History of Canada

Canada is a nation of 33 million inhabitants, occupying almost all of the northern half of the North American continent, and being the second largest country in the world. Canada has evolved in four hundred years from a group of European colonies into a federation of ten provinces and three territories, having been granted its sovereignty peacefully from its last colonial possessor, the United Kingdom.

The French language and the status of Quebec

In the late second half of the 20th century, many Quebecers sought greater sovereignty for Quebec, which has a French-speaking majority. This movement led the federal parliament on July 7, 1969, to make the French language equal to the English throughout the Canadian federal government. This started a process that led to Canada redefining itself as a bilingual and multicultural nation. In 1977, Quebec adopted the Charter of the French Language, which recognized French as the only official language.

Related Topics:
20th century - Quebec - July 7 - 1969 - French language - English - Bilingual - Multicultural - Charter of the French Language

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Two referendums were held on independence for Quebec, in 1980 and 1995. In both cases the referendums were defeated, with first 60 per cent then 50.6 per cent of the vote opposed to independence. New Brunswick (with 35 per cent of the population francophone Acadians) became officially bilingual in 1969. Other provinces with significant French-speaking minorities such as Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia provide government services in French and guarantee French schools.

Related Topics:
Referendum - New Brunswick - 1969

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