The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo is conducting the municipal census, and the hope is that the census shows growth in the region. Mayor Melissa Blake predicted that the census will show that there is growth in the region. “As we go through this period of economic recession, people may be worried that we are really not the community that we used to be. I challenge that. The way I can make evidence available is by saying, we’ve gone from this population up to something in the (80,000)s in the regular residents. The importance of accuracy is that it really is a big indicator of how we’re going to spend our resources. It’s not insignificant, when you add up to 80-85,000 people, that gives us a great opportunity to do some meaningful projects in our community.”

The municipal census recently started in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and efforts are being made to ensure that everyone is counted in the region. According to RMWB acting director of planning and development Brad Evanson each house will receive a miailout that contains a PIN number, and these mailouts allow residents to respond to the census inquiry online, with the goal being to capture 100% of the people who live in the region on April 1. Evanson stated “We want to make sure we capture as many people, even the people that might not be captured in a basement suite or as rental tenants.: Mayor Blake also explained that the responses can not be tracked back to individuals, and said “Whatever your hindrance is or fears might be, put them aside, because there’s (a) far greater benefit.”