While representatives confirmed the question would still only offer the “male” and “female” options, those who do not identify with the categories offered can forgo the question and explain why in the feedback portion of the census.
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The Statistics Canada offices at Tunney’s Pasture in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 1, 2013.
As several Canadians prepare to fill the census, many are left wondering how to identify their sex and gender on the form. It was cancelled by the Conservative government and replaced with a voluntary questionnaire, the National Household Survey, in 2011.
Enthusiastic respondents who tried to fill out their census surveys online Monday evening were met with a notice saying the site was down for scheduled maintenance.
Mr. Dillon said that it is best to fill out the census as soon as you receive it and that census takers will be following up with letters and home visits mid-May.
For local governments and community groups, the demographic details in neighbourhoods help with decisions on where to place new schools, transit routes, seniors’ housing and emergency services.
“When you combine the kind of data we now can collect with census data, you can really get a more integrated view of what consumers want both in terms of products and services and that’s also true in terms of what citizens want from government”.
That’s right, after years on the sidelines, the long-form census will once again be assigned to some Canadians this year. We’re committed to data-based decision making.
Census results are also used to help inform payment allocation at all levels of government.
While some Canadians took to social media to denounce the mandatory long form as invasive, many others are enthusiastic, posting census selfies.
Manitoba’s Chief Statistician Wilf Falk says the info gathered is important to show us who we are as a community.
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Kestle said there will remain gaps in the data collected five years ago, but the return of the long-form census this year should bridge many of them created by the one-time absence. Statistics Canada notes if you don’t complete the form, you can be fined up to $500 or spend three months in jail.
