The Census Experience
in Canada
Strategies to Manage Cost
Connie Graziadei, Assistant Chief Statistician
November, 2012
Canada’s Census Experience

In 1871, the first Census of Population was conducted for the new
country of Canada, with enumerators visiting every household.

Until 1971, comprehensive data was collected from all households.

Starting in 1971, a “short form” Census was distributed to
approximately 67 percent of households and contained selected
questions. Others received a “long form” with all questions.

In 1981, sample size for the long form was decreased to 20 percent.

In 2011, the mandatory Census questionnaire was limited to
questions previously found on the “short form” and a voluntary
National Household Survey (NHS) replaced the mandatory long
form questionnaire.
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Recent Census Experience

Focus on cost reduction:

Reduce the need for field enumerators (the most expensive
portion of the Canadian Census)
― Use of self-enumeration approaches
― Centralized mail-out
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
Introduction of an Internet response application in 2006 –
reduce printing and processing of paper questionnaires.

Use of technology in data processing (scanning, intelligent
character recognition, automated coding, etc.)

Disseminate results on the Internet (no paper publications).
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Internet Response in 2006

Respondents were given the option to complete their
questionnaires using the Internet, via access codes provided on
printed questionnaires.

Approach piloted with 40,000 dwellings during 2001 census.

Limited functionality - duplicated the paper questionnaire.

Issues with accessibility for visually impaired people.

18 percent Internet response rate - started to reduce reliance on
paper and traditional mail service.
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Centralized Mail-Out in 2006

Mail-out operation consolidated from regional offices to a
centralized operation.

Resulted in reduced costs and simplified logistics.

Mail-out increased to 73% of dwellings.
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Data Processing

Scanned images simplify logistics and reduce costs associated
with physical paper inventories, including archival costs.

Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) avoids manual keying
effort.


97 percent of all check boxes can be accurately captured

50 to 80 percent of other character types can be accurately
captured
High automated coding rates yielding significant savings in
operator costs.

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Iterative approach with updates to code files as coding
progresses
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Dissemination


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Print and CD-ROM products have been discontinued in favour of
the Internet.

Standard products are available for free.

Infrastructure to sell, package and distribute products is no
longer required.

Reduced reliance on paper.
Micro-data files provided to Research Data Centres minimizes
requests for custom products.
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2011 Census Experience

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Continued focus on cost reduction:

Wave methodology - multiple contact approaches to promote
Internet response, significantly reducing reliance on paper
questionnaires and traditional mail service for return of
complete forms

Response rate management – optimize the use of the field
workforce to maximize the national response rate and
efficiently produce highly uniform response rates at the subnational level
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Wave Methodology in 2011


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Mail-out to 79 percent of private dwellings, 75 percent of them only
receiving a letter with an Internet access code:

Included instructions for obtaining a paper questionnaire.

Letter and subsequent follow-ups boosted the return rate, using
the Internet, to nearly 54 percent, from 18 percent in 2006.

Internet application accessibility issues resolved.
Canadian citizens have spoken – the Internet has now become the
primary response option for our Census Program.
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Response Rate Management in 2011

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As the desired response level increases:

Fixed infrastructure costs climb (field operations lasts longer)

Variable costs increase (direct enumeration cost)

More difficult cases remain
In 2011, a tolerance management plan was introduced to:

Achieve a high national response rate

Efficiently produce a highly uniform response rate sub-nationally

Control availability of work based on pre-defined triggers and a
tiered approach (via the Field Management System)
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Response Rate Management in 2011

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Four tiers – implemented at Local Census Office level (37 in total)

Tier 1 – when response target reached, a signal is automatically
sent to the field to stop all collection activities

Tier 2 – stop collection in very small collection units or in
collection units that had very little impact on data quality

Tier 3 – collection activities ceased when the response rate
equalled 2006 results and met a minimal quality threshold

Tier 4 – strategic case by case review
Achieved a 98.1% collection response rate and increased uniformity
of response rates, while completing collection on time.
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Contact Information
 Connie Graziadei
 (613) 951-7081
 Connie.Graziadei@statcan.gc.ca
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