City council is encouraging residents to fill out the 2021 census since complete and accurate data supports municipal programs and services that benefit the community — but you have until May 11 to do so.
Council approved a motion during its May 10 regular meeting to encourage citizens to complete the document.
Census data is important to decision-makers and Canadians since it helps plan schools, daycare centres, family services, transportation and skills training for employment, a council report explained. Census data is also used for grants that support municipal programs like infrastructure and transportation, while it is also used to measure the country’s sustainable development and environmental goals.
Data from the 2021 census will help the community evaluate the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had and allow for future planning, the report continued. The information will also inform many economic and health-related policy decisions at all levels of government in the months and years ahead as the pandemic and its effects continue to affect Canadians.
It takes some time to fill out the census form, and since the deadline to submit the questionnaire is May 11, it’s disappointing this came to council so late, said Coun. Heather Eby. While she understood that the report was written on April 26, it would have been better if it had come to an April meeting so council could give the community a “nudge” to fill it out.
“It’s important … for our community for programs and services,” she added. “But we are a little late to the ball game on this recommendation.”
More information about the 2021 census can be found at www.census.gc.ca.
The next regular council meeting is Tuesday, May 25.
