In addition to the 2011 Census, one in three households across Canada have also been asked to participate in the new National Household Survey (NHS). Information previously collected by the long-form census questionnaire is now collected as part of this new survey.
The NHS is very important because it will provide your community the information it needs to plan services such as child care, schooling, family services, housing, roads and public transportation, and skills training for employment. The data are also used to support government programs directed at target populations, including immigrants, Aboriginal populations, lone-parent families and seniors.
Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen said, As our community continues to grow and diversify, we want to ensure the creation and continuance of first-rate programs and projects for all groups. The NHS is an opportunity to make sure this planning and programming happens.
The NHS gathers information on a wide variety of topics including:
• Demography
• Activity limitations
• Citizenship and immigration
• Language, language of work
• Ethnic origin, population group, place of birth of parents
• Aboriginal group, Registered or Treaty Indian status, member of a First Nation / Indian band
• Religion
• Mobility
• Education
• Labour market activities
• Place of work
• Mode of transportation, car-pooling
• Child care and support payments
• Income
• Housing
Both the NHS and the 2011 Census have been translated into 31 different languages. For more information, please visit www.nhs.statcan.gc.ca.
