By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City council opts to do away with biennial municipal census

Sep 23, 2021 | 6:00 AM

City council decided not to have a biennial census anymore at Tuesday’s meeting following a 4-2 vote.

Council instead opted to endorse the province’s methodology used to calculate populations, something that takes effect January 1.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says this cost the city $200,000 every two years, plus staff time.

“The province has also let us know that the methodology that we used in the past for calculations of grant money from the province and from the federal government would not be considered anymore. There are only going to be considerations on their own census.”

Some members of council were worried that some valuable data would be lost if the city did not do its own census.

Clayton says there are other ways to get this information.

“There was a little bit of conversation in regards to some of the data that was specific to neighbourhoods and recreation,” she said.

“Through organizations such as Grande Prairie Regional Rec. we do have data that shows the needs assessment of recreation facilities and different demographics of sport.”

Clayton added that data can also be obtained from the city’s own economic development and GIS departments, along with local developers and social services agencies.

“The discussion was that, hopefully, that administration will get these organizations together to share data. If there is duplicate data out there, we feel it is in everyone’s best interest to save that money and share the data.”

Clayton says that after talking with city administration, most councillors felt that what she calls “methods we are using internally” combined with the province’s numbers would provide all the information council would need when it came to decisions around economic development, land development, and recreation.