The division between the French-Canadians and the British-Canadians has been a source of tension and conflict since the first colonies in what is know present day Canada. The two groups are known as the francophones, being the French-Canadians, and the anglophones, being the British-Canadians. One of the major sources of tension between the francophones and the anglophones is routed in the major disagreements regarding language. These tensions can be even be traced back to the settlement of the first colonies in Canada, the election of the Parti Quebecois, who supported Quebec’s separation from Canada, and even issues that are still present today. Tensions in Canada between the French-Canadians and the English-Canadians regarding language
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Then in 1791, the Constitutional Act divided the province of Quebec into two separate colonies, Upper and Lower Quebec. Lord Durham and others identified the problem that the French presence was a negative driver in British-North America, suggesting French people need to be assimilated into British culture. In 1841, the Act of Union reunited Upper and Lower Quebec and sanctioned unilingualism in the legislature of the Province of Canada, which resulted such sharp protest from francophone members that it had to be repealed in 1848 by the British Parliament. Accounts of language tension in Canada occur in the late 19th century and early 20th century, with the abrogation of official bilingualism in Manitoba, the abolition of French schools in Ontario, and the strict limitations imposed on French language instruction. According to the textbook, Canadian Studies In The New Millennium, “From the perspective of French Canadians, the English-speaking majority had once …show more content…
Quebec feels they are a unique population to North America that should be preserved, with an eight million strong population in which 80% of the population speaks French. Quebec residents also feel they offer a distinct culture as opposed to the anglophones. Quebec’s desire to secede and keep the French language dominant has resulted in various arguments within the province between the anglophone residents and the francophone residents. Some of these disputes include battles over the languages that big retailer signs are written in and the language commissioner stating that Air Canada needs to respect the language
Then in 1791, the Constitutional Act divided the province of Quebec into two separate colonies, Upper and Lower Quebec. Lord Durham and others identified the problem that the French presence was a negative driver in British-North America, suggesting French people need to be assimilated into British culture. In 1841, the Act of Union reunited Upper and Lower Quebec and sanctioned unilingualism in the legislature of the Province of Canada, which resulted such sharp protest from francophone members that it had to be repealed in 1848 by the British Parliament. Accounts of language tension in Canada occur in the late 19th century and early 20th century, with the abrogation of official bilingualism in Manitoba, the abolition of French schools in Ontario, and the strict limitations imposed on French language instruction. According to the textbook, Canadian Studies In The New Millennium, “From the perspective of French Canadians, the English-speaking majority had once …show more content…
Quebec feels they are a unique population to North America that should be preserved, with an eight million strong population in which 80% of the population speaks French. Quebec residents also feel they offer a distinct culture as opposed to the anglophones. Quebec’s desire to secede and keep the French language dominant has resulted in various arguments within the province between the anglophone residents and the francophone residents. Some of these disputes include battles over the languages that big retailer signs are written in and the language commissioner stating that Air Canada needs to respect the language