5%

Ontario English 25.5% 25.5% 22.9% 8.3% 15.6%

French 19.6% 39.1% 19.6% 6.5% 13.0%

Total 24.9% 26.8% 22.6% 8.1% 15.3%


19/38

More than ever, I see English on public signs in Gatineau

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 22.0% 30.7% 35.3% 1.3% 9.3%

Ontario English 2.8% 9.4% 24.8% 32.3% 28.1%

French 8.5% 19.1% 17.0% 4.3% 46.8%

Total 3.4% 10.4% 24.0% 29.5% 29.9%


20/38

I am concerned about the condition of the French language inthe National Capital Region (NCR).

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 48.0% 30.9% 11.2% 5.3% 2.0%

Ontario English 9.4% 13.6% 26.8% 40.7% 8.5%

French 39.1% 21.7% 17.4% 10.9% 6.5%

Total 12.3% 14.4% 25.9% 37.8% 8.3%


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I have not encountered problems in getting federal governmentservices in my official language

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 38.2% 35.5% 19.1% 2.6% 3.9%

Ontario English 49.4% 28.4% 10.2% 7.3% 3.8%

French 48.9% 34.0% 10.6% 2.1% 2.1%

Total 49.4% 28.9% 10.2% 6.8% 3.6%


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I have not encountered problems in getting provincial governmentservices in my official language.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 61.8% 21.7% 11.2% .7% 3.3%

Ontario English 52.0% 25.8% 7.6% 6.4% 7.3%

French 36.2% 38.3% 17.0% 4.3% 2.1%

Total 50.4% 27.0% 8.5% 6.2% 6.8%


24/38

I have not encountered problems in getting municipal governmentservices in my official language.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 66.0% 26.1% 3.3% .7% 2.6%

Ontario English 52.1% 24.8% 6.6% 9.4% 5.7%

French31.9% 29.8% 19.1% 8.5% 8.5%

Total 50.1% 25.3% 7.9% 9.3% 5.9%


25/38

I have not encountered problems in getting retail and hospitalityservices in my official language

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 19.9% 43.7% 25.8% 5.3% 5.3%

Ontario English 47.3% 28.6% 11.8% 7.6% 3.1%

French 21.3% 34.0% 23.4% 10.6% 6.4%

Total 44.7% 29.1% 13.0% 7.9% 3.4%


26/38

I have not encountered problems in health care services in myofficial language.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 50.3% 32.5% 11.9% 2.0% 2.6%

Ontario English 53.1% 23.3% 9.7% 7.5% 5.4%

French 31.3% 37.5% 22.9% 4.2%

Total 50.8% 24.8% 11.0% 7.2% 4.9%


27/38


28/38

I regularly commute between Ottawa and Gatineau.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 50.0% 29.6% 14.5% 4.6% .7%

Ontario English 8.7% 14.9% 22.9% 48.1% 3.1%

French 21.3% 29.8% 21.3% 25.5%

Total 10.0% 16.3% 22.7% 45.9% 2.8%


29/38

I prefer to live in an area where the majority of people are part of mylanguage group

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 45.7% 36.4% 9.3% 3.3%

5.3%

Ontario English 24.8% 33.0% 25.2% 10.4% 4.7%

French 27.7% 27.7% 31.9% 4.3% 4.3%

Total 25.1% 32.5% 25.9% 9.8% 4.7%


30/38

I prefer to work in an area where the majority of people arepart of my language group

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 40.4% 37.1% 11.3% 4.0% 1.3%

Ontario English 26.2% 30.3% 25.8% 11.3% 4.5%

French 30.4% 32.6% 26.1% 8.7%

Total 26.7% 30.5% 25.8% 11.1% 4.1%


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32/38

In the last five years, relations between English and French-speakers in the NCR have worsened

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 8.7% 29.3% 29.3% 6.7% 26.0%

Ontario English 11.3% 24.3% 26.0% 15.6% 21.0%

French 6.4% 21.3% 25.5% 10.6% 34.0%

Total 10.9% 24.0% 26.0% 15.1% 22.3%


33/38

Most Francophones I know feel positively about Anglophones

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 9.3% 36.4% 37.7% 7.9% 8.8%

Ontario English 9.7% 27.7% 26.3% 19.9% 16.4%

French 18.8% 47.9% 16.7% 2.1% 14.6%

Total 10.6% 29.8% 25.3% 18.1% 16.2%


34/38

Most Anglophones I know feel positively about Francophones.

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 9.9% 29.1% 33.1% 15.2% 12.6%

Ontario English 10.1% 34.2% 30.4% 14.9% 10.4%

French 12.8% 42.6% 21.3% 10.6% 12.7%

Total 10.4% 35.0% 29.5% 14.4% 10.6%


35/38


36/38

Immigrants to the NCR should give up their customs andtraditions and become more like us

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 32.5% 22.5% 29.1% 5.3% 10.5%

Ontario English 22.7% 25.8% 24.6% 21.6% 5.2%

French 23.4% 21.3% 38.3% 10.6% 6.4%

Total 22.8% 25.4% 26.0% 20.5% 5.4%


37/38

OttawaandGatineaushouldshould work together to developprograms and policies when it comes to immigrant integration

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhatdisagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 38.2% 38.2% 7.2% 6.6% 9.9%

Ontario English 25.7% 36.8% 15.3% 10.4% 11.8%

French 36.2% 36.2% 10.6% 2.1% 14.9%

Total 26.8% 36.7% 14.9% 9.6% 12.1%


38/38

Ottawa and Gatineau should work together to develop programsand policies when it comes to promoting cultural diversity

Stronglyagree

Somewhatagree

Somewhat disagree

Stronglydisagree

I don'tknow

Quebec French 38.2% 33.6% 15.1% 3.9% 9.2%

Ontario English 23.9% 39.2% 15.6% 11.1% 10.2%

French 40.4% 31.9% 10.6% 6.4% 10.7%

Total25.5% 38.5% 15.1% 10.6% 10.2%

two and a half solitudes: shared language versus shared geography in the national capital region

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