The results of the NHS: near sighted truthiness with far flung damage

(Ottawa) Today's first release of National Household Survey (NHS) data proves the federal government made a massive error in eliminating the mandatory nature of the “long form” census collecting detailed information to guide decision making in Canada, according the one of the largest non-government user of Stats Can data.

The reported participation rate for the long form is just 68.6% down from 94% in the 2006 Mandatory Long Form Census.  Only 1/3rd of Canadian households were sent the survey, 68% translates to 1/5^th of Canadians are counted in the NHS.

We cannot compare the NHS to any previous Census in the country because it used an entirely different methodology, so this is a loss not just for this period because it rendered previous years data incomparable.

“We need much more than a head count and the government promised Canadians that their voluntary survey would work as well or better” Ms. Taillon adds “Clearly that is not the case.” The next five years will be difficult ones for addressing social challenges without accurate census data to rely upon.  We are now living in the grey zone --- mediocre data at the national and provincial level and fog at the local level.

Ironically the NHS survey costs over 600 Million dollars more. More money for less equality

Statistics Canada is cautioning us, this survey contains incomplete and possibly incorrect data in a number of areas, including Aboriginals, languages, immigrants and visible minorities.

“The government should not waste any more money, a survey is not a census." says Ms. Taillon.  “Every Canadian deserves the right to be counted. The lesson here is pretty simple -  reinstate the mandatory long form census in 2016 and let the experts at Stats Can do their job.”

For more information: President, Peggy Taillon at  Cette adresse e-mail est protégée contre les robots des spammeurs, vous devez activer Javascript pour la voir. . 613-769-5499