In the 2001 census, 21,000 Canadians put down their religion as Jedi Knight. This fact has been referenced by the prime minister's office as a rationale for making the 40-page long census form voluntary.
I think I'll go with Sith...
A 40-page questionnaire, since when? This is the entire long-form questionnaire:
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/NHS-ENM/ref/Questionnaires/2011NHS-ENM-eng.cfm
It's closer to 40 questions than 40 pages. There is only one question about religion, and you can answer it "no religion".
Besides you got the short-form questionnaire anyways, which is only 8 questions what's there to complain about?
I've decided to complete the census (online). I will however use a fake name and provide no phone number (I don't recall owning a phone being a law?).
If its for anon data collection, they shouldn't need my name. Not sure why their asking for it. I dont care if its confidential, it still exists and I will not provide my real name.
Also, this is great. For "What languages do you speak in the home" I wrote "none". This is true as I live alone and do not talk to myself.
Did you provide your real name and phone number to the government for your health card? How about for your Social Insurance card? How about for your tax returns? You trust those government departments with your name and phone number, what's different here?
The reason they are asking for your name is because they are sending the census out to households, not really to individual people. In most apartment buildings, people are receiving the census forms addressed just to occupant, as people in apartments are usually transient and move around often. So they don't necessarily know where you're living at any particular point in time. That's why they're asking for your name, and the names of anyone that lives with you.
The reason they are asking for your phone number is because they would like to contact you, in case they find an error on your submitted form. You can provide them with your cell phone number, it doesn't say it has to be your landline number, as some people don't have landlines anymore.