the library and the canadian census february 2th, 2009 by nancy lemay geographic, statistical and...
TRANSCRIPT
The library and the Canadian Census
February 2th, 2009
By Nancy Lemay
Geographic, Statistical and Government Information Centre (GSG) © 2009 University of Ottawa
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Presentation Outline
• Introducing the library and the Geographic, Statistical and Government Information Centre (GSG)
• Census History:– When did it begin?– Evolution through time– It’s original state
• Access statistics:– Summary tables on StatCan website– Census statistics through E-STAT
• Contact information
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
The Library at UO
• 1st floor reference desk or GSG reference desk – 3rd floor
• Wireless internet connection in the library
• Laptop loans – 3 hrs loan
• 250 PCs in the Morisset library
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
The Library at UO
• A tutorial developed to help you discover and use numerous resources available at the Library.
• You can attend numerous free 40-minute drop-in hands-on workshop, focusing on specific tools available at the library.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Services available at the GSG centre…
Provide help to access and use:
• Geographic Information: geospatial data, satellite imagery, maps, atlases and air photos;
• Statistics and data: survey data and statistics from statistical and administrative agencies, e.g., Statistics Canada (DLI);
• Government Information: printed documents and electronic products from governments in Canada and around the world.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History
• Canada's first census initiated by Jean Talon in 1666
• Talon did much of the data collection personally
• The census counted the colony's 3,215 inhabitants and recorded their age, sex, marital status and occupation.
• In 1739, last census under the French regime.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• Between 1710 and 1760 need to collect information on housing stock and armaments (muskets and swords).
• Previous censuses had been more concerned with raising taxes or armies and assessing resources.
• In 1765 for example, assessing the balance between Catholics and Protestants, and recording the number of Acadians, settlers, Indians and Blacks.
• New variables on race, religion and ethnic origin were introduced.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• The first national census of Canada was taken in 1871
• The first census conducted under the British North American Act.
• According to The Census Act of May 12, 1870, census-taking was to take place no later than May 1st.
• In 1871 asked 211 questions on area, land holdings, vital statistics, religion, education, administration, the military, justice, agriculture, commerce, industry and finance.
• The 1871 Census began a tradition, collect information on the ancestral origins of all Canadians, including Aboriginal persons.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 1871, the only options for "marital status" were married, widowed or other.
– Today there are five categories: legally married, separated but still legally married, divorced, widowed, or single (never married).
• From 1871 to 1911, the census asked questions on "infirmities." Respondents were asked to indicate whether members of their household were blind, deaf, or simple-minded.
– These questions were dropped from the 1921 and subsequent censuses.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• Two major changes were made to the census in 1881:
– Oath of secrecy, a pledge still required today.
– The census was extended to include British Columbia, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island.
– Housing question was revised to include "wigwams and tents" in the Census of the North-West Territories.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• The 1901 Census grew from nine questionnaires and 216 questions in 1891 to 11 questionnaires and 561 questions.
• By this time the population of Canada was 5,371,051, and Montreal was the most populous city with 267,730 residents.
• The 1911 Census had 13 questionnaires with 522 questions.
– No longer include the detailed fishery questionnaire with questions such as the quantity, kind, and value of catch; and the number and type of boats, gear and equipment.
– Instead, a special form was used in specified fishing areas of Canada.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 1906, the prairie provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan began to take a separate census of agriculture every five years to monitor the growth of the West.
• Since 1956, the Census of Agriculture and the Census of Population have been taken together every five years across the entire country.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 1912, responsibility for the census shifted from the Ministry of Agriculture to the Ministry of Trade and Commerce.
• Six years later, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics was created.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• The 1921 Census had only five questionnaires:
– The population questionnaire contained only 35 questions
– Questions on "insanity" and fertility are dropped.
– Mandatory school attendance until age 16.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In the 1931 Census, questions were asked to gauge the extent and severity of unemployment and to analyze its causes.
– The era of the Great Depression.
– By the 1930s women had fewer than 3 children.
– The proportion of lone parent families reached a level that would not be surpassed until 1996.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• The 1941 Census, developed in the Depression and conducted during the Second World War.
– Women joined the labour force during the war.
– Following the war, higher divorce and remarriage rates.
• This was the first census that linked the urban poor with a view to developing urban planning.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 1951, the sample was expanded to one household in five in order to obtain greater geographic detail.
• Inclusion of questions on fertility (topic considered too sensitive for the 1921 and 1931 censuses).
– From 1946-1965, known as the « baby-boom ».
– Fertility was correlated to earnings, schooling and other significant characteristics of the family.
– Woman had approx. 3.9 children on average.
– Younger age at marriage.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 1956, the first nationwide quinquennial census was conducted.
– Television use in its publicity program.
– Rapid growth in population and agriculture indicated the need for benchmarks at five-year intervals.
– Develop a simplified questionnaire restricted to the essentials so as not to exceed the allocated budget.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• Birth control pill became available in the early 1960s, but not legalized until 1969.
• Introduction of the Divorce Act in 1968.
• Obtain a divorce to include « no fault » divorce following a separation of at least three years.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• By 1971, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics had become Statistics Canada.
• Last census year that fertility was at the replacement level.
• Under the new Statistics Act, it became a statutory requirement to hold censuses of population and agriculture every five years.
• Self-enumeration, whereby respondents complete their own questionnaire.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• The 1986 Census broke the pattern established in 1956 of alternating full and mini-censuses by repeating most of the questions asked in the full census of 1981.
• The term "head" which previously referred to the husband was changed in 1976 to either the husband or wife.
• The reference to "head" was dropped altogether in the 1981 Census.
• First question that included common-law couple.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 1986, the Divorce Act was amended to reduce the separation for « no fault » divorce to at least one year.
• In 1987, saw a record high divorce rate!!
• In 1991 a question on "common-law" relationship was included on the census questionnaire for the first time.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• In 2001:
– The short questionnaire completed by 80% of households.
– The long questionnaire contains the same questions as the short form plus 52 additional questions.
– Completed by the remaining 20% of the population.
– Provide data for common-law couples (opposite sex) and common-law couples (same sex), with and without children living at home.
– Same-sex marriage became legal across Canada in 2005.
– We have grown from 3,215 inhabitants to a nation of almost 31 million.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Census History (cont’d)
• Same-sex married couples were first enumerated in the 2006 census.
• In 2006, for the first time, households across the country had the convenience of completing their questionnaire online.
• This new method places Canada at the forefront of census taking.
• In the past 40 years, Canada's population has doubled, from just over 14 million in 1951 to 30 million in 2001.
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Evolution of the census questions
• Census questions since confederation:
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/dictionary/app001.cfm
• Census questions changes through time:
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/dictionary/defbyqnum.cfm
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Access statistics on StatCan website
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/start-debut-eng.html
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Important links
• How to cite Statistics Canada Products
• UO citation manager: RefWorks
– Web-based bibliography manager.
– Use Refworks to maintain a personal database of references to articles.
– Share references with other students at UO.
• Library subject guides – contact subject librarian for help…
February 2th, 2009 – [email protected]
Contact Information
Nancy lemay
GIS and Geography Librarian
The Geographic, Statistical and Government Information Centre
Location: Morisset, 3rd floor, Room 308
Website: http://www.biblio.uottawa.ca/gsg
E-mail address: [email protected]