Catalogue no. 98-304-X2016001 ISBN 978-0-660-07192-3 Census of Population Reference Product Guide to the Census of Population, 2016 Census of Population, 2016 Updated on: January 27, 2020 and January 30, 2018 Release date: November 29, 2017 How to obtain more information For information about this product or the wide range of services and data available from Statistics Canada, visit our website, www.statcan.gc.ca. 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Accurate and timely statistical information could not F too unreliable to be published be produced without their continued co-operation and goodwill. * significantly different from reference category (p < 0.05) January 27, 2020 On January 30, 2018, a correction was made to Table 10.2 ‘Imputation rates by question, for the 2011 Census, the 2011 NHS and the 2016 Census, Canada’. Data points for questions 22, 23, 24a and 24b were revised. Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada © Minister of Industry, 2017 All rights reserved. Use of this publication is governed by the Statistics Canada Open Licence Agreement. An HTML version is also available. Cette publication est aussi disponible en français. Guide to the Census of Population, 2016 Table of Contents Chapter 1 – Introduction .................................................................................................................................................1 General information ...........................................................................................................................................................1 Why does Statistics Canada conduct the Census of Population? .......................................................................1 Why is the census in May? ..............................................................................................................................................1 Privacy and confidentiality ..............................................................................................................................................1 Consent to release personal information ....................................................................................................................2 Retention of census information ....................................................................................................................................2 Official languages ..............................................................................................................................................................2 Other languages / alternative formats ..........................................................................................................................3 Chapter 2 – Census history ..........................................................................................................................................4 Chapter 3 – Communications ......................................................................................................................................7 Key activities .......................................................................................................................................................................7 Advertising ...........................................................................................................................................................................7 Outreach ...............................................................................................................................................................................7 Public relations ...................................................................................................................................................................7 Media relations ....................................................................................................................................................................8 Social media ........................................................................................................................................................................8 Aboriginal strategy ............................................................................................................................................................8 Census website ...................................................................................................................................................................8 Chapter 4 – Content determination..........................................................................................................................9 How are the census questions determined? ..............................................................................................................9 May 2014 Content Test ....................................................................................................................................................10 Changes to the 2016 Census questionnaire .............................................................................................................11 Chapter 5 – Census of Population questionnaires ......................................................................................12 Forms used to enumerate usual residents of private dwellings .........................................................................12 Forms used to enumerate usual residents of collective dwellings ....................................................................13 Accessibility ......................................................................................................................................................................13 Chapter 6 – Online questionnaire ...........................................................................................................................14 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................14 Reduced costs and increased quality ........................................................................................................................14 Mobile-friendly responsive design ..............................................................................................................................14 Security ...............................................................................................................................................................................14 Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 98-304-X2016001 iii Guide to the Census of Population, 2016 Chapter 7 – Field operations ......................................................................................................................................15 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................15 Census delivery methods ..............................................................................................................................................15 Census wave approach ..................................................................................................................................................16 Census collection methods ...........................................................................................................................................16 Census Help Line .............................................................................................................................................................18 Data collection verification and follow-up activities for the 2016 Census ........................................................18 Chapter 8 – Processing .................................................................................................................................................19 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................19