Anglo group finds silver lining in revised census figures that show declines

Even though revised census figures show the number of mother-tongue Enlish-speakers in Quebec is declining, a leading Anglo advocacy group has found a sliver of good newsin the updated numbers.

Initially Statistics Canada had said Quebec'sAnglo population jumpedby 57,000 people between2011 and 2016, an increase of0.4 percentage points.

• Share of anglophones in Quebec declining, not increasing, corrected census figures show
• StatsCan blames computer error for spike in number of English speakers in Quebec

But after discovering a computer error, the agency said Thursday, in fact,the percentageofanglophones in the province droppedfrom7.7per cent to 7.5 per cent.

In absoluteterms, the number ofEnglish-speakers only went up by about2,000 people, according to the latest estimate.

"These numbers seem more reflective form what we've been hearing in our community," saidSylviaMartin-Laforge,president ofQuebec Community Groups Network (QCGN).

But, forMartin-Laforge,even a minor bump was something tocelebrate.

"The vitality of the community is always at risk," she said. "This will mean, we hope, the ability to get more funding for forservices in Quebec for the English-speaking community."

No more Bill 202?

Following the release of the old, incorrect data, a number of Quebec politicians began calling for more French-language protections, citing the dramatic increase in English-mother-tongue residents.

Parti Qubcois LeaderJean-Franois Lisewent so far as to propose another French-language charter, promising to pass a Bill 202 within the first 101 days of a PQ government.

• Maps tell story of Montreal's changing linguistic landscape

Lisehas yet to say whether the revised figures will affect his proposal.

Jean-Pierre Corbeil, in charge of the language statistics program at Statistics Canada, told CBC News he hopes the updated information will give a clearer picture of the language situation in Quebec.

"The reaction was probably very strong and now the fact that these numbers are changing will certainly change the perspective on the evolution of French and English in Quebec,"Corbeilsaid.