EXTRACTS FROM HANSARD -- PROCEEDINGS OF CANADA'S SENATE :

Debates of the Senate (Hansard)
1st Session, 37th Parliament,
Volume 139, Issue 35
Tuesday, May 10, 2001
The Honourable Rose-Marie Losier-Cools, Speaker Pro Tempore



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Statistics Canada

Census Questionnaire - Ommission of Acadians as Cultural Group

(Response to questions raised by Honourable Gerald J. Comeau on May 1 and May 3, 2001)

Respondents can report the ethnic origin they feel best applies, whether or not it is listed as an example.

The question gives 25 examples of ethnic origins. Examples are provided only as a guide on how to answer this question. People living in Canada have many different ethnic origins and it not possible to list all of them on the census questionnaire.

The groups generally listed as examples on the question are based on responses to the 1996 Census, beginning with the largest. The last three examples (Lebanese, Chilean and Somali) have been included to represent various geographic areas while terms such as Cree, Métis and Micmac have replaced the term Aboriginal.

Acadian was not among the most frequently reported ethnic origin. In 1996, there were 57,000 persons who reported Acadian origins. Acadian responses will be published with all other ethnic origins in January 2003.

Statistics Canada will review this issue as part of its plans for the 2006 Census.