Why do Canadians speak French?

Answer 1

Answer 1

Only the Canadians in the province of Quebec speak French, for the obvious reason that that area was populated by immigrants from France.

Answer 2

Objection!

As a Canadian, I wish to object to Answer 1, although I am sure it was intended in good faith.

First, French is spoken in almost all parts of Canada, not just in Quebec. For example, there are large areas of Ontario and New Brunswick in which French is the first language of the majority of the population. French speaking population centres exist in every province.

Second, Quebecers should not be referred to as 'immigrants.' Quebec was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, who is often referred to as 'The Father of Canada.' 'New France' was a French colony. French speaking people settled in Quebec and Acadia hundreds of years before English speaking people began settling in what is now Canada. The French were here first.

Third, it should be noted that French is an Official Language in Canada. Not all Canadians speak French. The majority speak English. There is, however, a steadily growing segment of the population that can speak both languages fluently.

As an English speaking Canadian, I am proud of the bilingual nature of our country.

Answer 3

And unlike the often French custom, the English allowed those in their newly acquired land to continue to speak their own language and have their own culture.
Of course there are many Canadians who do not know French at all, and some who speak it as a second language. Many living in the province of Quebec speak French as their first language, as their ancestors have done since coming from France and settling there.

In the U. S., a small number of people in Louisiana also speak French, and some speak Navajo or Cherokee.

Answer 2

French is one of Canada's official languages due to historical colonization by France. In particular, French is spoken in the province of Quebec, where it has strong cultural and historical ties. Additionally, Canada has a significant French-speaking population outside of Quebec, especially in regions such as New Brunswick and parts of Ontario.