That's exactly my understanding. A census, in normal statistical jargon as we use it in Canada, means you are contacting everyone, whether it is compulsory or not. What we call our 2011 census, going back to the 1851 census, has happened to be compulsory but they're also universal. What used to be called the short form will be the 2011 census.
On March 8th, 2011. See this statement in context.