SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — International Day of La Francophonie

Honourable colleagues, I rise today on this International Day of La Francophonie, on this International Day of Happiness and on the first day of spring to draw your attention to the status of French in Canada and throughout the world.

The Francophonie is a group of 88 member states that share French as a common language. Over 300 million people around the world speak French and 235 million of them speak it on a daily basis.

According to the International Organisation of La Francophonie, French is the fifth most spoken language and the second most learned language in the world. According to a 2016 study by the European Institute of Business Administration, French is the third most used language of business, after English and Mandarin. It is estimated that by 2050, there will be 820 million French speakers in the world.

French, which is spoken on five continents and all across our great country, is an international, modern and inclusive language, now more than ever. Canada’s long relationship with French currently enables us to welcome people from all over the world, including Vietnam, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Europe and Haiti.

The face of Canada’s francophone communities is more diverse than ever. According to the 2016 census, 17 per cent of francophones in Canada are first or second generation immigrants, and that number is much higher in some areas of the country, such as Toronto, where 56 per cent of francophones are first or second generation immigrants.

Honourable senators, the French language in Canada is not just the language of a cultural minority. Deeply rooted in our country, from Chéticamp to Yellowknife, from Cap Saint-Georges to Vancouver, as well as in Quebec City, Toronto, Sudbury and Saint Boniface, French is a language for every Canadian. It is a language for inclusions, one that represents our Canadian diversity, and its development should not be left solely to official language minority communities.

This year, Canada is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the Official Languages Act, which affirms the equal status of both languages as key to creating a society that works. Let us remember that both languages have enriched our nation in the past and, by their inclusive nature, continue to contribute to Canada’s extraordinary diversity.

However, it is clear that we still have a long way to go to ensure that all Canadians embrace our two official languages. We have not yet succeeded in creating spaces where our anglophone and francophone language communities can reach their full potential, and we have not succeeded in giving all Canadians the opportunity to learn both of our official languages.

Let us also make the most of the fiftieth anniversary of this quasi-constitutional act to make necessary adjustments as we recognize everything our Indigenous languages have to offer and our country’s linguistic diversity. Let us work together and use our two official languages to create space for dialogue, coexistence and growth for all.

I wish you all a happy International Day of La Francophonie. Thank you for your attention.