ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED IN THE 2011 CENSUS!
January 4, 2010
ATHEISTS AND AGNOSTICS, STAND UP AND BE COUNTED IN THE 2011 CENSUS!
Download a 2-sided poster for this initiative
**Why is the 2011 Census special?**
Every 10 years, Statistics Canada includes a section on the Census that asks about religious belief.
**What does the religion question on the census currently look like?**
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22. What is this person’s religion?
Indicate a specific denomination or religion even if this person is
not currently a practising member of that group.
For example, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic, United Church,
Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist, Greek Orthodox, Jewish, Islam, Buddhist,
Hindu, Sikh, etc.
Specify one denomination or religion only __________
No religion __________
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**What is the issue?**
- The wording of this question is biased towards artificially inflating the number or religious Canadians. It prompts “non-practising” members to write down the religion of their parents or community, even if they themselves no longer believe. Basically, it measures religion as something that is “affiliation-based” rather than “belief-based”.
- The “no religion” check-box is too vague. In addition to atheists and agnostics, it also includes people who believe in God but who reject organized religion.
**What is a better question that yields more useful data?**
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22. What is this person’s religion / worldview?
For example, atheist, agnostic, Roman Catholic, Ukrainian Catholic, United Church, Anglican, Lutheran, Baptist, Greek Orthodox, Jewish,
Islam, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, etc.
Specify one religion or worldview only __________
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**Why is this important?**
- Politicians will not take atheist and agnostic Canadians seriously until they know how many of them exist.
- Proper data is key to the government for the purpose of immensely important elements of public policy, including:
-> public funding of religious schools;
-> religious accommodation (the exemption of religious believers from generally applicable laws and policies);
-> the granting of charity status to organizations whose only purpose is to promote religion;
-> prayers in legislatures and city council meetings;
-> references to God in the Canadian national anthem and the
-> Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and the continued existence of the offence of “blasphemous libel” in the criminal code of Canada
- We need an accurate account of how many Canadians are non-theists. A recent poll, conducted by Harris-Decima in May 2008, found that 23% of Canadians say that they do not believe in any god. For Canadians under age 25, the figure was 36%. The 2011 Census should clearly reflect this.
- If this question remains in its current flawed form, it will be another 10 years before we have a chance to improve it.
**What can I do?**
- Contact Statistics Canada and voice your concern. Ask to be counted as an atheist or agnostic on the 2011 Census.
- Census consultation on the web:
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/consultation/index-eng.cfm
- Contact the Census consultation team:
E-mail:
censusconsultation@statcan.gc.ca
Mailing address:
Census Consultation Team
Census Marketing
Statistics Canada
4th Floor, Jean Talon Building
170 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6
Fax:
613-951-4210 (Attention: Census Marketing)
For more information, contact Kevin Smith, Board of Directors, Centre for Inquiry Canada, (416) 312-7719 or info@cficanada.ca