Finance
May 10, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Cathy Bennett, Minister of Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board:

Provincial Government Recognizes Census Day

Mr. Speaker, today, May 10, is Census Day in this province and across the country.

Early in May, households in Newfoundland and Labrador received yellow census packages delivered to their homes. These packages provide residents with the information they need to complete the census online or on paper. Once completed and returned, the data collected from the questionnaires will provide valuable information to all levels of government for decisions concerning our province and our communities.

Mr. Speaker, the census collects information about every person in our country and the results are important to Canada, as well as Newfoundland and Labrador. Funding formulas for major federal transfer payments to provinces, like the health and social transfers this province receives, are based, in part, on population counts. The Federal Government uses this information for the allocation of funding, and in turn that allows us to plan for essential programs.

Furthermore, our province uses census information in planning and monitoring programs in such areas as health care, education and social assistance. We also depend on census information when planning roads, waterworks, public transit, and police and fire services. Town planners use census data on households and families to plan current and future housing needs and municipal infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, we all recognize that our community is changing and census data helps us understand the demographic, social and economic information we need to address those changes. The importance of the census to our province cannot be over emphasized that's why we urge every resident of Newfoundland and Labrador to participate this May in the 2016 Census.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.

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2016 05 10                              1:45 p.m.