CENSUS 2001: CANADA'S CHANGING FACE
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CENSUS 2001: CANADA’S CHANGING FACE
YV Introduction
A Canadian census is a massive under- has written, “Every piece of planning
Focus taking. The most recent one officially that deals with people—from immigra-
This News in Re-
conducted on May 15, 2001, was no tion services to housing, transportation
view module looks
at the 2001 Cana- exception. It took a full seven years to requirements and schools—depends on
dian census and the complete: questions developed and data from the census” (July 20, 2002).
social trends it organized; forms printed, delivered, Among other things, population
highlights as the collected and checked; information statistics determine the number of
information and tabulated, analyzed, and then made members of Parliament and the areas
statistics continue
to be released.
available to the public. It required they represent. Federal and provincial
Special attention is 34 000 canvassers to distribute forms to governments use the figures to deter-
given to those 11.8 million households. During its mine transfer payments from richer
trends that most most active period, from April through areas of the country to the poorer ones.
analysts have June 2001, the census employed 45 000 Local governments use the information
identified as critical
people, making it one of Canada’s 10 to plan locations for schools, hospitals,
to Canada’s future
development. largest employers. The cost was $412.5- and senior services. Government agen-
million, or about $35 per household. cies use the data for long-term planning
Two different forms were distributed. to ensure that programs match the
YV Sections Most households received a short form changing needs of the population.
marked with this with seven questions dealing with age, Each time a census is held some of
symbol indicate
sex, marital status, and mother tongue. the questions change. New questions in
content suitable for
younger viewers. Every fifth household, however, re- 2001 dealt with language used at work,
ceived a long form asking 59 questions the number of different languages
about ethnic and national background, spoken at home, parents’ birthplaces,
Did you know . . . language, education, mobility, employ- and same-sex couples.
Jean Talon of New ment, and income. The responses form The next census, already well into the
France conducted the basis for the trends described in planning stages, will be held in 2006.
Canada’s first information released to the public by This time, forms will be mailed rather
census, in 1666? Statistics Canada. than delivered to 80 per cent of house-
The population was
Census information is eagerly holds, and respondents will have the
3215, the majority
being males. awaited and absolutely critical to gov- option of answering on the Internet.
ernments, social agencies, and many Statistics Canada hopes that at least 30
businesses. As Elaine Carey, a demo- to 40 per cent of Canadians will re-
Further Research graphics reporter for the Toronto Star spond in that fashion.
It takes about 14
months to release
all the results of
To Consider
the census. Basic What questions do you think would be of the greatest interest to the gov-
data at the commu- ernments and planners relying on census data? Write your answers in your
nity level is made notebook and then compare your answers with the data identified on the
available free of video.
charge on the
Statistics Canada
Web site at
www.statcan.ca.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 34CENSUS 2001: CANADA’S CHANGING FACE
YV Video Review
1. What is the most important role of the Canadian census?
To help you under-
stand the scope
and importance of
the 2001 census,
watch the video
and answer the
questions on this
and the following 2. Name three things that the census allows the federal government to do.
page.
i) _______________________________________________________________
ii) _______________________________________________________________
iii) _______________________________________________________________
3. What federal agency oversees the census? __________________________
4. How often is a census taken? ______________________
5. What percentage of the Canadian population was born outside of
Canada? _____%
6. How many immigrants came to Canada between 1991-2001?
7. What percentage of new immigrants are visible minorities? _______%
8. From which part of the world did the largest proportion of immigrants
come?
9. Where do most immigrants live after they come to Canada?
10. Who are the Allophones? _____________________________
11. Give an example of the way the federal government might use census
information.
12. Give an example of the way a local government might use census
information.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 3513. Name two major implications of the aging of the Canadian population.
i) _______________________________________________________________
ii) _______________________________________________________________
14. According to the census, what is happening to the “traditional” Cana-
dian family?
