2. Census universes

2.1 Introduction

The 2011 Census involved the enumeration of the following five universes:

• the population universe
• the dwelling universe
• the household universe
• the family universe
• the geography universe

The 2011 Census Coverage Error Measurement Program estimates coverage error for the population universe only. This section provides a description of the population universe and the dwelling universe. Since coverage error can be due to misinterpretation of the concept of usual place of residence as defined in census questionnaires, this section provides the information presented in the census questionnaire itself, and the 2011 Census definition of usual place of residence. Information on the variables associated with each universe can be found in the 2011 Census Dictionary.

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2.2 Population universe

The population universe of the 2011 Census includes the following groups:

• Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants with a usual place of residence in Canada
• Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants who are abroad, either on a military base or attached to a diplomatic mission
• Canadian citizens (by birth or by naturalization) and landed immigrants at sea or in port aboard merchant vessels under Canadian registry and Canadian government vessels
• non-permanent residents:
  
  • persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who are claiming refugee status and family members living with them
  • persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold study permits (covering Census Day) and family members living with them
  • persons with a usual place of residence in Canada who hold work permits (covering Census Day) and family members living with them.

The population universe of the 2011 Census does not include foreign residents, but since 1991, it includes non-permanent residents.

The definition of the population universe indicates which persons should be included in the census, but not where these persons should be enumerated. The Canadian census uses the modified de jure method of enumeration, under which persons are to be enumerated at their usual place of residence, even if they are temporarily away on Census Day. Persons away from their usual place of residence and residing elsewhere in Canada are to be enumerated at their usual place of residence and are considered 'temporary residents' at the other location ('temporary residents' should not be confused with 'non-permanent residents,' which refers to the person's legal status while in Canada). Persons who have no usual place of residence are to be enumerated wherever they happen to be on Census Day. Some countries use the de facto method, under which all persons are to be enumerated wherever they are on Census Day, regardless of their usual place of residence.

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2.3 Dwelling universe

A dwelling is a set of living quarters in which a person or group of persons resides or could reside. Only dwellings in Canada are included. There are two types of dwellings:

• A private dwelling is a separate set of living quarters with a private entrance either from outside or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway inside the building. The entrance to the dwelling must be one which can be used without passing through the living quarters of someone else. In addition, a private dwelling must have a source of heat or power and must be an enclosed space that provides shelter from the elements, as evidenced by complete and enclosed walls and roof and by doors and windows that provide protection from wind, rain and snow.
• A collective dwelling is a dwelling of a commercial, institutional or communal nature. It may be identified by a sign on the premises or by an enumerator (EN) speaking with the person in charge, a resident, a neighbour, etc. Examples of collective dwellings are lodging or rooming houses, hotels, motels, tourist homes, nursing homes, hospitals, staff residences, communal quarters (military bases), work camps, jails, missions, and group homes. Collective dwellings may be occupied by usual residents or solely by foreign or temporary residents.

These two types of dwellings can be subject to more detailed classifications:

• Private dwellings can be regular private dwellings or occupied marginal dwellings. Regular private dwellings are further classified into three major groups: occupied dwellings (occupied by usual residents), dwellings occupied solely by foreign or temporary residents, and unoccupied dwellings. An occupied marginal dwelling is an occupied private dwelling which, because it was not built, maintained or converted for year-round use, does not meet the two conditions for year-round occupancy (a source of heat or power and shelter from the elements). To be included in the census, a marginal dwelling must be permanently occupied by a person or a group of persons who have no other usual place of residence. Examples of marginal dwellings are non-winterized cottages or cabins and unconverted barns or garages. Occupied marginal dwellings are classified as either occupied by usual residents or occupied solely by foreign or temporary residents. Marginal dwellings that were unoccupied on Census Day are excluded.
• Collective dwellings are classified as either occupied dwellings or unoccupied dwellings. Occupied dwellings are either occupied by usual residents or occupied solely by foreign or temporary residents. In the case of unoccupied collective dwellings, data were collected but are not included in census products.

