Quebec is a whole different matter, some of them are blaming the French for discarding this language. So they seem to be much more encline in protecting the French. (Too encline I would say)
Was French the international language until twenty years ago? I know it was the case in past centuries, but I thought these times were long gone.
As for your point with regards to English, it does make sense indeed. Perhaps the basics of English are also easier to grasp than for most Languages? (There is virtually no conjugation in English save for quite a few irregular verbs, and grammar is less annoying) I would believe starting English is easier than starting German or French, but I may be partial and therefore wrong.
(Of course, there are also other difficulties in English, but they come later when you are learning the language.)