[p. 1]
1991 Census Guide
and reasons why questions are asked
Statistics Canada
[p. 2]
How an accurate count affects Canada and you
You benefit because census results are used to plan health care and day care facilities, and to forecast the need for services such as roads, schools and public transit.
Census results also help to determine how much money will go towards pensions, housing, youth employment programs and the needs of persons with disabilities. These results are also used to determine the number of seats each province or territory is entitled to have in Parliament.
In addition, responses to census questionnaires may be used to help Statistics Canada develop sample surveys to address issues of such current social concern as aging, disability and housing.
The information you give is kept secret
Your census information is securely stored at Statistics Canada. It takes about six months for your questionnaire to be processed. You can request to see your census form by writing to: Privacy Coordinator, Statistics Canada, R.H. Coats Building, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.
Why we ask the questions and how to fill out your form
Step 1
Step 3
It is important for us to ask this question because only Canadian residents are included in the census.
For census purposes, student authorization holders, employment authorization holders, refugee claimants and ministerial permit holders are not foreign residents and should be listed in Step 5.
If all persons in this household are foreign residents, mark the circle and mail the form back promptly. There is no reason to go further.
Examples of persons staying here temporarily: students living here temporarily while going to school; business people on assignment; seasonal workers who are away from their usual home; families on vacation.
If all persons in this household are staying here temporarily, print the total number in the box provided and mail the form back promptly. There is no reason to go further. A census representative will contact you in order to obtain information about your usual home.
[p. 3]
Operators are those persons responsible for the day-to-day decisions made in the agricultural operation of a holding.
A holding is considered to be agricultural if it produces any of the following products intended for sale: field crops; tree fruits, berries or grapes; vegetables; seed; livestock (cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, goats, rabbits, etc.); poultry (hens, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, etc.); animal products (milk, cream, eggs, wool, furs, etc.); other agricultural products (greenhouse or nursery products, mushrooms, sod, honey, maple syrup products, etc.).
Start with person 2. When you find person 2's relationship to person 1, mark the appropriate circle. For example, if John Smith lives with his father Thomas Smith and the father has been listed as person 1, then John Smith would mark the circle labelled Son/daughter of Person 1.
There may be someone in this household whose relationship to person 1 is not described in Question 2. In such cases, print the exact relationship to person 1 in the box provided. Other can include persons in this household who are either related (uncle, aunt, cousin, grandfather, grandmother, etc.) or who are not related (employee, landlord, employee's common-law partner, etc.) to person 1.
Stepchildren, adopted children and children of a common-law partner should be considered sons and daughters.
Foster children, wards and guardianship children who are not related to person 1 by blood, marriage, adoption or common-law should be listed as lodgers.
Mark the circle labelled Legally married (and not separated) if this person is a husband or wife, even if the person and his or her spouse are temporarily apart due to illness or work, but not if this person is separated or divorced.
Mark the circle labelled Legally married and separated if this person's spouse is still living but they no longer live together for any reason other than illness or work.
Mark the circle labelled Divorced if this person was once legally married, has obtained a divorce from that marriage and has never remarried.
Mark the circle labelled Widowed if this person was legally married or legally married and separated at the same time his or her spouse died and has never remarried.
Mark the circle labelled Never married (single) if this person has never been married.
If this person is living in a common-law relationship, choose the category in Question 5 which best describes this person's legal marital status (i.e. legally married and separated, divorced, widowed, or never married (single)) and mark the appropriate circle. Be sure to also mark this person's common-law status in Question 6.
[p. 4]
Remember to mark each person's legal marital status in Question 5.
Do not report English or French learned at school unless a conversation of some length on various topics can be carried on in that language.
For a child who has not yet learned a language, report the language used at home if it is either English or French. If both languages are used often, mark the circle labelled Both English and French. If neither language is used often, mark Neither English nor French.
If deaf or mute, report English, French or both provided that one or both of these languages is understood.
If no languages other than English or French are spoken, mark the circle labelled None.
Do not report a language learned at school unless a conversation of some length on various topics can be carried out in that language.
