Chapter 1

An Organizational Story

1.1.2.1 Results of the 2011 Census

Last October, Statistics Canada released its data from the 2011 Census of Population.¹ These data, which are from the mandatory short questionnaire, confirm the growth and vitality of the Ontario Francophonie:

• In 2011, Ontario had 611,500 Francophones, based on the Inclusive Definition of Francophone.
• The number of Francophones was up 5% from 2006, and the proportion of Francophones in Ontario’s population remained steady at 4.8%.²
• Except in 1986, the number of Francophones has continued to grow at a constant pace in Ontario. As a result, in the 20 years between 1991 and 2011, the Francophone population increased by more than 11%.
• Nearly three quarters of the Francophone population live in Eastern and Central Ontario.
• The Francophone population increased in every region except Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario.
• Eastern and Central Ontario posted the largest Francophone population gains: almost 10% and more than 6% respectively, compared with 2006 data. These regions are important destinations for Francophone newcomers.
• Nearly 54% of the Francophone population reported speaking French at home in 2011. That is a slight decline relative to 2006.
• The proportion of exogamous couples — where one parent is a Francophone and the other one is not — increased from 66.7% in 2006 to 68.3% in 2011.³
• The rate of transmission of French increased over the last 25 years from less than 28% to more than 40% in couples with a Francophone mother. As a result of this transmission, young people are increasingly identifying and representing themselves as bilingual instead of using the traditional label of a single linguistic identity.

Chart 1

Francophones in Ontario based on the IDF, 1986-2011⁴

Source: Office of Francophone Affairs and Statistics Canada, 2011 Census of Population

Detailed data concerning immigration, work and income will be available in the near future with the publication of the National Household Survey, which replaced the long questionnaire. In 2010, the government announced its decision to unilaterally discontinue the mandatory long form and administer a voluntary survey instead. That decision raised a hue and cry and was criticized by the Commissioner.⁵