Census in Canada 5174623 146677055 2007-07-24T02:54:58Z 156.34.49.36 /* Highlights */ The '''Census in Canada''' began with the country's first census in [[1666]]. In the years leading up to [[1871]], [[Canada|Canada's]] first national census, a total of 98 colonial and regional censuses were conducted. The number and types of questions have varied over the years, to suit the times and purposes of collection. Today, [[Statistics Canada]] uses the census to obtain a [[Demographics of Canada|demographic snapshot]] of Canada's population, both socially and economically, living in the various [[Census divisions of Canada|census divisions]]. And because censuses are conducted every 5 years, longitudinal study of current census data with previous census data yields insight into trends. In addition, census information is also used to plan public services including health care, education, and transportation, and determine federal [[transfer payment]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www22.statcan.ca/ccr08/ccr08_000_e.htm|title=The Census and...|accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> ==Highlights== Highlights of the census in Canada include:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/Info/history.cfm|title=History of the Census in Canada|accessdate=2006-05-19}}</ref> * [[1666 census of New France|1666]] - colony's first census * [[Canada 1871 Census|1871]] - first national census * [[Canada 1881 Census|1881]] - census takers sworn to oath of secrecy * [[Canada 1891 Census|1891]] - census advertising through newspapers and from pulpits * [[Canada 1901 Census|1901]] - census adds questions on religion, birthplace, citizenship and period of immigration * [[Canada 1906 Census|1906]] - the first special census of the Northwest Provinces * [[Canada 1911 Census|1911]] - last census to ask questions on "infirmities" * [[Canada 1921 Census|1921]] - mechanical tabulation * [[Canada 1931 Census|1931]] - census adds questions to assess unemployment * [[Canada 1941 Census|1941]] - questions on fertility * [[Canada 1951 Census|1951]] - first census covering all 10 provinces and (then) 2 territories * [[Canada 1956 Census|1956]] - first mid-decade mini census; the Census of Agriculture and Census of Population would be taken together every 5 years * [[Canada 1961 Census|1961]] - census adds question on level of education * [[Canada 1966 Census|1966]] - last census to use only interviews * [[Canada 1971 Census|1971]] - self-enumeration and long/short forms introduced * [[Canada 1976 Census|1976]] - last mini-census; last census to ask question on "head" of family * [[Canada 1981 Census|1981]] * [[Canada 1986 Census|1986]] - first full mid-decade census * [[Canada 1991 Census|1991]] - question on common-law relationship * [[Canada 1996 Census|1996]] - census questions translated into 49 non-official languages * [[Canada 2001 Census|2001]] - collection of data on same sex common-law couples * [[Canada 2006 Census|2006]] - online questionnaire * [[Canada 2011 Census|2011]] ==References== <div class="references-small"><references /></div> ==See also== * [[Demographics of Canada]] * [[Census geographic units of Canada]] * [[Census division statistics of Canada]] * Curtis, Bruce. ''Politics of Population: State Formation, Statistics, and the Census of Canada.'' Toronto: UTP, 2000. ==External links== * [http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/98-187-XIE/index.htm Censuses of Canada. 1665 to 1871.] * [http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/98-187-XIE/geo1.htm List of Census Tables from 1665 to 1871.] * [http://www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/11-516-XIE/sectiona/toc.htm Historical statistics of Canada] (1867 to the mid-1970s) * [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/index-e.html Historical Census Online] {{Census-ca}} [[Category:Statistics Canada]] [[Category:Demographics of Canada]] [[Category:Censuses in Canada| ]] [[Category:Population statistics]] {{Canada-stub}}