Overall findings
This section reports the results of Discussion points Question 1 regarding the importance of Census Program topics (see Appendix D). Findings on other framework dimensions such as level of geography, the suitability of alternative data sources, multivariate analysis as well as comparability across Canada and continuity over time are also described in this document.
Topics by level of importance: The 2016 Census Program Content Consultation Guide asked participants to rank Census Program topics by level of importance.Footnote1 The following chart presents the percentage distribution of each theme according to essential, strong need and some need, as reported by consultation participants. In terms of frequency, those who responded to this question consider basic demographics, income and earnings as well as families and households more essential than other topics.
Chart 1
Distribution of Census Program topics by level of importance as reported by consultation participants
Description
This horizontal bar graph shows the distribution of Census Program topics by level of importance as reported by consultation participants. The levels of importance are: essential, strong need and some need. The x-axis displays the percentage of distribution from zero percent to one hundred percent. The x-axis displays the percentage of distribution from zero percent to one hundred percent. The y-axis displays the Census Program topics including: basic demographics; families and households; activities of daily living; place of birth, citizenship and immigration; language; ethnic origin; Aboriginal peoples; visible minorities; mobility and migration; education; labour; place of work and commuting to work; income and earnings; and, housing and shelter costs.
| Census Program topics | Level of Importance: Essential |
Level of Importance: Strong need |
Level of Importance: Some need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic demographics | 76 | 19 | 5 |
| Families and households | 61 | 29 | 10 |
| Activities of daily living | 34 | 35 | 31 |
| Place of birth, citizenship and immigration | 50 | 29 | 21 |
| Language | 51 | 32 | 18 |
| Ethnic origin | 38 | 35 | 27 |
| Aboriginal peoples | 51 | 29 | 20 |
| Visible minorities | 40 | 34 | 25 |
| Mobility and migration | 43 | 37 | 20 |
| Education | 58 | 30 | 12 |
| Labour | 58 | 32 | 9 |
| Place of work and commuting to work | 43 | 37 | 20 |
| Income and earnings | 62 | 27 | 11 |
| Housing and shelter costs | 52 | 27 | 21 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Census Operations Division, 2016 Census Program content consultation.
The following table reflects the order of Census Program topics rated essential by consultation participants by sector (ref: Discussion points, Question 1). As revealed by the consultation input, Basic demographics was the topic most frequently reported essential across all jurisdictions with the placement of the other topics varying according to the sector.
Table 4
Order of essential Census Program topics as reported by consultation participants by sector
| Order | Federal government | Provincial/territorial government | Local government | Other sectorsFootnote2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Source: Statistics Canada, Census Operations Division, 2016 Census Program content consultation. | ||||
| 1 | Basic demographics | Basic demographics | Basic demographics | Basic demographics |
| 2 | Aboriginal peoples | Labour | Families and households | Education |
| 3 | Income and earnings | Education | Income and earnings | Income and earnings |
| 4 | Language | Income and earnings | Housing and shelter costs | Labour |
| 5 | Visible minorities | Families and households | Labour | Language |
| 6 | Education | Aboriginal peoples | Place of work and commuting to work | Families and households |
| 7 | Families and households | Housing and shelter costs | Education | Place of birth, citizenship and immigration |
| 8 | Labour | Place of birth, citizenship and immigration | Mobility and migration | Aboriginal peoples |
| 9 | Place of birth, citizenship and immigration | Place of work and commuting to work | Language | Housing and shelter costs |
| 10 | Ethnic origin | Activities of daily living | Place of birth, citizenship and immigration | Mobility and migration |
| 11 | Mobility and migration | Mobility and migration | Activities of daily living | Ethnic origin |
| 12 | Housing and shelter costs | Language | Ethnic origin | Visible minorities |
| 13 | Place of work and commuting to work | Visible minorities | Aboriginal peoples | Place of work and commuting to work |
| 14 | Activities of daily living | Ethnic origin | Visible minorities | Activities of daily living |
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