1. STATISTICS CANADA – 2006 CENSUS Internet Response Option Presentation at UN Statistical Commission February 28, 2007

2. 2 Census in Canada Legal requirement every 5 years, De Jure basis Last Census May 16 th, 2006; 13 million dwellings 80%-short form (8 questions); 20%-long form (53 questions + 8 dwelling questions ) Confidentiality is paramount Combined collection for Census of Population and Census of Agriculture Development and integration of Internet application and processing systems was outsourced to private sector Targeted 20% of initial response from the internet

3. 3 Census 2006 – Drivers for change Privacy concerns – local enumerator issue Government On-Line (GOL) initiative Data Entry Capability/Manual Coding Recruitment and retention of staff

4. 4 Radical Change Most radical changes since 1970’s Mail-out via Canada Post for 73% of households (Address register critical) List leave for remainder Unique dwelling identifier and internet access code for each questionnaire

5. 5 Radical Change Mail-back or Internet option (canvasser method for a few areas) One Data Processing Centre (CATI or Field Follow-up initiated from it) –Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) –Master Control List –Automated coding

6. 6 Internet mode of collection –Nothing left on respondent’s computer (Zero footprint) –Log-on using internet access code printed on questionnaire –Innovative Security Solution using GOC “Secure Channel” (PKI “light”, secure “islands”) –One-time recyclable certificates –Multiple sessions for long form (user can assign own password)

7. 7 How did we do - Results Metrics – 22% of initial response was by Internet –Overall internet represented 18% of all responses Graceful Deferral Contingency Procedure seldom used, except on Census night Data Quality better for internet response

8. 8 How did we do - Results Internet available and used (on a gradually declining basis) until end of follow-up period (end of August) “Push Strategy” experiment (no questionnaire sent, only a letter asking to respond via internet) yielded very good results Successful use of a reminder letter to non- respondents asking to reply by internet (no questionnaire sent)

9. 9 Implementation Issues Operational/development plan Sizing, technical, integration issues Testing strategies Support (technical and respondent) Security and public perception (independent validations)

10. 10 Lessons Learned Integrating with Secure Channel was harder and took longer than expected Difficult to exercise volume tests that accurately reflected production Being able to monitor and control the number of respondents accessing the system was critical Not mailing paper questionnaires increases the internet take up rate Testing every aspect and linkage is crucial True partnership with contractors was critical success factor

11. 11 Going forward - 2011 Basic methodology will be retained Aggressive assumption regarding Internet take- up Rate. Significant Potential Savings –Return postage –Paper handling and data capture –Follow-up for edit-failures Security approach to be determined (availability of Secure Channel? Should we adopt a less customized security method, e.g. SSL?)

12. 12 Going forward - 2011 Census Day versus Census Week to spread system load? In-house, outsourced or hybrid development approach a critical decision –Integration –Competency profile

13. 13 Going forward - 2011 Expanding Mail-out (MO) opportunities - currently assessing an approach that will make better use of Mail- out tools as well as encourage response by Internet as opposed to paper questionnaire  Wave 1 - Initial MO - 90% of all dwellings;  80% of MO dwellings will receive an invitation to use Internet only - no paper questionnaire will be provided;  20% of MO dwellings will receive paper questionnaire package (areas of low connectivity);  Approximately two weeks before Census Day.

14. 14 Going forward - 2011 Wave 2 - All dwellings will receive a mailed "pre-addressed reminder" to complete questionnaire via Internet or paper questionnaire received during Wave 1;  Mailed around Census Day. Wave 3 - one week after Census Day determine mail-out universe that did not reply - A paper questionnaire package will be prepared and mail-out to each dwelling which did not reply;  Approximately two weeks allowed for package preparation and postal delivery. An additional week will be allowed for households to respond. Wave 4 - Start Non- Response Follow-up (NRFU) approximately 4 weeks after census Day.

15. 15 Going forward - 2011 2006 Collection Process Methodology Wait Time until 80% responses accounted Census Reference Day – May 10, 2011 WAVE 1WAVE 3WAVE 2 WAVE 4 WAVE 5DeadlineCensus Week May 2011 NRFU BEGINS NRFU ENDS 07/29/11 ENRFU