Statistician: Census Should Remain Mandatory

Statistician: Census Should Remain Mandatory

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 13:58

A Saskatchewan statistician says the Statistics Canada 2011 Census should remain mandatory.

Doug Elliott is the publisher of the Sask Trends Monitor.

Elliott says the federal government’s decision to make the national household survey voluntary will skew statistics because only a certain group of the population will submit the questionnaire.

Elliott says that people in First Nations communities are often reluctant to fill out surveys and is expecting even fewer responses on household information.

The National Household Survey is done every five years, and the data is used to help all levels of government make funding decisions regarding health, housing and employment programs.