2016 Census Program Content Consultation Guide: Discussion points

  1. The topics for the Census Program are listed below. Considering the following definitions and your data needs, how important is each topic?

    Essential implies that the topic is required to fulfil a legislative requirement or the needs of a regulation, policy or program. Strong need implies that the topic is not required but is used to fulfil the needs of a regulation, policy, program or other application. Some need implies that the topic could be used to fulfil the needs of a regulation, policy, program or other application. No need implies that the topic is not used.

    Please refer to Appendix B for a list of 2011 Census Program questions by topic.
Table 5 Importance of Census Program topics
DescriptionIn Question 1, users are asked to indicate the level of importance of each Census Program topic. The first column in the table ("Census Program Topic") lists the fourteen topics and each of the remaining columns (Essential, Strong need, Some need and No need) corresponds to the level of importance of the topic.
Census Program topics Importance of topic
Essential  Strong need Some need No need
Basic demographics (age, sex, marital status and common-law status) empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Families and households empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Activity limitations empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Place of birth, citizenship and immigration empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Language empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Ethnic origin empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Aboriginal Peoples empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Visible minorities empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Mobility and migration empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Education empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Labour empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Place of work and commuting to work empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Income and earnings empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Housing and shelter costs empty cell empty cell empty cell empty cell
Note: The question on religion is asked every 10 years. The last time was in 2011.
  1. For topics considered 'essential,' please indicate which 2011 Census of Population or 2011 National Household Survey questions you intend to use and provide examples of their application.

  2. Would you recommend any changes to the existing questions from the 2011 Census of Population or 2011 National Household Survey for consideration during the planning of future Census Programs? For each suggested change, please:
    • indicate the level of priority (low or high)
    • provide a rationale (and include references to the Statistics Canada socioeconomic data source(s) you use, if applicable). You may wish to consult Your Guide to Data Sources on Census-related Topics
    • suggest ways respondent burden can be managed by editing or eliminating questions in the same grouping.
  3. Do data gaps exist that could be addressed through the 2016 Census Program? If yes, please describe the information that should be included in the 2016 Census Program along the seven dimensions listed below (please refer to Table 2 for an explanation of each dimension) and explain why.

    Note: The extent to which an information need meets the seven dimensions of the proposed framework will be a main consideration in determining whether or not it will be collected by the 2016 or future Census Programs. In your response, please address as many of the following dimensions as possible:

    • Strength of user need
    • Size of the population of interest
    • Suitability of alternative sources
    • Cross-classification of data / multivariate analysis
    • Comparability across Canada
    • Continuity over time
    • Frequency of outputs

Geography needs

  1. Which of the standard geographic areas do you currently use, or intend to use in the future?

  2. Do you consider the ongoing process of aligning the Statistics Canada geographic boundaries with provincial/territorial digital road networks worthwhile?

    For more information on the standard geographic area concepts, hierarchy and spatial data infrastructure, consult the 'Geography' section in the 2011 Census Dictionary at: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/ref/dict/univ-index-eng.cfm.

  3. Do you have any other comments, for example, on geography concepts or the dissemination strategies for the Census Program?

Please note that your responses may be made public in the documentation highlighting the findings of the 2016 Census Program content consultation.

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