French Required for Quebec Citizenship Applicants

Summary#

This bill would change the Citizenship Act so that permanent residents who normally live in Quebec must show adequate knowledge of French to become Canadian citizens. It also requires those applicants to take the required knowledge-of-Canada test in French. The bill does not change the language rules for applicants who live outside Quebec and does not change the age ranges already in the Act. It does not add funding or new programs.

• Requires French (not English) to meet the language rule for applicants who ordinarily reside in Quebec (Bill, replacing Citizenship Act s.5(1)(d)).
• Requires the citizenship knowledge test or interview to be done in French for applicants who ordinarily reside in Quebec (Bill, replacing s.5(1)(e)).
• Leaves the existing age-based language and knowledge exemptions in place; it only changes the language that qualifies in Quebec (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)).
• Does not redefine “adequate knowledge”; current federal standards continue to apply unless changed elsewhere (Bill text).
• Does not change rules for applicants living outside Quebec; they can use English or French as today (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)).

What it means for you#

• Households and applicants

  • If you are a permanent resident who ordinarily resides in Quebec (normally lives in Quebec), you must show adequate knowledge of French to qualify for citizenship. English alone would not meet the rule (Bill, s.5(1)(d)).
  • If you live in Quebec and are in the age group that must take the citizenship knowledge test today, you would have to take that test or interview in French (Bill, s.5(1)(e)).
  • If you live outside Quebec when you apply, you may meet the language rule in English or French, and take the knowledge test in either language, as under current law (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)).
  • The bill does not change which ages must meet language and knowledge rules, and it does not change any existing exemptions in the Act (Bill text).
  • The bill does not provide language classes or funding. You would need to use existing programs or personal study if you need to build French skills. Data unavailable on added supports (Bill text).

• Workers and students

  • Temporary residents are not affected until they become permanent residents and apply for citizenship. At that point, the rules above would apply based on where they ordinarily reside (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)).

• Service users

  • Citizenship application forms, guidance, and test scheduling would need to reflect the French-only requirement for Quebec residents. Processing steps are otherwise unchanged in law (Bill text).

Expenses#

Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• No fiscal note or official cost estimate identified. Data unavailable.
• The bill contains no appropriations, taxes, or fees; it only changes eligibility language rules (Bill text).
• Any administrative costs for updating forms, guidance, and training are not stated. Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Promotes integration in Quebec’s French-speaking society by making French the required language for citizenship applicants who live in Quebec (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)). Assumes language requirement supports social integration.
• Aligns the citizenship knowledge test language with Quebec’s French context, so applicants demonstrate civic knowledge in French if they live in Quebec (Bill, s.5(1)(e)). Assumes this better reflects daily life in Quebec.
• Keeps existing national standards elsewhere, so it is a targeted change that does not alter rules for other provinces (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)).
• Uses the current “adequate knowledge” threshold, avoiding a new or higher bar; it specifies the language, not the level (Bill text).

Opponents' View#

• Creates different citizenship rules by province, since Quebec residents must qualify in French while others may use English or French. This may be seen as uneven treatment based on place of residence (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)).
• Could delay citizenship for Quebec residents who speak English but not French, even if they meet all other requirements. This raises access and timeline concerns. Data unavailable on how many would be affected.
• May add administrative steps to confirm an applicant’s ordinary residence at the time of application and to enforce the French-only rule for Quebec residents (Bill, s.5(1)(d)–(e)). Assumes verification adds workload.
• Does not include funding for French language training, testing support, or outreach, which could shift costs to applicants or provinces if demand for French learning rises. Data unavailable on costs (Bill text).