Canada’s Census / Statscan chief finds Canada’s first National Household Survey a “success,”

Canada’s first National Household Survey has been a “success,” and those who criticize the quality of its data are doing a “disservice to Canadians,” Statistics Canada’s chief statistician says.

His comments come ahead of the next batch of survey results, to be published Wednesday, which will focus on labour and education trends in Canada. The first wave of data, on aboriginal and immigrant populations, generated debate over data quality and the usefulness of the results, particularly around data at the local level.

Statscan itself acknowledges that information for 1,100 census subdivisions – including almost half of municipalities in Saskatchewan – was withheld in the first instalment of data because of low response rates, while the population counts for some groups, particularly Filipinos, appear to be overestimated.

But it’s misleading to say the data is unreliable, said Wayne Smith, chief Statscan statistician in an interview with The Globe and Mail. “It’s irresponsible to try and dissuade Canadians from using what is an extraordinary rich and powerful database. To make them nervous about that is I think irresponsible.”

He acknowledges the data from the NHS is not of the same calibre as a mandatory census, but says that doesn’t rule out its usefulness. “True, it’s not a census, true, there’s been some loss of small-area data and true there’s more volatility in the estimates for small populations and small areas, particularly small populations in small areas. But the data turns out to be remarkably strong,” given the agency’s ability to use external information and benchmarks to help verify the results.

Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor

via Statscan chief fires back at household survey critics – The Globe and Mail.