ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Canada 1996 Census

Okay kiddo, do you know what a census is? It's when the government counts how many people live in a country. In Canada, they do this every 5 years to see how the population has changed.

In 1996, Canada did another census, just like they did in 1991 and will do in 2021. They asked lots of questions to everyone who lived in Canada at that time. Questions like "What's your name?" "How old are you?" "What's your job?" and "What language do you speak at home?"

By asking these questions, the government can learn about the people who live in Canada. For example, they can see how many people speak French or how many people work in different jobs. This information helps the government make important decisions, like where to build schools or hospitals.

So the 1996 census was a way for the government to learn more about the people who lived in Canada at that time. It helped them decide how to make Canada a better place for everybody.