Check your mailbox — the 2016 census begins arriving this week, and it’s mandatory.
Canadians are receiving a letter from Statistics Canada, and the questionnaire can be filled out online.
All homes will be receiving a short-form questionnaire, while one in four will receive the long-form. Scrapped by the federal Conservatives, the long-form census was reinstated by the Liberals immediately after winning the 2015 election. At least 35,000 temporary jobs are being created this year.
The Census of Population collects demographic information on every person living in Canada, informing decisions regarding services such as education, employment, healthcare and community development. At the municipal level, it’s linked to transit, housing, and schools.
Meanwhile, the Census of Agriculture collects information about every agricultural operation in Canada, identifying trends and providing factual information on emerging issues, opportunities and challenges within the agricultural community.
Both are crucial for community planning, argue its proponents. The census provides a statistical portrait of Canada’s population every five years.
More information can be found here.
-Kelly Roche
@qewsouthpost