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Appendix A:
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation

Modified on December 7, 2009

Appendix A1
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Demographic characteristics
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Name	1871	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Relationship to Person 1	1891	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Date of birth	1871	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Sex	1871	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Marital status	1871	X	X	X	X	–	–	–	–
Legal marital status	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Common-law status	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Mobility – Place of residence 1 year ago	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Mobility – Place of residence 5 years ago	1961	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Number of moves since previous census	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Date of first marriage	1941	X	–	X	–	–	–	–	–
Number of children ever born	1941	X	–	X	–	X	–	–	–

Appendix A2
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Ethnocultural and language characteristics
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Knowledge of official languages	1901	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Knowledge of non-official languages	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Home language	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Mother tongue	1901	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Language used at work	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X
Place of birth	1871	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Place of birth of parents	1891	X	–	–	–	–	–	X	X
Citizenship	1901	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Landed immigrant status	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Period/year of immigration	1901	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Ethnic origin	1871	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Aboriginal status (self perception)	–	–	–	–	X	–	–	–	–
Registered Indian/Treaty Indian	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Indian band/First Nation	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Aboriginal identity (single question)	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X
Aboriginal identity (derived)	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X
Population group	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X
Visible minority population (derived)	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Religion (usually only asked every 10 years)	1871	X	–	X	–	X	–	X	–

Appendix A3
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Activity limitations/difficulties/reductions
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
At home	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X
At school or at work	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X
In other activities	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X
Long-term disabilities or handicaps	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	–	–
Difficulties with daily activities	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X

Appendix A4
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Education
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Highest level of elementary or secondary schooling	1941	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	–
Years of schooling (university)	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	–
Years of schooling (other)	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	–
School attendance	1871	X	X	X	–	X	X	X	X
University degrees	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Completion of full-time vocational course (3 months or more)	1971	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Province of elementary or secondary schooling (or outside Canada)	1971	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Major field of study (MFS)	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X
Major field of study (CIP)	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	X
High school graduation certificate	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Province, territory or country where highest certificate, diploma, degree (above high school) was completed	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	X
Completion of registered apprenticeship, trade, college, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Highest certificate, diploma or degree	1961	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X

Appendix A5
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Labour market activities
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Actual hours worked last week	1951	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Usual hours worked each week	1911	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Last date of work	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Industry	1901	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Occupation	1871	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Class of worker	1891	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Weeks worked in reference year	1911	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Full-time/part-time work	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Temporary lay-off/absent from job	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
New job to start in four weeks or less	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Looked for work in past four weeks	1961	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Availability for work	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Incorporation status	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X

Appendix A6
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Journey to work
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Place of work	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Mode of transportation to work	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X

Appendix A7
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Income
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Income in year previous to census year	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Wages and salaries	1901	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Net non-farm self-employment income	1961	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Net farm self-employment income	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Family allowances	–	X	–	X	X	X	–	–	–
Federal Child Tax Credits/benefits	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X
Old Age Security (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Benefits from Canada or Quebec Pension Plan (CPP/QPP)	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Benefits from Employment Insurance	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Other income from government sources	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Interests and dividends	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Other investment income	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Retirement pensions, superannuation, annuities	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Other money income	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X

Appendix A8
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Unpaid work
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Hours doing unpaid housework last week	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X
Hours caring for children without pay last week	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X
Hours providing unpaid care/assistance to seniors last week	–	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X

Appendix A9
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Family and household
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Agricultural operator	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Household maintainer(s)	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Household head (Person 1)	1941	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Family head	1921	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Tenure (owned/rented)	1921	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Tenure (condominium)	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Tenure (band housing)	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Presence of mortgage	1941	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Who holds first mortgage	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Number of persons per household	–	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Shelter costs – Renter	1941	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Payment of reduced rent (e.g. , government-subsidized housing)	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Automobiles available for personal use	1941	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Vacation home ownership	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Major home appliances	1931	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Yearly payments of electricity	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Yearly payments of oil, gas, coal, wood, etc.,	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Yearly payments of water	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Shelter costs – Owner mortgage	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Shelter costs – Owner property taxes	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Shelter costs – Owner condominium	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Shelter costs – Owner condominium fees	–	–	–	–	–	X	X	X	X

Appendix A10
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Dwelling
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Number of rooms	1941	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Number of bedrooms	–	X	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Number of bathrooms	–	–	–	X	–	–	–	–	–
Period of construction	1941	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Condition of dwelling	–	–	–	X	–	X	X	X	X
Type of dwelling	1941	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X
Value of dwelling	1941	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Number of dwellings in the building	1941	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Garage	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Piped running water in dwelling	1941	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Bath or shower	1941	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Use of flush toilet in building	1941	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Unoccupied dwelling, reason for	–	–	X	–	X	–	–	–	–
Seasonal/marginal dwellings	–	–	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Length of occupancy	1941	X	–	X	–	–	–	–	–
Source of water supply	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Method of sewage disposal	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Principal type of heating equipment	1941	X	–	X	X	–	–	–	–
Principal fuel used for: cooking	–	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Principal fuel used for: heating	1941	X	–	X	X	–	–	–	–
Principal fuel used for: water heating	–	X	–	X	–	–	–	–	–

Appendix A11
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Coverage
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Did you leave anyone out?	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Household roster	–	X	–	–	–	X	X	X	X
Number of temporary residents	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X
Number of usual residents	–	X	–	X	X	X	X	X	X

Appendix A12
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation – Other
Content	First time in census (before 1971)	1971	1976	1981	1986	1991	1996	2001	2006
Source: 2006 Census of Canada Symbols: - : not applicable x : applicable
Wartime service	1951	X	–	–	–	–	–	–	–

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Appendix A: Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation

Appendix A:
Census questionnaire content and derived variables since Confederation