2006 Canadian census: Difference between revisions
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In contrast to 1996 focus-groups that found it important to know the legal requirement at the outset, participants of 2005 focus-groups were annoyed or provoked by draft ads reminding Canadians about the census law. As a result of the finding, StatsCan's initial newspaper, radio and TV ads will avoid mention of the legal requirement. Instead, reference to the census law will be highlighted only in ads appearing after census day, to capture late filers. |
In contrast to 1996 focus-groups that found it important to know the legal requirement at the outset, participants of 2005 focus-groups were annoyed or provoked by draft ads reminding Canadians about the census law. As a result of the finding, StatsCan's initial newspaper, radio and TV ads will avoid mention of the legal requirement. Instead, reference to the census law will be highlighted only in ads appearing after census day, to capture late filers. |
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To encourage participation, StatsCan has set aside $13 million for "saturation" advertising, including billboards, bookmarks, inserts in municipal tax bills, and ads on bags of sugar and milk cartons.<ref>{{cite news|author=Beeby, Dean|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/Canadiana/2006/03/25/1505423-cp.html|title=Statistics Canada revamps census ad campaign to play down legal requirements|publisher=Canoe Inc.|date=2005.03.26|accessdate=2006-04-28}}</ref> For comparison, the [[United States Census Bureau]] budgeted $166.6 million USD for paid advertising over 3 years for the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 Census]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Prewitt, Kenneth|url=http://www.ogc.doc.gov/ogc/legreg/testimon/106f/prewitt0727.htm|title=Prepared Statement of Kenneth Prewitt, Director, U.S. Bureau on the Census, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives|publisher=United States Department of Commerce, Office of General Counsel|date=1999-07-27|accessdate=2006-04-28}}</ref> |
To encourage participation, StatsCan has set aside $13 million for "saturation" advertising, including billboards, bookmarks, inserts in municipal tax bills, and ads on bags of sugar and milk cartons.<ref>{{cite news|author=Beeby, Dean|url=http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/Canadiana/2006/03/25/1505423-cp.html|title=Statistics Canada revamps census ad campaign to play down legal requirements|publisher=[[Canadian Online Explorer|Canoe Inc.]]|date=2005.03.26|accessdate=2006-04-28}}</ref> For comparison, the [[United States Census Bureau]] budgeted $166.6 million USD for paid advertising over 3 years for the [[United States Census, 2000|2000 Census]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Prewitt, Kenneth|url=http://www.ogc.doc.gov/ogc/legreg/testimon/106f/prewitt0727.htm|title=Prepared Statement of Kenneth Prewitt, Director, U.S. Bureau on the Census, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives|publisher=United States Department of Commerce, Office of General Counsel|date=1999-07-27|accessdate=2006-04-28}}</ref> |
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==Outsourcing== |
==Outsourcing== |
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StatsCan reports less than 20% of the work will be outsourced, spending $85M over 5 years. Despite an open public tender process, controversy arose on the announcement of a $43.3 million deal awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada -- a subsidiary of [[Lockheed Martin]], the world's largest defense contractor by defense revenue -- for the purchase of scanning and printing software and hardware.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lambert, Steve|url=http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/10/10/663339.html|title="Census contractor comes under fire"|publisher=London Free Press|date=2004-10-10|accessdate=2006-04-28}}</ref> |
StatsCan reports less than 20% of the work will be outsourced, spending $85M over 5 years. Despite an open public tender process, controversy arose on the announcement of a $43.3 million deal awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada -- a subsidiary of [[Lockheed Martin]], the world's largest defense contractor by defense revenue -- for the purchase of scanning and printing software and hardware.<ref>{{cite news|author=Lambert, Steve|url=http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/10/10/663339.html|title="Census contractor comes under fire"|publisher=[[London Free Press]]|date=2004-10-10|accessdate=2006-04-28}}</ref> |
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== |
==Census data== |
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Controversy arose <ref> Freeze, Colin. [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060515.wxcensus15/BNStory/National/home "Census coloured by broad array of interests"]. ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', 2006-05-15. URL accessed on 16 May 2006</ref> over the way marital status is counted in the census, which instructed [[Same-sex marriage in Canada|same-sex married]] couples to check the "Other" category instead of "Husband or wife" to describe their relationship. Statistics Canada cited the short period between the June 2005 [[Civil Marriage Act]] which legalised same-sex marriage across Canada and the 2006 census, and indicated that there was insufficient time to update the census forms. Critics such as [[Egale Canada]] contend <ref>[http://www.egale.ca/index.asp?lang=E&menu=1&item=1308 "CENSUS ERROR UNFAIR TO MARRIED SAME-SEX COUPLES"], press release by [[Egale Canada]], 2006-05-04. URL accessed on 16 May 2006</ref> that this difference is unfair, and dismiss the claim that it was impossible to avoid, noting that the [[Canada 2001 Census]] was updated (with the same amount of notice) to include "same-sex common-law partner" following a June 2000 change in law. |
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Special interest groups have criticised StatsCan over the accuracy and future of the census data:<ref>{{cite news|author=Freeze, Colin.|url=http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060515.wxcensus15/BNStory/National/home|title=Census coloured by broad array of interests|publisher=[[The Globe and Mail]]|date=2006-05-15|accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> |
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* Marital status. For couples in same-sex marriages, the census form is ambiguous as to what box they should check. |
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* Mother tongue. An anonymous email misinformation campaign advises bilingual francophones to not mention their knowledge of English. |
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* Election to release census data after 92 years. Genealogists worry future research will be hampered if Canadians don't check this box. |
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The quality of data is further hampered by individuals advocating minimal cooperation or non-cooperation.<ref>{{cite news|author=Riga, Andy|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=09adc99b-e3e5-418c-a274-296d8abed7bf&rfp=dta|title=Census faces attack from blog rumours|publisher=[[National Post]]|date=2006-05-08|accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 06:02, 16 May 2006
The Canada 2006 Census is a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day is May 16 2006. The next census following will be the 2011 Census.
