Frequently asked questions about the 2006 Census online questionnaire

How long will it take me to fill in the online questionnaire?
What happens if I can't get into the site? How long should I wait before I try again?
What if the questionnaire application freezes in the middle of my session?
What if I lose my paper questionnaire? Can I still fill in the information on the Internet?
How much time am I given to complete the online questionnaire?
How can I avoid my session from being terminated?
Must the online questionnaire be completed in one sitting? Can I go back later to finish or change my answers?
What do I need to have when I return to complete my Census questionnaire?
What will happen to the data of a suspended session if I don't go back to finish it?
How is my information transmitted safely over the Internet?
Does anyone see my information during transmission?
How can I tell if my browser session is secure?
Where can I get help if I have technical problems?
How do I get help to fill in the questionnaire if I can't call the Census Help Line because my Internet access uses a dial-up connection?
How will I know that you have received my data?
What if I get partway through the online questionnaire and decide I would rather fill in the paper questionnaire?
Can I use Internet facilities at the local public library or at an Internet café to complete the electronic questionnaire?
The start button does not work on the online census after the internet access code has been entered.
Does the Linux operating system work with the census online application?

How long will it take me to fill in the online questionnaire?

The time it takes to fill in the Census of Population questionnaire depends on several factors, including which questionnaire your household receives and the size of your family. High speed Internet users should allow 7 to 10 minutes to complete the short questionnaire or 35 to 45 minutes to complete the long questionnaire for the Census of Population.

The time it will take to fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire depends on a number of factors, including type and size of the operation. The Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire) takes an average of 40 to 60 minutes to complete.

For either census, filling in the online questionnaire can save time, as special features allow you to automatically skip the questions not relevant to your situation. It also saves you a trip to the mailbox.

What happens if I can't get into the site? How long should I wait before I try again?

When you begin the census Internet application, you will receive a message as to whether or not your computer and browser meet the minimum requirements. If not, you will be instructed to upgrade or modify your browser so you can successfully access the secure site. For more information, please refer to computer requirements and settings.

If your computer and browser settings meet the minimum requirements, but the site is not accessible due to of technical difficulties or to too much traffic online, please try again later. If you do not wish to modify your browser, you can complete your paper questionnaire and return it by mail in the envelope provided.

What if the questionnaire application freezes in the middle of my session?

If you cannot complete your questionnaire because the application is frozen, close your browser and try again. If the problem persists, please complete your paper questionnaire and return it by mail in the envelope provided.

What if I lose my paper questionnaire? Can I still fill in the information on the Internet?

Yes. Call the Census Help Line to obtain another Internet access code. You will need to provide detailed address information that will correctly link your questionnaire with your dwelling. Once you have filled in your questionnaire online, the system will provide you with a confirmation number. It is important to keep a copy of this number for your records.

How much time am I given to complete the online questionnaire?

If you take more than 20 minutes to fill in one page of the questionnaire, your session is automatically timed out. No data are saved from a session that has timed out.

How can I avoid having my session terminated?

If you have to be away from your computer or require more time to complete your questionnaire online, we recommend that you use the "stop and finish later" option available for the 2B questionnaire (long form) and for the Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire). This option is not available for the 2A questionnaire (short form).

Must the online questionnaire be completed in one sitting? Can I go back later to finish or change my answers?

If you are filling in the 2B questionnaire (long form) or Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire), you have the option to stop and finish later. This option is not available for the 2A questionnaire (short form).

When you indicate that you would like to complete your Census questionnaire at a later time, the information you have provided will be saved and you will be asked to create your own password or have the system generate one for you. Be sure to keep your password in a safe place, separate from your paper questionnaire. For security reasons we cannot reset your password.

What do I need to have when I return to complete my Census questionnaire?

When you return to complete your 2B or Form 6 Census questionnaire, you will need:

the Internet Access Code from your paper questionnaire; and
your password.

If after 5 attempts you fail to enter your password successfully, your census information will be submitted on your behalf. A Call Centre operator will contact you by phone to obtain any incomplete or missing information.

What will happen to the data of a suspended session if I don't go back to finish it?

If you wish to complete your 2B or Form 6 Census questionnaire later, a specific date will be indicated by which time you should submit your information. After that date your questionnaire will automatically be submitted on your behalf.

If your questionnaire is received with incomplete information, a Call Centre operator may contact you to complete any unfinished questions.

How is my information transmitted safely over the Internet?

For your protection, we require that you "login" to secure areas of the census Web site using your Internet access code. When you login successfully, your Web browser will establish a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection between your computer and the census Web servers. All the information you provide will be encrypted round-trip between your browser and Statistics Canada with SSL and strong 1024-bit encryption.

Two-way encryption provides a way to transmit data at a significantly more secure level than what is normally used on Web sites. It also allows you to return to the long census form multiple times over several days while safely retaining and protecting your personal information.

Does anyone see my information during transmission?

No. Information is transmitted directly from your computer to Statistics Canada.

How can I tell if my browser session is secure?

For most Web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, a secure, encrypted session will be indicated by a closed padlock or an unbroken key icon that appear in the lower left- or right-hand corner of the browser window.

