2011 census

[msj]

Secondly, even if the information could be released, the information is spread across multiple databases. Attempting to tie it all together would be almost impossible. For example, children may not have an identifying social insurance number, so you risk either counting them twice, or not counting them at all.

Agreed.

But, on our tax returns we really should demand that all children have a SIN.

When the US demanded their tax id number show up back in the 80's, apparently millions of children just disappeared overnight.

I wonder if the same thing would happen in Canada (it shouldn't happen - yes, I know what happens with giving birth and filing the forms for a birth certificate and for the Child Tax Benefit - but who knows?).

[cybercoma]

Thousands of children, the extremely poor, and immigrants disappeared when they got rid of the mandatory long-form census. Moonlight Graham is absolutely right and the fact of the matter is that the highest risk groups are the least likely to be counted. Nothing like making blind decisions about social policy. Of course, even when the Conservatives do have the information, like 40 years of criminological research, they still make decisions that run counter to what has been shown.

[capricorn]

Thousands of children, the extremely poor, and immigrants disappeared when they got rid of the mandatory long-form census.

Well I'll be....I didn't know Harper was that cruel.

Moonlight Graham is absolutely right and the fact of the matter is that the highest risk groups are the least likely to be counted.

Let's hope that those groups also understand how vital that information is and that they complete the form.

[cybercoma]

Yeah. I sure hope they hop on the internet and fill it out.

[Mr.Canada]

Since the big hoopla over cancelling the mandatory long form census I am looking for people to be aressted for not filling it out. The Tories have a point to prove. IF that's the law then I expect the Tories to prove that and get people aressted for not filling it out. When it happens I'm sure you lefties will whine about it here but you just cannot have it both ways.

[ToadBrother]

Since the big hoopla over cancelling the mandatory long form census I am looking for people to be aressted for not filling it out. The Tories have a point to prove. IF that's the law then I expect the Tories to prove that and get people aressted for not filling it out. When it happens I'm sure you lefties will whine about it here but you just cannot have it both ways.

What does accurate census data have to do with political ideology?

This is why the Tories always get in trouble. They have this notion that every goddamned atom in the universe fits within their notions of Right and Left.

[cybercoma]

Add accurate census data to the list with electoral reform.

[Bryan]

Look, there are duties to being a citizen; paying taxes, jury duty, and yes filling out census forms.

Thanks to the Conservatives, I pay a lot less taxes.

Jury duty? When I got called in, I told them I couldn't make it. They said, "OK".

[bjre]

They also won't know where new seats in Parliament may need to be distributed, and the provinces won't know similar things about their own riding distributions.

After they know that, poor people still poor.

Look, there are duties to being a citizen; paying taxes, jury duty, and yes filling out census forms.

Be a duty slave, or a prisoner. This is called human rights.

[capricorn]

I received two separate forms, one in French and one in English. I filled mine in French and the English form went into the recycling bin.

Did anyone receive a form just in one language or did you all receive two forms?

[guyser]

Thanks to the Conservatives, I pay a lot less taxes.

Jury duty? When I got called in, I told them I couldn't make it. They said, "OK".

Bullshit.

[RNG]

Bullshit.

He is right. The same for me. Lower taxes with the Conservatives, and when I was called for jury duty, I explained it would interfere with my job and I got a walk. Life is good as long as the socialists are controlled.

[bloodyminded]

I received two separate forms, one in French and one in English. I filled mine in French and the English form went into the recycling bin.

Did anyone receive a form just in one language or did you all receive two forms?

Just one.

And I live in the only "officially bilingual" province.

?

[cybercoma]

Just one.

And I live in the only "officially bilingual" province.

?

Funny. I live in the same province and I only received an English one as well. I'm wondering if I lived in Edmundston if I would have received a French one.

[bloodyminded]

Funny. I live in the same province and I only received an English one as well. I'm wondering if I lived in Edmundston if I would have received a French one.

Maybe. I can't imagine, for example, Moncton or Tracadie not sending a French one...but Moncton has a lot of English folks as well....

I dunno.

[cybercoma]

Maybe. I can't imagine, for example, Moncton or Tracadie not sending a French one...but Moncton has a lot of English folks as well....

I dunno.

I just asked a couple friend in Moncton, they both received English ones. I'm curious if your census depends on what correspondence box you check on your taxes. Seems simple enough that they would send it out in your preferred language.

[bloodyminded]

I just asked a couple friend in Moncton, they both received English ones. I'm curious if your census depends on what correspondence box you check on your taxes. Seems simple enough that they would send it out in your preferred language.

I hadn't even considered the obvious, thank you.

[capricorn]

I'm curious if your census depends on what correspondence box you check on your taxes. Seems simple enough that they would send it out in your preferred language.

As far back as I can remember, all my correspondence with Revenue Canada was done in English. My sister, who lives in the same area as I do, also received 2 forms.

