Municipal Census Training Manual
Guidelines for Conducting a Municipal Census
© Government of Alberta 2009
INSERT Notes:
The status of this Manual (2009) is “can’t be stored in a retrieval system“, etc.
Perhaps that has changed. It is posted on the internet by the Government (Govt of Alberta URL).
Further, the information contained in the Manual is just common sense, nothing to be secretive about.
If I am wrong and the Manual is on-line accidentally, the only reason I can think why they would put the confidentiality clause in, is that they might not want people to know what is clearly stated in the document: there is no legal obligation for people to participate in the municipal census. The collection of data is dependent upon the goodwill of citizens and others.
Although it is clearly stated in the body of the Manual that the data collection cannot be legally compelled (see excerpts from Pages 4 and 6 below), there is nonetheless a heading OPTIONAL SECTIONS ON THE CENSUS FORM.
I hope I am not accused of undermining the ability to collect data for decision-making. Statistics Canada started all this by out-sourcing work on the Canadian census to Lockheed Martin Corporation. They have persisted in spite of great and legitimate opposition from citizens.
IMPORTANT: prior to the excerpts from the Training Manual (2009), it might be that the Govt of Alberta changed their law in 2010:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Hwy43/Sandbox/Municipal_census_in_Canada
Municipal census
Four provinces and territories in Canada have legislation empowering municipalities to conduct a municipal census.[1] These include the provinces of Alberta[2] and Saskatchewan[3] and the territories of Nunavut[4][5] and Yukon.[6] Of these four provinces and territories, municipalities in Alberta were the only ones that exercise the option to conduct a municipal census as of 2006.[1]
Alberta
In the Province of Alberta, Section 57 of its Municipal Government Act (MGA) is the enabling legislation that allows municipalities to perform their own censuses on any given year.[2] The MGA’s Determination of Population Regulation requires that a municipal census must be conducted no earlier than April 1 and no later than June 30 of the same year.[7] If a municipality would like to have its resulting municipal census population count accepted by Alberta Municipal Affairs (AMA) as an official population recognized by the Government of Alberta, it must:
meet the requirements of the Determination of Population Regulation;
conduct the census in accordance with the Municipal Census Training Manual;[8] and submit the resulting population to AMA prior to September 1 of the year the census was performed using a population affadavit.
The latest census counts for Alberta’s municipalities are released in the Ministry’s annual Official Population List[9] publication.
References
1.^ a b “Municipal Census Policy (City Council Agenda Item No. E.1.l)”. City of Edmonton. 2006-05-31. Retrieved 2010-12-26.
2.^ a b “Municipal Government Act”. Alberta Queen’s Printer. 2010-09-10. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
3.^ “The Municipalities Act”. Government of Saskatchewan. 2006-01-01. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
4.^ “Cities, Towns and Villages Act”. Government of Nunavut. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
5.^ “Hamlets Act”. Government of Nunavut. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
6.^ “Municipal Act”. Government of Yukon. 2002. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
7.^ “Determination of Population Regulation”. Alberta Queen’s Printer. 2006. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
8.^ Alberta Finance and Enterprise (2009). “Municipal Census Training Manual”. Retrieved 2010-10-24.
9.^ Official Population List
Hinton [1]
Slave Lake [2]
From the Alberta Municipal Census Training Manual:
PAGE 4:
Informing Residents About the Census
Participation is key to a successful census. As a municipal census is not mandatory for residents to partake in, it is essential to increase participation through awareness of the census and its importance to the community.
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PAGE 6:
Collecting Personal Information (NOTE: this section does not take into account the Charter Right to Privacy of personal information.)
“Personal information” is defined in section 1(1)(n) of theFOIP Act as recorded information about an identifiable individual, including the individual’s name, home or business address or telephone number, age, gender, marital or family status and information about the individual’s educational, financial or employment history, etc. Enumerators are collecting personal information during a municipal census. They are collecting individually identifiable information when they attach a name or other identifier to the personal information being collected.
Municipalities do not currently have the authority to collect names of household residents in connection with their other personal information, unless the census information is being audited or verified (e.g. by the department of Alberta Municipal Affairs). In the case of an unaudited population count, if the municipality provides an affidavit swearing to the official population count, names of residents are not needed.
NOW, BACK TO THE TEXT OF THE MUNICIPAL TRAINING MANUAL:
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission from Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Statistics Division.
Questions concerning this Training Manual, or further information on census methodologies, terms, and techniques for are welcome and can be directed to: Alberta Finance and Enterprise, Economics & Statistics Statistics Unit Room 545, Terrace Building 9515 – 107 Street Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2C3 Telephone: (780) 427-3099 Fax: (780) 427-0409. To be connected toll free in Alberta, first dial 310-0000. To contact us by e-mail:
Finance.Statistics@gov.ab.caPreface
The procedures outlined in this manual constitute general standard practices used in conducting a census of population, and are intended as guidelines only. For information regarding the prescribed authority, for filing official population counts as specified under the Municipal Government Act , please contact Alberta Municipal Affairs at (780) 427-2225.
PART 1: AUTHORITY FOR A MUNICIPAL CENSUS …………………………………….1
PART 2: APPLYING FOIP TO A MUNICIPAL CENSUS ………………………………….2
PART 3: CONDUCTING A STANDARD MUNICIPAL CENSUS ………………………3
THE ROLE OF THE CENSUS COORDINATOR …………………………………………..