Another way to detect whether the session is secure is to look at the Web site address of the application pages. If the Web site address starts with "https://" rather than the standard "http://", then the session is secured.

Where can I get help if I have technical problems?

If you need information or assistance when completing your online questionnaire, please contact the Census Help Line or refer to Technical troubleshooting.

How do I get help to fill in the questionnaire if I can't call the Census Help Line because my Internet access uses a dial-up connection?

The online Census Guide provides instructions on how to complete each question. If you are completing a 2B questionnaire (long form) or Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire), from Question 2 until the end, you also have the option to stop and finish later, allowing you to save your partially completed questionnaire, disconnect from the Internet, and call the Census Help Line.

How will I know that you have received my data?

When you are finished filling in the online questionnaire, you will receive a confirmation number indicating that you have finished and that we have received your information. Please keep this number.

What if I get partway through the online questionnaire and decide I would rather fill in the paper questionnaire?

If you are completing the 2B questionnaire (long form) or Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire) and have not already saved the information and given a password, you can quit and fill in the paper questionnaire. If you have already quit once and given a password, you will need to continue filling in the online questionnaire.

If you are completing a 2A questionnaire (short form) and you decide to fill in the paper questionnaire, simply exit and complete the questionnaire on paper.

Please note that in either case, it might be faster for you to continue than to exit and begin again on paper. Should you wish to complete the paper questionnaire, please fill it in and and return it by mail in the envelope provided.

Can I use Internet facilities at the local public library or at an Internet café to complete the electronic questionnaire?

Yes. You can use any public computer to complete the online questionnaire as long as it conforms to the computer requirements and settings for the Internet questionnaire. You may wish to take some precautions, for example not leaving your computer unattended while your session is open. If you have to move away from your computer at work or in a public place, you can either quit your session or stop and finish later for the 2B and Form 6 questionnaires.

The start button does not work on the online census after the internet access code has been entered.

Please try again. There can be a delay between clicking the "start" button and getting access to your form. If it looks as if nothing is happening after a couple of minutes call the Census Help Line at 1 877 594-2006.

Does the Linux operating system work with the census online application?

Yes. In response to demand, Statistics Canada has removed the restriction for Linux. This change takes effect May 13th, 2006.

This broadened access to open-source users is available to those who have a valid browser and JVM. These minimum requirements are necessary in order to maintain the same level of data encryption with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

With the addition of this new operating system, the capacity of the Census Help Line operators to respond to technical calls from open source users may be limited. However, we expect this will not be a major obstacle for the vast majority of these users.