15. Give two examples of other types of families identified by the census.
i) _______________________________________________________________
ii) _______________________________________________________________
16. What is the percentage of adult children living at home with their
parents? _____%
Discussion
After watching the video, discuss the following in small groups:
What do you think is the most important piece of information we have
learned from the 2001 Census?
Why?
Be prepared to share your answers.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 36CENSUS 2001: CANADA’S CHANGING FACE
YV The Numbers Tell the Story
Statistics Canada likes to describe the Urbanization
Statistics Canada
census as providing a “snapshot” of the The trend for Canadians to move to
spells it out in cold,
hard numbers: We country on a particular day: in this case, urban centres continued.
are an overwhelm- May 15, 2001. By comparing the most As of 2001, 79.4 per cent of Canadi-
ingly urban nation recent statistics with those of previous ans lived in cities of 10 000 or more.
whose future censuses, demographers can identify Two-thirds of these lived in Canada’s
depends on immi- trends in Canadian society and predict
gration.” — To-
27 largest metropolitan areas.
ronto Star, March
future developments with considerable Canadian demographers began to
13, 2002 accuracy. speak of “doughnuts,” suburban com-
Statistics Canada releases its informa- munities that ring major cities. In most
tion over a 14-month period under a of these areas, such as Toronto, the
Definition variety of different headings. Here are population in the core grew more
Demographics are some of its major findings as of March slowly than in the surrounding area. In
population statis-
1, 2003. some, like Regina, the city’s population
tics such as births,
deaths, and nation- actually declined by 1.2 per cent while
ality studied by Population Growth the surrounding area grew by 10 per
demographers. Between 1996 and 2001, Canada’s cent.
population grew by four per cent, to Four major metropolitan areas ac-
30 007 094 inhabitants. counted for fully one-half of Canada’s
“We’re relying For the first time since the Second urban dwellers. These were:
more and more on
immigration to
World War, the natural increase was • the Golden Horseshoe (the west end
sustain the growth outpaced by immigration. Canada’s of Lake Ontario)
of the population natural population increase (i.e. that due • Montreal and its surroundings
and therefore the to the Canadian birth rate) is in steep • lower mainland of British Columbia
growth of the decline. • the Calgary-Edmonton Corridor
market.” — David
Not all parts of Canada saw popula-
Foot, University of
Toronto professor, tion increases from 1996 to 2001. An Aging Population
in the National The largest percentage increase in Baby boomers, those Canadians born
Post, March 12, population was in Alberta, up by 10.3 between 1946 and 1966, make up over
2002 per cent. Nunavut saw an 8 per cent 30 per cent of the total population (9.4
increase. While Ontario and British million).
Columbia grew at rates above the The national median age—the age
“Instead of a loose
affiliation of Atlan- national average of 4 per cent, where half the population is older and
tic Canada, Quebec, Manitoba, Quebec, and Prince Edward half is younger—rose from 35.3 in 1996
Ontario, and the Island saw smaller gains. to 37.6 in 2001.
West, for the first Newfoundland and Labrador saw the In 2001, for every person aged 55 to 64,
time this country’s most significant decline in population: 7
foundation is
there were only 1.4 persons aged 15 to 24.
formed by four
per cent, the biggest drop in the The number of Canadians aged 80 or
sprawling urban province’s history. The Yukon and older rose by 41 per cent to 932 000
centres.” — James Northwest Territories, New Brunswick, between 1991 and 2001. During the
Travers, Toronto Saskatchewan and—for the first time— same period, the number of Canadians
Star, March 23, Nova Scotia, all saw a population aged four and under rose by 11 per cent
2002
decline. to 1.7 million.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 37Families and Marital Status More than half of the new immigrants
The number of households in Canada to Canada settled in Ontario. Most
rose by 6.9 per cent since 1996, to 11.6 immigrants to Canada settled in urban
million. The number of “traditional” areas. “Immigrants move where they have
households of four or more (mother, family, friends, networks,” says Doug
father, two-plus children), however, Norris of Statistics Canada (National
declined from 33 per cent of the total in Post, October 23, 2002). Between 1996
1981 to 25 per cent in 2001. and 2001, 445 000 immigrants settled in
Twenty-five per cent of households the Toronto area. Another 180 000 chose
consist of only one person; 12.5 per the area around Vancouver.
