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2006 Canadian census

{{Short description|Censuses in Canada}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2016}}

{{Infobox census

| name = 2006 Canadian census

| logo = Canada Census 2006 logo.png

| logo_size =

| logo_caption =

| image = Statistics Canada logo.svg

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| country = Canada

| date = May 16, 2006

| population = 31,612,897

| percent_change = {{gain}} 5.4%

| annual_percent_change =

| region_type = province/territory

| most_populous = Ontario (12,160,282)

| least_populous = Nunavut (29,474)

| previous_census = 2001 Canadian census

| previous_year = 2001

| next_census = 2011 Canadian census

| next_year = 2011

}}

The 2006 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The following census was the 2011 census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897. This count was lower than the official July 1, 2006 population estimate of 32,623,490 people.{{cite web|url=http://www.statcan.ca/estimadet-en.htm|title=Differences between Statistics Canada's census counts and population estimates|publisher=Statistics Canada|year=2006|access-date=August 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410165420/http://www.statcan.ca/estimadet-en.htm|archive-date=April 10, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} The previous census was the 2001 census and the following census was in 2011 census.

Summary

Over 12.7 million households, 32.5 million people were expected to be counted. Canada Post delivered census forms by mail to 70% of the country, primarily residents in urban areas. Census enumerators delivered to the remaining 30% of households. Every fifth home received the long questionnaire (53 questions versus 8 questions on the short form). For the first time, Canadian residents were able to go online to fill in their forms. Statistics Canada expected approximately 20% of households to file their surveys electronically. Persistent census staff are contacting tardy households. The total estimated cost of the 2006 census is $567 million spread over seven years, employing more than 25,000 full and part-time census workers.

New in the 2006 census questionnaire:

  • Education. Where did individuals receive their highest level of education? (Only on extended questionnaire)
  • Income. Permission to use income information from an individual's income tax file. Income from child benefits. Income tax paid. (Also only on extended questionnaire)
  • Access to personal information. Permission to make information public in 92 years.

Questions not asked in the 2006 census:

  • Religion. Normally asked only once every 10 years, and the religion question was asked in the 2001 census.
  • Education. The number of years of schooling received.

= Modified questions =

  • Education

Data products

As the data were compiled, Statistics Canada released various census data products. The first set of data products was released on March 13, 2007, originally scheduled for release on February 13, 2007, covering population and dwelling counts by geographical unit. This was followed by other census data products.{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/RelDates_e.cfm|title=2006 Census release dates|work=2006 Census|publisher=Statistics Canada|year=2006|access-date=May 16, 2006|archive-date=May 4, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504092139/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/RelDates_e.cfm|url-status=dead}}

= Population and dwelling counts =

The first release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070313/td070313.htm The Daily, Tuesday, March 13, 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325173320/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070313/td070313.htm |date=March 25, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070313/d070313.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011208/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070313/d070313.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on March 13, 2007, covering population and dwelling counts by geographical unit.

Population of the provinces and territoriesStatistics Canada, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Tables.cfm Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2006 Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418022014/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Tables.cfm |date=April 18, 2008 }}, [http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/IPS/display?cat_num=97-550-XWE2006002 Catalogue number 97-550-XWE2006002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702195528/http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/IPS/display?cat_num=97-550-XWE2006002 |date=July 2, 2017 }}, released March 13, 2007, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=101 Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, province and territories, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213160312/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=101 |date=February 13, 2008 }}

Population and dwellings

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: right;"
style="width:40px" style="text-align: center;" | Rank

! style="text-align: center;" | Province or territory

! style="text-align: center;" data-sort-type="number" | Population as of
2006 census

! style="text-align: center;" data-sort-type="number" | Population as of
2001 census

