New Environics Research Study Finds Strong Support for Canada’s Official Languages
New research conducted by Environics Research for the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages (OCOL) reveals that Canadians continue to strongly support official bilingualism, despite a changing political and economic landscape.
Released on October 26, the 2026 Official Languages Tracking Survey explores Canadians’ attitudes toward English and French, the importance of linguistic duality, and the role of official languages in shaping Canada’s national identity. Conducted in collaboration with OCOL’s research team, the study found that 89% of Canadians support the objectives of the Official Languages Act, consistent with findings from previous surveys in 2016 and 2021.
Other key findings include:
- 94% of Canadians expect federal services to be available in both official languages.
- Nearly 9 in 10 agree that official languages are important to Canada’s national identity.
- 87% believe having two official languages positively contributes to Canada’s international image.
- More than 8 in 10 believe more needs to be done to help young Canadians become bilingual in English and French.
The research included a national telephone survey of 1,500 adult Canadians and an online survey of 1,502 adult Canadians, conducted between March and April 2026.
Building on an Ongoing Research Partnership
This latest study builds on Environics Research’s previous work with OCOL, including research exploring perceptions and realities surrounding Quebec’s English-speaking communities. Our earlier work helped identify misconceptions, explore relationships between Francophones and Anglophones, and provide insights to support more informed public dialogue and communications.
Together, these projects demonstrate the value of public opinion research in understanding Canadians’ perspectives on language, identity and social cohesion. We’re proud to continue supporting OCOL with research that helps inform important conversations about Canada’s official languages.
