French speaking ability would only be a bonus in eastern ontario and quebec. Otherwise don't worry about it, English is the official language of aviation so you'll be fine.
I think that comment is a bit misleading. Outside of Quebec or New Brunswick, for all practical purposes, English is the "official" language everywhere.
It is rare to hear French spoken, or see French signs, apart from international airports, which have to follow federal rules on bilingualism. In fact, you'll hear South Asian and Southeast Asian languages much more commonly than French.
I agree with AussieNick's advice about Suburbans - steer clear of large SUVs, the fuel bills will consume all your money. The Forrester would be a good choice, but 2WD cars are routinely used on gravel highways with no particular issues.