Identifying francophones : Qui sont les francophones? : analyse de définitions selon les variables du recensement : étude

In an attempt to integrate Francophone newcomers, the new definition adopted by the Government of Ontario retains the mother tongue criterian and goes on to include persons “whose mother tongue is neither French nor English, but who have a particular knowledge of French as an official language and use French at home, including many recent immigrants in Ontario.”1 The effect of this broader definit [...] Weakness: The variable sheds no light on the mother tongue of respondents and may exclude persons who have French as their mother tongue and continue to use this language outside the home (e.g. [...] Mother tongue and knowledge of official languages Description: Persons with French as their mother tongue or French and English as their mother tongues, who still know French plus persons who know French without having French or English as their mother tongue. [...] This combination captures persons with French as their mother tongue or French and English as their mother tongues who still know French (French alone or French and English), and adds persons who do not have French or English as their mother tongue but know French. [...] TABLE 8 Number of Francophones based on mother tongue and knowledge of official languages (2001 Census) French Mother English and French Other Mother Tongue.