EAST CENTRAL — With 2021 being a census year for the country, local municipal governments are urging their residents to fill in the necessary forms that bring valuable information to their community.
Teresa Parkman, chief administrative officer for the Town of Hudson Bay, made sure the councillor was aware of the importance of the census during the Jan. 26 meeting.
“All our decisions made at community levels are based on census numbers and I just want the community to realize that all the statistics come from the census.”
In the past, population numbers have dropped in Hudson Bay according to the census and town staff have had people come to them after saying they did not fill in the forms or did not know the census was taking place, Parkman said. If residents willingly participate in the census right away, that saves town staff an appeal later.
Population numbers are used to decide things like local policing and grant distribution by the province, said Barry Elliott, chief administration officer for the Town of Nipawin, so they want those population numbers to be as accurate as possible. Residents not taking the time to fill out the census or proving not to can have a deep impact on communities and Elliott cannot stress enough the importance of the census.
An accurate census will also have a greater impact on local businesses, said Susan Wehage with Sagehill Community Futures in Bruno.
Census data is vital information as people start, develop, or expand their businesses using “demographics of a certain region, population breakdowns of age and gender, projected population, household trends, occupations and spending habits,” said Wehage in an email.
“The census information provides entrepreneurs and communities with vital information in making informed decisions for business, economic development and strategic planning.”
This year’s census will take place in May. Visit census.gc.ca/ for more information.