Summary
Over 12.7 million households, 32.5 million people are expected to be counted. Canada Post will deliver census forms by mail to 70% of the country, primarily residents in urban areas. Census Enumerators will deliver to the remaining 30% of households. Every fifth home will receive the long questionnaire. For the first time, Canadian residents will be able to go online to fill in their forms. Statistics Canada expects approximately 20% of households to file their surveys electronically. Persistent census staff will be contacting tardy households. The total estimated cost of the 2006 census is $567 million spread over 7 years, employing more than 25,000 full and part-time census workers.
New in the 2006 Census Questionnaire:
- Education. Where did individuals receive their highest level of education? (Only on extended questionnaire)
- Income. Permission to use income information from individual's income tax file. Income from child benefits. Income tax paid. (Also only on extended questionnaire)
- Access to Personal Information. Permission to make information public in 92 years.
Questions not asked in the 2006 Census:
- Religion. Normally asked only once every 10 years, and the religion question was asked in the 2001 Census.
- Education. The number of years of schooling received.
Modified questions:
- Education. A separate question for each level of schooling, and type of school attended.
Advertising
In contrast to 1996 focus-groups that found it important to know the legal requirement at the outset, participants of 2005 focus-groups were annoyed or provoked by draft ads reminding Canadians about the census law. As a result of the finding, StatsCan's initial newspaper, radio and TV ads will avoid mention of the legal requirement. Instead, reference to the census law will be highlighted only in ads appearing after census day, to capture late filers.
To encourage participation, StatsCan has set aside $13 million for "saturation" advertising, including billboards, bookmarks, inserts in municipal tax bills, and ads on bags of sugar and milk cartons.[1] For comparison, the United States Census Bureau budgeted $166.6 million USD for paid advertising over 3 years for the 2000 Census.[2]
Outsourcing
StatsCan reports less than 20% of the work will be outsourced, spending $85M over 5 years. Despite an open public tender process, controversy arose on the announcement of a $43.3 million deal awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada -- a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor by defense revenue -- for the purchase of scanning and printing software and hardware.[3]
Census data
Special interest groups have criticised StatsCan over the accuracy and future of the census data:[4]
- Marital status. For couples in same-sex marriages, the census form is ambiguous as to what box they should check.
- Mother tongue. An anonymous email misinformation campaign advises bilingual francophones to not mention their knowledge of English.
- Election to release census data after 92 years. Genealogists worry future research will be hampered if Canadians don't check this box.
The quality of data is further hampered by individuals advocating minimal cooperation or non-cooperation.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Beeby, Dean (2005.03.26). "Statistics Canada revamps census ad campaign to play down legal requirements". Canoe Inc. Retrieved 2006-04-28.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Prewitt, Kenneth (1999-07-27). "Prepared Statement of Kenneth Prewitt, Director, U.S. Bureau on the Census, Committee on Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives". United States Department of Commerce, Office of General Counsel. Retrieved 2006-04-28.
- ^ Lambert, Steve (2004-10-10). ""Census contractor comes under fire"". London Free Press. Retrieved 2006-04-28.
- ^ Freeze, Colin. (2006-05-15). "Census coloured by broad array of interests". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2006-05-16.
- ^ Riga, Andy (2006-05-08). "Census faces attack from blog rumours". National Post. Retrieved 2006-05-16.
External links
- 2006 Census - Statistics Canada's page on the 2006 Census.