For a child who has not yet learned a language, report a language other than English or French if used often at home.
If deaf or mute, report a sign language if used.
If a person speaks an Indian language (from India), do not report Indian but rather the specific language such as Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi.
If a person speaks an Amerindian (North American Indian) language, report the specific Amerindian language such as Cree or Ojibway.
Report the language each person speaks most often at home. If you live alone, report the language in which you feel most comfortable. If two languages are used equally often, report both.
For a child who has not yet learned a language, report the language used most often at home. If two languages are used equally often, report both.
If deaf or mute, report the language used most often at home to communicate.
If a person speaks an Indian language (from India), do not report Indian as the language spoken at home but rather the specific language such as Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi.
If a person speaks an Amerindian (North American Indian) language, report the specific Amerindian language such as Cree or Ojibway.
Report the first language learned at home before starting school. If this language is no longer understood, report the second language learned.
If more than one language is understood, report the language first learned at home. If two languages were learned at the same time, report the language spoken most often as a child at home. If both languages were used equally often, report both.
For a child who has not yet learned a language, report the first language this child will learn at home. If two languages will be learned at the same time, report the one which will be used most often to speak to this child. If both languages are used equally often, report both.
If a person speaks an Indian language (from India), do not report Indian but rather the specific language such as Hindi, Urdu or Punjabi.
If a person speaks an Amerindian (North American Indian) language, report the specific Amerindian language such as Cree or Ojibway.
If born in an area of Canada which was part of the Northwest Territories at the time of birth, but which has since become a province of Canada, report place of birth according to present provincial boundaries.
If born in Newfoundland or Labrador before that province joined Confederation in 1949, mark the circle labelled Nfld. as place of birth.
If born in any of the six counties of Northern Ireland, mark United Kingdom. If born in one of the other counties of the Republic of Ireland, print Eire in the box provided.
[p. 5]
When questionnaires were printed, East Germany and West Germany were separate countries. In the event of German reunification before Census Day, June 4, 1991, mark either West Germany or East Germany.
Mark Canada, by birth for persons: born in Canada (see exception below); born outside Canada if, at the time of birth, one or both parents were Canadian citizens and if Canadian citizenship has been retained.
For example, if born in West Germany and, at the time of birth, one or both parents were employed with the Canadian Armed Forces in West Germany, mark Canada, by birth. Also mark Same as country of birth (other than Canada), if that citizenship is still retained.
Exception
Do not mark Canada, by birth if born in Canada and at the time of birth one parent was: (a) in the service of a foreign government, or (b) employed by a person in (a), or (c) in the service of an international organization whose personnel were granted diplomatic privileges, and, neither parent was a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant).
Persons who have become Canadian citizens by naturalization would normally have received citizenship certificates from the Canadian government.
For persons who have dual citizenship, mark all of the categories that apply; for example, Canada, by naturalization and Same as country of birth (other than Canada).
If born outside Canada and not a Canadian citizen, mark Same as country of birth (other than Canada) if this citizenship is still retained. Otherwise, mark Other country.
If former citizenship has been lost and if Canadian citizenship has not yet been obtained, or if a person has no citizenship for any other reason - mark Other country.
We ask Questions 13 and 14 because information on immigration, when combined with data from other census questions, can be used to study the characteristics of Canada's immigrant population. Information on period of immigration is also important for studies of immigration trends.
For persons who are: Canadian citizens by birth, student authorization holders, employment authorization holders, refugee claimants and ministerial permit holders, answer No to this question.
For persons who have immigrated to Canada more than once, enter the year that landed immigrant status was first obtained.
While most people of Canada view themselves as Canadian, information about their ancestral origins has been collected since the 1901 Census to reflect the changing composition of the Canadian population and is needed to ensure that everyone, regardless of his/her ethnic or cultural background, has equal opportunity to share fully in the economic, social, cultural and political life of Canada. Therefore, this question refers to the origins of this person's ancestors.
