Census disputed

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

The M.D. of Big Lakes and Town of Slave Lake have already agreed to complete their own census after numbers released from Statistics Canada March 13. The Town of High Prairie is also considering the same. All are unhappy with the numbers released. High Prairie’s population came in at 2,750 or up only 13 from the 2001 census. However, High Prairie did their own census afterwards and showed a population of 2,820. That number is 70 more than the 2006 census. The M.D. of Big Lakes wasted no time in agreeing to do their own census. At their March 14 meeting they made a motion to proceed as soon as possible. Their numbers showed a decrease in 2006 of 5,805 from the 2010 total of 5,845 (numbers include Metis Settlements). The M.D.’s numbers break down as follows: the 2001 federal census showed a population of 3,998 while their own census increased the number to 4,181. The 2006 federal census shows a population of only 3,811. Slave Lake showed a population increase of 103 to 6,703 in 2006 from 6,600 in 2001. Census numbers are extremely important for all municipalities. Every person counts when it comes to per capita grants. Over the course of the census that is completed every five years, each person is worth thousands of dollars. That’s the reason why municipalities are so concerned over accurate population numbers. Big Lakes council heard that if they complete a census this year it still may not be registered in population counts until 2008. Any new census number does not affect federal grants, says former Big Lakes CAO John Eriksson, because the federal government does not recognize other census conducted by municipalities.

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