After exploring the possibility of conducting its municipal census completely online, the city has decided to stick with its hybrid system that combines online and door-to-door information gathering.
The city offered online completion of its census for the first time last year. Nearly 40 per cent of households used the service. Mayor Nolan Crouse wanted to know if the city could switch exclusively to online census taking. After investigating the concept, city administration felt such a move couldn’t achieve the return rate required to satisfy the Alberta government.
“We’re just too early to actually attempt 100 per cent online,” said city manager Bill Holtby.
The city’s population determines the level of provincial grant funding it receives, an average of $94 per resident, Holtby said. It also helps the city with its planning decision.
An investigation into the experiences of other municipalities found that the best return rate for online census is around 50 per cent, he said. Meanwhile, the province requires a return of about 99 per cent.
Last year the online option was available for two weeks.
Mayor Nolan Crouse would like to extend that timeframe to four or five weeks next year when the city does its next census. He accepted that it makes sense to hold off on a move to 100 per cent online.
“That’s fine. At least we explored it,” he said.
The city conducts a municipal census every two years. The process used in 2010 saw all dwellings issued a private identification number that could be used to access an online system. For those households that didn’t respond online, the city sent enumerators door-to-door.
Administration expects the process can evolve toward a fully online process over time.
The online option enables residents to complete the census on their own time and in private rather than speaking to an enumerator, the city feels. However, the enumerators ensure that the city reaches every home and gets as accurate a count as possible.