Ethnic or cultural origin refers to the ethnic "roots" or ancestral background of the population, and should not be confused with citizenship or nationality. Canadians have many ethnic or cultural origins - such as Inuit, North American Indian, Métis, Irish, Scottish, French, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese and East Indian (from India).
When determining cultural origin, report the specific ethnic group or which ancestors belonged rather than the language they spoke. For example, report Haitian rather than French, or Austrian rather than German.
For persons of South Asian origin, do not report Indian. Please specify Indian from India, Indian from Fiji, Indian from Guyana, etc., or indicate the group such as Punjabi, Tamil, Pakistani.
A Yes response to this question should include those persons who are registered as status Indians as defined by the Indian Act of Canada. Also answer Yes to this question if Indian status has been regained since June 1985, when the Indian Act of Canada was amended by Bill C-31.
All other persons should answer No to this question. Also answer No to this question for persons: (a) who lost or never had Indian status according to the Indian Act of Canada;
[p. 6]
For persons who are members of an Indian Band or First Nation (for example, the Musqueam Indian Band), indicate this in the box provided.
For persons whose Indian status has been regained under Bill C-31 and who are not members of an Indian Band, leave the Indian Band or First Nation box blank.
Registered Indians who are not band members for any other reason should leave the Indian Band/First Nation box blank.
Print a specific denomination or religion even for persons who are not currently practising members of that group.
For infants or children, indicate the denomination or religion in which they will be raised.
For persons who are members of a specific group within a larger religion, specify the particular name or term for this group.
For persons who have no connection or affiliation with any religious group or denomination, mark the circle labelled No religion. However, specify atheist or agnostic if these forms of belief apply.
Questions 18 and 19 provide new information on the numbers of mentally and physically disabled Canadians as well as those with chronic health problems which limit activity. The results will be used to help Statistics Canada design new surveys to find out more about the barriers persons who are disabled face in their everyday lives.
Questions 18 and 19: Activity limitations
Whenever possible, the answer to these questions should be provided by the adult to whom the information refers.
The answer for persons less than 15 years of age should be provided by a parent or guardian.
Step 10
We ask Questions 20 to 22 to get a picture of where Canadians are moving to and from, and who is moving in terms of age, sex, education, occupation, etc. This information is important to all levels of government, to municipal planners, as well as to various private sector businesses. It is used in determining future needs for such things as housing, education and social services.
For persons who lived at the same residence on that date, mark Lived at the same address as now. For persons who lived at a different residence but within the same province or territory, mark Lived in the same province/territory, but at a different address. For persons who lived in a different province or territory in Canada on that date, mark that circle and print the name of the province or territory in the box provided.
For persons whose usual residence was outside Canada on that date, mark that circle and enter the name of the country according to present boundaries.
For persons who currently live at the same address of residence as they did five years ago (on June 4, 1986), mark Yes, lived at the same address as now and skip to Question 23. For persons who do not live at the same address of residence now as they did five years ago, mark No, lived at a different address and go to Question 22.
Question 22: Mobility -- Place of residence five years ago
For persons who lived at a different address of residence five years ago in the same city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve, mark that circle and go to Question 23.
[p. 7]
For persons who lived outside Canada five years ago, mark that circle and enter the name of the country in which they lived according to present boundaries.
Only complete this question for women who are 15 years of age and over. Mark the circle labelled None if the woman has never given birth to a live infant. Otherwise, enter the number of children born to her in the box provided. Do not count stillbirths, stepchildren, foster children or adopted children, but include children who are not now living, and those who are currently living somewhere else.
We ask Questions 24 to 29 because finding out the education qualifications of Canadians helps us to understand the make-up of the labour force (whether we have an abundance or a lack of human resources in a particular area). The results are used to plan schools and training programs in response to the changing technological needs of our work-force.
Information on the trends in college and university attendance by those aged 15 and over is vital for the planning and financing of postsecondary and adult education in both full-time and part-time programs.
For persons who now live in a province where the educational system is different, do not attempt to convert to the system of the province where they now live.
For persons who obtained their education outside Canada, estimate the equivalent level of schooling according to the educational system of the province where they now live.
