City of Prince George Waiting for Word On Census Appeal

Wednesday, September 19, 2007 03:31 PM

The City of Prince George has yet to hear a response from Stats Canada to its appeal of the 2006 census. It could be months before there is a response.

The request to Stats Canada is for a reconsideration of the population numbers Stats Canada tallied up in the latest count for Prince George. City Hall believes the count is believed to be flawed as it showed a decrease in population, but other indicators, such as building permits and home sales would suggest the opposite.

Kathie Scouten, Director of Economic Development for Initiatives Prince George, says Stats Canada will look at the request and let the City know if there is enough data there to support the launch an official appeal.

According to Stats Canada, the 2006 Census counted 70,981 people in the Prince George City limits, down from 72,406 counted five years previously.

On the regional basis, the full Regional District of Fraser Fort George (including Prince George) was pegged to have a population of 83,225, down from the 2001 count of 85,035.

Although the latest benchmark report by “Progress Prince George” indicates the population numbers have been flat, Scouten says components of the benchmark report are being used in the request now before Statistics Canada. “Certainly the comparison of our census data historically with our B.C. Stats estimate there is a major difference in Prince George’s census numbers that form part of the basis of the appeal.”

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Posted on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 03:31 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on September 19 2007 3:51 PM

Not sure how flawed it is but Census forced me to fill out two forms....
so I am alive twice I guess...

Posted by: NMG on September 19 2007 4:22 PM

Personally, I'd be willing to bet that the population dipped a fair amount below 70K after the census from 5 years back and that there has been steady growth since then to get us back to where we are now.

The Stats Can estimate sounds in the ballpark to me. I just don't see where thousands of new jobs have been created in PG in the past couple of years.

Posted by: owl on September 19 2007 8:46 PM

I wonder if the planning department felt that this should be appealed.

There should be people there who could explain something that is quite simple to explain .... this is not the only community where the number of "families" and/or households are increasing while the total number of people is steady or even declining. Thus the number of people per household has also been decreasing. It is one of the indicators of an aging population.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on September 19 2007 8:49 PM

I'm still not home. Just ignore them and they go away.

If they think I'm a person then they can count me because I'm not doing it for them.

Posted by: Chadermando on September 19 2007 9:03 PM

I'm with you Yama, as are many in this region I figure. If they want to a real count they should use CPP, EI, SIN, or payroll remitance as well as school enrollments to estimate the population of the region for purposes of population counting.

Stats Canada is concerned with race differences, language usage, marital status and such and thats stuff I don't agree with and want no part participating in. They have the means to determine population accurately, but chose not to so they can estimate the 'make-up' of the Canadian mosaic.

It should also be noted that they could not find workers to do their work in this region and so as a result were very liberal in their estimates for this region. Furthermore their are thousands of people in this region that live in homes hidden in the bush that want no part in government surveys, and can not be estimated in drive by's and such which are techniques used in more open spaces not so overgrown and remote as central BC.

I would bet stats Canada numbers are off by at least 50,000 people for all of Northern BC as a result of their methods for collecting data. For example I bet Quesnel is underestimated by at least 20%+ (possibly as much as 10,000) with its large remote rural population in the thousands.

Posted by: Palopu on September 19 2007 10:39 PM

Sure Chander. 50,000 people hiding in the bush. Of course Stats Can would only be wrong in Prince George **The City of Whiners** and correct in the rest of the Country. They make allowance for the *Hiders*

Anyone with half a brain and a behind could very easily find out whats going on with the population. You dont need an appeal. The City was the one who issued the building permits, and they are the ones who assess the taxes. If they were to look at the owners of all the new houses for the past 5 years they could determine very quickly if they came from out of town, or if they are people who have been here all the time, grew up, and are now buying a house.

Nothing to difficult about that. In addition a phone call to the 3 Major moving companies would give you a indication of the number of people who moved in and out.

They also know that enrolments in school district 57 have been down by 500 students per year, for the past 10 or more years. Have they forgotten that we closed approx 15 Schools, in the District.

There are other ways to get the straight goods, however they dont want a factual number out there because it is contrary to all the **hype** they have been spewing.

Posted by: panalyst on September 20 2007 9:00 AM

Stats Canada has been known to miss entire neighbourhoods and/or many rural residents in their attempts to count the nation's citizens. It has happened many times before in other places (Yellowknife, NWT in 2001 comes to mind, for one) during previous counts.

The City of PG is quite right to challenge the census results. Many federal and provincial programs are based upon population counts, so if Stats Canada under counts the local population the entire city will loose out on the financial transfers. This should be a serious issue for all Prince George residents, whether or not you depend on the progams being funded or not.

By the way, Stats Canada eventually did admit to their mistake in Yellowknife and accepted the population estimate put forward by the GNWT stats bureau. If the City of PG can back up their claim with credible arguments they might yet win their appeal.

Posted by: owl on September 20 2007 12:00 PM

" would bet stats Canada numbers are off by at least 50,000 people for all of Northern BC as a result of their methods for collecting data. For example I bet Quesnel is underestimated by at least 20%+ (possibly as much as 10,000) with its large remote rural population in the thousands."

I think they obviosuly need to hire you Chad ...

Remember, this appeal is about the CITY of PG. That means everyone within the City Limits. Not outside those limtis. Not too many people living in the bushes here. That would be Stanley Park you are talking about.

Did you fill in a form? If you did not, did you provide information at the door or phone or otherwise to someone tht you are alive and kicking?

For those who get a long form, you can decide not to fill it out and provide the short form. They do not ask the questions you refer to on those. Name rank and serial number is pretty well it.

Posted by: owl on September 20 2007 12:05 PM

Since the province is the one that estimates body counts in the years between the census, I am wondering why they are not appealing on behalf of communities where there appears to be a consistent undercount over the years.

I would think that it has something to do with the methodology the Province uses and that Census Canada uses. If they felt strongly that their methodology is less flawed than the federal methodology, they would go for it.