This table enables users to focus on the overall ethnic distribution of the population, based on single response categories (persons who belong to one ethnic category only) and selected multiple response categories (persons who belong to more than one ethnic category).

This table shows single response counts for all ethnic categories and multiple response counts for 14 multiple categories including British Isles, French, Canadian and other origins. There is no double counting of the population in this table. Persons who provided more than one ethnic origin are included in only one of the multiple response categories. The sum of single and multiple responses is equal to the total population.

Comparability of ethnic origin data between the 1996 Census and previous censuses has been affected by several factors, including changes in the question format, wording, examples, instructions and data processing, as well as by the social environment at the time of the census. The 1996 Census required that respondents write in their ethnic origin(s) on four write-in lines, whereas previous censuses provided the respondent with both mark-in categories and write-in lines. Caution should be used in comparing ethnic origin data from census to census.

Includes respondents who reported one ethnic origin only.

Caution should be used in comparing data for "Canadian" ethnic origin between censuses.

The increase in the reporting of "Canadian" is the result of a number of factors. The change in the format of the ethnic origin question between 1996 and 1991 has had an impact on counts for this group.

The 1991 Census question included 15 mark-in categories and two write-in spaces for the ethnic origin question. In 1996, respondents were required to write in their ethnic origin(s) in four write-in spaces. Twenty-four examples, including "Canadian", were provided. "Canadian" was included as one of the examples on the 1996 Census questionnaire because it was one of the most frequently reported ethnic origins in the 1991 Census.

As a result of the change in format of the ethnic origin question in 1996, many respondents who checked a mark-in category to indicate their ethnic origin in 1991 may have written in "Canadian" as their ethnic origin in 1996.

Although the increase in the reporting of "Canadian" ethnic origins may have impacted the reporting of single ethnic origins for many groups, British Isles origins and French origins appear to have been particularly affected.

Includes American, Australian, New Zealander, Québécois and Other, n.i.e.

Includes respondents who reported more than one ethnic origin. There is no double counting of the population in these categories. Respondents who provided more than one ethnic origin are included in only one of the multiple response categories. "British Isles" includes respondents who reported English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh or British, n.i.e. "French" includes respondents who reported French or Acadian. "Other" includes respondents who reported any origin other than British Isles, French or Canadian.

The "British Isles only" multiple category includes respondents who reported more than one of the following origins: English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and British, n.i.e.

The "French only" multiple category includes respondents who reported French and Acadian.

The "Other multiple origins" category includes respondents who reported two or more origins other than a British Isles origin, French, Acadian or Canadian.