For persons who studied in the classical colleges of Quebec, equate Versification with Grade 11.
For persons who are currently completing a regular school grade by private instruction or correspondence, or who are attending school part time during the day or evening, use the equivalent grade in the regular daytime program.
For persons who attended special education classes, or an institution where classes were ungraded, estimate as closely as possible the equivalent level in the mainstream school system of the province where they now live.
For persons who received university training by correspondence, or attended classes part time during the day or evening, covert their accumulated credits to the equivalent number of years in the full-time regular program.
For persons who studied in the classical colleges of Quebec, consider Philo I and Philo II as first and second year equivalents to university, respectively. Do not, however, include Belles-Lettres and Rhétorique with university education.
Teacher training received from a faculty of education that was associated with an accredited university should be reported as university education. Otherwise, this type of training should be included in Question 26.
Do not include any courses taken for leisure, recreation or personal interest.
Indicate the number of academic years successfully completed, regardless of the length of time it may have taken. For persons who received non-university training by correspondence, or attended classes part time during the day or evening, convert their accumulated credits to the equivalent number of years in a full-time regular program.
CEGEP (general) or pre-university courses and CEGEP (professional) or career-terminal technical-vocational courses are postsecondary programs in the province of Quebec and are similar to community college programs in other provinces.
For persons who studied in the classical colleges of Quebec, consider Belles-Lettres and Rhétorique first and second year equivalents to other non-university training.
[p. 8]
For persons who have been enrolled in school at any time since September 1990, even if they were registered but subsequently dropped out, report their attendance. The same thing applies for persons who have been enrolled in any educational institution (including seminaries, schools of nursing, private business schools, technical institutes or colleges, private or public trade schools, vocational schools or schools for the blind or deaf) that provide a general education.
Mark the circle labelled Yes, full time for persons who were taking 75% or more of the regular course load in the grade or year in which they were registered. Consider any day courses of six weeks or less as part-time attendance. For persons who attended both full time and part time since last September, mark only the circle labelled Yes, full time.
Mark the circle labelled Trades certificate or diploma for persons who received a certificate or diploma through apprenticeship or journeyman training and/or in-school training, trades-level vocational and pre-vocational courses at community colleges, institutes of technology and similar institutions where the minimal entrance requirement was less than secondary/high school, junior or senior matriculation, or equivalent.
Mark the circle labelled Other non-university certificate or diploma when a certificate or diploma (other than a trade certificate or diploma) was granted by: a community college (both transfer and semi-professional career programs); CEGEP (both general or professional); institute of technology; or any other non-degree-granting educational institution.
Mark the circle labelled University certificate or diploma below bachelor level when a teaching certificate was awarded by a provincial Department of Education at an approved institution such as normal school or college of education. For persons who earned their teaching qualifications at an accredited university's faculty of education, mark the circle labelled Bachelor's degree(s).
For persons who have a diploma, certificate or license awarded by a professional association and whose course of study was conducted through a university mark the circle labelled University certificate or diploma below bachelor level (provided that a bachelor degree was not a prerequisite). Mark University certificate or diploma above bachelor level if a bachelor degree was a prerequisite.
For persons who specialized in more than one field of study while earning their degrees, indicate the area in which the greatest number of credits or courses were earned.
Wherever possible, indicate the subfield of specialization within a broad area of training - especially in the case of graduate studies or other advanced training.
We ask Questions 30 to 34 because labour force data are useful in the development of social and economic programs. Information on the labour force, its composition and characteristics is one of the most widely requested blocks of census data.
The census is recognized as a valuable source of detailed labour information and the only source of this information for small geographic areas. For example, federal, provincial and local day care programs require data (for small areas) on the employment of persons in households and families so that they can assess the need for such services and plan for their delivery.
The hours worked should include all time spent preparing, maintaining and administering the operation of a farm, business or professional practice. Farmers should include hours spent maintaining farm fences, buildings or machinery, as well as cultivating, sowing or milking. Fishermen should include time spent preparing and maintaining boats, nets, etc. If the number of hours is not known, enter the best estimate.
