2006 Census Topic-based tabulations

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Topic-based tabulation: First Official Language Spoken (7), Mother Tongue (10), Age Groups (17A) and Sex (3) for the Population of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Divisions and Census Subdivisions, 2006 Census - 20% Sample Data

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General information

Catalogue number :97-555-XCB2006030
Release date :December 4, 2007
Topic :Language
Data dimensions :

Note

Note: Data on knowledge of official languages

According to studies on data certification, the 2006 Census statistics on knowledge of official languages could underestimate the category 'English and French' and overestimate the category 'French only,' particularly for the francophone population, but also for the whole population in general. More information on the subject will be available in the Languages Reference Guide, to be published in 2008.

Note: First official language spoken

The definitions of first official language spoken and official language minority are outlined in the Official Languages (Communications with and Services to the Public) Regulations issued pursuant to the Official Languages Act (1988).

Information on first official language spoken is not collected directly from respondents. Rather, it is derived from three language variables on the census questionnaire: knowledge of official languages, mother tongue, and home language (language spoken most often at home). The first step in the derivation of this variable is to examine the respondent's knowledge of English and French. A person who speaks only English has English assigned as the first official language, while a person who speaks only French has French assigned. If the person can speak both English and French, then the mother tongue variable is examined. If the mother tongue is English, then English is the first official language spoken. The same procedure is used for French. Thus, a person who speaks English and French, and has French as mother tongue, would have French assigned as the first official language spoken.

If the respondent speaks both English and French, and indicates English and French as mother tongue, then the 'home language' variable is examined to assign the first official language spoken. In this circumstance, a home language of English would result in English being assigned as first official language spoken, while a home language of French would result in French being assigned as first official language spoken. Consequently, a person who speaks both English and French, has both official languages as mother tongue and English as home language, would have English assigned as first official language spoken.

Situations where the respondents can speak English and French, and have both languages as mother tongue and home language, are assigned English and French as first official language spoken.

The official language minority is English in Quebec and French in all other provinces and territories. The size of the official language minority is determined by adding the minority population and half of the 'English and French' population. For example, in Ontario, the official language minority is the sum of those who have French as their first official language spoken and half of those who have English and French as first official language spoken.

For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Note: Impact of municipal restructuring

The boundaries and names of municipalities (census subdivisions) can change from one census to the next because of annexations, dissolutions and incorporations. To bridge the impact of these municipal changes on data dissemination, the 2006 Census team is producing a profile for dissolved census subdivisions. For additional information, please refer to the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Note: Population universe

The population universe of the 2006 Census includes the following groups:
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants with a usual place of residence in Canada;
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants who are abroad, either on a military base or attached to a diplomatic mission;
- Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants at sea or in port aboard merchant vessels under Canadian registry;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who are claiming refugee status and members of their families living with them;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold Study Permits and members of their families living with them;
- persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold Work Permits and members of their families living with them.

For census purposes, the last three groups in this list are referred to as 'non-permanent residents'. For further information, refer to the variable Immigration: Non-permanent resident found in the 2006 Census Dictionary, catalogue number 92-566-XWE or 92-566-XPE.

Data table

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This table details first official language spoken , mother tongue , age groups and sex for the population in CanadaFootnote 1
Mother tongue (10) First official language spoken (7)
Total - First official language spoken English French English and French Neither English nor French Official language minority (number)Footnote 2 Official language minority (percentage)Footnote 3
Total - Mother tongue 31,241,030 23,197,090 7,204,390 331,925 507,620 7,370,350 23.6
Single responses 30,848,270 22,898,065 7,139,130 303,460 507,620 7,290,855 23.6
English 17,882,780 17,879,575 3,205 0 0 3,205 0.0
French 6,817,650 32,705 6,784,945 0 0 6,784,950 99.5
Non-official language 6,147,840 4,985,785 350,975 303,460 507,625 502,705 8.2
Multiple responses 392,760 299,030 65,260 28,465 0 79,495 20.2
English and French 98,625 50,305 24,300 24,015 0 36,310 36.8
English and non-official language 240,005 239,625 385 0 0 385 0.2
French and non-official language 43,335 4,325 39,010 0 0 39,010 90.0
English, French and non-official language 10,790 4,780 1,560 4,450 0 3,785 35.1

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Excludes census data for one or more incompletely enumerated Indian reserves or Indian settlements.

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Footnote 2

The official language minority is English in Quebec and French in all other provinces and territories.

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Footnote 3

The official language minority is English in Quebec and French in all other provinces and territories.

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Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Population, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 97-555-XCB2006030.

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Footnotes

Footnote a

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Footnote c

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Footnote d

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