BC Council for Families

In late June the Canadian government announced major changes to the upcoming 2011 Canadian Census. Traditionally, 20% of Canadian households have received a mandatory long-form census questionnaire asking up to 53 questions about migration, work, child care, family life and income. The long form census was internationally renowned as one of the best in the world. Development of social policy, programs and services by governments, service organizations and educators is informed by this data. On a community level, investments in infrastructure such as hospitals, and new schools are also significantly influenced by the census data.

So what are these major changes? Beginning in 2011, information previously collected by the mandatory long-form census questionnaire will be gathered as part of the new voluntary National Household Survey (NHS). According to Statistics Canada, “We are counting on Canadians who receive this survey to recognize the importance of this information and to respond to the survey.” Critics point out that response rates to a voluntary survey will be significantly lower, and argue the move will weaken the quality of data at a crucial point as Canada struggles to recover from its economic downturn.

Other troubling changes afoot at Statistics Canada: The annual Survey of Household Spending, which sheds light on the spending patterns of Canadian households, will also be significantly changed. Because of these changes we will no longer know what is happening to the savings rates and debt levels of rich, poor and middle class families -- in other words, whether Canadian families are recovering from the recession or not.

Armine Yalnizyan, Senior Economist at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, is amongst those leading the criticism over the government decision to end mandatory long-form data collection. On Monday, July 12, she wrote in a blog posting on that organization’s website that, “a remarkable cross-section of Canadian society - bankers and business consultants, city planners, immigration and settlement workers, community service providers, charities and municipalities, academics and public health officials - is discussing how best to come together to reverse this decision.”

To find out how you can join in the call to bring back the long-form census, check out the CCPA website.
Look for Save the Census on Facebook.
Sign the Keep the Canadian Census Long Form petition.