[p. 9]
Mark the circle labelled Yes, on temporary lay-off for persons who expect the return to the job from which they were laid off, regardless of how long ago the lay-off occurred.
Mark Yes, on vacation, ill, on strike or locked out, or absent for other reasons for persons who had a job or business last week from which they were absent for the whole week (with or without pay) for one of the reasons indicated. Include absences for maternity leave, bad weather, fire, personal or family responsibilities. For paid workers, only report absences on training courses if they are receiving wages or salary from their employer.
Question 32: New job arrangements
Question 33: Recent job search
Question 34: Availability for work
Mark the circle labelled No, personal or family responsibilities for persons who could not have started work last week because of family illness, child care difficulties, jury duty, etc.
Mark No, other reasons only for persons who did not already have a job, were not temporarily ill or disabled, did not have personal or family responsibilities, or were not going to school (for example, if they were no longer interested in working or if they were out of town last week).
For this question, only include work done in order to obtain compensation, that is, work for wages, salaries, tips, commissions, piece-rate payment, payment in kind or the net income from self-employment. Also include work done, without formal pay arrangements, by family members for family businesses, farms or professional practices. Do not include volunteer activities, housework, or other activities such as home maintenance that people do for themselves.
We ask Questions 36, 37, 39 and 40 because detailed information on industry and occupation make it possible to analyze and look ahead into the future demand for jobs based on industry growth trends. This information is essential for developing and evaluating programs such as those concerned with education, human resource training and affirmative action.
For persons whose wages are paid by an agency which hires out their services, enter the name of the agency.
For persons who work as employees in a private household, enter the name of the family for whom they work and enter private household.
Question 37: Kind of business
For example, rather than: agriculture, auto parts, furniture, school, aluminum, police. A more complete response would be: wheat farm, motor vehicle parts manufacturing, retail household furniture and appliance store, secondary school, aluminum rolling, casting and extruding, municipal police department [respectively].
Indicate the regular places of work for all household members who are working, even if they are away from work temporarily on assignment, training or holidays.
[p. 10]
Mark Worked at home for persons whose place of work was in the same building or residence as where they lived. Examples might include dressmakers, apartment building superintendents or business owners who live above their store.
For persons who work in a different job site or location every day, or travel as part of their job, enter: (a) the address or name of their headquarters or depot if they report there before starting work each day; (b) the address or building name if they work part of the time at a fixed address; (c) no usual place in the space for address if they go directly from their home to various work locations.
For example, rather than: maintenance, repair work, office work, clerical, inspecting, supervising. A more complete response would be: maintaining electrical equipment; repair and maintenance of electrical motors; type, general office work; typing and filing; inspecting electronic equipment; supervising assembly of electronic equipment [respectively].
For persons who are members of a religious order engaged in teaching or nursing for example, report these secular activities rather than the religious activities.
We ask Questions 41 and 42 to learn about the contribution of paid and self-employed workers in various industry and occupation groups. The dependence of industries such as agriculture and retail trade on unpaid family workers can also be determined.
Mark working without pay for his/her spouse or another relative in a family farm or business for persons who reported that they worked without money wages for a spouse or relative who is a member of this household at a task which contributed to the operation of the spouse's or relative's farm or business.
Do not include volunteer work, housework, or home maintenance or repairs.
Mark self-employed without paid help or self-employed with paid help for persons who reported that they: operated their own business, farm or professional practice (alone or in partnership) even if no goods or services were sold or rendered; operated their own business, farm or professional practice (alone or in a partnership) whether it made a profit or suffered a loss; operated a farm, whether or not they owned or rented the land; worked on a free-lance or contract basis; provided meals and/or room or day care services in their own home for boarders, roomers or neighbours' children; operated a direct distributorship selling and delivering products such as cosmetics, newspapers, brushes or soap products; fished, trapped or hunted for profit or for the maintenance of family or community, with their own equipment or with equipment in which they had part ownership; were setting up a business, farm or professional practice.