! style="text-align: center;" data-sort-type="number" | Change

! style="text-align: center;" data-sort-type="number" | Percent
change

1

| style="text-align: left;" |Ontario

| 12,160,282

| 11,410,046

| 750,236 {{increase}}

| 6.6 {{increase}}

2

| style="text-align: left;" |Quebec

| 7,546,131

| 7,237,479

| 308,652 {{increase}}

| 4.3 {{increase}}

3

| style="text-align: left;" |British Columbia

| 4,113,487

| 3,907,738

| 205,749 {{increase}}

| 5.3 {{increase}}

4

| style="text-align: left;" |Alberta

| 3,290,350

| 2,974,807

| 315,543 {{increase}}

| 10.6 {{increase}}

5

| style="text-align: left;" |Manitoba

| 1,148,401

| 1,119,583

| 28,818 {{increase}}

| 2.6 {{increase}}

6

| style="text-align: left;" |Saskatchewan

| 968,157

| 978,933

| -10,776 {{decrease}}

| -1.1 {{decrease}}

7

| style="text-align: left;" |Nova Scotia

| 913,462

| 908,007

| 5,455 {{increase}}

| 0.6 {{increase}}

8

| style="text-align: left;" |New Brunswick

| 729,997

| 729,498

| 499 {{increase}}

| 0.1 {{increase}}

9

| style="text-align: left;" |Newfoundland and Labrador

| 505,469

| 512,930

| -7,461 {{decrease}}

| -1.5 {{decrease}}

10

| style="text-align: left;" |Prince Edward Island

| 135,851

| 135,294

| 557 {{increase}}

| 0.4 {{increase}}

11

| style="text-align: left;" |Northwest Territories

| 41,464

| 37,360

| 4,104 {{increase}}

| 11.0 {{increase}}

12

| style="text-align: left;" |Yukon

| 30,372

| 28,674

| 1,698 {{increase}}

| 5.9 {{increase}}

13

| style="text-align: left;" |Nunavut

| 29,474

| 26,745

| 2,729 {{increase}}

| 10.2 {{increase}}

! style="text-align: left;" |Canada

! 31,612,897

! 30,007,094

! 1,605,803 {{increase}}

! 5.4 {{increase}}

= Age and sex =

The second release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070717/td070717.htm The Daily, Tuesday, July 17, 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518104847/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070717/td070717.htm |date=May 18, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070717/d070717.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011209/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070717/d070717.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on July 17, 2007, covering age and sex of the Canadian population. Among other findings, Statistics Canada reported that the 65-and-over population was at a record high of 13.7% of the total population of Canada.{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_agesex.cfm |title=Release no. 2: Age and sex |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418022038/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_agesex.cfm |url-status=dead }} By comparison, the 2001 census found that the 65-and-over population was 13.0% of the total population of Canada.{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/AgeSex/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&View=1&Code=0&Table=1a&StartRec=1&Sort=2&B1=Counts&B2=Both |title=Age and Sex, 2001 Counts for Both Sexes, for Canada, Provinces and Territories - 100% Data |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214110932/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/AgeSex/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&View=1&Code=0&Table=1a&StartRec=1&Sort=2&B1=Counts&B2=Both |url-status=dead }}

Population of each province and territory by ageStatistics Canada, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/Index.cfm Age and Sex Highlight Tables, 2006 Census] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420144301/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/index.cfm |date=April 20, 2008 }}, [http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=97-551-X2006002 catalogue number 97-551-XWE2006002]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, released July 17, 2007, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page Population by broad age groups, 2006 counts for both sexes, for Canada, provinces and territories - 100% data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070906234224/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |date=September 6, 2007 }} and sexAge and Sex Highlight Tables, 2006 Census, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=2&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page 2006 counts for males, for Canada, provinces and territories - 100% data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115081029/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=2&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |date=January 15, 2016 }}, [http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=3&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page 2006 counts for females, for Canada, provinces and territories - 100% data] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214114707/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=3&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |date=February 14, 2009 }}

