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Thousand census forms missing

Close to 1,000 Squamish households have yet to return their census forms, translating to a loss of over $1 million in federal transfer payments, according to Statistics Canada B.C. regional communications manager, Lisa Gibbins.

Close to 1,000 Squamish households have yet to return their census forms, translating to a loss of over $1 million in federal transfer payments, according to Statistics Canada B.C. regional communications manager, Lisa Gibbins.

"For every person that's missed on this census - so that's every man, woman and child - B.C. could lose up to $1,100 per person over a five-year period," said Gibbins.

It also means more tax dollars being spent on the monumental task of tracking down the millions of forms missing across the country.

The 2006 census has received the worst response in census history, said Gibbins. More than 300,000 households are missing in B.C. alone, making the province among the worst offenders.

Since May 26, enumerators have tracked down 2,266 missing households in Squamish, but 997 remain. Individuals who refuse to complete the census can face a $500 fine and three months in jail.

"Once we wash our hands of the final people that we just can't get to complete this we hand the files to the justice department and they take care of it from there," said Gibbins.

But Statistic Canada enumerators will remain on the hunt for forms until "we're running out of households and we're just knocking on doors to no avail," said Gibbins.

Although May 15 was named as the deadline for returning the census forms delivered to all households across Canada, latecomers can still complete a questionnaire by internet or telephone without fear of repercussion.

"At this point in time if people haven't done their form, they might have the idea that they're a little anxious when someone's knocking on their door because they're already so late, but by all means the message should be no, just answer the door. They can do the form right there with the enumerator and if they don't want to talk to the enumerator they can call the 1-800 number and they can just fill it out on the phone too and then we'll go away."

To complete a census form by telephone, call 1-877-594-2006. Questionnaires can also be completed online at www.census2006.ca.

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