Question 42: Incorporation status
We ask Questions 43 and 44 because information on the number of weeks worked full time or part time is important in evaluating trends in such areas as seasonal or part-time work.
[p. 11]
Report 52 weeks for persons who were paid for the full year or who operated a farm, business or professional practice for the full year, even if they may have worked less than a full year (for example, a school teacher paid on a 12-month basis).
Include weeks on paid vacation but exclude weeks on leave without pay.
Governments use the detailed analysis made possible by the census to develop income support programs, welfare provisions and social services.
Businesses use census income data in marketing products, in locating retail and wholesale sites near the appropriate groups of consumers, and in developing new products and services.
Statistics Canada does not publish personalized income information. The information collected from these questions is used to look at general trends and does not in any way identify individuals.
Information on this census questionnaire is strictly confidential by law and no individual, government department or agency outside of Statistics Canada has access to it. The Statistics Act prohibits Statistics Canada from disclosing any information that can be related to any individual person or company.
Answer every part of this question whether or not a person was working. For each part, the income reported should be the total money income received during the calendar year 1990. For persons who had no income, mark the circle labelled No. In the case of a loss, report the amount in the box provided and mark the circle labelled Loss.
If unsure of an answer, consult relevant documents such as income tax returns. Otherwise, make your best estimate.
For persons who received income from abroad, report this income in Canadian dollars. However, for persons who immigrated to Canada after January 1, 1990, do not report any income received before arrival in Canada.
Do not report either the Family Allowances (baby bonuses) received from the federal and provincial governments or the Child Tax Credits. These allowances and credits will be estimated for each family from the number of children shown on the questionnaire.
Do not include as income: gambling gains and losses, lottery prizes, money inherited during the year in a lump sum, capital gains or losses, receipts from the sale of property, income tax refunds, loan payments received, lump-sum settlements of insurance policies, rebates received on property taxes or refunds of pension contributions.
Include military pay and allowances.
Include tips and cash bonuses received during 1990. Also include all types of casual earnings whether or not T4 slips for income tax have been issued.
Include commissions. However, for salespersons who worked for more than one company, or who maintained their own office or staff, report such income in part (b). Also, for persons who baby-sit in their own home or who are newspaper delivery persons, report their income in part (b).
Do not include the value of taxable allowances and benefits provided by employers such as free lodging, free automobile use, bursaries, traveling expenses of a spouse or contributions towards medical insurance.
If consulting T4 slips to answer this question, report employment income shown in box 14, less the value of taxable allowances and benefits shown in boxes 30 to 40.
For persons who own an unincorporated business or farm, report the net income from that business or farm in part (b) or (c), whichever is appropriate.
Report net income (gross receipts minus expenses of operation such as wages, rents or depreciation). Do not subtract personal deductions such as income tax and pensions.
Report net income from employment activities for self-employed fishermen, trappers and hunters in this part.
Report net income for persons who baby-sit in their own home, operate a direct distributorship such as selling and delivering cosmetics, newspapers, or obtain contracts or agreements to do odd jobs.
[p. 12]
In the case of a loss, report the amount and mark the circle labelled Loss.
Report net income (gross receipts from farm sales minus depreciation and cost of operation). Include cash advances in gross receipts for the year in which they are received. Also include government supplementary payments. In the case of a loss, report the amount and mark the circle labelled Loss.
Exclude the value of income "in kind" (for example, agricultural products produced and consumed on the farm).
For persons who employed a manager to run their farm, deduct the manager's salary as expenses. For persons who rented out their farm, report the net rent received in part (h). Similarly, report income from incorporated farms in part (a) and/or part (h).
Agricultural operations include the production of field crops, vegetables, fruits, greenhouse/nursery products and seeds, maple products, poultry and livestock, animal products such as eggs, milk and wool, fur farming, and beekeeping.
Report provincial income supplements in part (g). Report retirement pensions of civil servants, RCMP and military personnel in part (i). Report old age, retirement and war pensions and other similar payments received from foreign governments in part (j).
