(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in Canada believe the country should continue to have a long form census, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 58 per cent of respondents believe this type of survey yields data that is important to make policy decisions in all areas of public service, and should remain mandatory.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – Many adults in Canada believe the country should continue to have a long form census, according to a poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion. 58 per cent of respondents believe this type of survey yields data that is important to make policy decisions in all areas of public service, and should remain mandatory.
Conversely, 24 per cent of respondents believe the long form census is intrusive and Canadians should not be forced to answer it.
Statistics Canada—an agency of the Canadian federal government—conducts a nationwide census every five years. Canadians are compelled by law to respond to the census and face penalties if they fail to do so. In previous years, the census included a short form mailed to 80 per cent of Canadian households, and a longer, more detailed form mailed to the remaining households.
Last month, the federal government decided to eliminate the mandatory long form census and replace it with a voluntary survey that will be mailed to one-in-three Canadian households beginning next year. Every Canadian household will still receive the short form.
On Jul. 13, Canadian industry minister Tony Clement defended the decision, saying, "The government does not think it is necessary for Canadians to provide Statistics Canada with the number of bedrooms in their home, or what time of day they leave for work or how long it takes them to get there. The government does not believe it is appropriate to force Canadians to divulge detailed personal information under threat of prosecution."
On Jul. 19, Ontario finance minister Dwight Duncan discussed his views on the issue, declaring, "That data is extremely important on a whole variety of things. I think the best two examples I can give you are our anti-poverty strategy and virtually every spending and tax decision we make. So, our officials are concerned about the quality of data that will be coming forward, the comparability of data going forward with this change."
Polling Data
Thinking about the census situation, which of the two following statements comes closest to your own point of view?
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The long form census yields data that is important to make policy decisions in all areas of public service, and should remain mandatory
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58%
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The long form census is intrusive and Canadians should not be forced to answer it
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24%
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Not sure
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18%
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Source: Angus Reid Public Opinion
Methodology: Online interviews with 1,012 Canadian adults, conducted on Jul. 22 and Jul. 23, 2010. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
