Public Opinion Research Methodology Report - Executive Summary
The Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages engaged Prairie Research Associates (PRA) to conduct a public opinion survey aimed at better understanding Canadians’ awareness of the Commissioner’s mandate and their perspectives on emerging issues related to official languages. The survey, conducted in March 2024, gathered responses from a representative sample of 900 Canadians through random digit dialling. The results were weighted by gender, age, and province or territory to reflect national demographics based on the 2021 Census.
Key Findings
- Awareness of language rights and who to contact
- A large majority of respondents reported being aware of their language rights under the Official Languages Act, with 87% of English speakers and 85% of French speakers confirming their awareness. However, a disparity was observed in knowledge about whom to contact if their rights were not respected: 62% of French speakers, compared to 42% of English speakers, knew whom to approach in such situations. This gap was especially pronounced in official language minority communities (OLMCs). French speakers outside Quebec and English speakers in Quebec, who make up OLMCs, were less aware of their language rights and less likely to know whom to contact if those rights were violated.
- Importance of supporting official languages
- Both English speakers and French speakers agreed that supporting the use of both official languages in Canada is important. Specifically, 78% of English speakers and 96% of French speakers stated that bilingualism was personally important, while similar percentages agreed that it is important for Canadians at large.
- Leadership and bilingualism
- There was broad agreement that senior government officials should be proficient in both official languages, with 72% of English speakers and 93% of French speakers supporting this requirement.
- Learning opportunities and comfort in using a second official language
- A majority of respondents stated that they had the opportunity to learn their second official language. However, French speakers reported feeling much more comfortable using English (86%) than English speakers did using French (37%). The gap was especially wide in terms of those feeling “very comfortable,” with 60% of French speakers compared to only 11% of English speakers falling into that category.
Conclusions
The survey results underscore a strong awareness of official language rights among Canadians, though notable challenges remain for OLMCs. French speakers outside Quebec in particular appear to face difficulties in exercising their language rights. The findings highlight ongoing support for bilingualism—especially in leadership positions—but reveal significant differences across language groups regarding comfort levels and opportunities to use French.