Proportion of French Speakers Declines Nearly Everywhere in Canada, Including Quebec

People walk by bilingual signs for a commercial space for lease in the city of Westmount on the island of Montreal on Aug. 5, 2022. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

The proportion of Canadians who mainly speak French at home continues to decline in nearly all provinces and territories, including Quebec, the latest census release shows.

Statistics Canada reported Wednesday that the percentage of Canadians who speak predominantly French at home fell to 19.2 percent in 2021 from 20 percent in 2016. All provinces and territories saw a drop other than Yukon, where the figure was up from 2.4 to 2.6 percent.