Census Results

The Prince George Free Press published an article entitled Census. Waiting on appeal in the September 21, 2007 edition of the newspaper. Unfortunately, the article is not available online, but I will summarize the results. This article highlights the power of research and the importance of census statistics.

The article writes:

According to the census, Prince George's population dropped by approximately two per cent - 1,425 people - between 2001 and 2006. In 2006, the city's population was listed at 70,981.

"There is a major difference between the 2006 Census numbers and B.C. Stats' projections," Initiatives Prince George economic development director Kathie Scouten said. "We haven't heard back from Stats Canada yet. It's quite a long process, they tell us. It's going to be months."

Initiatives Prince George has been working with the mayor's office since March, when the census data was released, to prepare a challenge of the data.

B.C. Statistics projected flat population growth for Prince George during the period, she said.

If an appeal is granted and the city's population is remeasured, Statistics Canada won't issue a new version of the census, she said.

"They don't change the published data.... they issue an errata."

In previous interviews, Kinsley said the census data is a critical measurement used by the provincial and federal government for issuing per capita grants and funding. In addition, the B.C. electoral Boundaries Commission used the 2006 Census to prepare its proposed boundary changes.

"I don't know what went wrong. In 2001, the vacancy rate was 12-14 per cent, now it's two per cent," Kinsley said.

"Building rates are up, employment is up - it doesn't fit with a population decline. There is no rhyme or reason to the numbers."

In his presentation to the B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission, Kinsley said the city's sewage treatment plant is handling more organic matter than in 2001.

"That takes more people."

The full 2006 Census can be found online at www.statscan.ca.

The Mayor of Prince George is correct in that a census cannot guarantee perfect answers. A census is best at measuring people living in permanent residences who have been there for longer periods of time. A census is not as good at measuring the number of homeless and transient populations.

It is, however, an interesting solution that the Mayor is proposing: perhaps Statistics Canada should forgo sending out census takers and wasting money on paperwork and the like. It would be so much easier to simply measure the amount of sh*t produced in any given municipality (the "organic matter") and calculate population based on this indicator. (Yes, I am being sarcastic.)

The moral of the story: no measure is perfect, but you do the best to minimize error rates. However, even when the data is sound, you still can't satisfy all the people all the time!