<P> French Canadians ( also referred to as Franco - Canadians or Canadiens ; French : Canadien ( ne ) s français ( es ) ) are an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to French colonists who settled in Canada from the 17th century onward . Today , French Canadians constitute the main French - speaking population in Canada , accounting for about 22 per cent of the country 's total population . The majority of French Canadians reside in Quebec , where they constitute the majority of the province 's population , although French Canadian and francophone minority communities exist in all other Canadian provinces and territories as well . </P>
<P> French Canadians ( also referred to as Franco - Canadians or Canadiens ; French : Canadien ( ne ) s français ( es ) ) are an ethnic group who trace their ancestry to French colonists who settled in Canada from the 17th century onward . Today , French Canadians constitute the main French - speaking population in Canada , accounting for about 22 per cent of the country 's total population . The majority of French Canadians reside in Quebec , where they constitute the majority of the province 's population , although French Canadian and francophone minority communities exist in all other Canadian provinces and territories as well . </P>
when did the french immigrants come to canada
when did the french immigrants come to canada
from the 17th century onward
from the 17th century onward