Punjabi set to become 4th top language in Canada

BARNALA: Not only Punjabis, who are making waves at faraway Canada in various spheres, including Canadian parliament, Punjabi language also is making a niche for itself there. During the ongoing census in Canada, many are coming forward to record their mother tongue as Punjabi.
A campaign is underway in that country to make Punjabis declare the language as their mother tongue and many organizations are working relentlessly to make Punjabi-origin people record Punjabi as their language. If all goes as per the wishes of Punjabis, the language is set to become 4th biggest language in Canada, moving up from the present sixth place.
Sources said that signboards at many places across Canada have come up of late even in Punjabi, along with other languages. Recently, two Punjabi-origin politicians were elevated as ministers and another retained as parliamentary secretary by ruling Conservative Party of Canada."For the last one decade, Punjabi-speaking people are increasing in Canada. There were 2.71 lakh people having Punjabi as mother tongue in 2001 census, which increased to 3.67 lakh in 2006. Now, after the 2011 census closes on May 31, the numbers are set to increase drastically," said Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha ( North America) president Mohan Singh Gill.
Since 2001 census, the number of Punjabi-speaking people is expected to register 35% increase, Gill said. Punjabi presently figures after English, French, Chinese, Italian and German languages in Canada and, interestingly, it is at 4th place in British Columbia province. Punjabi Language Education president Balwant Singh Sanghera said that many organizations, including some radio stations, are working overtime to make Punjabi-speaking people record Punjabi as their mother tongue.