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
Province / territory

! 0 to 14

! 15–64

! 65+

! Males

! Females

align=left|Newfoundland and Labrador78,230356,97570,265245,730259,740
align=left|Prince Edward Island23,98591,68520,18565,59570,260
align=left|Nova Scotia146,435628,815138,210439,835473,630
align=left|New Brunswick118,255504,110107,635355,495374,500
align=left|Quebec1,252,5105,213,3351,080,2853,687,6953,858,435
align=left|Ontario2,210,8008,300,3001,649,1805,930,7006,229,580
align=left|Manitoba225,175761,340161,890563,275585,125
align=left|Saskatchewan187,695631,155149,305475,240492,915
align=left|Alberta631,5152,305,425353,4101,646,8001,643,550
align=left|British Columbia679,6052,834,075599,8102,013,9852,099,495
align=left|Yukon5,72022,3652,29015,28015,090
align=left|Northwest Territories9,92029,5701,97521,22520,240
align=left|Nunavut10,00018,66081015,10514,365
class="sortbottom"

|align=center|Canada

5,579,83521,697,8054,335,25515,475,97016,136,925

= Families, marital status, households and dwelling characteristics =

The third release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070912/td070912.htm The Daily, Wednesday, September 12, 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219211444/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070912/td070912.htm |date=February 19, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070912/d070912.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011200/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070912/d070912.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on September 12, 2007, and covered families/households,{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/familieshouseholds.cfm |title=Release no. 3: September 12, 2007, Families and households |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=April 20, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420141723/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/familieshouseholds.cfm |url-status=dead }} marital status,{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_maritalstatus.cfm |title=Release no. 3: September 12, 2007, Marital status (including common-law status) |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=March 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080323075245/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_maritalstatus.cfm |url-status=dead }} and dwelling characteristics.[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_housingshelter.cfm Release no. 3: dwelling and household characteristics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506175617/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_housingshelter.cfm |date=May 6, 2008 }}

The following table displays various census data (derived from the 20% sample that completed the long questionnaire) on marital status for the Canadian population aged 15 years or more, as well as data on the number of couples by various criteria, and where available the percentage change from the 2001 census:

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"

! Number

! % change
(2001–2006)

align=left| Population aged 15 years and overStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=97-552-X2006007 Catalogue number 97-552-XWE2006007]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, [https://archive.today/20130115135922/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/shared/redirectproduct.cfm?ips=97-552-XWE2006007 Legal Marital Status (6), Common-law Status (3), Age Groups (17) and Sex (3) for the Population 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses - 100% Data]26,033,060+7.2
align=left| Legally married (and not separated)12,470,400+3.8
align=left| Separated, but still legally married775,425+5.7
align=left| Divorced2,087,390+12.5
align=left| Widowed1,612,815+4.6
align=left| In a common-law relationship2,731,635+19.6
align=left| In a same-sex union{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=3&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |title=Persons in same-sex unions by broad age groups and sex for both sexes, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=June 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602155317/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=3&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |url-status=dead }}90,695+32.6
align=left| Same-sex couples{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/tables/Table4.cfm?Lang=E |title=Same-sex couples by type of union (married, common-law) and sex, 2006 Census - 20% sample data |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602155322/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/tables/Table4.cfm?Lang=E |archive-date=June 2, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}45,350
align=left| Male same-sex married couples4,010
align=left| Female same-sex married couples3,455
align=left| Male same-sex common-law couples20,730
align=left| Female same-sex common-law couples17,155
align=left| All couples{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |title=Couple families by presence of children in private households |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=June 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602160434/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page |url-status=dead }}7,482,780+6.0
align=left| Married couples with children3,443,775-0.7
align=left| Married couples without children2,662,130+9.5
align=left| Common-law couples with children618,150+16.4
align=left| Common-law couples without children758,715+20.9

= Immigration, citizenship, language, mobility and migration =

The fourth release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/td071204.htm The Daily, Tuesday, December 4, 2007] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219141741/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/td071204.htm |date=February 19, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/d071204.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011205/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/d071204.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on December 4, 2007, and covered immigration, citizenship, language, mobility, migration and other population data.

= Aboriginal peoples =

The fifth release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/td080115.htm The Daily, Tuesday, January 15, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219180141/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/td080115.htm |date=February 19, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/d080115.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011206/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/d080115.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on January 15, 2008, covering aboriginal peoples.

