The use of French in public spaces has remained stable in Quebec since 2007, according to a new study by the Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF).
In 2022, 79 per cent of Quebecers used French most often in public spaces, according to OQLF data.
This percentage is similar to those observed over the previous 15 years, “which reflects stability in the language used outside the home with people other than parents or friends,” the Office said in a press release.
The OQLF study is based on data from a survey conducted between March and May 2022 among 7,171 Quebecers, as well as on discussion groups in order to deepen the results of the survey.
The metropolitan regions of Montreal and Gatineau have the lowest proportions of people saying they use French compared to the other regions of Quebec studied. They stand at 68 per cent and 63 per cent respectively.
Conversely, Montreal and Gatineau recorded the highest proportions of people using English most often in public spaces, 13 per cent and 15 per cent respectively.
For Quebec as a whole, this percentage increased from 10 per cent to eight per cent between 2007 and 2022, while that of people using French and English most often increased, from 11 per cent to 13 per cent. This last indicator climbs to 22 per cent in Gatineau and 18 per cent in the Montreal region.
The OQLF also reveals that people aged 18 to 34 have the lowest proportion for using French outside the home, at 74 per cent. However, this is the age group with the highest percentage of people using French and English (16 per cent).
The study also shows that the proportion of people using French most often varies depending on the communication situation. For example, it stands at 78 per cent when delivering a meal, but rises to 90 per cent in communications with Quebec government services.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews