Official Languages Committee on March 12th, 2020

[Anil Arora]

The answer is yes. That's what we do and not just for this variable, an important variable, an important topic, an important aspect of our law and our society. We do this for so many other needs. Whether it's for hospitals, fire station or businesses, this is why we do these surveys and why we do the census. That's exactly why we do it, so we feel very confident in that.

It's not theory. As I said, there have been 12 million page views at those very small levels of our census profiles from the 2016 census to date. It's not a theory; this is what happens today.

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

I'm just trying to see how you hit those very small pockets in a lot of cases when you have this very broad census program. You're not hitting everybody; you're only hitting a certain—

[Anil Arora]

That's the value of the census. No other survey gets down to those very low levels of geography.

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

In some cases you're going to get zero. That's what's really going to happen.

[Anil Arora]

If I may, as you asked the question.... In very small communities, where, let's say, the number is less than 10—and it's a statistical technique that is used the world over to protect the privacy of the very small numbers of people who are there—it would be rounded to either zero, five or 10. If it were eight, it would be, through our routine, either five or 10. That's the rounding that we do. Other than that, the numbers are available for very small communities.

[Chris d'Entremont, Conservative, West Nova, NS]

I know I've run out of time, so your time's up.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Thank you, colleague.

I think it's fair to say that everyone on the committee here around the table wants to have the questions on 100% of the questionnaires. Arrange them any way you like.

Now, I'd like to ask you a question. How much time is left before it is too late to include questions in the 2021 census form?

[Anil Arora]

We are at the stage of providing the recommendations and receiving the cabinet decision.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

What you're telling me is that there were a few weeks, earlier, before this was tabled in cabinet.

How much time does cabinet have to make a decision on adding questions or sending instructions to Statistics Canada so that specific questions can be included in the 2021 census?

In fact, how many days or months are left before the form is printed?

[Anil Arora]

We're preparing for the census—

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Yes, but you're waiting for instructions from the cabinet. You can't act until cabinet gives you the green light.

I'll repeat my question. What is the maximum amount of time cabinet has to tell you to include all questions on the long and short questionnaires?

[Anil Arora]

The census is in May 2021—

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Mr. Arora, what I want is a number.

[Anil Arora]

It takes a little time to print out the questionnaires.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Yes, but you must have experience. Statistics Canada has been around for 50 years.

What is the maximum time?

[Anil Arora]

I'd say a few weeks.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

You say a few weeks. Does that mean that the minister can tell you, a few weeks before the census is due to begin, to include all the questions on the long and short questionnaires?

[Anil Arora]

The census is something we do every five years. It does not come as a big surprise. For the 2021 Census, we are going to follow the same schedule that we have followed in the past.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

Let me say, Mr. Arora, that if the minister intends to get things right with respect to rights-holders, he will only have a few weeks to say no.

Since the census is in May 2021, does that mean that, before April 1, 2021, he can say yes?

[Anil Arora]

Unfortunately, no. We need a decision much sooner.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

How much time do you need?

[Anil Arora]

As I told you, a few weeks.

[Joël Godin, Conservative, Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC]

What's the deadline? Do you understand my question?

[Anil Arora]

I will let my colleague Mr. Dufour answer you.

[Stéphane Dufour, Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Regional Services and Operations Sector, Statistics Canada]

Since I'm in charge of operations, I can tell you that, according to our current procedures, we are going to have a lot of logistical problems if we don't start printing by the end of July 2020.