Summary of the results of the preliminary delineation of 2011 census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations

Warning View the most recent version.

Archived Content

Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.

The total number of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs) have increased from 144 for the 2006 Census to 147 for the preliminary 2011 Census delineation.  Table 3.1 shows the number of CMAs, CAs with Census Tracts and CAs without Census Tracts for 2001, 2006 and the preliminary 2011 delineation.

Table 3.1
Number of CMA and CA, 2001, 2006 and preliminary of 2011 Census
Geographic Area Type 2001 2006 Preliminary  2011

CMA

27 33 33

CA

with Census Tracts

19 15 15

without Census Tracts

94 96 99

Total

140 144 147

Maps and tables that describe each preliminary 2011 census metropolitan area (CMA) and census agglomeration (CA) can be found in Appendix 2.

New census metropolitan areas: the promotion of census agglomerations to census metropolitan area status

CAs are promoted to the status of a CMA if they have attained a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more live in the urban core.

There were no CAs promoted to CMA status in the preliminary 2011 delineation and the number of CMAs remains the same at 33.

New census agglomerations

Based on the final 2006 Urban Area population counts, five new CAs are delineated.  The new CAs are listed in Table 3.2.  All of these new CAs are located in western Canada.  Four of the new CAs are located in Alberta and one is located in Manitoba. 

Table 3.2
New census agglomerations for 2011
2011 CA Name 2011 CA Code
Steinbach, (Man.) 605
High River, (Alta.) 821
Strathmore, (Alta.) 826
Sylvan Lake, (Alta.) 831
Lacombe, (Alta.) 832

Retired census agglomerations

A CA is retired from the program if the population of the urban core falls below 10,000.  The 2006 CAs of La Tuque, Quebec and Kitimat, British Columbia no longer meet the minimum urban core population.  As a result, these two CAs are retired from the CA program for the 2011 Census.

Impact on census tract programme

A Census tract (CT) is a small relatively stable geographic area that usually has a population of 2,500 to 8,000.  CTs are delineated in CMAs and CAs with an urban core population of at least 50,000 based on the previous census results. 

There are no CAs added to the 2011 CT Programme based on the urban core population counts from the 2006 Census.  However, 23 census subdivisions (CSDs) are added to CMAs and CAs with CTs.  Table 3.3 identifies the number of CSDs added to CMAs and CAs.

Table 3.3
Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with census tracts with added census subdivisions
CMA / CA Name Geographic Area Type Number of CSDs added

Chilliwack (B.C.)

CA 1

Drummondville (Que.)

CA 3

Fredericton (N.B.)

CA 1

Granby (Que.)

CA 1

Guelph (Ont.)

CMA 1

Montréal (Que.)

CMA 2

Ottawa - Gatineau (Ont./Que.)

CMA 4

Quebec (Que.)

CMA 1

Saguenay (Que.)

CMA 4

Sherbrooke (Que.)

CMA 2

St. John's (N.L.)

CMA 1

Trois-Rivières (Que.)

CMA 2

Total

23

Merging of adjacent census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations

A CA adjacent to a CMA can be merged with the CMA if the total percentage commuting interchange between the CA and CMA is equal to at least 35% of the employed labour force living in the CA.

All preliminary 2011 CAs adjacent to a CMA were analysed to determine if a high level of commuting interchange existed. None of the CAs that are adjacent to a CMA are merged in the preliminary 2011 CMA and CA delineation.

Component census subdivisions in the preliminary 2011 census metropolitan area and census agglomeration delineation

The total number of CSDs included within a CMA or CA increased from 948 for the 2006 Census to 976 in the preliminary 2011 CMA and CA delineation.  There are 474 CSDs in CMAs, 99 CSDs in tracted CAs and 403 CSDs in non-tracted CAs.  Table 3.4 shows the number of CSDs included in CMAs and CAs since the 2001 and 2006 censuses and the preliminary delineation of 2011 Census..

