SASKATCHEWAN — From road repairs to community services, Saskatchewan municipalities say millions of dollars in funding can depend on residents taking a few minutes to fill out their census forms.
Municipalities are reminding residents about the importance of filling out census forms.
During the May 11 meeting of Estevan city council, Coun. Kirsten Walliser asked city manager Jeff Ward about the impact of the census. Ward said he knows some people are reviewing the forms and others have thrown them away, but the census has a “huge” impact on Estevan.
Ward noted the money the city receives through the provincial government's municipal operating grants and the federal Building Communities Fund is based on the census figure. Revenue sharing alone accounts for $2.9 million, he said, based on a population of 11,000, and the city has about $670,000 through the federal initiative.
The city’s population through the annual tally of Saskatchewan health cards has been as high as 13,500, Ward said, which would boost the city's funding to $3.4 million from municipal operating grants and $800,000 from the federal program.
In a post on its Facebook page, the City of Yorkton said the census does more than count people. It helps shape the community.
Census data helps inform communities about services such as funding, housing, infrastructure, community services and future planning.
"It may not seem exciting, but it matters," the city said on Facebook.
In 2021, Yorkton’s census population was 16,280, the city said, compared to 16,343 in 2016. The difference of 63 residents represented about $16,991.73 in annual funding.
"A complete and accurate count helps make sure our community is understood, represented and supported," the city said.
A soft deadline of May 12 has been set to fill out the census. People can still submit the form after May 12.