[pegasus]

Whats all this about a form? I got one census reminder in the mail with both languages on it and a code. French on the left and English on the right. It told me to do it online or call a number to get an actual form.

Guess which one I chose to do it on? And if it took me 5 minutes, it was a long time. And yes, I left it there for anyone to see for the next 100 years

[Bryan]

Bullshit.

On what?

Taxes? Between the reduced GST and the various new credits, I'm paying over $3000 a year less than I did five years ago. That doesn't even include the extra $100/mo UCCB I was getting up until this year.

Jury Duty? That is really easy to get out of. It really is as simple as telling them you aren't available. I've done it, and I know plenty of others that have as well. When I was called, I was in the middle of a big project with a tight deadline. I honestly did not have time to go, even if I wanted to. I told them the truth, and they told me that was fine.

[capricorn]

Whats all this about a form? I got one census reminder in the mail with both languages on it and a code. French on the left and English on the right. It told me to do it online or call a number to get an actual form.

Hmm. How many variations does this census take? Some got one form, others got two forms (one English, one French) and you didn't even get a form but had to call for it if you wanted one.

And yes, I left it there for anyone to see for the next 100 years

The question about 100 years is not about making it available from now and for the next 100 years. The question asks if you are willing to make your personal data available in 100 years from the date it was collected, i.e. 2011 personal info would be released in 2111.

In order to preserve the confidentiality of respondents, no information is released from the census in a form that would identify individual respondents. Statistics Canada also ensures that respondents understand what is involved when they are asked for access to their personal records. In the 2011 Census for example, a question is asked for respondents' permission to release their personal information after 92 years. Without permission from the respondent, Statistics Canada does not provide files for eventual release in 92 years.

http://census2011.gc.ca/ccr01/ccr01_003-eng.htm

[icman]

I got mine in the mail yesterday, and I immediately did what I always do with the census: I shredded it.

The important information that they need is already part of government records in multiple places, I'm not going to participate in this exercise in redundancy.

Bryan, the Privacy Act prohibits one government agency from sharing private information about citizens with other agencies except under very specific circumstances. This is to prevent things like denying social benefits to homosexuals, or providing better medical coverage to white folk, or following your voting patterns, or any other abuse of the information that those agencies can collect. StatsCan is the only agency that collects this detailed information about Canadians, and they take special pains to ensure the security and privacy of the data. I don't think you have thought this through. If every government agency shared every bit of personal information that they have with every other government agency as you propose, 1) it would cost more to administer than to collect it via the census, and 2) the security model would be so full of holes and there would be so many hands in the pot that there would be no way to keep the information confidential.

[icman]

On what?

Taxes? Between the reduced GST and the various new credits, I'm paying over $3000 a year less than I did five years ago. That doesn't even include the extra $100/mo UCCB I was getting up until this year.

Jury Duty? That is really easy to get out of. It really is as simple as telling them you aren't available. I've done it, and I know plenty of others that have as well. When I was called, I was in the middle of a big project with a tight deadline. I honestly did not have time to go, even if I wanted to. I told them the truth, and they told me that was fine.

My father-in-law was a real estate agent, and he did the same thing. However, he was called twice more, and while they gave him a pass the second time, the third time he was told to report. What they did for him was put him on a case that was likely to wrap up quickly.

However, I agree with the original poster - being a citizen has obligations as well as privileges, a property of citizenship conveniently forgotten by certain people when jury duty requirements come around or the census hits the mailbox, but curiously remembered when haranguing the governemnt about rescuing "Canadians of convenience" from Lebannon.

[capricorn]

My father-in-law was a real estate agent, and he did the same thing. However, he was called twice more, and while they gave him a pass the second time, the third time he was told to report. What they did for him was put him on a case that was likely to wrap up quickly.

I was called to jury duty. Prospective jurors were called individually and asked to look at the accused. If you want to be disqualified as a juror, just look at the accused sideways and you'll be dismissed pronto. Worked for me.

[pegasus]

Hmm. How many variations does this census take? Some got one form, others got two forms (one English, one French) and you didn't even get a form but had to call for it if you wanted one.

I received a yellow envelope with perferated sides. You tear them off and inside there is a code at the top, and it has the date, then Dear Madam/Sir...yadda yadda yadda within the next 10 days. Its important...yadda yadda yadda. Complete it online at yadda yadda yadda OR call yaadda yadda yadda to receive the paper questionaire. For questions call yadda TTY users yadda etc. French on the left, English on the right.

The question about 100 years is not about making it available from now and for the next 100 years. The question asks if you are willing to make your personal data available in 100 years from the date it was collected, i.e. 2011 personal info would be released in 2111.

http://census2011.gc.ca/ccr01/ccr01_003-eng.htm

Whatever it was I said yes.