National Newsletter Special Edition Census 2021

September 17, 2020

The Indigenous liaison program supports Indigenous communities in making the best possible use of Statistics Canada’s information and services.

Once every five years, the Census of Population provides a detailed and comprehensive statistical portrait of Canada that is vital to our country. The census is the only data source that provides consistent statistics for both small geographic areas and small population groups across Canada.

The Census is an essential tool for understanding how Canada is changing over time. Census information has many other important uses in the day-to-day lives of Canadians. Local governments and community administrations can use the census data to develop programs and services, such as planning for schools and health services. Businesses analyze census data to make critical investment decisions, and social services agencies depend on the census to understand the evolving needs of their communities.

Census data are also a key component of emergency preparedness and crisis management. For example, in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, crucial information on vulnerable populations was provided to public health authorities and emergency services officials.

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COVID-19 and the 2021 Census

During this unique time that we are facing, the health and safety of all Canadians is our primary concern. Therefore, for the 2021 Census, it is our goal to hire a record number of Indigenous people, working in every Indigenous community to collect the data. Not only will this ensure the health and safety of your community, but it will also maximize the knowledge and expertise of residents within your community by hiring and providing opportunities to local enumerators. Additionally, new for the 2021 Census, residents of Indigenous communities will be given the opportunity to complete their census questionnaires on-line.

Statistics Canada recognizes that gaining the support of leadership and communities is essential to the successful conduct of the census. We hope to build the partnerships that will allow for full, local enumeration in each community. In addition, we are guided by the government’s commitment to a renewed relationship with Indigenous peoples, based on rights, respect, cooperation and partnerships.

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2021 Census of Population questionnaire

Statistics Canada has published the 2021 Census of Population short-form (2A) and long-form (2A-L, 2A-R) questionnaires on its website.

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2021 Census of Population: Fact sheets

This series of fact sheets offers an overview of content changes for the 2021 Census. These concise documents explain why new and modified questions are asked and describe the changes considered along with the resulting approach for 2021. There are five fact sheets on new and modified content and one fact sheet on the 2019 Census Content Test: Design and methodology.

Note: Statistics Canada is aware that COVID-19 may have an impact on the way Canadians answer some of the census questions, including those on employment, education, commuting and expenditures. Statistics Canada is developing helpful guidelines to assist Canadians in their responses to these specific questions, given the COVID-19 impacts on households.

The following five fact sheets explain the new and updated content of the 2021 Census questionnaire:

Did You Know?

Privacy and confidentiality of personal information

What does Statistics Canada do with your personal information?

  • We protect it

Statistics Canada has strict rules to safeguard all its data holdings, and these rules adhere to or exceed the requirements of the Statistics Act, the Privacy Act and relevant federal policies and directives. We have put in place information technology (IT) systems that protect your information from cyber attacks, and only approved individuals can enter Statistics Canada premises.

All employees have taken an oath to protect your information and have received mandatory confidentiality training. The oath is valid even after their employment has ended and is accompanied by penalties that include fines and imprisonment.

Statistics Canada removes direct identifiers from survey data files once the identifiers are no longer needed for analysis. However, it may still be possible to link a respondent’s information through the Social Data Record Linkage Environment (SDLE). More information on Statistics Canada’s Privacy Impact Assessment for the SDLE.

  • We never use it for administrative or regulatory purposes

Statistics Canada’s role is to produce statistics, not to take make decisions about Canadians. In addition to never using your personal information for administrative or regulatory purposes, we do not give it to other organizations that would use it for those purposes. For example, Statistics Canada does not share your personal information with the Canada Revenue Agency, as one of their roles is to determine if you have declared the correct amount of revenue. We also systematically refuse to give your information to law enforcement entities such as the police

·        Who has access to your personal information?

Selected Statistics Canada employees

Although all employees take an oath of secrecy, access to confidential information is only allowed if it is required for the employees to perform their duties. Access to your direct identifiers, such as your name, is restricted to an even smaller group of employees and only for a short period of time for the purposes of analysis, after which the direct identifiers are removed immediately.

 Learning Corner

 Why Participate in the Census

 The Census is a source of detailed data for small areas such as a neighbourhood, postal code or a First Nation Community.  The Census collects information that cannot be obtained effectively from other sources on specific groups, such as, Indigenous people, one-parent families and seniors.

The Census questions remain similar for each census therefore the data can be used to compare changes that occur over time in the Canadian population.

Census data are used to provide socioeconomic information on First Nations people, Métis and Inuit across Canada. Among other things, these results can help Indigenous people, their communities, organizations and governments plan for:

  • the development of Indigenous language and school programs;
  • the development and/or expansion of community health and social services;
  • the decisions regarding business and economic opportunities;
  • the evaluation of existing programs and new service needs such as education and training.

Some examples of how data is used:

  • Population data are used to determine program planning for different populations, e.g. Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program.
  • Age data is the most important information for leaders and decision-makers who plan for the future. Some Indigenous programs are based on age data, e.g. “Brighter Future Initiative”, Aboriginal Head Start, First Nations Head Start.
  • Labour Market Activity Data can assist Aboriginal communities to develop programs and make long-term plans in the area of human resources, education and training.

Statistics Canada is Hiring

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a national project.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS

-Field operations supervisors train, supervise and coordinate the work of teams of employees conducting field work. Salary range: $61,558 to $66,324

View the full list of positions available, and APPLY NOW

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Recruitment clerks promote 2021 Census jobs and facilitate the hiring process of candidates for field collection positions. Salary range: $47,729 to $51,518

View the full list of positions available, and APPLY NOW

In the current context of COVID-19, we are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees at all times.

Coming in January

Statistics Canada will be looking for:

Crew Leaders (supervisors): As a crew leader, you will train, supervise and motivate a team of enumerators.

Enumerators: As an enumerator, your primary responsibility will be to collect census data from residents in your community.

Job start and end dates vary by position and location but are between March and July 2021. Applications can be submitted online as of January 5, 2021.

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To subscribe to this newsletter, send an email to the regional advisor in your area:

Indigenous Liaison Program Contacts:

National Manager
Michele Anderson
P: (780) 495-2621
Fax: (780) 495-2614
michele.anderson@canada.ca

Yukon and Northwest Territories
Jerry Potts, Senior Advisor
P: (403) 965-3018
Fax: (780) 495-2793
jerry.potts@canada.ca

British Columbia
Byron Flekke
P: (236) 668-6424
byron.flekke@canada.ca

Alberta
Raymond Watkins
P: (403) 498-4297
raymond.watkins@canada.ca

Saskatchewan
Renata Andres
P: (306) 491-0482
renata.andres@canada.ca

Manitoba
Kelsey Manimtim
P: (204) 983-7218
Fax: (204) 983-7543
kelsey.manimtim@canada.ca

Inuit Nunangat
Stephanie Kootoo-Chiarello
P: (613)  668-9553
stephanie.kootoo-chiarello@canada.ca

Ontario
Melinda Commanda
P: (705) 522-9221
Fax: (705) 522-6536
melinda.commanda@canada.ca

Wade Roseborough
Northern Ontario
P: (807) 548-5735
Fax: (807) 548-5945
wade.roseborough@canada.ca

Québec
Sean Rivard
P: (514) 496-8799
Fax: (514) 283-9350
sean.rivard@canada.ca

Atlantic Provinces
Sheila Pelkey
P: (506) 446-9798
Fax: (506) 446-9799
sheila.pelkey@canada.ca