cent of the Canadian population lives Four million people identified them-
alone. Frances Kobin, a U.S. demogra- selves as members of visible minorities.
pher, has called this trend toward This is 13.4 per cent of the total popula-
“solitary households” the greatest tion of Canada. In 1981, visible minori-
change in living arrangements of the ties made up 4.7 per cent of the popula-
last century. tion. They now represent 73 per cent of
In 1981, 83 per cent of all families new immigrants.
included a married couple. In 2001, that
figure had dropped to 70 percent. In Labour Force Activity
1981, 84 per cent of children under 14 The greatest job growth in the period
lived with both (married) parents; by from 1991 to 2001 was in computer
2001, it was 68 per cent. specialists, and included a large spin-off
Definition The number of couples with no of low-skill workers in call centres.
Empty-nesters are children under 25 at home rose from 34 The most common job for women
older couples per cent in 1981 to 41 per cent of all was in sales. The most common job for
whose children
have left the family
families in 2001. Many of these were men was truck driving. However, if all
home; DINKs are empty-nesters; but a significant number jobs in information technology (IT)
couples who have were DINKs. were combined, IT had the highest
chosen not to have From 1981 to 2001, the number of number of employees.
children (Double common-law households grew from 6 The greatest potential for new job
Income No Kids).
to 14 per cent. creation is predicted to be in health care
and social services (partly in response
“The census figures Immigration and Visible to an aging population).
confirm Canada has Minorities Of the 15.6 million jobs in the labour
been smart in
Between 1991 and 2001 1.8 million force, 2.5 million were ones that nor-
entrenching a mally required a university education—
policy that brings new immigrants came to Canada.
The highest percentage of the popula- up 33 per cent since 1991
more immigrants
proportionately tion (18.4 per cent) since 1931 reported The work force is getting older. The
than even the being foreign-born: 5.4 million people. average age of a worker was 39 in
United States, and Australia, at 22 per cent, is the only 2001, up from 37.1 in 1991. The me-
is already produc- dian age for working-age individuals
ing more citizens
country in the world with a higher
percentage of foreign-born residents. (those 20 to 64 years old) saw its big-
by naturalization
Sixty per cent of new immigrants gest 10-year increase since 1921—from
than by birth.” —
Haroon Siddiqui, reported speaking neither English nor 38.1 in 1991 to 41.3 in 2001. Many
Toronto Star, July French at home, and 9.4 per cent reported predict it will reach 43.7 in 2011. Fifteen
21, 2002
no knowledge of either official language. per cent of the work force of 15.6 million
people is within 10 years of retirement.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 38New immigrants were responsible for the 2001 census identify both problems
70 per cent of the labour growth over likely to face Canadians in the future,
the decade. and opportunities for Canada’s ad-
vancement as a nation. Some trends, in
Problems and Opportunities fact, present both problems and oppor-
The demographic trends identified by tunities.
Activity
From the information given, identify five trends that you feel are particu-
larly significant for Canada’s future. Enter these on the left side of the table,
and explain in the appropriate box why you feel the trend highlights a
problem or an opportunity—or both.
Compare your results with those of the other members of the class.
2001 Census Trends Problems to Solve Opportunities for Canada
In your opinion, which trend is most important? Why?
