Enumerating the population of Canada

Almost every country in the world regularly gathers important information on the social and economic conditions of persons living in its different regions. Every five years Statistics Canada conducts a census to provide a statistical portrait of Canada and her people.

Statistics Canada is the federal agency which is responsible under the Statistics Act for conducting the Census of Canada. By law each household must provide the information requested in the census, and by the same law Statistics Canada must protect the confidentiality of the personal information provided by respondents.

On May 15, 2001, the majority of households will complete a census questionnaire and return it by mail. The census gathers information on the socio-economic characteristics of the population. When converted into statistics, the information gathered provides a measure of the growth in the country's population and economy and sheds light on social and cultural trends.

The census enumerates everyone living in Canada. Included are Canadian citizens, both native-born and naturalized, landed immigrants and non-permanent residents and members of their families living with them in Canada. Non-permanent residents are persons who hold a Ministerial permit, student authorization or employment authorization, or who claim refugee status.

The census also counts Canadian citizens and landed immigrants who are temporarily outside Canada on Census Day. Examples are persons aboard merchant ships or vessels of the Canadian government, federal or provincial employees and their families, and members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families.

As outlined in the Constitution Act of 1867, census information is used to realign the boundaries of federal electoral districts and to create new ones, ensuring equal representation in the House of Commons.

Census data are used to produce population estimates. These estimates are used to allocate transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces and territories, and from the provincial/territorial governments to municipalities. In 2001 approximately 40 billion dollars will be transferred. Even a small error in the estimates could lead to the misallocation of billions of dollars.

Special enumerations

The enumeration of Canada's population extends beyond rural and urban households. This section provides information on enumerating people whose residence on Census Day is not their regular dwelling.

Enumeration of students

Students attending school out of town but who return home when school is not in session should be included on their parents' questionnaire, as part of the regular household. Because a school residence is considered a collective dwelling and each resident of a collective dwelling must complete a census questionnaire, students living in residences must complete the first two pages of the census form, seal it in the envelope provided, and return it by May 15^th to the location in the residence which is noted on the outside of the envelope. Students working out of town on Census Day should be included in their regular household. If they are staying in a hotel or motel because of their job, at a camp or Y, they must complete the first two pages of the census questionnaire which they will receive at that location.

Collective dwellings that do not provide care or assistance services

Inns, hotels, motels, campgrounds, YM/YWCAs and military bases are examples of non-institutional collective units. Persons living in these units are self-enumerated in the same way as households. However, persons staying temporarily in such a unit on Census Day are not enumerated there, but rather at their usual place of residence.

Collective dwellings that provide care or assistance services

Residents at institutions such as detention facilities, hospitals, residences for senior citizens, orphanages or prisons are enumerated using the institution's administrative records. To be enumerated, residents must have lived at the facility for at least six months. Otherwise, the resident is counted at their regular place of residence.

Canadians abroad

At Canadian embassies, heads of missions are asked to assist in enumerating all Canadians in the service of the Government of Canada outside the country. They appoint an enumeration co-ordinator who sees to the enumeration of employees in each department, along with their families.

Military and civilian personnel stationed outside Canada and their families, as well as persons on board vessels of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Canadian Coast Guard, the merchant marine and other ships, are all enumerated in the same way.

Persons travelling in Canada

People normally living in Canada who are travelling on Census Day are still required to complete and return a census form. Those staying in a hotel, motel, campground or hostel on Census Day will be given a form to complete which asks for the individual's name and address. Those who are travelling on Census Day and live alone should complete their household's questionnaire as soon as they return home. Those who plan to be away for an extended period of time including Census Day should telephone the Census Help Line. Officials there will fill one in over the phone with them.

The Census of Agriculture

Step D of the census questionnaire is used to determine which households should participate in the Census of Agriculture, which is carried out at the same time as the Census of Population. Farm operators are those who produce, for example, vegetables, seed grain or Christmas trees intended for sale, or who raise livestock or fur-bearing animals. Such households receive an additional questionnaire for the Census of Agriculture. In Canada there are some 276,000 farm operations.

Census of Agriculture data are an indispensable tool for a wide variety of users including grain and livestock marketers, farm supply companies, farm equipment dealers, food processors, farm media, marketing boards, farm producer groups, market research firms, agricultural associations and commodity groups.

Protecting your privacy

By law, Statistics Canada must protect the confidentiality of the personal information contained in census questionnaires. Respondents' names, addresses and telephone numbers are not entered into the census data base.

In addition, census personnel must take an oath of secrecy; any breach of this oath is punishable under the Statistics Act by a fine of up to $1,000 or a prison term of up to six months, or both.

No one has to provide information or give a completed questionnaire to a census representative they know. In such cases, arrangements can be made with the census representative for a supervisor to accept the questionnaire.

Did you know that...

• The respondent's guide that previously accompanied the short questionnaire is no longer printed, saving some 215,460 kg of paper.

• Approximately 13.2 million questionnaires will be keyed using 5 billion key strokes.