Table 3.4
Changes from 2006 to the preliminary 2011 census metropolitan area and census agglomeration delineation
Geographic Area Type Number of CSDs
2001 2006 Preliminary 2011 Difference 2006
and  2011
CMA 471 457 474 17
CA with Census Tracts 96 93 99 6
without Census Tracts 428 398 403 5
Total 995 948 976 28

The majority of the CSDs included in CMAs and CAs are included due to being part of the urban core or due to a high level of commuting between the urban core and the CSD.  Table 3.5 shows the distribution of CSDs included within CMAs and CAs based on the delineation rules for inclusion.

Table 3.5
Changes to the number of census subdivisions included under each rule in the preliminary 2011 census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations
Geographic Area Type Delineation Rules Number of CSDs Change
2006 Preliminary 2011
CMA 1 - urban core rule 274 281 7
2 - forward commuting rule 85 93 8
3 - reverse commuting rule 24 26 2
4 - spatial contiguity rule 33 36 3
5 - historical comparability rule 41 40 -1
6 - manual intervention rule 0 0 0
CA 1 - urban core rule 294 307 13
2 - forward commuting rule 88 99 11
3 - reverse commuting rule 33 33 0
4 - spatial contiguity rule 56 45 -11
5 - historical comparability rule 13 11 -2
6 - manual intervention rule 7 5 -2
Total  948 976 28

Census subdivisions added to census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations

A total of 60 CSDs are added to CMAs and CAs in the preliminary 2011 CMA and CA delineation:  17 CSDs added to CMAs; 6 CSDs added to CAs with CTs; and 37 CSDs added to CAs without CTs. Thirty-four of the 60 CSDs added to CMAs and CAs are in the province of Québec.

Twelve of the 17 CSDs added to CMAs are included under the forward commuting rule and five CSDs are included under the reverse commuting rule.  Table 3.6 lists all CSDs that are added and the delineation rule that each CSD meets.

Table 3.6
Census subdivisions added to the preliminary 2011 census metropolitan areas

CMA Name

CSD 
SGC  Name  Type 2006 Population 2011 Rule
Guelph 3523001 Puslinch, (Ont) TP 6689 Reverse commuting
Montréal 2459030 Calixa-Lavallée, (Que.) PE 533 Forward commuting
Montréal 2471045 Saint-Clet, (Que.) 1725 Forward commuting
Ottawa - Gatineau 2480065 Mayo, (Que.) 549 Forward commuting
Ottawa - Gatineau 2480140 Val-des-Bois, (Que.) 873 Forward commuting
Ottawa - Gatineau 2482010 Notre-Dame-de-la-Salette, (Que.) 774 Forward commuting
Ottawa - Gatineau 2480145 Bowman, (Que.) 676 Forward commuting
Québec 2434007 Neuville, (Que.) C 3638 Forward commuting
Saguenay 2494230 Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, (Que.) PE 441 Forward commuting
Saguenay 2494245 Saint-David-de-Falardeau, (Que.) 2555 Forward commuting
Saguenay 2494260 Saint-Charles-de-Bourget, (Que.) 659 Forward commuting
Saguenay 2494225 Saint-Félix-d'Otis, (Que.) 1007 Forward commuting
Sherbrooke 2445115 Orford, (Que.) CT 2979 Reverse commuting
Sherbrooke 2442095 Val-Joli, (Que.) 1479 Reverse commuting
St. John's 1001472 Holyrood, (N.L.) T 2005 Reverse commuting
Trois-Rivières 2451020 Yamachiche, (Que.) 2760 Reverse commuting
Trois-Rivières 2437225 Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, (Que.) 553 Forward commuting

One of the six CSDs added to CAs with CTs is included under the forward commuting rule, four are added under the reverse commuting rule and one is added under the spatial contiguity rule. Table 3.7 lists all CSDs that are added and the delineation rule that each CSD meets.

Table 3.7
Census subdivisions added to the preliminary 2011 census agglomerations with census tracts
CA Name CSD 
SGC  Name Type 2006 Population 2011 Rule
Chilliwack 5909027 Harrison Hot Springs, (B.C.) VL 1573 Reverse commuting
Drummondville 2449080 Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil, (Que.) PE 912 Spatial contiguity
Drummondville 2449075 Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil,(Que.) VL 1426 Reverse commuting
Drummondville 2449040 Wickham, (Que.) 2503 Reverse commuting
Fredericton 1303004 Gladstone, (N.B.) P 538 Forward commuting
Granby 2455015 Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford, (Que.) PE 2824 Reverse commuting

Seven of the CSDs added to CAs without CTs are included under the urban core rule, 22 are added under the forward commuting rule, 4 are added under the reverse commuting rule and 4 are included under the spatial contiguity rule.  Table 3.8 lists all CSDs that are added and the delineation rule that each CSD meets.