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 39CENSUS 2001: CANADA’S CHANGING FACE
YV Toronto and the Challenge to the Cities
When the City of Toronto amalgam- in 1998. A registered nurse with more
Did you know . . . ated, it took as its new motto “Diversity than 12 years experience in the Philip-
Torontonians come
Our Strength.” pines and Saudi Arabia, she found that
from 169 different
countries? The city According to Statistics Canada, her foreign qualifications were not
has residents from Toronto now has the highest percentage readily accepted in Toronto. Instead,
500 different ethnic of foreign-born residents in the world. It she found a job on the manufacturing
groups consisting only took one generation for a city with line of a computer maker. “Nurses,
of at least 5000 an almost exclusively white population dentists, doctors, engineers—every
people. The To-
ronto Public Library
to become one of the most diverse cities aspect of the professions started at
has books in over in the world. Of the Greater Toronto Celestica (Inc.) when I was there”
100 languages and Area’s 4.6 million people, 1.7 million— (Toronto Star, February 11, 2003).
maintains active 36.8 per cent—are visible minorities. Before Celestica, Martin held jobs in a
collections in 39 Minorities will likely soon dominate the burger chain and a boutique. A pilot
languages
city’s population. “We are seeing a program sponsored by the Ontario
progressive diversification of the Cana- government and area hospitals enabled
dian population over time, and eventu- her to upgrade her qualifications and get
ally Toronto will become a majority work at the Hospital for Sick Children.
minority city,” says Jeffrey Reitz, a Other immigrants to Toronto have not
University of Toronto sociology profes- been as fortunate as Martin. Royson
sor (Toronto Star, January 22, 2003). James, a columnist for the Toronto Star,
In general, urban centres are magnets has written of the large number of
for new immigrants. Twelve per cent of immigrants who “feel despair at having
new immigrants settle in Montreal, 15 their accreditations rejected, their
per cent in Vancouver, and 48 per cent achievements from other lands unrecog-
in Toronto. nized, and their professional skills go
Most new immigrants prefer living in unused in this so-called welcoming
cities like Toronto because most new country. The word is going out, back to
immigrants (especially refugees) are the homelands of the world, that if you
poor. Toronto offers more services for come to Canada, you might have to turn
immigrants and poor people, such as in your stethoscope for a cab licence”
cheaper rental housing and public (Toronto Star, March 25, 2002).
transportation, than do the surrounding Immigration has also placed a strain
suburban or rural areas. on the Toronto school system. One in
While many new immigrants are four children in Toronto has immigrated
highly skilled and well-educated new- during the past 10 years; half of these
comers who are able to join established speak a language other than English at
immigrant communities, their experi- home. Instruction in English as a Sec-
ences are not always the smoothest ond Language has become a critical
when they settle in Canada. need. At the same time the school board
has been forced to cut its budget drasti-
Myrlene Martin’s Story cally.
Myrlene Martin is a Filipina who Toronto currently spends about $26-
immigrated to Canada with her family million per year on services for immi-
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 40grants. It could easily spend far more. blame the provinces and cite a need for
Cities are the locus
While the financial pressures on constitutional change before it can
for the problems of
real life, but they Toronto (and other Canadian cities) are intervene.
don’t have the extensive, the census has shown that Toronto Star columnist James
economic clout or immigration services are the most Travers is only one of many commenta-
the political exper- significant. tors calling for a change in the way
tise to solve them.” Canada’s cities are governed. He calls
— Frank Graves,
Ekos Research Government Responsibility the cities “national economic engines”
(Toronto Star, Under the current system, the federal that are dependent on their host prov-
March 23, 2002) government selects Canada’s immi- inces and distanced from their own tax
grants without any consultation with the bases. They have far fewer powers than
cities in which they will settle. Toronto, cities in the U.S. and Europe, and few
During the period sources of revenue. Many of these same
like other cities, has seen provincial
1996-2001, federal commentators expect that the lessons of
revenues rose by 36 caps on the taxes it can raise, the off-
per cent; provincial loading of provincial responsibilities, the 2001 census will force governments
revenues by 26 per and shrinking intergovernmental trans- to re-examine the role of cities in
cent; municipal fers. There is no mechanism for official Canada’s economy. Cities need addi-
revenues by seven discussion of these issues among the tional ways of raising revenue to meet
per cent. the needs of all their residents.
various levels of government. In fact,
the federal government is quick to
Discussion
Toronto’s revenue problems are hardly unique. What are the special de-
mands made for program funding in your community? What programs have
been modified? What new programs have been added as a result of funding
decisions over the past few years?
