Canada is a small country that continues to impress.
Yesterday, we sent in our census questionnaire. It included two documents, one in French and one in English, with a yellow, postage-paid envelope to allow easy return to the government. The questions were very well-written and the design of the document was very straightforward and easy to follow. The questions were non-intrusive (though I understand others receive more thorough sample sets) and you could file your return either on paper or via the Web.
I just went to the website and, notably, the online forms are accessible to those with disabilities. This is impressive, and while not difficult, it means that the government here went the extra yard to ensure the greatest number of people could enter data about themselves, their families and partners.
I also found an interesting history of the census. But, for me, I’m fascinated with the clause at the end of the census document which gives everyone the option to release their completed information to the public in 92 years: “For those who give explicit permission, Statistics Canada will transfer their information to Library and Archives Canada in 2098, which in turn will make it publicly available.”
I try to imagine how unimportant my personal information will be in 2098. It’s not hard. But I’m also trying to imagine what the world would have inherited in 2098 and what my children’s children might look like in that inheritance. Canada, or no Canada, that’s hard.