When Flin Flonners participate in the census, their community wins.
That’s the message from regional census crew leader Elly Spencer as Statistics Canada’s population-tabulating campaign reaches the community.
Based on how federal dollars are distributed throughout the country, Spencer says Flin Flon will lose $45,000 over the next five years for every resident who fails to complete the census.
“Really we can’t complain about pot holes if we don’t do our census,” she said.
All Canadians should have received a census form by Tuesday. Everyone is encouraged to fill out their census information online or on a physical document.
People who receive home mail delivery should have received a census form in the mail. Those who do not receive home delivery, including those with post-office boxes, should have received a hand-delivered form at their home.
Most homes receive the short-forum census, which asks basic questions such as the number of people living in the home.
One in four homes receives the long-form census, which asks more detailed questions such as whether the respondent is employed and which languages he or she speaks.
While the long-form census was voluntary for the last census in 2011, this year it is again mandatory.
The long-form census has caught the ire of some privacy advocates, but Spencer assures that all data gleaned from the document is confidential.
She says the census is stripped of any features that could identify a respondent before it is provided to government agencies that use the data to ensure appropriate programming.
“We need the data because that data is what the government is going to use to make decisions,” said Spencer.
“It really helps the government put together a picture of the country, and it also helps the government determine where in fact the needs are, because we have a social security network that’s supposed to be helping the folks in most need. And if we can’t determine where those folks live, then obviously we’re not going to be able to help them all that effectively.”
Spencer is not overly concerned with non-participation in Flin Flon. In the 2011 census, she says, only seven per cent of people in the region failed to take part.
Anyone who did not receive a census form is asked to visit www.census.gc.ca or call the Census Help Line toll-free at 1-855-700-2016.