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 41CENSUS 2001: CANADA’S CHANGING FACE
YV Planning for the Future
The 2001 Census has identified many to take their place. Meanwhile, how-
of the challenges that Canadians must ever, the number of young people
face in coming years. While these entering the work force has dropped
challenges may seem almost over- considerably from 20 years ago: In
whelming, they also provide opportuni- 1981, there were 3.7 entrants per re-
ties for Canadians and their govern- tiree; in 2001, the number was 2.7
ments to take action now to anticipate entrants per retiree.
future problems and plan for effective Most experts predict that several
solutions. As Daniel Girard has written industries will be hit with a significant
in the Toronto Star, public discussion of shortage of workers within a decade.
solutions to solve these problems “will The C. D. Howe Institute identifies
. . . force older people to think about the health and education as two of the
country they want to leave to the next largest problem areas for finding suffi-
generation and give younger people an cient workers. Many industries will rely
opportunity to better shape their des- almost exclusively on immigrants to fill
tiny.” jobs. Over the previous decade, new
An aging population and the possibil- immigrants accounted for 70 per cent of
ity of a real population decline are the Canada’s labour growth. At the same
causes of many of the challenges facing time, Canadians have made it more
Canada. Current fertility rates are not difficult for new immigrants to find a
enough to prevent a population decline. job. In 2001, only 65.8 per cent of
On average, Canadian women are recent immigrants (those who came to
giving birth to 1.5 children during their Canada within the last five years) were
lifetime; a birth rate of 2.1 is required employed, whereas 81.8 per cent of
just to keep the population steady. those born in Canada were able to find
Meanwhile, as the population ages, employment.
some very basic questions have to be Several suggestions have been made
asked by governments. Who will look to help ease the potential crisis. These
after this aging population? How will include raising the retirement age to
we finance their needs? How must nearly 70 from the current 65, and
governments adjust their spending on improving opportunities for education,
infrastructure—for example, do we training, and retraining for workers.
need to begin to think in terms of fewer Governments and industries also need
schools and more hospitals? Two areas to increase productivity.
seem to be of fundamental concern to As we come to rely more and more
most analysts: the labour force and on immigration to sustain our labour
immigration. force, we need to make sure that immi-
grants are permitted to practise in the
The Labour Force professions and trades for which they
By 2011, 20 per cent of baby boomers, were trained. This will require assis-
Canada’s largest demographic group, tance with professional and trade certi-
will be 61 or older. As they retire, there fication requirements, and the preven-
will be a huge demand for new workers tion of hiring discrimination.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 42“Right now, we
Immigration and Visible immigrant professionals to practise; a
Minorities steady decline in immigrant incomes;
have people who
could be working It is expected that, by 2016, one in and the growth of poverty in Toronto,
in the medical field every five Canadians will be a member especially among people of colour.
who are driving
of a visible minority. Visible minorities A study by Michael Orenstein of
cabs or cleaning York University backs this up. He
buildings.” — are already in the majority in two large
Canadian communities: Richmond, found that recent immigrants to the city
Loleen Berdahl,
acting president, British Columbia (59 per cent), and are taking longer than previous groups
the Canada West Markham, Ontario (56 per cent). to settle, to get jobs with good incomes,
Foundation, in the In the future, Canada will be compet- and to move up the economic scale.
Toronto Star, July Almost every one of the poorest groups
20, 2002
ing with other developed countries
facing actual population declines. At in the city is a visible minority, and
the moment, Canada has a real advan- there is ample evidence that they face a
tage because of its historical willingness significant amount of discrimination in
“Race relations is
going to become a to openly accept new immigrants and the labour market.
more central issue its reputation as a friendly, welcoming A decline in fertility rates, an aging
in Canadian society
nation. However the picture is not rosy population and labour force, and the
in the future; I need for substantial numbers of immi-
think that’s really a for all immigrants.
