The Census of Canada and Immigration

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The Census of Canada and Immigration
Ethno-cultural Data

• Chuck Humphrey

University of Alberta February 10, 2006
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Outline

• Significance of the Census
• Distinction between Statistics and Data
• Channels of Access
• Statistical Sources from the 2001 Census
• Data Sources from the 2001 Census
• Post-censal Data

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Acknowledgements

• Some of the material in this presentation was
  made available by Tina Chui at Statistics Canada.
  

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Census of Population

• Largest survey in Canada taken every five years
• Long history of questions on
• place of birth
• citizenship
• year of immigration
• 2B form consists of 51 questions compared to the
  7 questions of 2A

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(No Transcript)
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Census of Population
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Census of Population

• New question in 2001 on birthplace of parents

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Census of Population

• Household activities
• Education
• Labour force activity
• Occupation
• Mobility
• Income

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What Census Data Tell Us

• Size origins of the immigrant population,
  children of immigrants, ethnic groups, etc.
• Settlement mobility patterns of immigrants and
  ethnic groups over time
• Labour market experience of immigrants, adult
  children of immigrants, visible minorities,
  ethnic groups

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Advantages of Using Census Data

• Up to 100 years of historical data
• Detailed information on birthplaces, ethnic
  origins, visible minority groups, languages, etc.
• Data available for small geographic areas
• Wide range of socio-cultural and economic
  variables can be used in analysis

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Limitations of Census Data

• Not longitudinal cannot follow the same
  respondents over time
• No year of arrival information
• (asks the year landed immigrant status was
  obtained)
• No immigration program information
• (e.g. categories of admission selection
  characteristics)
• Outcome measures, rather than process

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Statistical Information

• Statistics
• numeric facts/figures
• created from data, i.e, already processed
• presentation-ready
• Data
• numeric files created and organized for analysis
• requires processing
• not ready for display

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Chart of Statistical Information
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Continuum of Access
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CENSUS 2001
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Statistics STC Website


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http//www.statcan.ca
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Statistics DSP (E-STAT)


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E-STAT
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Statistics DLI Tabulations


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DLI Tables
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Statistics Custom Tabulations


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Custom Tabluations

• Metropolis Core Tables
• Three levels of geography
• CSD
• Between CT and CSD
• DA
• Available for 1996 and 2001
• Canadian Heritage

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Data DLI Tables


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DLI Tables

• Same as the tables from the Statistics Canada
  website that are sold (), but put away your Visa
  or Mastercard. The DLI license covers the cost.
• Tables at the DA-level of census geography
• Some very large tables at DA-level that arent
  available from the STC website
• Need Beyond 20/20 table browser

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Data DLI Public UseMicrodata Files


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DLI Public Use Microdata

• Anonymised microdata for three units of
  observation
• Individuals
• Families
• Households
• The Individuals file is available still waiting
  on the Families and Households files

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Post-censal Ethnic Diversity Survey

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EDS Public Use Microdata File


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EDS Public Use Microdata

• Anonymised microdata available with SPSS and SAS
  syntax files
• 355 variables and 41,705 cases (unweighted)
• Available through DLI

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EDS Research Data Centres


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EDS Confiential File

• Confidential file, also referred to as the
  analytic file
• Over 1,000 variables
• 13 RDCs across Canada
• Must apply on a project by project basis
• Approval involves two-stage process peer review
  and security clearance

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Ethnic Diversity Survey

• Survey Objectives
• to provide information on the ethnic cultural
  backgrounds of people in Canada and how these
  backgrounds related to their lives today
• To better understand how Canadians of different
  ethnic backgrounds interpret and report their
  ethnicity
• Target population
• Population aged 15 and over living in private
  dwellings in the 10 provinces, excluding Indian
  Reserves and Aboriginal

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EDS Sample design selection

• Two-phase stratified design
• Phase I 2001 long census questionnaires
  (one-in-five households in Canada)
• Phase II Selected a sample of respondents from
  the Census according to specific characteristics
• Sample selection
• Divided the Census population into groups
  according to the responses to the following three
  questions
• Ethnic origin
• Birthplace of respondent
• Birthplace of parents
• Total of 15 strata random selection within each
  strata

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EDS Interviews

• 57,000 persons selected to be interviewed (no
  proxy reporting) between April and August 2002
• Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing,
  approximately 35 minute interviews
• Interviewed in 9 different languages
• 42,500 people were interviewed

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EDS Content Modules Themes

• Entry
• Ethnic self-Definition
• Respondent Family Background
• Knowledge Use of Language
• Family Interaction
• Social Networks

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EDS Content Modules Themes (continued)

• Civic Participation
• Interaction with Society
• Attitudes
• Trust Satisfaction
• Socio-economic activities
• Who answered 2001 Census questionnaire

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EDS Potential Research Areas
Unpacking Ethnicity
Discrimination Unfair Treatment
Socio-economic Status
EDS
Social Capital
Social Networks
Participation in Society
Transnationalism
Transmission of Culture Language
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Census of Population