WESTLOCK – Town of Westlock councillors are asking residents to participate in the upcoming federal census, saying the information generated not only aids them to make informed decisions, but helps the municipality secure provincial and federal grants.
At their Jan. 25 meeting, councillors voted 7-0 to pass a resolution stating, “The Town of Westlock supports the 2021 Census and encourages all residents to complete their census questionnaire online at www.census.gc.ca. Accurate and complete census data support programs and services that benefit our community” — the ask for proclamation came from Geoff Bowlby, director general, census management office Statistics Canada. In addition, the town’s communication’s department will be reaching out to residents via advertising and social media encouraging them to participate.
“I would expect that there are some people who believe that perhaps a detailed census could be an invasion of their privacy, but it does provide important information to a municipality.
It certainly does factor into our funding and grant applications. Those numbers feed into police funding, tells us the age and demographics of our residents and where the big bunches of children are for playgrounds … things like that,” said mayor Ralph Leriger.
“It is important information for a community and an elected body like us.”
Coun. Clem Fagnan, who’s previously worked as a census taker and census supervisor, concurred. The 2021 census, slated for May 11, is Canada's 23rd and collects information on the demographic, social and economic situation of people across the nation, as well as on the dwellings they live in.
“It’s important that the town does relay the message of how important it is to the community when it comes to funding and all those things we’ve been talking about. If we can impose a little more … somehow we have to get the message across,” said Fagnan.
This year there will also be an agriculture census, which traces its roots back to 1871. It will update the number of existing agricultural operations in Canada as in 2016 there were 193,650 and in 2011 there were 205,889. The ag census provides information on all aspects of the industry — from the township, rural or municipal level to the national level.
Starting May 3 people can complete their census questionnaire online as there is no pre-registration or download processes. Due to COVID-19, no enumeration activities will take place inside the dwellings of respondents and all interviews will be physically distanced. Statistic Canada also says that personal safety equipment will be provided to field employees to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public. More information is available at: www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/start.
“It drives our decisions pretty heavily as well, but it drives external parties also as it shows our community make up, what our workforce is,” added Coun. Murtaza Jamaly.
“The biggest challenge is that the last census bit us in the wrong way and pushed us just slightly over a threshold that we didn’t anticipate,” he said in regards to 2016 census that counted the town’s population over 5,000 which meant the municipality was on hook for RCMP costs. “But we’ve adjusted, moved on and thrived.”
