You may have heard the term “historic Anglophones” used in media coverage about Bill 96 and who still has access to English services in Quebec. While politicians used this term at first, it doesn’t show up in the final version of Quebec’s updated Charter of the French language.
Under the new language laws, a variety of people can still access English services in different situations, not just “historic Anglophones”. That being said, understanding the history of English-speaking communities and language rights in Quebec does provide some context for current language laws.
The history of English-speaking communities in Quebec
English-speaking communities have a long history in what is now the province of Quebec. Over time, we can see changes in their demographic characteristics, percentage of the population and level of influence in areas like politics, business and more.
If we go back to the late 1700s, English-speakers in Quebec were few in number but had significant influence due to their wealth and the fact that the area changed from a French colony to a British colony after the conquest of 1760. During the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution and famine led many poor English-speakers to immigrate to the area from the United Kingdom in search of opportunity. This created a larger population of English-speakers overall, but most of these people had relatively low socio-economic status and therefore little influence.
Since then, the English-speaking population in Quebec and its influence have both continued to fluctuate based on different factors. The plural term “English-speaking communities” highlights the diversity in Quebec’s modern-day English-speakers, in their ethnic origins, socioeconomic status, and other demographic characteristics. It’s also inclusive of people who don’t identify as “Anglophone”, because English isn’t their first language, for example.
Three levels of language rights
The history and current place of English-speaking communities in Quebec is complicated by the fact that English is a minority language in Quebec, but the majority language in the rest of Canada. For this reason, international, Canadian and Quebec law all have different and overlapping rules related to language rights in Quebec.
Canada is part of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This international agreement says that a country’s minority language communities have the right to use their language. But English-speakers in Quebec can’t claim this international right because they aren’t a minority language community when we look at the whole country.
As for Canadian law, English and French are the country’s two official languages. Here are some of the rights this creates. First of all, courts and other institutions covered by Canadian law must offer services in both English and French, within certain limits.
Canadian law also protects the minority official language community in each province and territory. These protections include the right to go to school in their language under certain conditions, and access to federal funding for community development. Because the minority language community is defined at the level of each province or territory, these protections are given to French-speaking communities everywhere except for Quebec. Here, they’re given to English-speaking communities.
According to Quebec law, French is the province’s only official language. So, for areas covered by Quebec law, language rights are usually reserved for French-speakers. Also, the Quebec government has a mandate to protect and promote French as its official language, and as a minority language in the rest of Canada and the world. However, you can still use English in Quebec in a variety of situations.
Navigating Quebec’s language laws as an English-speaker
Now, let’s return to the question of who can access English services in Quebec. When Bill 96 and its major overhaul of Quebec’s Charter of the French language was first announced, the government used the term “historic Anglophones” for people who would still have access under the new law. And at first, it seemed like this would be limited to people with the right to go to English school in Quebec.
But in the final version of the law, people who don’t meet this requirement can also access English services in a variety of situations. The current rules are more complicated than a blanket exception for one group of people.
First and foremost, anyone in Quebec who is more comfortable speaking English than French has the right to receive health care in English.
Having been declared eligible to go to school in English in Quebec remains an important category. This gives you access to all provincial and municipal services in English. It also gives you priority for the limited spots in English-language CEGEP programs and access to other accommodations related to French language proficiency requirements for CEGEP.
But this is just the beginning. Others, including newcomers and Indigenous people, can also access provincial and municipal services in English in certain situations. And anyone can choose to use English in many areas of everyday life. To break it all down for you, we have an infographic that gives you an overview at a glance and a summary article about the Charter of the French Language that links to more detailed articles covering important areas.