The Central Statistics Office had to adapt to the COVID-19 situation to ensure that the 2021 Census of Population is conducted throughout the country in the best possible way, using a safe and secure approach.

We, will be using practices aligned with the strictest health and safety directives from public health authorities. No enumeration activities will take place inside the dwellings of respondents or in close proximity to, without use of PPEs(masks) and all interviews will be physically distanced. Personal safety equipment will be provided to field employees to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public.

The Central Statistics Office is proud of its ability to rethink and rework all of the key aspects of this National Survey while ensuring at all times the safety of everyone.

The Central Statistics Office places the highest priority on protecting your privacy, as well as maintaining the confidentiality and security of completed questionnaires. Your answers are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act and are kept strictly confidential.

Only employees with a need to know and whose job requires them to work with the questionnaires see individual completed questionnaires—and they all are subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act. All employees take an oath of secrecy, which is in effect for life—even after employment has ended.

No one outside Statistics has access to any individual information obtained through the census. Private contractors do not have access to confidential data, and no information that could be used to identify respondents will ever be provided to other departments or agencies.

Governments, communities, organizations, businesses, as well as many others use census data.

Below are some examples of how census information is used to make informed decisions that directly benefit you, your community and the country as a whole.

Governments

• Planning for natural and other hazards:  Research teams use census information to model risks from hazard events such as flooding, earthquakes, coastal hazards or man-made disasters. Understanding where populations are present helps model where people may be exposed to hazards.

• Schools, Elderly/Senior Citizens:  Governments use census data on age and population numbers to understand how an area is changing and to estimate program needs such as Yes We care, including the need for new resource centers, schools.
• Health services: By mapping census data, governments can better provide community health services according to neighborhood needs.
• Roads and public transport: Transportation planners for governments use census information to analyze traffic flows, assess existing transportation services, and plan for changes to these services and to road networks.

Communities and organizations

• Community support: communities use census data to evaluate existing health and social services and to determine the best ways they can support their community, whether it is through educational skills programs, employment and training services, health services, housing supports, or early childhood services.
• Programs for the community: Organizations who provide services use data to plan and develop programs that respond to the needs of the population.
• Employment: Managers of programs use census data to help the visible minority population and people with disabilities join the workforce and get better jobs. They also rely on the census for information about the job market.
• Services for people with disabilities: Census data are used to determine who should be included in the Disability Survey, which collects information on the type and severity of disability, use of aids and assistive devices, help received or required, use of various therapies and social service supports, educational attainment, labor force participation details, requirements and unmet needs for accommodations at school or work, and the experience of being housebound. This information helps organizations and governments to evaluate and implement programs and services tailored to people with disabilities, and to eliminate the barriers that they may face.

Farm organizations

• Financial decisions: Farm organizations draw on census information to make production, marketing and investment decisions.
• Trends: Census data is used to identify trends and changes in farming practices, and provide factual information on emerging economic and social issues, as well as opportunities and challenges within the agricultural community.
• Impact of weather: Farm organizations use census data to evaluate the impact of natural disasters on agriculture (such as floods, drought and storms) and react appropriately.

Businesses

• Property decisions: Businesses determine new factory, store and office locations based largely on the size and distribution of the population in different areas, which are determined through census data.
• Market decisions: Business owners use census information on geography and median income to determine how much potential customers in an area can spend on a good or service.