A Statistics Canada research note, built on the 2022 Survey on the Official Language Minority Population, shows that most bilingual minority language adults in Canada rate their second official language skills as strong, use both English and French at home daily, and often feel more comfortable speaking English, even when raised in French-speaking or mixed language households. 

What is the Survey on the Official Language Minority Population? 

The Survey on the Official Language Minority Population, known as the SOLMP, is a postcensal survey conducted in 2022 following the 2021 Census. It focused on two specific groups, the English speaking population in Quebec and the French speaking population in Canada outside Quebec, and asked detailed questions about language trajectory, daily use, and comfort level. Because it builds directly on Census questions, the SOLMP gives Statistics Canada a clearer picture of what census responses about bilingualism actually mean in daily life. 

How Many Minority Language Adults Consider Themselves Bilingual? 

English French bilingualism is common among minority language adults in Canada. According to 2021 Census data, 69.4 percent of English mother tongue adults in Quebec reported being able to hold a conversation in French. Outside Quebec, the number was even higher for French mother tongue adults, with 91.6 percent reporting they could hold a conversation in English. 

The SOLMP dug deeper into what that self reported ability actually means. Almost all adults who rated their second language oral proficiency as high or very high also considered themselves able to hold a conversation in that language, and the pattern held consistently whether the respondent lived in Quebec or elsewhere in Canada. 

Source: StatCan Data Reveal About Bilingualism in Canada 

How Often Do Bilingual Canadians Use Both Languages at Home? 

Regular use of both official languages at home is common within minority language communities. In 2021, 16.8 percent of English mother tongue adults in Quebec spoke English and French at home on a regular basis, while 25.2 percent of French mother tongue adults outside Quebec did the same. 

Among adults who use both languages regularly, daily use is the norm, though not identical across languages. Outside Quebec, 94 percent of French mother tongue adults who used both languages regularly spoke English at home every day, compared with 83 percent who spoke French daily. Even among adults who spoke English most often and used French only as a secondary language at home, 61 percent still used French daily, which points to real and sustained bilingual habits rather than occasional use. 

Why Do Bilingual Adults Often Feel More Comfortable in English? 

One of the more striking findings involves comfort level rather than ability. Outside Quebec, adults with both English and French as their first official languages spoken were far more likely to feel more comfortable in English, at 58 percent, than in French, at 11 percent. In Quebec the gap ran the same direction but was narrower, at 35 percent versus 25 percent. 

Family background helps explain part of this. Adults from mixed English French families, meaning one parent with each mother tongue, were far more likely to grow up with both languages as their mother tongue than adults whose parents shared a single mother tongue. And within households, French tended to be the language spoken with children, while English more often carried over into conversations with a spouse or partner, particularly outside Quebec. 

What Does This Mean for Newcomers Choosing Where to Settle in Canada? 

For newcomers weighing where to settle and study, this data is a useful reality check. Programs like Quebec’s selection streams, the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot, and various francophone mobility initiatives are built around genuine French ability, not just a passing test score. At the same time, the SOLMP data shows that even strong French-speaking communities outside Quebec lean heavily on English in daily life, which matters for anyone planning long term integration, employment, or their children’s schooling. 

Language planning is not a side detail in an immigration strategy. It shapes which programs a candidate qualifies for, how quickly they can integrate locally, and in many cases, how many Comprehensive Ranking System points they can claim through the Express Entry system. 

How Can ImmigCanada Help You Navigate Canada’s Bilingual Landscape? 

Whether you are weighing a francophone pathway, a bilingual bonus under Express Entry, or simply choosing where in Canada to settle, our advisors can help you match your language profile to the right program. Book a Consultation with ImmigCanada.