Thank you for your question. My answer has two parts.
You talked about adding four questions. That is not the case, because the seven questions in the current census cover other dimensions. There is a possibility of adding 10 other questions because the 11th is the one that is already included in the census; it concerns citizenship. In fact, in the census the issues of mother tongue and citizenship are raised, but 10 other questions are needed if we are to take into account the other two paragraphs of section 23.
In addition, although the census is certainly one of the most important sources of data for Statistics Canada, there are also many others. I will give you an example.
Education falls under provincial jurisdiction. Statistics Canada has a Centre for Education Statistics that conducts many surveys. There is a key survey known as the Elementary-Secondary Education Survey. In fact, that survey collects statistical data in all of the provinces and collates that information. It is thanks to that survey that we know every year, and not every five years, how many young people are registered in immersion programs and how many attend minority schools. It is thanks to that survey that is conducted annually by every province.
And so, to answer your question, I wonder if we could not call on every province and territory and ask them to add a question on the language of education of the parent at the primary level. Statistics Canada has to have that question and assess it. That way, we could obtain annual data on the topic, rather than having the information every five years. That does add a burden, however, as to the number of answers people have to provide in the census.
Moreover, the matter of income was raised. It is no longer included in the census because that information is now obtained from Canadians' tax returns. It is also a way of adapting to the new and evolving tools that are now available, and that is why I mention that possibility.