Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
General Information
Where should I call for information about the census?
Call the Census Help Line. This free service will provide you with assistance filling in your questionnaire and will answer questions about the census.
The Census Help Line will be operating Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until September 15, 2006.
The number is 1 877 594-2006.
If you have not yet returned a census questionnaire online or by mail, call the Census Help Line today.
Why do we need to take a census?
The census provides information that is used by governments, businesses, researchers and individual Canadians to shed light on issues of concern to all of us — employment, education, training, transportation, housing, immigration, income support, and many others.
Why is the census important?
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.