= Labour, place of work/commuting to work, education, language =

The sixth release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080304/td080304.htm The Daily, Tuesday, March 4, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508223804/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080304/td080304.htm |date=May 8, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080304/d080304.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011202/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080304/d080304.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on March 4, 2008, covering labour,{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/labour.cfm |title=Release no. 6: labour |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=May 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505035753/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/labour.cfm |url-status=dead }} education{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/education.cfm |title=Release no. 6: Education |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=April 10, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080410161226/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/education.cfm |url-status=dead }} and some other topics going with that.

= Ethnic origin, visible minorities =

The seventh release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/td080402.htm The Daily, Wednesday, April 2, 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407035153/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/td080402.htm |date=April 7, 2008 }} [http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/d080402.pdf The Daily (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011203/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/d080402.pdf |date=May 30, 2008 }} was on April 2, 2008, covering ethnic origins and visible minorities{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/ethnicorigin.cfm |title=Release no. 7: Ethnic origin and visible minorities |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421115328/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/ethnicorigin.cfm |url-status=dead }} and commuting to work.{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/pow.cfm |title=Release no. 7: Place of work and commuting to work |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=May 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501113839/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/pow.cfm |url-status=dead }}

= Income/earnings, shelter costs =

The eighth release of 2006 census data was on May 1, 2008, covering income and earnings, and shelter costs.{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/index.cfm#note5 |title=Statistics Canada, Census 2006 Release topics and dates. |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=April 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080412083621/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/index.cfm#note5 |url-status=dead }}

Advertising

In contrast to 1996 focus-groups that found it important to know the legal requirement at the outset, participants of 2005 focus-groups were annoyed or provoked by draft ads reminding Canadians about the census law. As a result of the finding, Statistics Canada's initial newspaper, radio and TV ads avoided mention of the legal requirement. Instead, reference to the census law was highlighted only in ads appearing after census day, to capture late filers.

To encourage participation, Statistics Canada set aside $13 million for "saturation" advertising, including billboards, bookmarks, inserts in municipal tax bills, and ads on bags of sugar and milk cartons.{{cite news|author=Beeby, Dean |title=Statistics Canada revamps census ad campaign to play down legal requirements |publisher=Canoe Inc. |date=March 26, 2005 }}

Outsourcing

Statistics Canada reports less than 20% of the work will be outsourced, spending $85 million over 5 years. Despite an open public tender process, controversy arose on the announcement of a $43.3 million deal awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada—a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor by defense revenue—for the purchase of scanning and printing software and hardware.{{cite news|author=Lambert, Steve|url=http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/10/10/663339.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721031705/http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/10/10/663339.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2012|title=Census contractor comes under fire|publisher=The London Free Press|date=October 10, 2004|access-date=April 28, 2006}}

Forms

A variety of forms were available in both official languages, varying in length, colour, and recipient's location.{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/questions/index.cfm|title=2006 Census: Census questionnaires and guides|date=February 14, 2008|access-date=March 22, 2008|publisher=Statistics Canada|archive-date=March 29, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080329122406/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/questions/index.cfm|url-status=dead}}

Most households (80%) received the short form (2A):

  • English: orange
  • French: yellow

One in five received the long form (2B):

  • English: red
  • French: purple

Federal and provincial employees and their families working in embassies and National Defence bases abroad (2C):

  • English: purple
  • French: red

In the three northern territories and on Aboriginal communities and settlements (2D):

  • English: orange
  • French: yellow

Census of Agriculture (6):

  • English: yellow
  • French: orange

Controversy

Special interest groups criticised Statistics Canada over the design of questions, accuracy, and the future of the census data:{{cite news|author=Freeze, Colin.|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060515.wxcensus15/BNStory/National/home|title=Census coloured by broad array of interests|publisher=The Globe and Mail|date=May 15, 2006|access-date=May 16, 2006}}{{Dead link|date=May 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