Informing Residents About the Census ………………………………………………………….4
Enumeration Areas ………………………………………………………………………………………4
Hiring and Training ……………………………………………………………………………………..5
Supervising …………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Preparation ………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Collection and Analysis of Census Data …………………………………………………………..6
Collecting Personal Information …………………………………………………………………….6
Review and Processing of Forms ……………………………………………………………………6
Analysis …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Retention of Census Forms and Information …………………………………………
THE ROLE OF THE ENUMERATOR ………………………………………………………….. 8
Your Responsibilities …………………………………………………………………………………. 8
Confidentiality ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 8
Your Approach …………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Your Routine ……………………………………………………………………………………… 8
Assistance From Your Census Coordinator ………………………………………………….. 9
THE ENUMERATOR’S MATERIALS ………………………………………………………….. 9
THE ENUMERATION AREA ……………………………………………………………………. 10
The Enumeration Area Census Map ………………………………………………………….. 10
Method of Covering Your Area …………………………………………………………………. 10
(i) Urban Coverage ………………………………………………………………………………….. 10
(ii) Rural Coverage ………………………………………………………………………………….. 11
INTERVIEWING PROCEDURES …………………………………………………………….. 12
Where to Interview …………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Whom to Interview …………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Letter of Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………. 12
The Interview ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 12
Unusual Situations ………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
CALL-BACKS ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 15
COMPLETING THE CENSUS FORM: GENERAL POINTS …………………………. 16
COMPLETING THE CENSUS FORM: SPECIFIC POINTS ………………………….. 17
Geographic Profile ………………………………………………………………………………….. 17
1. Type and Name of Municipality …………………………………………………………….. 17
2. Census Date ………………………………………………………………………………………… 17
3. Municipality Code ……………………………………………………………………………….. 18
4. Form Number ……………………………………………………………………………………… 18
5. Address ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 18
6. Enumeration Area ………………………………………………………………………………… 18
7. For Rural Use Only ……………………………………………………………………………….. 19
8. Dwelling Type ……………………………………………………………………………………… 20
9. Dwelling Is ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 23
Usual Number of Residents ……………………………………………………………………… 24
Usual Residents: Definition ……………………………………………………………………… 24
Include as Usual Residents ………………………………………………………………………. 25
Do Not Include as Usual Residents …………………………………………………………… 25
Table of Contents
OPTIONAL SECTIONS ON THE CENSUS FORM ……………………………………… 26
Demographic Profile ……………………………………………………………………………….. 27
1. Number ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 27
2. Sex ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 27
3. Age …………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
Household Profile ……………………………………………………………………………………. 28
1. Relationship to Person …………………………………………………………………………. 28
2. Length of Residence in this Municipality………………………………………………… 29
3. Previous Residence ……………………………………………………………………………… 30
Employment Profile ………………………………………………………………………………… 31
1. Employment Status ……………………………………………………………………………… 31
2. Employment Location …………………………………………………………………………. 32
Elective Categories ………………………………………………………………………………….. 33
1. Type of Industry ………………………………………………………………………………….. 33
2. Type of Occupation ……………………………………………………………………………… 36
3. Marital Status ……………………………………………………………………………………… 37
4. Highest Education Level Attained …………………………………………………………. 37
5. Number of Bedrooms …………………………………………………………………………… 38
6. Conditions of Occupancy ……………………………………………………………………… 38
7. Previous Residence (by Province) …………………………………………………………. 39
8. Mode of Travel to Work ………………………………………………………………………. 39
SUMMARY OF ENUMERATION PROCEDURES ……………………………………… 40
REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
APPENDICES ………………………………………………………………………………………… 42
CENSUS ENUMERATOR’S OATH OF OFFICE …………………………………………. 43
LETTER OF INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………… 44
CALL-BACK MATERIALS ………………………………………………………………………. 45
Call-Back Form ……………………………………………………………………………………… 46
Call-Back Card ………………………………………………………………………………………. 45
RESPONSE CATEGORY CARD ………………………………………………………………. 47
Side 2 …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 48
Side 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 47
ELECTIVE RESPONSE CATEGORY CARD ……………………………………………… 49
STANDARD CENSUS FORM ………………………………………………………………….. 51
DWELLING TYPES ……………………………………………………………………………….. 52
2009 MUNICIPAL CODES …………………………………………………………………….. 53
FOIP INFORMATION FOR CONDUCTING A MUNICIPAL CENSUS ………… 58
– 1 –
PART 1: AUTHORITY FOR A MUNICIPAL CENSUS
The authority for conducting a municipal census is contained in the Municipal Government Act and the Determination of Population Regulation.
Section 57 of the Municipal Government Act (MGA) provides the authority for municipalities to conduct a census. Section 6 of the MGA provides that a municipality has natural person powers, except to the extent that they are limited by any enactment.
The Determination of Population Regulation, defines official census and usual residence, and provides the time frame to conduct an official census and submit the results to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.
A municipality wishing to conduct a census must keep in mind that the regulation requires only a count of usual residents. If the municipality decides to collect information in addition to a resident count, it should consider the relevant provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP), particularly those relating to the collection, use, and protection of personal information.
Please see the following page for more information on FOIP.
Municipalities should also be aware that the legislative provisions about census may change and the municipalities should ensure that they are always working with the updated legislation.
. . . Municipalities are encouraged to consult with their own legal counsel about the authority and the type of information they would like to collect prior to conducting a census to ensure that their plan will be consistent with the MGA and the FOIP Act.
Municipal Government Act , please call: Alberta Municipal Affairs Phone: (780) 427-2225
. . . (Sandra: Please go to the URL if you wish to see the whole document.)
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That’s all I have time to look up now. There’s more online!