Do not report lump-sum death benefits.
Do not report contributions to the plan, but report the benefits from it.
Report retirement pensions of civil servants, RCMP and military personnel in part (i).
Include provincial income supplements such as payments to seniors to supplement Old Age Security Pension and Guaranteed Income Supplement as well as payments to seniors to help offset accommodation costs.
Include any amounts received in 1990 for refundable provincial tax credits, federal sales tax credit and federal Goods and Services Tax Credit. Quebec residents should report "Real Estate Tax Refund."
Include all other transfer payments such as workers' compensation, veterans' pensions, war veterans' allowances, pensions to widows and dependants of veterans, or benefits under the Canadian Jobs Strategy.
Do not include Family Allowances and federal Child Tax Credits.
Report retirement pensions of military personnel, civil servants, etc., in part (i).
Report dividends received from foreign stocks.
Report interest from deposits in banks, trust companies, co-operatives, credit unions, caisses populaires, as well as interest on savings certificates, bonds and debentures.
Report net rents from real estate (including farm land), mortgage and loan interest received, regular income from an estate or trust fund, and interest from insurance policies.
Include investment income received from abroad.
If total investment income is a loss, report the amount and mark the circle labelled Loss.
[p. 13]
Examples: alimony; child support; periodic support from persons not in the household; net income from roomers and boarders; income from abroad (e.g. pensions) except dividends and interest which should go into part (h); non-refundable scholarships and bursaries; severance pay and retirement allowances; royalties; strike pay.
Do Not include: Family Allowances (baby bonuses) and federal Child Tax Credits; cash refund of pension fund contributions; lump-sum death benefits or any other one time lump-sum payment.
Shelter is one of the basic necessities of life and these questions are asked in order to evaluate present conditions and future housing needs. The data compiled from these questions are used by municipal planners, provincial housing ministries, developers, and members of the construction and real estate industries.
For census purposes, a condominium is a multi-unit residential complex in which dwellings are owned individually while land is held in joint ownership with others.
Mark the circle labelled rented in all other cases, even if the dwelling you occupy is provided without cash rent or at a reduced rent (for example, a minister's residence or a superintendent's dwelling in an apartment building). Also, mark the circle labelled rented if the dwelling is part of a co-operative.
For census purposes, a co-operative is jointly owned by all members who occupy their dwelling units under a lease agreement.
H3. Number of rooms and bedrooms
Include as separate rooms, partially divided rooms which you consider to be separate because of fixed or movable partitions or because of their use (for example, L-shaped living- and dining-rooms).
Do not include rooms used for one purpose during the day and for bedrooms at night (for example, a living-room used as a bedroom during the night).
Enter a zero in the box provided if no rooms in the dwelling were used primarily for sleeping purposes.
Also enter a zero for one-room dwellings or bachelor apartments.
We ask Questions H4 and H5 because specific details such as period of construction and state of repair are important for evaluating the quality of Canada's housing stock and for identifying the need for neighbourhood improvement programs.
If you can recall how old the building was when you moved in, it may help to estimate its age.
In condominiums, large apartment blocks or other rented dwellings, the manager or superintendent may know the building's age.
If a single house was constructed in 1925 and remodelled in 1947, mark the circle labelled 1921-1945 not 1946-1960. Similarly, in the case of an apartment building where some units were added later, the date for all units would be the earlier one.
Minor or major repairs indicate that some part of the dwelling is damaged, defective or not operating properly. Minor repairs include replacing missing or loose floor tiles, bricks or shingles, repairing broken windows and waterproofing bath-tubs. Major repairs include structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings, the installation of a new roof, and the replacement of deteriorated external siding.
If a dwelling is in need of both minor and major repairs, mark only the Yes category for major repairs (do not mark both circles).
For condominium owners, if electricity or other service charges are included in the condominium fee, mark the circle labelled Included in rent or other payments.
If this dwelling is located in a building which contains several dwellings or includes both residential and business premises, estimate and report the portion of the market value that applies only to the dwelling in which you live.