  • Question 6: Relationship. Couples in same-sex marriages were offended by and/or objected to Statistics Canada's instruction that they use the write-in field "Other" instead of checking the "husband or wife" box.
  • Question 16: Mother tongue. An anonymous email misinformation campaign advised bilingual francophones to not mention their knowledge of English.
  • Question 53: Election to release census data after 92 years.{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/genealogy.cfm |title=Statistics Canada, Genealogy corner |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=April 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426231304/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/genealogy.cfm |url-status=dead }} Genealogists worried that future research will be hampered if Canadians didn't check this box.{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}

::Nationally, there was a yes response in respect of 55.58% of persons enumerated in the census. The yes percentage was highest in Prince Edward Island, 64.50%, and lowest in Nunavut, 51.39%.[http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/gen_results.cfm Statistics Canada, 2006 Census results: The 92-year question] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080426231259/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/gen_results.cfm |date=April 26, 2008 }}. Retrieved April 21, 2008. Individual respondents are permitted to change their response to this question by mailing in a request-for-change form.{{Cite web |url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/change.cfm |title=Statistics Canada, Change or verify your response to the consent question on the 2006 Census of Population |access-date=April 21, 2008 |archive-date=February 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219154402/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/change.cfm |url-status=dead }}

In addition, Statistics Canada's online questionnaire had been criticized over accessibility issues:{{cite news|author=Byfield, Bruce|url=http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/05/12/144252.shtml?tid=136&tid=132&tid=150|title=Canadian Census controversy continues|publisher=NewsForge|date=May 12, 2006|access-date=May 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114182827/http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/05/12/144252.shtml?tid=136&tid=132&tid=150|archive-date=November 14, 2006|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

  • Failure to comply with Treasury Board, guidelines to meet W3C accessibility recommendations for the visually impaired
  • Failure to support open source, operating systems. Support for Linux was eventually added,{{cite web|url=http://www22.statcan.ca/ccr02/ccr02_003_e.htm |title=Notice to Linux users |publisher=Statistics Canada |year=2006 |access-date=May 16, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615032512/http://www22.statcan.ca/ccr02/ccr02_003_e.htm |archive-date=June 15, 2006 }} but support for other operating systems was not.

The quality of data was further hampered by individuals who advocated minimal cooperation or non-cooperation, in protest to the outsourcing contract awarded to Lockheed Martin.{{cite news|author=Riga, Andy|url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=09adc99b-e3e5-418c-a274-296d8abed7bf&rfp=dta|title=Census faces attack from blog rumours|publisher=National Post|date=May 8, 2006|access-date=May 16, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107113652/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=09adc99b-e3e5-418c-a274-296d8abed7bf&rfp=dta|archive-date=November 7, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} Many people believed that Lockheed Martin would have access to their information, and that the US government could then access that information through the USA PATRIOT Act. However, despite assurances to the contrary (i.e., only Statistics Canada employees would and could handle, store, and access the information), some people refused to participate fully in the census.

The release of data was postponed to numerous issues during enumeration.{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/2006-census-results-delayed-amid-problems-1.676358 | title=2006 census results delayed amid problems | publisher=CBC | date=February 12, 2007 | access-date=December 18, 2011}} These included:

  • the recruitment of enumerators amid a competitive job market, particularly in Western Canada
  • the requirement of some people to fill out a second form after their first forms did not arrive in the mail; and
  • delays in payments to enumerators

As a result, the first release of data from the census, originally scheduled for release on February 13, 2007, was delayed to March 13, 2007.

See also

External links

  • [http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/index-eng.cfm 2006 Census by topics and regions] - Statistics Canada's page on the 2006 census
  • [http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/ref/about-apropos/version2A-eng.cfm Census 2006 - 2A (Short Form)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916184601/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/ref/about-apropos/version2A-eng.cfm |date=September 16, 2020 }}
  • [http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/ref/about-apropos/version-eng.cfm Census 2006 - 2B (Long Form)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213040733/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/ref/about-apropos/version-eng.cfm |date=February 13, 2018 }}

References

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Census-ca}}

{{People of Canada}}

Census

Category:Censuses in Canada

Category:2006 censuses