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2006 Census > Overview of the 2004 Census test
The role of private contractors in the census
Overview of the 2004 Census test
The following provides a brief overview of Statistics Canada's plans for a Census Test in 2004.
Purpose of the Census Test
The Census Test is being implemented by Statistics Canada to:
- ensure that processes and systems are working well for the 2006 Census;
- assess the areas of greatest change, validate assumptions, and identify problems and issues that need to be resolved for the 2006 Census;
- evaluate the proposed 2006 questionnaire content.
Census Test Objectives
There are many objectives which will be evaluated by Statistics Canada in this 2004 Census Test:
- The creation of the final, complete address list (mail-out file).
- The production, assembly and delivery of questionnaire packages to Canada Post and the Statistics Canada warehouse.
- The issues associated with returning questionnaire packages by mail to one central location.
- The effectiveness of the data processing centre workflow with other operations.
- Telephone interviewing (CATI) to collect data for a questionnaire that are incomplete.
- Use of the Internet to complete questionnaires.
- The response rate in areas where questionnaires have been mailed out.
- New procedures for the enumeration of collective dwellings, i.e. group homes, etc.
- The impact of these changes on the Census of Agriculture.
- The assessment of the 2006 Census questionnaire content.
Excluded from the Test
The following items will not to be included in the Census Test:
- Early enumeration
- Canvasser enumeration (remote areas and Indian Reserves)
- Special populations (homeless, offshore, overseas, etc.)
- Special universe farms (corporate farms, community pastures, institutional farms)
- Data quality studies
- Edit and imputation
- Format testing
- Release of data or coverage estimates
Estimated Timelines for Census Test Major Activities
| Finalize 2004 Census Test Questionnaire | December, 2003 |
| Start printing/inserting 2004 Questionnaire Package | December, 2003 |
| Start 2004 Census Test Questionnaire Delivery | April 27, 2004 |
| 2004 Census Test Day | May 11, 2004 |
| Collection Activities Complete | July 31, 2004 |
| Processing Activities Complete | September 30, 2004 |
Site Locations for the Census Test
The Census Test will be conducted only in a limited number of locations. These locations were chosen to provide a cross-section of socio-economic characteristics, English and French households and a mixture of geographic areas including cities, towns and farming rural areas.
Here is a breakdown of where the Census Test will be held:
| Locations | Mail-out | List Leave | Agriculture |
|---|
| Atlantic | 70,000 | 30,000 | 2,000 |
| Quebec | 50,000 | 50,000 | 5,000 |
| Prairies | 30,000 | 70,000 | 13,000 |
| Total | 150,000 | 150,000 | 20,000 |
Sites for the Test
| Regional Census Centre |
Edmonton |
| Locations of test areas |
Atlantic - Nova Scotia
Mail-out areas: parts of Halifax and Kentville
List Leave areas: parts of Annapolis Valley and Cumberland County
Quebec - South Shore
Mail-out areas: South Shore (parts of Longueuil, Marieville, St-Mathias-sur-Richelieu) and 3 CUs on Montreal Island
List Leave areas: parts of the Montérégie
Prairies - Manitoba
Mail-out areas: parts of Winnipeg, Selkirk and Yorkton (urban canvasser - part of Winnipeg)
List Leave areas: parts of central Manitoba and southeastern Saskatchewan
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| Census Help Line |
Montréal area |
| Warehouse |
Ottawa |
Site maps for the 2004 Census Test
Note: Map will open in browser window.
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