3.13 Housing and shelter costs

3.13.1 Condominium status

Figure 3.44 Condominium status question

Description

H3  Is this dwelling part of a condominium development?

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Ο Yes

Ο No

Source: Statistics Canada, 2008 Census Test, 2B.2 questionnaire.

Because of growing interest in the condominium housing stock, the condominium status question was moved in the alternate questionnaire so that the question applied to both renters and owners.  In the control questionnaire, it only applied to owners.

Also, the term 'registered condominium' was replaced with the term 'condominium' in the alternate questionnaire because previous qualitative testing showed that participants did not understand the term 'registered.'

The test showed that condominium owners were more likely to identify in the alternate questionnaire than the control questionnaire; the question on the control questionnaire had a higher level of non-response.

The proportion of renter-occupied dwellings that identified as living in a condominium was higher in the alternate version when compared to the Survey of Household Spending; however, the target populations of the surveys were different, and the coefficient of variation of the estimates were high.  There were no noticeable impacts on other renter-related questions resulting from asking the condominium questions to renters.

Asking the condominium status to renter-occupied dwellings is uncommon in most surveys, therefore it will be difficult to validate the quality of the data collected by the census if no other sources of this information are available.  As the question does not adversely affect other renter related questions and improves the data quality among owner-occupied dwellings, it was recommended that the version on the alternate questionnaire be adopted for the 2009 Census Test.

Both of these changes were proposed for the long-form census questionnaire, now the 2011 National Household Survey.

3.13.2 Bedrooms

Figure 3.45 Instruction for counting bedrooms in Question H4(b)

Description

H4 (a) How many rooms are there in this dwelling?

Include kitchen, bedrooms, finished rooms in attic or basement, etc.

Do not count bathrooms, halls, vestibules and rooms used solely for business purposes.

______ ← Number of rooms

---

(b) How many of these rooms are bedrooms?

Include all rooms designed as bedrooms, even if they are now used for something else. Also include basement bedrooms.

______ ← Number of bedrooms

Source: Statistics Canada, 2008 Census Test, 2B.2 questionnaire.

As a result of comments received during the 2011 Census consultation, an instruction about how to count the number of bedrooms was added to the alternate questionnaire.  One objective of the instruction was to ensure that respondents remembered to count basement bedrooms (as previous qualitative testing showed that these were sometimes forgotten).  Another objective of the instruction was to ensure all rooms that could reasonably be used as bedrooms were counted (such as bedrooms that are being used for other purposes like TV rooms and offices, or rooms that were converted to a bedroom like a den or a family room).  This method of counting bedrooms fits the common use of the 'bedrooms' count in the derivation of a crowding measure.

From the qualitative results, the addition of the statement did not present problems for the respondent.  From the quantitative results, the average number of bedrooms in the alternate version was higher than the control version.  An increase was expected based on the intended objectives described above.  Thus, it was recommended to include the instructions in the 2009 Census Test and the proposed long-form census questionnaire, now the 2011 National Household Survey.

3.13.3 Subsidized rent

Figure 3.46 Subsidized rent question

Description

(b) Is this dwelling subsidized?

Subsidized housing includes rent geared to income, social housing, public housing, governement assisted housing, non-profit housing, rent supplements, and housing allowances.

Ο Yes
Ο No

Source: Statistics Canada, 2008 Census Test, 2B.2 questionnaire.

During the 2011 Census consultation, participants voiced the need for additional data on subsidized housing.  This new question was added to the alternate version of the census test questionnaire.

Non-response rates to this question were similar to the Rent question.  The qualitative test showed that people who were in subsidized housing were able to respond correctly to the new question.  Compared to the Survey of Household Spending (SHS) and Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), the proportion of subsidized rent for the census test was not statistically different, however the target population of the surveys were different and the coefficient of variation of the estimates were high.  The census test results showed that there was no measurable impact on the rent question or on other shelter cost variables.  It was recommended that this new question be retained for the 2009 Census Test and the proposed long-form census questionnaire, now the 2011 National Household Survey.

3.13.4 Dwelling on an agricultural operation

Figure 3.47 Dwelling located on an agricultural operation

Description

Answer Questions H7 to H9 for only the dwelling that you now occupy, even if you own or rent more than one dwelling. If the exact amount is not known, please give best estimate.

Note: If you or anyone in this dwelling is a farm operator living on the farm you or they operate, mark "X" here → Ο and go to Step G on next page.

Source: Statistics Canada, 2008 Census Test, 2B.2 alternate questionnaire.

After the 2008 Census Test, it was discovered that the question to identify dwellings located on an agricultural operation was sometimes skipped over by the respondent.  On the 2006 Census questionnaire, respondents were required to check a circle if they fit the description; otherwise, they would skip over it.  To distinguish a correct skip from a non-response, the question was changed so that respondents could check 'Yes' or 'No.'

Figure 3.48 Dwelling located on an agricultural operation

Description

E7   Is this dwelling located on an agricultural operation that is operated by a member of this household?

Ο Yes → Go to Step F on next page

Ο No → Continue this section

Source: Statistics Canada, proposed long-form census questionnaire, now the 2011 National Household Survey.

Qualitative testing of the 'Yes'/'No' version of the question indicated that it was more likely to produce a correct answer to the question in comparison to the 2006 Census version of the question.  This new format was proposed for the long-form census questionnaire, now the 2011 National Household Survey.

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