Evidence of meeting #77 for Official Languages in the 42nd Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was questionnaire.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
No, it is not recent at all.
In fact, we had conducted very thorough studies, including coverage surveys. We simply went to see people and submitted a different questionnaire to them to ensure they clearly understood the questions. That is what led us to change the order of the questions. We got higher-quality information by proceeding that way.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
Can we compare the statistics we currently have with older statistics, or are these really new statistics that can no longer be compared with the old ones?
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
On the whole, we say that this is high-quality data. However, we observed a sharp increase in multiple responses between 2006 and 2011, for example. By matching the files, we realized that people who had given two or three answers in a census gave only one in the following census.
We said we had to be cautious in comparing recent data with data from previous censuses because the tool changed in 2011. The language questions are now on the short form, and that may influence the way people respond.
It may seem easy to put a question on the questionnaire, but it must be understood that the position of the question on the questionnaire may result in considerable changes, depending on the communities or the questions.
NDP
François Choquette NDP Drummond, QC
I am sure you will do this, but I simply want to ensure that, in the process of changing questions in order to enumerate rights holders, you will comply with our requests and consult organizations such as the FCFA and QCGN, which represent all the official language communities across the country. I think it is important to ensure that their views are heard.
Assistant Director, Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division, Statistics Canada
Absolutely.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Denis Paradis
Thank you very much, Mr. Choquette.
This concludes today's meeting.
Mr. Hamel and Mr. Corbeil, thank you very much for your presentation and your answers to and comments on committee members' questions.
We will suspend for a few minutes and then go in camera to discuss committee business.
[Proceedings continue in camera]