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Public consultation

(Document last updated May 1, 2001)

The 2001 Census Consultation Guide
The census and major social policy issues
How is census content determined?
Other surveys
The 2001 Census Consultation Report
Post-censal surveys

The 2001 Census is the first national enumeration of Canada’s population in this millennium. To meet the country’s information needs, Statistics Canada embarked on an extensive public consultation program to develop the 2001 census questionnaire content.

The 2001 Census Consultation Guide

In early 1997, during the first part of the 2001 Census consultation process, Statistics Canada prepared a guide to help data users organize their ideas and suggestions. This guide was one of the primary vehicles to solicit user input for the upcoming census.

Each chapter in the 2001 Census Consultation Guide focuses on a particular set of census variables (see box on variables considered for the 2001 Census). The text includes the relevant 1996 Census question, reason(s) why the questions are asked, corresponding recent trends, a chart on historical availability of the questions, major social policy issues for the 21st century, points for discussion, alternative sources of data for the variable, and census definitions.

The guide was mailed to major data users; printed copies were available on request, and an Internet version was accessible through the Statistics Canada Web site. A geography supplement providing additional information on census geography issues was also available on the Web site, and distributed on paper at meetings.

The census and major social policy issues

Before each census, Statistics Canada asks data users and interested parties across Canada for their views on the type and extent of information that should be available through the census database. The goal is to ensure that Statistics Canada takes account of emerging social and economic issues and, where appropriate, uses the census and post-censal surveys to shed light on them.

The content of the 2001 Census questionnaire was influenced by various social policy issues, for example:

• The demands of an aging population for necessities such as medical services and housing (age, sex and marital status questions).

• Canada’s programs and policies related to multiculturalism, bilingualism and employment equity (immigration, language, citizenship and ethnicity questions).

• Changes in technology require upgrading of skills and continued learning (education questions).

• The prevention of economic inequality and consequent polarization of Canadian society into "haves" and "have-nots" (income, education and labour force questions).

• The demand for affordable housing programs and establishing "core housing need" (dwelling and housing questions)

How is census content determined?

Census content was determined after a careful and balanced consideration of the following factors:

• Government legislative and program data requirements. The data requirements of many legislative programs can only be met by the census.

• Strong data requirement. There must be a national need for information that only the census can supply (such as for small geographic areas and specific subgroups of the population).

• Maintenance of historical comparability and relevant content. To track trends over time, historical continuity must be maintained. Thematic and geographic content must be revised to provide current data on newly emerging issues.

• Response burden and respondent resistance. The longer and more complex the questionnaire, the more respondents will hesitate or refuse to complete it. If questions are perceived as intrusive or too personal, respondents will also refuse to answer them.

• Cost limitations. For 2001, overall census costs must be consistent with the relevant cost per household of the 1991 and 1996 Censuses.

• Testing of new questions. Statistics Canada undertakes an extensive content-testing program to ensure the census questions produce the required information. It is essential that respondents clearly understand the questions and are willing and able to respond to them in a manner that will yield accurate data. Qualitative testing and a large sample survey such as the National Census Test are used to determine the quality of information that would result from changes made to the questions and questionnaire design.

• Census vs. surveys and administrative data sources. When evaluating the need for a topic to be included in the census, all non-census data sources on the subject are investigated and evaluated.

• Small area/group data. One of the important reasons for conducting a census is to obtain data for small geographic areas such as a neighbourhood, or for small population groups such as the very elderly or those who speak Macedonian or Chinese.

Other surveys

Not all topics are appropriate for a census because of the additional response burden or because small group information is not required. Some types of questions are best asked by a trained interviewer, face-to-face (such as the Labour Force Survey).

Statistics Canada has an extensive survey program that includes important longitudinal surveys providing a wealth of information on topics such as the health of Canadians (National Population and Health Survey), Canada’s children (National Longitudinal Survey of Children), and the labour market (Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics). Longitudinal surveys such as these enable users to critically examine transitions - for example, from schooling to the labour force - and the impact of training and unemployment on the labour market. They can also measure outcome. The census is not suitable for this type of data analysis.

Statistics Canada also conducts important household surveys. These surveys provide current information to policy planners on a broad range of complex topics including volunteer work, time use, victimization, non-standard work and graduates. A new national health survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey, will collect information from Canadians about their health and well-being. The survey includes 130,000 randomly selected persons across all provinces and territories and will collect information at a local level.

The 2001 Census Consultation Report

The second part of the consultation process involved the documentation and review of the information gathered. All comments and submissions received by Statistics Canada were given serious consideration. Some addressed issues and concepts beyond the scope of the questionnaire content such as response burden, privacy or confidentiality concerns, or a substantive cost or logistic problem in collection.

All letters and written briefs received during the consultation process were documented and a summary was presented as a companion to the consultation guide. This report was sent to all who participated in the consultation process.

Staff from Statistics Canada�s regional offices coordinated contacts with the major census data users to facilitate the consultation meetings.

Post-censal surveys

A post-censal survey is a survey that uses a census question to screen for its target population. Conducted shortly after a census, a post-censal survey has several advantages. It is an efficient means of collecting information on a segment of the Canadian population that is dispersed across the country. It also reduces overall response burden and is cost-effective. Census data are used to augment the data collected in the post-censal survey questionnaire.

Three post-censal surveys have been conducted in recent years. The first was the Health and Activity Limitation Survey which was taken in 1986 and repeated following the 1991 Census. The 1991 Aboriginal Peoples Survey was first taken following the 1991 Census. Due to budget restrictions there were no post-censal surveys following the 1996 Census.

Funding has been approved for three post-censal surveys to follow the 2001 Census:

• The Aboriginal Peoples Survey will be conducted both on and off-reserves in the fall/winter of 2001. The off-reserve population will be selected from the 2001 Census. Alternative frames are being considered for the on-reserve population.

• The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey will be conducted by telephone in the fall of 2001. The sample will be selected from the 2001 Census.

• The Ethnic Diversity Survey will be conducted by telephone in the spring of 2002. The sample will be selected from the 2001 Census.