Its time to fill out the 2011 Census.
Statistics Canada has mailed out the forms to millions of Canadian homes include thousands here in Orillia and Simcoe county.
Gary Dylan is the Director of the Central Region Census and he tells Sunshine 89.1 news this years mandatory short form contains only 10 questions and should take no more than a few minutes to fill out.
He says also a number of Canadians will receive the voluntary longer census package
Dylan says for the first time, 60% of households will receive a letter replacing the traditional paper questionnaire.
This letter will provide information to allow respondents to complete the questionnaire online.
It will also contain a toll-free number respondents can call to request a paper questionnaire if preferred.
The remaining dwellings will receive paper questionnaires in both official languages.
The 2011 Census consists of questions on age, sex, marital and common-law status, family relationships, language and consent to release personal information after 92 years.
Dylan says he expects that the initial data from this years census will be available early in the new year.
He says the answers people provide on the census are used to plan services such as schools, seniors housing, health care, daycare,police services and fire protection.
Dylan says if a person does not fill out the mandatory short form they could receive a fine of up to 500 dollars.
