ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Canada 2001 Census

Okay, imagine there's a big group of people in Canada, almost like all the people in your class at school. But, there are so many people in Canada that we need to count them all to understand more about them. So, everyone in Canada is asked to fill out a special paper called a census form, just like filling out a math worksheet or coloring page at school.

This paper asks questions about things like where people live, how old they are, what language they speak, and what their job is. People can also say if they are married or have children. This helps people who work for the government to know more about the people who live in Canada, and to plan things for the future. They can use this information to make decisions about things like how much money to spend on schools or how many buses are needed in each city.

The last time everyone in Canada filled out a census form together was in the year 2001. It was important because it helped the government to understand how many people lived in Canada, where they lived and what kind of jobs they had, and helped to make sure everyone is being treated fairly.