CHANGES TO FEDERAL CENSUS 2011
RESOLUTION
CHANGES TO FEDERAL CENSUS 2011
Background
Business, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and all orders of government use Statistics Canada’s Census data to inform their policy decision making and program and service implementation. Much of the data is collected from the mandatory “long form” questionnaire which asked questions on issues such as work, education, housing, income, child care, migration, ethnicity, and family life. The Census “long-form” is a unique tool that provides decision-makers a rich set of facts about our communities and the citizens who live and work within them.
The Federal Government quietly eliminated the mandatory nature of the “long form” of the upcoming 2011 Census. Notice was provided in the June 26th Canada Gazette that this change had occurred through an Order in Council, without any prior consultation. In its place, a voluntary “national household survey” with detailed questions about ethnicity, income and education will be sent to one-third of homes.
NOMA is concerned with this decision because of its significant potential negative impact to our collective capacity to conduct reliable, accurate analysis of municipal issues. Issues and programs/services that could be affected:
• municipal funding,
• social assistance,
• immigration,
• health,
• poverty,
• economic development,
• training,
• education,
• housing,
• child care, and
• employment.
Resolution
WHEREAS a survey methodology that relies on voluntary responses will compromise the effectiveness of the data as evidence indicates that a significant portion of Northwestern Ontario will be underrepresented; and,
WHEREAS although the 2011 voluntary survey will be sent to more households (from one-fifth to one-third), the voluntary nature will make the data size and response unreliable and not to the accuracy required to ensure efficient and effective program delivery; and,
WHEREAS a lack of current, accurate Census data will be especially challenging in Northwestern Ontario where sufficient information has traditionally been less attainable, even with the previous mandatory collection system.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association calls on the Federal Government to reverse this decision immediately and return to the previously applied mandatory long form process for the 2011 National Census; and
FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT a copy of this resolution be sent to the Prime Minister, the Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, all Northwestern Ontario MP’s, and all NOMA District Associations and member municipalities asking for their support.
Adopted by the Board: July 2010