Toronto Star columnist Haroon grants are all components of the same
foregone conclu-
sion.” — Jeffery Siddiqui identified in a March 17, 2002, equation. Canada has committed itself
Reitz, professor of article several disturbing developments to building a multicultural society; now
immigration stud- in the situation of Toronto’s immigrant it must work to ensure that that society
ies, University of works for all its members.
Toronto, in the
community. These included the failure
National Post, of provincial regulatory bodies to allow
January 21, 2003
Discussion
In the video, Daniel Drache of York University responds to the idea that
Canada is creating two different societies: an urban, multicultural one and a
rural, unicultural one. He suggests the possibility of real conflicts between
the new “two solitudes.” Do you think this is a realistic scenario for
Canada’s future? How might Canada avoid this problem?
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 43CENSUS 2001: CANADA’S CHANGING FACE
YV Your Community Profile
Canadian residents who received the 59-question “long form” for the 2001
Statistics Canada census were asked a wide variety of questions. Some of the most important
has published ones were designed to help governments understand the makeup of the
Community Profiles
Canadian population and to plan for social and cultural assistance. These
for all Canadian
communities on its included questions of ethnicity, language, and national origin.
Web site at
www.statcan.ca.. The following page adapts some of the questions asked on the census ques-
Once you have tionnaire. Depending on to whom the questions are administered, you can
entered the site, develop a community profile of:
choose English or
French as your Your Class—if each student answers the form;
preferred lan-
guage. You can Your Grade—if your class determines a simple method for ensuring that
immediately choose each student receives and completes a form;
the Community
Profiles button to Your School—if the class is prepared to undertake a major survey and the
view them. You extensive sorting and collating of responses resulting from a large survey.
may also access the
profiles under the Please remember that all responses should be kept confidential, and no
Census button. individual data should be released (all census employees take a legal oath to
preserve in perpetuity the confidentiality of all information received).
A note to Once all information has been received, and a small group of volunteers has
teachers: collated the responses, you will be able to compare the results from your
The StatsCan Web “micro-community” with those of the larger community reported on the
site includes a Statistics Canada Web site.
Teacher’s Kit with
an excellent sec- Discussion
tion, aimed at Are the results you received similar to those reported for the larger commu-
secondary schools, nity? If there are differences, what factors—age, school location, economic
on designing a conditions—might explain them?
survey. This would
be helpful in
assisting students
to plan and con-
duct any survey,
not just a census-
type one.
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 44A Census Questionnaire
Please answer all of the following questions to the best of your knowledge
and ability.
1. Where were you born?
__ Born in Canada: Specify province or territory __________________
__ Born outside Canada: Specify country _________________________
2. Of what country are you a citizen?
__ Canada by birth
__ Canada by naturalization
__ Other country: Specify ______________________________
3. Are you now, or have you ever been a landed immigrant?
__ No
__ Yes
4. Can you speak English or French well enough to conduct a conversation?
__ English only
__ French only
__ Both English and French
__ Neither English nor French
5. What language, other than English or French, can you speak well
enough to conduct a conversation?
__ None OR
__ Specify other language(s) _____________________________
6. What language do you speak most often at home?
__ English __ French __ Other: Specify _____________________
7. What is the language that you first learned at home in childhood and
still understand?
__ English
__ French
__ Other: Specify ________________________________
8. To which ethnic or cultural groups did your ancestors belong? (For
example: Canadian, French, English, Chinese, Italian, German, Scottish,
Irish, Cree, Micmac, Métis, Inuit, East Indian, Ukrainian, Dutch, Filipino,
Jewish, Jamaican, Vietnamese, Lebanese, Chilean, Somali, etc.) Specify
as many as applicable:
9. Where were each of your parents born?
Father: __ Born in Canada
__ Born outside Canada: Specify country _____________________
Mother: __ Born in Canada
__ Born outside Canada: Specify country _____________________
CBC News in Review • March 2003 • Page 45You can also read
