Residents from Saskatchewan’s north should be expecting representatives from the 2016 Census at their door steps in the next few weeks.
Statistics Canada is launching its early enumeration efforts to count Canada’s northern and remote communities.
They will be sending canvassers to communities like Stony Rapids, Fond du Lac, Black Lake and Wollaston Lake.
This year will also see the reintroduction of the long-form census. Usually Statistics Canada aims to have one in four households fill out the long form census, but in the northern communities every household will be asked to fill out the long form.
Lorne Anderson, Director of the Western and Northern Regions for Statistics Canada says they hope in doing this they will get the best data possible from these communities.
“Our hope is that we get 100 per cent participation because the Census is so crucial to decisions to be made by every community in Canada and that includes First Nation communities and Metis Settlements,” says Anderson.
Anderson says the count may determine which communities will get schools, fire departments, housing and several other services.
“You look at the trends and you can make some predictions based on those trends and when the data is published you can make some very solid conclusions because down at the community level the decision making becomes that much better,” says Anderson.
For the rest of the population, the census will take place in May.