聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Governing a country I feel like is a great puzzle鈥� one where knowing how many pieces you have and figuring out how they fit together is essential. What鈥檚 the easiest way for those we鈥檝e elected to represent us to figure this out? It could very well be the census.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The other day I felt like an adult鈥� and I guess I should, after all I鈥檓 nearing 30 every year, but I just finished my very first Canadian census. I had one which was pretty quick and painless, but I hear there are others out there that are a little longer. I鈥檓 glad they gave me the shortened version though as it eased me into it.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I remember my parents filling it out when I was younger, and it was always quite the task as they were farmers, so that immediately means a few extra questions even on the shortened version as I have come to understand.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 However, as I sat kind of excited to do my first census (yes, I鈥檓 a little weird, but I accept that) I discovered that, as with anything the government does, there were grumblings by people unhappy that the mandatory census was back. The Conservatives had changed it into a voluntary 鈥渘ational household survey,鈥� but voluntary means people don鈥檛 have to actually do it and the data would be skewed like any survey. At least making it mandatory would have the majority of people participate in it.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I鈥檝e decided people just like to grumble though because when the Conservatives axed the census people grumbled and now as it comes back, people again grumble. Whether it鈥檚 a political party they voted for and they鈥檙e wondering what the party is doing or they simply hate聽 whoever is in power, people always seem to find something to find issue with. Which to be honest, I don鈥檛 really understand because in Canada there is very little difference between the various political parties in my opinion.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 One poster I saw stated, 鈥淵ou count, so be counted! Did you know? The building of new streets, bridges, and cycling lanes is informed by census data.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The census, I think, is an important tool for the government to use. According to Stats Canada the census is important because 鈥淭he census collects demographic information on every man, woman, and child living in Canada. Information from the census will be used by governments, businesses, associations, community organizations and many others to make important decisions for your community, your province or territory, and the entire country.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淐ensus information is important for your community and is used in planning services such as schools, public transportation, senior housing, and police and fire services. Population estimates obtained from the census are used to allocate transfer payments from the federal government to the provinces and territories, and from the provinces to municipalities.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ultimately, for the government to know where to put money they need to know where the majority of the population is. It also becomes historical record for future generations allowing them information on how people were living and gives a sense of who is in the nation based on languages spoken.聽聽聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 While looking into the census, did you know that the very first one used in what was to become Canada was done by Jean Talon in 1666 in order to record the French colony鈥檚 3,215 inhabitants鈥� age, sex, marital status, and occupation? This was done to help plan and develop New France. Just how today鈥檚 census helps the Government of Canada plan and develop the nation.
