Lesson 2 What collective rights do official language groups have under the Charter?

What are we looking for? The challenges and opportunities Francophones face in maintaining their culture and identity. In what ways does the Charter meet the needs of Francophones in minority settings? To what extent does the Charter meet the needs of Francophones in Quebec? To what extent should the Federal and Provincial Governments support and promote the language rights of minorities in Canada?

Terms we will use Anglophone: a person whose first language is English Francophone: a person whose first language is French. Official language community: one of the groups in Canadian society whose members speak an official language of Canada – French or English – as their first language. Official language minority: a group that speaks one of Canada’s official languages and lives in an area in Canada where they are in the language minority (i.e. a Francophone living in Alberta where the majority of the population speaks English).

What are official Language Minorities? P. 142 Examine the Map on p. 142 and answer the following: What do Francophone students in Alberta and Anglophone students in Quebec have in common?

What challenges to affirming Francophone and Anglophone identity might each face living in a minority setting?

What opportunities to affirm Francophone and Anglophone identity might each face living in a minority setting?

Read the student profiles and comments on p.143-144… How do Rachel’s rights as a Francophone and Devin’s rights as an Anglophone affect their quality of life? What opportunities and challenges do they face to affirming their identities and rights? How would you feel being in the language minority? When someone is in a minority setting, such as a Francophone living in a primarily English-speaking community, it can be difficult to maintain their minority culture and language.

Where do the Charter Rights of official language groups come from Where do the Charter Rights of official language groups come from? BNA Act… BNA Act of 1867 established Canada as a bicultural, bilingual country with rights for Francophones and Anglophones. BNA Act made French and English the official languages of Canada. Public education guaranteed for Protestant minority in Quebec and Catholic minority in the rest of Canada (Anglophones were mainly Protestant and Francophones were mainly Catholic).

Where do the Charter Rights of official language groups come from Where do the Charter Rights of official language groups come from? Post 1867 1969 – Official Languages Act re-affirms dual official languages as outlined by BNA Act. Guarantees services and equal opportunities of employment for people who speak both languages 1977 – Bill 101 is passed in Quebec and favors French language and culture forcing many Anglophones out of Quebec. 1982 – Charter of Rights and Freedoms is passed and balances the needs of Francophones and Anglophones in both majority and minority settings by ensuring equal access for both in society.

Bill 101…p.150 In 1977, the provincial government of Quebec passed Bill 101 to establish rules to protect the French language in Quebec This law affirmed the French language as essential to the identity of Francophones It made the French language the official language of business, government and education in Quebec. How has Bill 101 Affected Anglophones in Quebec? How has Bill 101 served to Protect the rights and Identity of Francophones in Quebec? Bill 101 is official Bill 101 5 years later

In what ways does the Charter meet the needs of Francophones in minority settings? Charter tries to Prevent language discrimination: Section 16-20 (Official bilingualism): in the Charter establish French and English as official languages in Canada. The Charter guarantees that no matter where a Francophone person lives, that person has the right to access government services in French. Section 23 (Minority lang. education rights) in the Charter states when there are enough students to warrant it, students in any province have the right to publicly funded education in French.

To what extent does the Charter meet the needs of Francophones in Quebec? The Charter helps promote the French culture in Quebec by ensuring that the rights of Francophones are protected: 1. right to access government services in French 2. right to educate the province’s Francophone children in French. **However, the Charter also limits the use of French as the only language in the province by allowing businesses to display any language as long as French is also displayed.

To what extent should the Federal and Provincial Governments support and promote the language rights of minorities in Canada? Your response:

To what extent should the Federal and Provincial Governments support and promote the language rights of minorities in Canada? The Canadian government has the responsibility to protect the rights of all minorities (including minority lang. rights) in Canada. Canada prides itself on having a multicultural identity and on being a country that has great respect for human rights. The government should ensure that legislation is in place that protects and promotes the culture of language minorities (ensuring that they are able to flourish).

Connect to big ideas p. 151… Complete questions 1-3 on p. 151… 1. 2. 3.

Review Questions What are official language minorities and why are they of importance to Canadians? Why is it necessary to protect the rights of official language groups in Canada? What past legislation and events influenced the official language rights found in the Charter? What collective rights do Francophones and Anglophones have in Canada? How are the rights of Francophones in Quebec affirmed? Is it necessary to ensure the language rights of minorities in Canada? Explain why or why not.