It is census time, and you are legally required to participate.
Census forms started being handed out yesterday, and this time, about one in four households will get the more detailed 36 page long form census.
Director of the Western Region with Statistics Canada Lorne Anderson, says the information gathered goes a long way in community planning.
"If [communities are] getting younger, maybe governments need to think about, do we need more schools? If [communities are] getting older, hmm, maybe there's something in this area that suggests we might need to think about more seniors residences or healthcare or things like that."
Anderson says, if you live within city limits with a defined street address, you will be sent a card that will tell you how to access the online survey. People in rural areas with a P.O. Box, for example, will have a physical census sent to them, which will have to be mailed back.
He estimates that this year's census will cost millions of dollars less than the last one in 2011. Anderson says that is because more people have high speed internet than they did five years ago, and thinks more will complete the survey that way.
"That means the number of times we actually need to get into the community and knock on your door and make phone calls as reminders, that obviously drops as well, and that costs money."
Anderson says he would like to see censuses completed by May 10th, but Stats Canada will be following up with people who have yet to complete it for the next couple of months.
It is mandatory to fill out the census. Those who fail to complete it could face a $500 fine and/or up to three months in jail.
