Written by: Gayathri R.
When it comes to statistics, we all want to be able to find reliable statistics that are a true representation of the population or sample we are interested in. The Canadian Census results have long been regarded as accurate statistics which have been utilized by countless scholars, students, agencies and regular citizens to inform their studies, ideology and reports. Funding of many programs has used the statistics derived from Statistics Canada to help solidify their proposals and reports. Government planning departments use these statistics in order to target specific populations for programs, and funding. Only if a need or demand can be shown, can governments justify spending on a program or funds for a specific target group of people.
However, as many of you may be aware, the long-form census has been replaced with a mandatory short-form census, which excludes valuable information about the diversity and economics of Canadian households. Instead, a voluntary National Household Survey has been instead created which asks similar questions now asks all the “personal” questions once asked by the long-form census, however, it’s not mandatory, and therefore, less people will fill it out, thus it will be less representative of the population.
The long-form census wasis valuable. It provided an accurate representation of the demographics, social structure, and economics of Canadian households. Because it was mandatory, everyone has to fill it out, and it eliminated the bias of those who did not fill it out. There is nothing merely as reliable when it comes to statistics otherwise. With the new short form census, all the valuable data is not asked because of the idea that it infringes upon personal privacy, in accordance with Canada’s Privacy Act. This personal information that can be excluded includes details relating to race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, marital status, education, medical history, criminal history, employment history, financial transactions, address, fingerprints and blood type (Section 3).
However, the data the long-form census use to ask is important. WE NEED THIS DATA TO BE REPRESENTED IN CANADIAN SOCIETY! Now, what can we do? We Tamils are a large population in Canada, and in order for governments to continue to be aware that we are a community that is growing size-wise, economically, and socially, we need our numbers to count. They need to be aware that such a large population exists, and that means that we should fill out the voluntary National Household Survey. We need to answer the questions that ask us about our language, our ethnicity, our income, we need to provide the government with these answers for them to be able to allocate services, programs and funding to programs that target us.
The National Household Survey will include questions on: demography, activity limitations, citizenship and immigration, language, language of work, ethnic origin, population group, Aboriginal group, Registered or Treaty Indian status, member of a First Nation/Indian band, religion, mobility, place of birth of parents, education, labour market activities, place of work, work activity, child care and support payments, income, housing and 92 year consent. This is an excerpt of why these questions are asked in the Survery “The information collected in the NHS will provide data to support government programs directed at target populations. Information from the NHS will also support provincial/territorial and local government planning and program delivery. (Stats Canada, 2011)” Without this information, our voices will not be heard.
We need to unite and show government planning committees and researches that we exist as a large, strong and vibrant community in Canada, and the only way of ensuring our numbers count, is if we partake in the voluntary National Household Survey. Imagine if every youth encouraged their household, their aunts and uncles to fill out a survey, our voices would be heard by government planning departments all around Canada. Do your part, and make us count. Because, we should count.
Questionnaires for this survey will be distributed approximately four weeks after the census. Make sure that you fill yours out, and encourage your family and friends to do the same.
Want to know more about the National Household Survey? Visit: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/survey-enquete/household-menages/5178-eng.htm
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