FGA Announces the Release of the Second Edition of the White Paper on Franco-Ontarian Economy

A Vital Tool to Better Understand the Impact and Challenges of the Francophone Economy in Ontario

Toronto, January 20, 2025 — The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario (FGA) is pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of its White Paper on the Franco-Ontarian Economy. This strategic document provides an in-depth and updated analysis of the province’s Francophone economic ecosystem, highlighting key challenges and prospects while offering concrete recommendations to foster its development. This report, the result of over fifteen months of research, was developed in collaboration with PGF Consultants Inc. and funded by the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs.

The Franco-Ontarian economy, driven by dynamic small and medium-sized businesses and a growing Francophone and bilingual workforce—comprising nearly 600,000 Francophones and 1.5 million bilingual individuals, representing 11.4% of the Ontarian workforce—makes a significant contribution to the province’s economic development. However, it faces several major challenges, including the exodus of young talent to large urban centers and an aging entrepreneurial population.

“This new edition of the White Paper sheds light on the complexity and dynamism of the Franco-Ontarian economy. We have gathered crucial data to better understand the challenges faced by our Francophone entrepreneurs, and to identify strategies for success and development. With over 30,000 Francophone businesses contributing to our economy, it is essential to strengthen our support for these key players in order to help them thrive, conquer new markets, and ensure sustainable and inclusive growth for Ontario’s prosperity. This White Paper is not just a status report, but a call to action to better support the Franco-Ontarian business ecosystem. The FGA would like to thank its partners, notably PGF Consultants and the Ontario Ministry of Francophone Affairs, for their essential support in bringing this project to fruition.” — Dominic Mailloux, President, FGA

Key Findings

• The number of companies run by Francophones in Ontario is estimated at 30,000, but their number could even reach 71,825, depending on the definition used. Although this number is growing, their share has decreased from 4.3% to 3.3% of all businesses in Ontario between 2017 and 2020.
• In 2022, 73,000 Ontario businesses, or nearly one in five (18%), offered at least one service or conducted an activity in both official languages.
• In 2021, 348,730 people reported speaking French in the workplace, representing 4.4% of the workforce.
• Nearly 900,000 people (898,760, or 11.4% of the workforce) are able to speak French in the workplace, highlighting a strategic opportunity for leveraging bilingualism.
• Francophone businesses:
  • Stand out with a higher proportion of medium and large enterprises (20 to 499 employees).
  • Showed an annual growth rate exceeding 20%, likely related to greater innovation compared to non-Francophone businesses.
  • Are strongly represented in:
    • Retail
    • Natural resources
    • Professional, scientific, and technical services
    • Manufacturing
    • Construction
  • Female and immigrant participation in entrepreneurship is underrepresented among Francophones in the province.
  • According to a survey conducted by Léger for the FGA, key priorities for promoting business growth and market expansion include new connections and networking (64.7% of respondents), additional financing (60.6%), and marketing and commercialization support (57.1%).

This objective and meticulous analysis, in addition to identifying the strengths and skills to be leveraged as well as the challenges to be addressed within the Franco-Ontarian business ecosystem, will also serve as a lever for the FGA in supporting the promotion of its members’ economic and social interests and facilitating the expansion of Francophone markets.

“The Francophone economy in Ontario, while facing challenges such as the decline in the percentage of Francophones and Francophone leaders, especially in rural and remote regions, continues to stand out for its dynamism and innovation. The Francophone and bilingual workforce represents a crucial strategic pillar for the province’s economic growth. Ensuring its preservation and development is therefore essential to enhance the competitiveness of our businesses and foster the Francophonie expansion. By identifying needs and opportunities, we hope this White Paper can guide future economic and policy measures to fully exploit the potential of our Francophone entrepreneurs, and develop new markets beyond our provincial borders.” — Richard Kempler, outgoing Executive Director, FGA

This second White Paper directly supports the three pillars of Ontario’s Francophone Economic Development Strategy: 1) Francophone entrepreneurship and innovation, 2) a bilingual skilled workforce: education, training, and employability, and 3) promoting Ontario’s Fracophonie as an economic asset.

“The White Paper on the Franco-Ontarian Economy of the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario shows the potential of the Francophone entrepreneurial ecosystem. I thank the FGA for this insightful analysis that will fuel a constructive dialogue for years to come. As Minister of Francophone Affairs, I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the success of our Francophone Economic Development Strategy which harnesses the full potential of our Francophone community.” Caroline Mulroney, Ontario Minister of Francophone Affairs

Recommendations and Priorities
The White Paper outlines five key development areas to support the Franco-Ontarian economy:

• Guide Growth with Better Data: Establish a group of experts to define and collect relevant data on Francophone businesses to inform strategic decisions.
• Leverage Linguistic Potential: Utilize bilingual skills to enhance the competitiveness of businesses on international markets.
• Unlock Francophone Entrepreneurial Potential: Support entrepreneurship, particularly among youth, women, and newcomers, through targeted funding and support programs.
• Conquer New Markets: Facilitate access for Francophone businesses to national and international markets, especially in Africa, where growth opportunities are significant.
• Strengthen the Collaborative Ecosystem: Foster collaboration between businesses, academic institutions, governments, and economic development organizations to create an environment conducive to innovation and growth.

This report also identifies several short-term recommendations, including launching of a dedicated investment fund for Francophone businesses and SMEs, establishing a centre for export promotion for Francophone entrepreneurs, strengthening economic ties with other Francophone communities in Canada through the AFEC (Alliance de la francophonie économique canadienne) co-founded by the FGA, promoting bilingualism as a strategic asset for the province, and utilizing the Quartier d’affaires platform as a dedicated space for entrepreneurs to exchange information, network, and seek mentorship, as well as serving as a survey tool.

For more information or to download the White Paper, please visit our website.

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 About the Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario
The Fédération des gens d’affaires francophones de l’Ontario supports, represents, and advances the interests of its members and economic actors. Its mission is to fully promote the francophone business community through policy development based on principles, ingenious business services, and innovative activities focused on the development of francophone commercial markets.

Contact and Interviews
Richard Kempler
Outgoing Executive Director, FGA
richard.kempler@fedefranco.ca

Mélanie Grenier
Communications Manager
media@fedefranco.ca