French In New Brunswick: Who Speaks It?

French is widely spoken in New Brunswick, a Canadian province with a rich linguistic history. As of 2021, around 41.9% of the province's population, or 320,300 people, could hold a conversation in French, making it the second-highest percentage of French speakers in Canada after Quebec. This number has increased since 1991 but is lower than the peak of 43.6% recorded in 2006. While French is the first official language for 30% of the population, the overall bilingualism rate in the province is stable at 34%, with many people speaking both French and English.

French as a first official language

French is one of the two official languages of New Brunswick, the other being English. In 2021, there were 320,300 French speakers in the province, making up 41.9% of the population. This is almost identical to the percentage in 1991 (42%) but lower than the all-time high recorded in 2006 (43.6%).

French is the first official language for 30% of the population, according to 2021 census data. This is a decline from 2016 when the percentage was 31.6%. The number of people with French as their only first official language has also decreased over time, falling from 33.7% in 1991 to 30% in 2021.

The ability to converse in French is more common among non-immigrants (43.3%) than immigrants (22.8%). Almost 9 in 10 (86.8%) French first-language speakers were born in New Brunswick.

French is predominantly spoken in the northern parts of New Brunswick, such as Edmundston, Bathurst, and the Acadian Peninsula, including the city of Caraquet. In these areas, French is the first official language for over 65% of the population.

While the number of people who can converse in French has increased since 1991, the overall bilingualism rate in the province has remained stable at around 34%. This has led to concerns from the Acadian community about the need for more robust immigration policies to maintain the linguistic balance in the province.

French as a mother tongue

French is one of the two official languages in New Brunswick, Canada, the other being English. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. In 2021, 239,375 New Brunswick residents had French as one of their mother tongues, down from 246,310 in 1991. This number is similar to the 2016 figure of 238,870.

In 2021, 94.2% of these residents (225,560 people) had French as their only mother tongue, while 5.8% (13,815 people) had French along with other languages (mainly English).

From 1991 to 2021, the demographic weight of New Brunswickers with French as one of their mother tongues fell from 34.3% to 31.3%.

Among married people or common-law partners who had French as one of their mother tongues, more than four in five (81.1%) were in a relationship with another person whose mother tongue is French.

In 2016, the number of persons who reported having French as their mother tongue, either exclusively or in combination with other languages, stood at 238,870 and represented 32.4% of the total population of New Brunswick. Between 2001 and 2016, those who reported having French as their mother tongue decreased by 3,190 people, or 1.3%.

In 2011, 32% of New Brunswickers reported French as their mother tongue, compared to 65.4% who said their mother tongue was English. In 2006, 32.3% of New Brunswickers said their mother tongue was French.

The number of Francophones in New Brunswick is approximately the same regardless of whether one uses the mother tongue criterion or the criterion of first official language spoken, namely 235,000, but the population is not exactly the same. The characteristics of the population can vary considerably depending on the criterion chosen.

French spoken at home

French is the language that the majority of ordinary people in New Brunswick speak at home. In 2021, 232,285 people (30.4% of the population) spoke French at least regularly at home, with 201,555 people (26.4% of the population) speaking it most often at home. This is a slight decrease from 2016, when 28% of the population spoke French predominantly at home.

French is also the mother tongue of many New Brunswick residents. In 2021, 239,375 people (31.3% of the population) had French as one of their mother tongues, with the vast majority (90%) speaking French regularly at home. This is a slight decrease from 2016, when 238,870 people (32.4% of the population) had French as their mother tongue.

The use of French as an official first language is gradually declining in New Brunswick, the only officially bilingual province in Canada. In 2021, 30% of the population listed French as their first official language, down from 31.8% in 2016. This decline can be attributed to an increase in immigration from other countries and English-speaking provinces, as well as a decrease in the transmission of French to children in mixed marriages.

Despite this decline, French is still widely spoken in many parts of New Brunswick. The Acadian Peninsula, east of Bathurst, is home to the richest concentration of French Acadian culture in the province. The city of Bathurst, as well as the nearby regions of Edmundston and Madawaska, are also predominantly French-speaking. In these areas, French is the language of the majority of ordinary people, with many signs and official documents featuring French names and words.

French among immigrants

New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, with French and English enjoying equal status. However, the use of French as a first official language is gradually declining in the province, according to census data. This decline is attributed to an increase in immigration from other countries and English-speaking provinces, among other factors. Despite this, recent trends show a rise in the proportion of French-speaking immigrants to New Brunswick, which could help reverse the erosion of the French language in the province.

French Proficiency Among Immigrants

In 2021, fewer than one in four immigrants (22.8%) in New Brunswick could hold a conversation in French, lower than the proportion of the non-immigrant population (43.3%) who could do so. This disparity is also reflected in the percentage of immigrants who speak French regularly at home (14.8%) compared to non-immigrants (31.5%).

Immigration Policies and Initiatives

Recognizing the importance of maintaining its unique linguistic balance, New Brunswick has set targets to increase the number of French-speaking immigrants. The province has developed a Provincial Nominee stream for French-speaking candidates within the Express Entry system and has partnered with the Government of Canada to promote immigration to francophone communities. Additionally, New Brunswick promotes the province as a destination for French-speaking temporary residents and international students, informing them of economic programs and provincial nominee streams.

Impact of Francophone Immigration

The influx of French-speaking immigrants has the potential to revitalize the French language and culture in New Brunswick. These immigrants tend to stay longer in the province compared to English-speaking immigrants, contributing to the vitality of francophone communities. Furthermore, studies show that francophone newcomers are more likely to remain in New Brunswick, rather than moving to bigger cities in Canada.

While the decline in the use of French as a first official language in New Brunswick is a concern, the recent increase in French-speaking immigrants offers a glimmer of hope. By continuing to attract and retain French-speaking immigrants, the province can preserve its bilingual character and ensure the vitality of its francophone communities.

French in schools

French is an official language in New Brunswick, and as such, it is taught in schools. Three school districts in New Brunswick provide full-time French-language education to 33,731 students from kindergarten to grade 12 in 90 schools. These are the Conseil d’éducation du District scolaire francophone du Nord-Ouest, the Conseil d’éducation du District scolaire francophone Nord-Est, and the Conseil d’éducation du District scolaire francophone Sud. These districts are the only ones to offer full-time French-language education within the province.

The Fédération des conseils d’éducation du Nouveau-Brunswick (FCÉNB) works in collaboration with these school districts. The districts provide a range of services, including integrated services to foster learning from early childhood to high school, recognition that early childhood ends at the age of eight, a network of integrated services for children and their families, community-based schools, support learning centres for professionals working with preschoolers and students, and an inclusive education system.

In 2021, 49,335 (36.0%) of the 136,995 children under 18 living in the province were eligible for instruction in French at the primary and secondary levels. Additionally, 214,030 people had attended or were attending a regular French program in a French-language school in Canada, representing 29.6% of the population aged five and older. Of those who had never attended a French-language school, 78,585 (10.8%) had attended a French immersion program in an English-language school instead.

In 2022, the Higgs government announced a reform of French second-language education, which will see all kindergarten and elementary students in anglophone schools spend half their days "in exploratory learning in French." This is a significant reduction from the 80 to 90% French instruction that elementary school immersion students currently receive. The changes represent a radical rethinking of French second-language education in New Brunswick since immersion began half a century ago.

The new program aims to give all anglophone students the chance to graduate with at least a conversational level of French. In high school, there will be "opportunities for enrichment and advanced studies" in French on top of the minimum amount. The percentage of instruction in French will drop from 50 to 40% when students reach grades 6-8 in middle school.

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