Lesson 1. Demographics - The Census
“Demography involves the study of population – its size, growth, distribution, composition, fertility, mortality, and migration.”
Beaujot, R. and Kerr, D. (2004). Population change in Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
Health practitioners, policy makers, government bodies and many more use population statistics in the workplace or distribute information to the community, for example the Region of Waterloo's Census Bulletin: Age and Sex or Public Health Profile. Population or demographic statistics provide important information about the social, economic and composition of the Canadian population.
Statistics Canada, Government of Canada
Statistics Canada is responsible for collecting data and producing statistics on Canadian population, resources, economy, society and culture. According to the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is required to “collect, compile, analyse, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic and general activities and conditions of the people of Canada”.
Census of Population
The Census of Population or the ‘Census’, provides a statistical portrait of Canada and its people. It is conducted every 5 years, the most recent in 2006, and collects information on population, age, marital status, language, education, housing, family, immigration, occupation and income but does not include health questions. In 2006, the Census questionnaire was delivered to 13.5 million dwellings to collect information on the entire population of Canada.
Why is the census important?*
The census provides a statistical portrait of our country and its people. A vast majority of all countries regularly carry out a census to collect important information about the social and economic situation of the people living in its various regions.
In Canada, the census is the only reliable source of detailed data for small groups (such as lone-parent families, ethnic groups, industrial and occupational categories and immigrants) and for areas as small as a city neighbourhood or as large as the country itself. Because the Canadian census is collected every five years and the questions are similar, it is possible to compare changes that have occurred in the make-up of Canada's population over time.
The census is more than a population count: it provides all levels of government, business, industry, media, academia and independent organizations with social, economic and demographic information that is essential for making decisions regarding the many services each provides to the public.
- Businesses and governments use census data extensively when developing plans and policies.
- Each person counts in monetary terms when calculating the transfer of federal money to various programs in the provinces and territories.
- Many provincial and regional governments use population counts to make grants to local and municipal governments.
- School boards and communities use census data indicating the number of children in certain age groups when planning new schools.
- Government departments such as Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) and Social Development Canada (SDC) must know the age trends of the population to plan for pensions, health care, housing, employment programs and child tax credits.
- Life insurance companies base their premium tables on census age data.
- New manufacturing, store and office locations are largely based on population distribution in different localities.
- Community infrastructure depends on census information for population growth and movement when planning for roads, waterworks, public transit and fire protection.
- Farmers and farm organizations depend on the census to track changes in agriculture.
- Town planners use census information on households and families to estimate current and future housing needs, hospitals and day-care centres.
- Manufacturers of household and farm equipment are guided by census data in deciding what products to manufacture and where to sell them.