General

Milestones in Canadian bilingualism

An interesting timeline of milestones that were important in the history of bilingualism in Canada.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/desautels/2007/01/29/002-biling

History of Canada becoming officially bilingual

This is a really wonderful resource for those wanting to study the lead-up in the 1960's to Canada officially becoming a bilingual country. The text is supported by video footage from the 1960's.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/desautels/2007/01/29/003-bilinguism

What Canadians think of bilingualism

On this page there is a summary of a survey carried out in 2006 into what Canadians (both English-speaking and French-speaking) think of bilingualism. Click on Suivant at the bottom of the following pages to get to the rest of the results in summarised form. There are quite a few very clear graphs. Click on Résultats détaillés on the right of the page to get to the detailed results (which are very accessible).

http://www.radio-canada.ca/actualite/desautels/2007/02/02/001-bilingui

Is French losing out to English in Canada?

If you're making a special study of the position of French in Canada today then this site is an excellent place to start. There is a wealth of information and statistics provided by this association (la Société Saint-Jean-Baptiste de la Mauricie), which promotes and defends the French language in Canada.

http://www.ssjbmauricie.qc.ca/langue/nationale/quebec.php

Advantage of being bilingual in the workplace in Canada

6-minute radio programme about the extent to which Canadians think that being bilingual is an advantage in the workplace. Some of the interviewees talk quite fast and if you're not used to the Canadian accent you might find them quite difficult to understand, but the presenter is much easier to understand.

http://www.radio-canada.ca/util/zapmedia/version10/frame.asp?menuFl

Schooling in English in Quebec

Text explaining under what circumstances parents in Quebec can choose to have their children educated in English and what the general rules are.

http://www.spl.gouv.qc.ca/faq/faq_3.html

The status of French in Canadian education

A very short text explaining the difficult status of French in education outside Quebec and the negative effects that it has had on French speakers' education.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/perspectives/francais

Education in French/English in Canada

Text outlining the rights of parents to have their children educated in either French or English if it is the minority language where they live. There is a good table which shows how accessible instruction in French outside Quebec has been over the years since 1970.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/perspectives/francais

Education in French in Canada

Quite a long document on the characteristics and objectives of schooling in French in Canada. There are some interesting tables detailing the motivations of parents for choosing either English or French as a medium of instruction.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/perspectives/francais

The economic place that French speakers hold in Canada

A little analysis of the economic place that French speakers hold in Canada

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/perspectives/francais

Attainment levels of children educated in French outside Quebec

Text about the educational levels of children educated in French-medium schools outside Quebec. Quite a few tables and statistics are given.

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/lo-ol/perspectives/francais

History/origins of French language in Canada

Text on the history and origins of the French language in Canada, with plenty of illustrative examples.

http://www.cyberbeach.net/~jrpellan/langue.html

Criticism of quality of French spoken on Canadian radio stations

Text criticising the quality of French spoken on Canadian radio stations these days.

http://www.mef.qc.ca/francais-massacre-micro.htm