ON.15.05 Reinstatement of the Mandatory Long-Form Census Legislation
Whereas, In 2010, the federal government replaced the mandatory long-form census
with a voluntary National Household Survey (NHS); and
Whereas, The response to the NHS dropped significantly (24.9%) particularly by marginalized groups, weakening the quality and availability of data in the areas of employment, housing, education, immigration and income; and
Whereas, The mandatory long-form census is an essential tool to enable business and social planning; research and development of programmes for monitoring the well-being of all Canadians; therefore be it
Resolved, That Ontario provincial council of The Catholic Women’s League of
Canada in 68th annual convention assembled request national council of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada to urge the federal government to amend the Statistics Act to reinstate the mandatory long-form census; and be it further
Resolved, That this resolution be forwarded to national council of The Catholic Women’s League of Canada for consideration at 95th annual convention assembled in August 2015.
Gifted by Ontario Provincial Council
ON.15.05 Reinstatement of the Mandatory Long-Form Census Legislation
Brief
The federal government cancelled Canada’s mandatory long-form census in 2010 citing concerns around personal freedoms and implemented the voluntary National Household Survey (NHS) in 2011 (Kermalli 2013). At least 370 organizations from a wide cross-section of Canadian society have expressed their objections to the voluntary NHS (Sheikh 2013). These include statisticians, economists, business people, faith groups, academics and anti-poverty groups (Voices 2014). Since 1971, the mandatory short-form and long-form census questionnaires have provided continuous reliable data (Voices 2014). The mandatory long-form census of 2006 had a response rate of 93.5% (Voices, 2014) and the voluntary NHS in 2011 had a response rate of 68.6% or 21% of Canadians participating (Stats Canada 2011).
The voluntary nature of the NHS data collection leads to a non-response bias particularly among smaller communities, marginalized groups, the poor, immigrants, aboriginals, less educated, those most in need of services and students who are least likely to volunteer information. Hence, their status is under-represented and the data less reliable (Voices 2014). The diminished response to the voluntary NHS weakens the quality and availability of data in the areas of employment, housing, education, immigration and income (Yalnizyan, 2010). Accurate predictions cannot be made when data is unreliable and when it cannot be compared to data from previous census questionnaires (Voices, 2014).
In order for organizations to assess the effectiveness of their programs, corresponding data must be compared over time and geographic areas (Taillon 2012). For example, using reliable data, educators can see where money is most needed and if it brings results over time (CSBA 2010). Comparing longitudinal data, health organizations can see if and where their decisions, based on these facts, are producing results (CPHA 2010). Good data collection is necessary for good governance, policy formulation and effective allocation of public funds.
The mandatory long-form census has allowed Canada to fulfill its international obligation at the United Nations as evidence of progress in human rights (Voices, 2014). Reliable statistics and data quality are essential for making comparisons between towns, counties, regions, and for allocating funds and resources where they are needed (Jacobson, 2014). Most organizations at the local level, including businesses, governments, educational institutions, health services, non-profits and charities, rely heavily on geographic statistics for allocating money and resources (Adams, 2010).
Despite bad reviews, the government will continue with the voluntary NHS census for 2016 (Kilpatrick, 2014). Opposition leaders have expressed their support for the mandatory long-form census questionnaire by committing to bring it back if elected to power (Fekete, 2013).
Private Member’s Bill C-626, an Act to amend the Statistics Act was defeated at second
reading on February 4, 2015 (LEGISinfo, 2015). A voluntary survey cannot become a
substitute for a mandatory census (Sheikh, 2013).
ON.15.05 Reinstatement of the Mandatory Long-Form Census Legislation
Works Cited
Adams, Michael. Policy Options. From compulsory to voluntary census: What we stand to lose. Nov. 2010. http://policyoptions.irpp.org/issues/afghanistan/from-compulsory-to- voluntary-long-form-census-what-we-stand-to-lose/
Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA). The Impact of Cancelling the Mandatory Long-Form Census on Health, Health Equity and Public Health. 18 Nov. 2010. http://www.cpha.ca/uploads/briefs/longformcensus_e.pdf
Canadian School Boards Association (CSBA). The Census Debate: How Will the Elimination of the Long-Form Census Affect Education Canada? 2010. http://cdnsba.org/all/advocacy/the-census-debate-how-will-the-elimination-of-the-long-form-census-affect-education-in-canada
Fekete, Jason. Postmedia News. Data gaps mark National Household Survey, Statistics Canada warns. 08 May 2013. http://www.canada.com/Data+gaps+mark+National+Household+Survey+Statistics+Canada+ warns/8354096/story.html
Jacobson, Paul. Globe and Mail. Policy making suffering in Canada without the long-form census. 05 Nov. 2014
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/its-time-policy-makers-return-to-the-long-form-census/article21462343/
Kermalli, Shenaz. CBC News. Why Canada still needs census in an age of data mining. 15August 2013. http://www.cbc.ca/m/touch/news/story/1.1383200
Kilpatrick, Sean. CTV News. Despite bad reviews Tories sticking with voluntary census for 2016. April 14, 2014. http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/despite-bad-reviews-tories-sticking-with-voluntary-census-for-2016-1.1777421
LEGISinfo (2015) Private Member’s Bill C-626 (42–2). LEGISinfo Private Member’s Bill C-626 (42–2). 25 April 2015. http://www.parl.gc.ca/LEGISInfo/BillDetails.aspx?billId=6695099&Language=E&Mode=1
Sheikh, Munir A. Academic Matters, Good government and Statistics Canada: The need for true independence. May, 2013. http://www.academicmatters.ca/2013/05/good-government- and-statistics-canada-the-need-for-true-independence/
Statistics Canada, NHS National Household Survey User Guide, Chapter 5 Data quality assessment and indicators. 2011. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/ref/nhs-enm_guide/guide_4-eng.cfm
ON.15.05 Reinstatement of the Mandatory Long-Form Census
Legislation
Taillon, Peggy. Canadian Council on Social Development, CCSD Letter Submitted to 2016 Census Program content consultation. 2012. http://communitydata.ca/content/letter- submitted-2016-census-program-content-consultation
Voices-voix.ca. Statistics Canada (mandatory long-form census). 8 August 2014. http://voices-voix.ca/en/facts/profile/statistics-canada-mandatory-long-form-census
Yalnizyan, Armine. Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). Open letter to the Honourable Tony clement, Ministry of Industry and Minister Responsible for Statistics Canada and Munir Sheikh, Chief Statistician, Statistics Canada. 2 July 2010. https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/commentary/statistics-canadas-senseless- census-decision
ON.15.05 Reinstatement of the Mandatory Long-Form Census Legislation
Action Plan
1. Write to the Prime Minister, the Minister of Finance and local Members of Parliament urging them to reinstate the mandatory long-term census.
2. Educate members of the CWL and local parishes on the role of the mandatory long-term census in collecting reliable data to inform decision-making.
3. Initiate a petition among CWL members for reinstatement of the long-term census.
4. Generate a question for CWL members to bring forward to candidates in the federal election asking their position on reinstatement of the long-form census.
5. Approach agencies that serve the marginalized groups affected to add their names to the list of organizations calling for support of mandatory long-term census.
6. Monitor the government’s response to the request contained in the resolution.