In summary, the dwelling universe includes the following:

• private dwellings occupied by usual residents
• private dwellings occupied solely by foreign or temporary residents
• private dwellings that are unoccupied
• marginal dwellings occupied on Census Day
• collective dwellings occupied by usual residents
• collective dwellings occupied solely by foreign or temporary residents.

The dwelling universe does not include the following:

• marginal dwellings that were unoccupied on Census Day
• collective dwellings that were unoccupied on Census Day,
• dwellings outside Canada

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2.4 Usual place of residence

Under the de jure enumeration method used in the Canadian population census, the population is enumerated on a 'usual place of residence' basis, that is, at the location where a person lives most of the time. Most people have only one residence, and it is easy to enumerate them at their usual place of residence. Enumeration involves listing all usual residents of a dwelling on Census Day by following the step-by-step instructions at the beginning of the census questionnaire: 'How many persons usually live at this address on May 10, 2011, including yourself? Include all persons who have their main residence at this address, even if they are temporarily away. See the instructions on page 3 of the Census questionnaire (joint custody, students, permanent residents, secondary residence, etc.).'

The instructions on page 3 were as follows:

1. WHOM TO INCLUDE IN STEP B

• All persons who have their main residence at this address on May 10, 2011, including newborn babies, room-mates and persons who are temporarily away.
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents (landed immigrants), persons asking for refugee status (refugee claimants), persons from another country with a work or study permit and family members living here with them.
• Persons staying at this address temporarily on May 10, 2011 who have no main residence elsewhere.

2. WHERE TO INCLUDE PERSONS WITH MORE THAN ONE RESIDENCE

• CHILDREN IN JOINT CUSTODY should be included in the home of the parent where they live most of the time. Children who spend equal time with each parent should be included in the home of the parent with whom they are staying on May 10, 2011.
• STUDENTS who return to live with their parents during the year should be included at their parents' address, even if they live elsewhere while attending school or working at a summer job.
• SPOUSES OR COMMON-LAW PARTNERS TEMPORARILY AWAY who stay elsewhere while working or studying should be listed at the main residence of their family, if they return periodically.
• PERSONS IN AN INSTITUTION for less than six months (for example, in a home for the aged, a hospital or a prison) should be listed at their usual residence.

In some cases, it is difficult to determine an individual's usual place of residence, and special rules have been developed to define the usual place of residence:

1. Persons with more than one residence.

   This category includes all persons who have more than one dwelling in Canada that could be considered their usual place of residence. In this situation, the usual place of residence is the place where a person spends the majority of the year. If the person spends the same amount of time at both residences or is not sure which one to choose, he or she should choose the residence where he or she stayed overnight on Census Day (between May 9 and 10, 2011). There are two exceptions to this rule:

   1. Children who live somewhere else while attending school but return to live with their parents for part of the year should consider the residence they share with their parents to be their usual place of residence, even if they spend most of the year elsewhere.
   2. Husbands, wives or common-law partners who live away from their families while working but return to their families regularly (for example, on weekends) should consider the residence they share with their spouse or partner to be their usual place of residence, even if they spend most of the year elsewhere.
      

2. Persons in institutions such as a hospital, a home for the aged, a prison or a correctional centre.

   Persons with no other usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada, or persons who have been in one or more institutions for a continuous period of six months or longer, are to be considered usual residents of the institution.

3. Persons with no usual place of residence.

   Persons who do not have a usual place of residence should be enumerated in the dwelling where they stayed overnight between May 9 and 10, 2011.

4. Persons residing outside Canada.

   Canadian citizens and landed immigrants residing outside Canada on Census Day, including:

   • persons aboard Canadian vessels or merchant vessels
   • Canadian federal and provincial/territorial government employees and family members
   • members of the Canadian Armed Forces and family members who do not have a permanent place of residence in Canada occupied by one or more family members.

   These persons were asked to indicate in the census questionnaire the address they use for election purposes or their last permanent address in Canada. This information is used to determine their usual place of residence.