SUMMARY
2.1 Demographic facts about Francophones in Ontario
2.2 Rate of transmission of the French language
2.3 Results of the 2003 International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey
2.4 Conclusion
According to the Ontario Office of Francophone Affaires (2005),whose primary source is Statistics Canada, the population of Canada in 2001 was 32,649,482. Just under one-third (29%, or 9,590,700 people) spoke French. In Ontario, 1,362,020 people spoke French; this number includes people for whom French is their first, second or third language and people who know French. Of this number, 548,940 people, or 4.8% of the total population of the province, were Francophones. The Office of Francophone Affairs defines a francophone as a person whose first official spoken language is French.
The eastern region (Ottawa, Russell County, Clarence-Rockland and Kingston) represents 41.3%of the Francobhone population of Ontario. Francophones constitute 14.7%of the total population in the eastern region.
The cehtral region (Peel-Mississauga, Simcoe-Penetanguishene County, and WeIland) represents 25.6%of the Francophone population of Ontario. Francophones constitute 1.8%of the total population in the central region.
The north-east region (District of Nipissing-Sturgeon Falls) represents 25.2%of the Francophone population of Ontario. Francophones constitute 25.1%ofthe total population in the north-eastern region.
The north-west region (Manitouwadge, Thunder Bay) represents 1.6%of the Francophone population of Ontario. Francophones constitute less than 0.1% ofthe total population in the north-west region.
The south-west region (London, Windsor) represents 6.3% of the Francophone population of Ontario. Francophones constitute 0.3%of the total population in the south-west region (OFA, 2005).