Coverage Technical Report, Census of Population, 2021
2. Census universe

2.1 Introduction

While the 2021 Census collects information on the population, dwellings, households and families, the 2021 Census Coverage Error Measurement Program estimates the coverage error of the population universe only. However, the definitions of dwelling concepts and the rules for determining the list of persons who should be enumerated in each dwelling affect coverage of the census target population. As a result, this section describes the concepts of population and dwelling. In addition, since coverage error can be caused by misinterpreting the concept of usual place of residence as defined in census questionnaires, this section also provides the information in the census questionnaires and the 2021 Census definition of usual place of residence.

2.2 Population universe

The 2021 Census target population includes the following groups:

• Canadian citizens and landed immigrants (permanent residents) with a usual place of residence in Canada
• Canadian citizens and landed immigrants (permanent residents) who are abroad, either on a military base or attached to a diplomatic mission
• Canadian citizens and landed immigrants (permanent residents) at sea or in port aboard merchant vessels under Canadian registry or Canadian government vessels
• non-permanent residents with a usual place of residence in Canada
  • who are claiming refugee status (asylum seekers)
  • who hold a study permit (covering Census Day)
  • who hold a work permit (covering Census Day)
  and family members living with them.

The 2021 Census population universe does not include foreign residents, but since 1991, it has included non-permanent residents.

The definition of target population specifies which persons should be included in the census, but not where these persons should be enumerated. The Canadian census uses the modified de jure method of enumeration, under which persons are to be enumerated at their usual place of residence, even if they are temporarily away on Census Day. Persons away from their usual place of residence and residing elsewhere in Canada must be enumerated at their usual place of residence and are considered present, but temporarily at the other location. Persons who have no usual place of residence are to be enumerated wherever they happen to be on Census Day. Some countries use the de facto method, under which all persons are to be enumerated wherever they are on Census Day, regardless of their usual place of residence.

2.3 Dwelling universe

A dwelling is defined as a set of living quarters. Two types of dwellings are identified in the census: collective dwellings and private dwellings. Census coverage studies include these two types of dwellings, without distinction.

Private dwelling refers to a separate set of living quarters with a private entrance either from outside the building or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway inside the building. The entrance to the dwelling must be one that can be used without passing through the living quarters of some other person or group of persons.

The dwelling must meet the two conditions necessary for year-round occupancy:

1. a source of heat or power (as evidenced by chimneys, power lines, oil or gas pipes or meters, generators, woodpiles, electric lights, heating pumps, or solar panels)
2. an enclosed space that provides shelter from the elements as evidenced by complete and enclosed walls and a roof, and by doors and windows that provide protection from wind, rain and snow.

Dwellings that do not meet the conditions necessary for year-round occupancy are marginal dwellings. Private dwellings are classified into regular private dwellings and occupied marginal dwellings. Regular private dwellings are further classified into three major groups: occupied dwellings (occupied by usual residents), dwellings occupied solely by foreign residents or by temporarily present persons, and unoccupied dwellings. Marginal dwellings are classified as occupied by usual residents or occupied solely by foreign residents or by temporarily present persons. Marginal dwellings that were unoccupied on May 11, 2021, are not counted in the housing stock.

A collective dwelling refers to a dwelling of a commercial, institutional or communal nature in which a person or group of persons reside or could reside. It must provide care or services or have certain common facilities, such as a kitchen or bathroom, which are shared by the occupants. Examples include lodging or rooming houses, hotels, motels, tourist establishments, nursing homes, residences for senior citizens, hospitals, staff residences, military bases, work camps, correctional facilities and group homes.

Collective dwellings are classified as either occupied dwellings or unoccupied dwellings. Occupied dwellings are either occupied by usual residents or occupied solely by foreign residents or by temporarily present persons. In the case of unoccupied collective dwellings, data on the dwelling, such as the types of services offered, were collected but are not included in census products.

In summary, the dwelling universe includes the following:

• private dwellings occupied by usual residents
• private dwellings occupied solely by foreign residents or by temporarily present persons
• unoccupied private dwellings
• marginal dwellings occupied on Census Day
• collective dwellings occupied by usual residents
• collective dwellings occupied solely by foreign residents or by temporarily present persons.

The dwelling universe does not include the following:

• marginal dwellings that were unoccupied on Census Day
• collective dwellings that were unoccupied on Census Day
• dwellings outside Canada.

2.4 Usual place of residence

Under the de jure enumeration method used in the Canadian census, the population is enumerated on a “usual place of residence” basis, that is, at the location where a person lives most of the time. Most individuals have only one residence, and it is easy to enumerate them at their usual place of residence. Enumeration involves listing all the persons with a certain dwelling as their usual place of residence on Census Day by following the step-by-step instructions at the beginning of the census questionnaire: “Including yourself, how many persons usually live at this address on May 11, 2021? Include: all persons who have their main residence at this address, even if they are temporarily away. See the instructions on page 3 (joint custody, students, landed immigrants, secondary residence, etc.).” The instructions on page 3 of the 2021 Census questionnaire are presented in Appendix A.

In some cases, it is difficult to determine a person’s usual place of residence. That is why special rules were developed for determining the usual place of residence in some cases:

1. Persons with more than one residence
   
   

   This category includes all persons who have more than one dwelling in Canada that could be considered their usual place of residence. In this situation, the usual place of residence is the place where a person spends the majority of the year. If the person spends the same amount of time at both residences or is not sure which one to choose, they should choose the residence where they stayed overnight between May 10 and 11, 2021. There are two exceptions to this rule:

   1. Children who live somewhere else while attending school or working at a summer job but return to live with their parents for part of the year should consider the residence they share with their parents to be their usual place of residence, even if they spend most of the year elsewhere.
   2. Spouses or common-law partners who live away from their families while working or studying but return to their families periodically should consider the residence they share with their spouse to be their usual place of residence, even if they spend most of the year elsewhere.


2. Persons in an institution, such as a hospital, home for the aged, prison or correctional institution
   
   

   Persons who have been in one or more institutions for a continuous period of six months or longer at the time of the census are to be considered usual residents of the institution.



3. Persons with no usual place of residence
   
   

   Persons who do not have a usual place of residence should be enumerated in the dwelling where they stayed overnight between May 10 and 11, 2021.



4. Persons residing outside Canada
   
   

   Canadian citizens and landed immigrants (permanent residents) residing outside Canada on Census Day include:

   • persons aboard Canadian vessels or merchant vessels
   • Canadian federal, provincial and territorial government employees and their family members
   • members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their family members.

   These persons should indicate in the census questionnaire the address they use for election purposes or their last permanent address in Canada if they are not already included in the residence of their families. This information is used to assign them a geographic location in Canada for dissemination purposes.