Evidence of meeting #4 for Official Languages in the 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was question.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Anil Arora  Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada
Stéphane Dufour  Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Regional Services and Operations Sector, Statistics Canada

4:40 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

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.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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—

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

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

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS

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

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

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.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Chris d'Entremont Conservative West Nova, NS

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

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

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

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

We're preparing for the census—

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

The census is in May 2021—

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

Mr. Arora, what I want is a number.

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

It takes a little time to print out the questionnaires.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

I'd say a few weeks.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

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.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

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?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

Unfortunately, no. We need a decision much sooner.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

How much time do you need?

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

As I told you, a few weeks.

4:45 p.m.

Conservative

Joël Godin Conservative Portneuf—Jacques-Cartier, QC

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

4:45 p.m.

Chief Statistician of Canada, Statistics Canada

Anil Arora

I will let my colleague Mr. Dufour answer you.

4:45 p.m.

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.