Linguistic and Economic Characteristics of Francophone Minorities in Ontario and New Brunswick from 1981 to 2011

Abstract

This paper uses the 2011 National Household Survey to analyze the economic position of the Francophone minorities of Ontario and New Brunswick. The results are compared with earlier ones for 1981 and 1991 obtained by Grenier (1997). Demographic and other characteristics that are related to economic success are first considered. Earnings regression models are then estimated to analyze the gross and net earnings gap between Anglophones and Francophones. Finally, the paper considers a new factor, immigration in Ontario, that has become important in recent times. The major results are as follows. First, assimilation to English by Francophones is higher in Ontario than New Brunswick, and the assimilation rate has increased in both provinces since 1991. Second, the gap between Francophones and Anglophones in the characteristics that are related to economic success has decreased. Third, most Francophones no longer have an earnings disadvantage in 2011, and some even earn more than Anglophones. Finally, immigrants who speak other languages at home have a large earnings disadvantage, while it is not the case for those who speak French at home.