Note: [1] Wayne R. Smith received his M.A. in Economics from Carleton University (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada). Previously on the faculty of the Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology, he joined Statistics Canada in 1981 as manager of the Central Inquiries Service in Ottawa. He is currently on assignment to the office of the Project Manager, 1986 Census, as Census Liaison and Special Projects Officer.
Note: [2] Edward T. Pryor received his Ph.D. from Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island, USA). He has taught at the Universities of Colorado, Hawaii, and Western Ontario. He was Chairperson, Department of Sociology, The University of Western Ontario, 1968–1972. Dr. Pryor joined Statistics Canada in 1973 and has held a variety of management positions since that time. He was Project Manager of the 1981 Census and is currently Director General, Census and Demographic Statistics Branch, responsible for the population census program.
Abstract: The 1981 Census of Canada signified an increased emphasis on field quality control, an expanded public awareness program combining both paid advertising and voluntary support, and the use of both quality measures and data product consumption as measures of program effectiveness. A comprehensive 1986 Census was first approved, then cancelled and then reinstated. Expressed user demand was a major element in this series of decisions. An international census forum of national statistical agencies exchanging information, new procedures, technology and product development is emerging. This inter-agency cooperation could be very constructive for the 1990 round of censuses.
