SOCIAL: PROPOSED POLICY CHANGES/ CENSUS CANADA

SUBJECT:  CENSUS CANADA

PURPOSE:  This briefing note is a recommendation for changes in policy pertaining to the Canadian census.

ISSUE:  There is not enough data collected with regards to matters pertaining to the community. 

Background:

The Canadian census is a tool by which the government of Canada collects data pertinent to households.  The Census program is administered by Statistics Canada.  Specifically, “the Census of Population is mandated by law in the Constitution Act (1867) and the Statistics Act (1985) to determine the population of Canada and its' provinces and territories, every five years.”  It collects data from various categories including, Aboriginal peoples; Age and sex; Education; Families, households and marital status; Housing; Immigration and ethnocultural diversity; Income; Journey to work; Labour; Language; Language of work; Mobility and migration; Population and dwelling counts; and Type of dwelling.  The Census of Population in Canada specifically collects data pertaining to demographic, social and economic characteristics because it provides services to the people.  In order to provide such services, the government needs to have information on the countries demographic and socioeconomic standing.  The government would also like to know how much the country has changed over a five year period.  Moreover, the questionnaire answers are useful and needed by public and private sectors.  Canadian government uses the answers in statistical quantitative form to determine the feasibility and viability of various services.  According to Narcity the government determines from this data the, “equal representation of [the] population, setting boundaries for election regions, and determining what other languages services can be provided.”  These are just some reasons as to why census is collected in Canada.  The Canadian census contains several sections seven steps, A – G.  Step A is information pertaining to the participant such as number and address.  Step B determines who is to be included in the census with regards to the household unit.  Step C are provisions to determine if any person/(s) were excluded.  Step D is for agriculture.  Step E collects demographic data of each individual in the household.  Further in this section census seeks to identify data such as activities of daily living, sociocultural information, mobility and labour amongst others.  Step F determines utility bills and information pertaining to the dwellings properties such as repairs.  Lastly, step G is consent to collect data.

Considerations:

With regards to the Constitution of Canada, the Census of Population does not do enough to identify the actual beliefs of participants about the country.  The census lacks this and perhaps because it may be related to stipulations.  However, the government should consider the collection of such data specifically to determine whether or not the actual services rendered in the country are compliant to the Constitution.  The government has implemented legislation in the country, citing “democracy,” as the ruling by which to justify unconstitutional laws passed through parliament.  An example of this when referring to the constitution is under Guaranteed Rights and Freedoms in Part I.  It says, “freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication.”  What is unconstitutional is the idea of censorship.  People should be able to express themselves within reason.  However, some speech in Canada is stipulated and this results in a reduction in the exchange of ideas.  Such exchange of ideas prevents people from actually solving and rectifying the problems in society, ie.  people are in fear to share their beliefs, and this results in people being left out of the decision making.  This happens in places like China and Russia.  However, the government of Canada cites that such limitation on speech was enacted with reasonable limit, and it was prescribed by law and was demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.  The flaw here is that when people vote on people in political parties, they vote for the platform and not the individual idea.  Which henceforth, the unconstitutional decision for the Canadian government to implement and enact such stipulation of freedom of speech is a wrong and an injustice to the citizen.  The government system needs to collect data on individual matters to determine if it is indeed democracy.  By using the Census of Population, Canada can collect information on such matters pertaining to misandry, misogyny and freedom of expression, matters that pertain to the everyday Canadian.  The government needs to use the census of Population so that professions based on Political Science, Criminology, Sociology and Law can conjure up policy that actually represents the true demands of the people and not a platform of a political party of which is influenced by multiple interest groups.  Further, by collecting quantitative data pertaining to these issues, the government can specifically identify the integrity of the population as a whole.  Are their beliefs in line with the actuality of Canada.  Is there a delusion present in the population which may cause herding and result in hysteria?  Such occurrences can be alleviated if the population is reduced to a single entity via averaging quantitative data to determine these answers.  The stakeholders for this matter are the government and the citizen.

Options: 

Option 1:  Use the Census of Population to collect data on the beliefs of Canadians about Canada.

This is very feasible; however a new census must be designed.  This would require a lot of cooperation.  Many professions would have to be included to determine what questions must be asked.  This is accountable as it would allow the government to prevent such hysteria that occurs with delusions.  An example of such delusion in contemporary times is when COVID started, and people began to hoard toilet paper.  This option is the most sustainable, as it seeks to identify the demands of the people.  By identifying the demands, the government can provide services that are more in line to the needs of the people and also that concur with the Constitution.  This option is the most inclusive as it allows each Canadians an opportunity to depict their stance on any individual matter.  This option would improve the security of the country by actually providing data that can assist with the integrity of the services rendered by the government.  This allows each citizen equity to be able to have a say in the government. 

Option 2:  Status quo.

This option is the most feasible but, it does the citizen a disservice.  By selecting this option, a broken democracy persists.  How is that fair to Canadians?  This option is also the least accountable as it doesn’t do anything to make the government of Canada more efficient.  From a security perspective, the Canadian citizen is going to continue to operate in a society that is generalized by the political parties.

Recommendation:

Option one is recommended.