Census Data

WHAT IS A CENSUS?

In Canada, a census is taken every five years. The census provides information about the people who live in Canada. If you are a Canadian citizen, a landed immigrant, a refugee claimant, or if you hold a work or study permit, you are required to answer the questions asked by the census.

HOW IS THE CENSUS TAKEN?

Each household will receive instructions about the census in early May. At that time, you will decide if your household will answer the census questions by computer or on a paper questionnaire. You will mail the paper questionnaire in the green envelope provided by the census.

ARE MY ANSWERS SECRET?

YES! Your answers are kept secret. This is the law in Canada. Only Statistics Canada employees will see your answers.

WHO MUST ANSWER?

Everyone in your household must answer the 10 questions asked by the census. If you have questions about who in your household should answer the census, visit https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm

HOW ARE MY ANSWERS USED?

Your answers are added to the answers of everyone in Canada to make statistics that help your community plan for services such as schools, seniors’ housing, health care, language classes, daycare, police services and fire protection.

WHY SHOULD I PARTICIPATE IN THE CENSUS?

You, your family and your community benefit from the census. When you participate in the census it means better information for your community.
There is also a law in Canada that says you must answer the questions in the census. This is the same law that keeps your answers secret.

WHAT IF I NEED HELP?

You can call (toll-free) 1-800-263-1136 if you:

• do not receive a census questionnaire
• need more than one questionnaire
• would like the census questions in another language
• need help answering the questions
• want more information about the census
• would like to complete an individual questionnaire

The Census Help Line is a free service and is available in many languages.

WHY SHOULD YOU FILL IN YOUR CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE? BECAUSE…

THE CENSUS IS IMPORTANT TO everyone who lives in CANADA

In Canada, a census is taken every five years. A census includes everyone who lives in Canada. When Statistics Canada receives your answers to the census, it adds your answers to the answers of everyone else living in Canada. Together all our answers are used by Canada, our province and our communities to prepare for the future.

THE CENSUS MEANS SERVICES FOR your community

The answers you provide on the census are used by your community to plan services such as schools, seniors housing, health care, daycare, police services and fire protection. These services are important to every one of us. Census information also helps identify communities which need English and French as second language programs and heritage language classes.

OUR PROGRAMS DEPEND ON IT

In addition to community services, the census helps to determine how much money is transferred to your province for health care, education and other social services. But that’s not all. The Census will also help decide how many Members of Parliament are elected to Parliament in Ottawa.

THE LAW IS ON YOUR SIDE

Statistics Canada is required by law to protect the information you provide on your census questionnaire. Only Statistics Canada employees working directly with the census will ever see completed census forms.

WE DEPEND ON YOU!

Completing the census is both a civic responsibility and a legal requirement for all people living in Canada. When you fill in your census questionnaire you continue a tradition that goes back over 340 years – from a few pioneer villages in 1666 to today’s large and prosperous country.

OTHER LANGUAGES

If you are a new immigrant to Morden and have questions about the next census form then contact Regional Connections. Visit their website for details at https://regionalconnections.ca/.