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Questionnaire Home page Message from the Chief Statistician About the online questionnaire Computer requirements and settings Need help? Important updates CENSUS JOBS / General information Statistics Canada	Frequently asked questions about the 2006 Census online questionnaire How long will it take me to fill in the online questionnaire? What happens if I can't get into the site? How long should I wait before I try again? What if the questionnaire application freezes in the middle of my session? What if I lose my paper questionnaire? Can I still fill in the information on the Internet? How much time am I given to complete the online questionnaire? How can I avoid my session from being terminated? Must the online questionnaire be completed in one sitting? Can I go back later to finish or change my answers? What do I need to have when I return to complete my Census questionnaire? What will happen to the data of a suspended session if I don't go back to finish it? How is my information transmitted safely over the Internet? Does anyone see my information during transmission? How can I tell if my browser session is secure? Where can I get help if I have technical problems? How do I get help to fill in the questionnaire if I can't call the Census Help Line because my Internet access uses a dial-up connection? How will I know that you have received my data? What if I get partway through the online questionnaire and decide I would rather fill in the paper questionnaire? Can I use Internet facilities at the local public library or at an Internet café to complete the electronic questionnaire? The start button does not work on the online census after the internet access code has been entered. Does the Linux operating system work with the census online application? How long will it take me to fill in the online questionnaire? The time it takes to fill in the Census of Population questionnaire depends on several factors, including which questionnaire your household receives and the size of your family. High speed Internet users should allow 7 to 10 minutes to complete the short questionnaire or 35 to 45 minutes to complete the long questionnaire for the Census of Population. The time it will take to fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire depends on a number of factors, including type and size of the operation. The Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire) takes an average of 40 to 60 minutes to complete. For either census, filling in the online questionnaire can save time, as special features allow you to automatically skip the questions not relevant to your situation. It also saves you a trip to the mailbox. What happens if I can't get into the site? How long should I wait before I try again? When you begin the census Internet application, you will receive a message as to whether or not your computer and browser meet the minimum requirements. If not, you will be instructed to upgrade or modify your browser so you can successfully access the secure site. For more information, please refer to computer requirements and settings. If your computer and browser settings meet the minimum requirements, but the site is not accessible due to of technical difficulties or to too much traffic online, please try again later. If you do not wish to modify your browser, you can complete your paper questionnaire and return it by mail in the envelope provided. What if the questionnaire application freezes in the middle of my session? If you cannot complete your questionnaire because the application is frozen, close your browser and try again. If the problem persists, please complete your paper questionnaire and return it by mail in the envelope provided. What if I lose my paper questionnaire? Can I still fill in the information on the Internet? Yes. Call the Census Help Line to obtain another Internet access code. You will need to provide detailed address information that will correctly link your questionnaire with your dwelling. Once you have filled in your questionnaire online, the system will provide you with a confirmation number. It is important to keep a copy of this number for your records. How much time am I given to complete the online questionnaire? If you take more than 20 minutes to fill in one page of the questionnaire, your session is automatically timed out. No data are saved from a session that has timed out. How can I avoid having my session terminated? If you have to be away from your computer or require more time to complete your questionnaire online, we recommend that you use the "stop and finish later" option available for the 2B questionnaire (long form) and for the Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire). This option is not available for the 2A questionnaire (short form). Must the online questionnaire be completed in one sitting? Can I go back later to finish or change my answers? If you are filling in the 2B questionnaire (long form) or Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire), you have the option to stop and finish later. This option is not available for the 2A questionnaire (short form). When you indicate that you would like to complete your Census questionnaire at a later time, the information you have provided will be saved and you will be asked to create your own password or have the system generate one for you. Be sure to keep your password in a safe place, separate from your paper questionnaire. For security reasons we cannot reset your password. What do I need to have when I return to complete my Census questionnaire? When you return to complete your 2B or Form 6 Census questionnaire, you will need: the Internet Access Code from your paper questionnaire; and your password. If after 5 attempts you fail to enter your password successfully, your census information will be submitted on your behalf. A Call Centre operator will contact you by phone to obtain any incomplete or missing information. What will happen to the data of a suspended session if I don't go back to finish it? If you wish to complete your 2B or Form 6 Census questionnaire later, a specific date will be indicated by which time you should submit your information. After that date your questionnaire will automatically be submitted on your behalf. If your questionnaire is received with incomplete information, a Call Centre operator may contact you to complete any unfinished questions. How is my information transmitted safely over the Internet? For your protection, we require that you "login" to secure areas of the census Web site using your Internet access code. When you login successfully, your Web browser will establish a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection between your computer and the census Web servers. All the information you provide will be encrypted round-trip between your browser and Statistics Canada with SSL and strong 1024-bit encryption. Two-way encryption provides a way to transmit data at a significantly more secure level than what is normally used on Web sites. It also allows you to return to the long census form multiple times over several days while safely retaining and protecting your personal information. Does anyone see my information during transmission? No. Information is transmitted directly from your computer to Statistics Canada. How can I tell if my browser session is secure? For most Web browsers such as Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, a secure, encrypted session will be indicated by a closed padlock or an unbroken key icon that appear in the lower left- or right-hand corner of the browser window. Another way to detect whether the session is secure is to look at the Web site address of the application pages. If the Web site address starts with "https://" rather than the standard "http://", then the session is secured. Where can I get help if I have technical problems? If you need information or assistance when completing your online questionnaire, please contact the Census Help Line or refer to Technical troubleshooting. How do I get help to fill in the questionnaire if I can't call the Census Help Line because my Internet access uses a dial-up connection? The online Census Guide provides instructions on how to complete each question. If you are completing a 2B questionnaire (long form) or Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire), from Question 2 until the end, you also have the option to stop and finish later, allowing you to save your partially completed questionnaire, disconnect from the Internet, and call the Census Help Line. How will I know that you have received my data? When you are finished filling in the online questionnaire, you will receive a confirmation number indicating that you have finished and that we have received your information. Please keep this number. What if I get partway through the online questionnaire and decide I would rather fill in the paper questionnaire? If you are completing the 2B questionnaire (long form) or Form 6 (Census of Agriculture questionnaire) and have not already saved the information and given a password, you can quit and fill in the paper questionnaire. If you have already quit once and given a password, you will need to continue filling in the online questionnaire. If you are completing a 2A questionnaire (short form) and you decide to fill in the paper questionnaire, simply exit and complete the questionnaire on paper. Please note that in either case, it might be faster for you to continue than to exit and begin again on paper. Should you wish to complete the paper questionnaire, please fill it in and and return it by mail in the envelope provided. Can I use Internet facilities at the local public library or at an Internet café to complete the electronic questionnaire? Yes. You can use any public computer to complete the online questionnaire as long as it conforms to the computer requirements and settings for the Internet questionnaire. You may wish to take some precautions, for example not leaving your computer unattended while your session is open. If you have to move away from your computer at work or in a public place, you can either quit your session or stop and finish later for the 2B and Form 6 questionnaires. The start button does not work on the online census after the internet access code has been entered. Please try again. There can be a delay between clicking the "start" button and getting access to your form. If it looks as if nothing is happening after a couple of minutes call the Census Help Line at 1 877 594-2006. Does the Linux operating system work with the census online application? Yes. In response to demand, Statistics Canada has removed the restriction for Linux. This change takes effect May 13th, 2006. This broadened access to open-source users is available to those who have a valid browser and JVM. These minimum requirements are necessary in order to maintain the same level of data encryption with Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). With the addition of this new operating system, the capacity of the Census Help Line operators to respond to technical calls from open source users may be limited. However, we expect this will not be a major obstacle for the vast majority of these users.
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	Date modified: 2005-10-17			Important Notices