1. Innovations on the Canadian Census
Plans for the 2016 Canadian Census
Prepared by Marc Hamel and Sophie Lefebvre (Statistics Canada)
Presentation to the Expert Group Meeting on Population and Housing Censuses
Geneva, 2015

2. Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
Outline
Overview of Canadian Census
Behavior Tests for the 2016 Cycle
Testing the Increased Use of Administrative Data
Testing the Collection of a Personal Identifier
Live Tests Planned for 2016 Census Operations
Questions & Comments
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

3. Overview of Canadian Censuses
A five years cycle :
Statistics Canada is responsible under the Statistics Act for conducting the Census of Population every five years. Our next census will be in May 2016.
Our program :
A combined approach:
Data collected from individuals and about housing units at a specific point in time.
Some information obtained from administrative records.
The Canadian Census Program includes:
Census of Population questionnaires :10 questions on basic demographics.
National Household Survey (NHS): more detailed socioeconomic information on a sample of households.
Conducting a census every five years provides an opportunity to :
Accelerate the learning on innovative approaches and key changes to any element of the program.
Develop an imperative discipline in relation to the timeliness of the necessary tests to support the implementation of such innovations.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

4. Overview of Canadian Censuses (cont’d)
Our process:
All major changes to methodologies and approaches to important statistical programs are thoroughly tested before implementation.
Content and operational tests are usually conducted in the 2 or 3 years preceding the main collection itself.
New approaches are sometimes tested in controlled environments during census operations, in preparation for the next cycle.
There will be an increase of the use of administrative data on the Census of Population Program.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

5. Behavior Tests for the 2016 Cycle
Redesigning our global business architecture:
To rationalise investments by developing global approaches.
Behavioral tests:
To verify the behaviour of respondents and field personnel in relation to new systems and approaches by separating the testing strategy in smaller behavioral tests (BTs).
BT2: Testing of the questionnaire content and instruments conducted in May and June 2014.
BT3: Testing the use of new collection systems and processes by field personnel and of related training material conducted in the fall of 2014.
The Census Program is included in these initiatives, especially from the perspective that the large investments required in the program can be leveraged to support the development of corporate initiatives. For example, the field operations systems used for the Census can be expended to meet the requirements of all other survey programs, reducing the required corporate investments in these systems, and also reducing the number of systems and platforms to maintain over time.
BT3 was separated from BT2 and conducted later to allow more time to complete the development of the proper Integrated Collection and Operation System (ICOS) functionality to be used by the Census.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

6. Behavior Tests for the 2016 Cycle (cont’d)
Integrated Collection and Operation System (ICOS):
Replaces the Field Operations System used in 2011.
Provides an internet interface to field personnel.
Tested in BT3
Showed that functions built to be generic were too complex in a Census context and permitted consequential adjustments.
Validation tests:
To validate the changes made following previous BTs, Statistics Canada will be conducting another small systems validation test in the fall of 2015 (BT5).
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

7. Testing the Increased Use of Administrative Data
Canada’s traditional approach:
Does not have universal population or dwelling registers and no universal unique personal identifiers.
Canada’s research on administrative sources:
Statistics Canada has been building prototypes of the Canadian Statistical Demographic Database (CSDD).
Criteria for success and timeliness to be defined.
Set outcomes for the CSDD will be evaluated over the next 2 years.
This database (CSDD) is being built starting with federal income tax files, adding births and subtracting deaths, and accounting for some sub-populations via alternatives files.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

8. Testing the Increased Use of Administrative Data (cont’d)
Challenges:
Timeliness: the time necessary to access and match files of the proper vintage.
The ability to put people found on administrative files in the proper dwelling.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

9. Testing the Collection of a Personal Identifier
Valid substitute:
There are no universal unique personal identifiers in Canada but the Social Insurance Number (SIN) could be a valid substitute.
The collection of SINs directly from respondents was tested with BT2.
Outcome of the testing:
Most people provided their SIN.
Respondent burden increased by at least 20% for questionnaires with the SIN question as measured by the extra time required on the internet to complete the questionnaire.
Slower rate of return (which does not necessarily mean a lower response rate).
SIN will not be collected as part of the 2016 Census.
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

10. Live Tests Planned for 2016 Census Operations
Modernization of operations:
The collection of an address as a contact information will be tested during the collection operations of the 2016 Census.
The test will measure compliance, the capacity to accurately collect this information and the possible implications on data capture operations for those responding on paper questionnaires.
Statistics Canada will be testing an electronic approach for contacting households in 2016 – a digital mailbox service provided by Canada Post (epost).
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

11. Live Tests Planned for 2016 Census Operations (cont’d)
Contacting households :
Mail-out with top-up approach:
For list/leave areas where Statistics Canada has a large proportion of valid addresses, we will be mailing an invitation letter to these addresses, and drop off questionnaires for other dwellings.
The test will verify that this approach can be implemented, that costs can be reduced in comparison to a pure list/leave approach, and that dwelling coverage can be maintained. If the approach is successful, Statistics Canada could possibly expend mail out to at least 90% of dwellings in 2021 (82% planned for 2016).
Statistics Canada will be collecting both the list address and the mailing address for each dwelling to obtain concordance between the two addresses to ease the 2021 mail-out process.
The delineation of mail-out and list/leave areas is partly done considering operational criteria. For example, some dwellings which could be mailed to remain in list/leave areas to avoid creating mixed methodology areas for field staff, simplifying procedures. For the proposed test, we will test a ‘mail-out with top-up’ approach. For some areas where Statistics Canada has a large proportion of valid addresses, we will be mailing an invitation letter to these addresses, and a list of remaining known dwellings for which we do not have a valid mailing address will be provided to field personnel for the letters to be dropped off. The test will verify that this approach can be implemented, that costs can be reduced in comparison to a pure list/leave approach, and that dwelling coverage can be maintained. If the approach is successful, Statistics Canada could possibly expend mail out to at least 90% of dwellings in (Can be talked about without being put on the powerpoint).
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019

12. Questions and/or comments?
Thank you!
Statistics Canada • Statistique Canada
11/09/2019