Table 3.8
Census subdivisions added to the preliminary 2011 census agglomerations without census tracts
CA Name CSD
SGC Name Type 2006
Population
2011 Rule
Amos 2488060 Saint-Félix-de-Dalquier, (Que.) 936 Forward commuting
Bathurst 1314025 Belledune, (N.B.) VL 1711 Forward commuting
Bathurst 1315013 Pointe-Verte, (N.B.) VL 971 Forward commuting
Charlottetown 1102042 Lot 23, (P.E.I.) LOT 837 Forward commuting
Corner Brook 1005022 McIvers, (N.L.) T 571 Forward commuting
Dolbeau-Mistassini 2492015 Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc,(Que.) VL 1139 Forward commuting
Dolbeau-Mistassini 2492065 Saint-Eugène-d'Argentenay,(Que.) 572 Forward commuting
Edmundston 1313014 Rivière-Verte, (N.B.) VL 798 Forward commuting
High River 4806006 High River, (Alta) T 10716 Urban core
Lacombe 4808031 Lacombe, (Alta) T 10742 Urban core
Matane 2408023 Sainte-Félicité, (Que.) 1201 Forward commuting
Matane 2408035 Saint-René-de-Matane, (Que.) 1070 Forward commuting
Miramichi 1309006 Chatham, (N.B.) P 502 Forward commuting
Miramichi 1309011 Derby, (N.B.) P 1068 Forward commuting
Miramichi 1309004 Glenelg, (N.B.) P 1652 Forward commuting
Miramichi 1309014 Nelson, (N.B.) P 814 Forward commuting
North Battleford 4712078 Battle River No. 438, (Sask.) RM 1053 Forward commuting
North Battleford 4712837 Sweet Grass 113-M16, (Sask.) IRI 0 Spatial contiguity
Port Alberni 5923033 Alberni-Clayoquot B, (B.C.) RDA 476 Forward commuting
Rimouski 2410065 Le Bic, (Que.) 2946 Forward commuting
Rivière-du-Loup 2412804 Cacouna, (Que.) IRI 0 Spatial contiguity
Rivière-du-Loup 2412060 Saint-Georges-de-Cacouna, (Que.) PE 677 Spatial contiguity
Rivière-du-Loup 2412055 Saint-Georges-de-Cacouna, (Que.) VL 1176 Forward commuting
Rouyn-Noranda 2488090 Preissac, (Que.) 726 Reverse commuting
Saint-Georges 2429120 Notre-Dame-des-Pins, (Que.) PE 1065 Forward commuting
Saint-Georges 2429125 Saint-Simon-les-Mines, (Que.) 473 Forward commuting
Saint-Hyacinthe 2454060 Saint-Dominique, (Que.) 2132 Reverse commuting
Shawinigan 2435045 Saint-Roch-de-Mékinac, (Que.) PE 324 Reverse commuting
Steinbach 4602044 Steinbach, (Man.) CY 11066 Urban core
Strathmore 4805018 Strathmore, (Alta) T 10225 Urban core
Sylvan Lake 4808005 Jarvis Bay, (Alta) SV 183 Urban core
Sylvan Lake 4808013 Norglenwold, (Alta) SV 270 Urban core
Sylvan Lake 4808012 Sylvan Lake, (Alta) T 10208 Urban core
Temiskaming Shores 3554029 Casey, (Ont) TP 385 Forward commuting
Temiskaming Shores 3554026 Harley, (Ont) TP 551 Forward commuting
Temiskaming Shores 3554021 Hudson, (Ont) TP 305 Forward commuting
Thetford Mines 2431045 Saint-Joseph-de-Coleraine, (Que.) 2003 Forward commuting

Census subdivisions removed from the census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations

Twenty-six CSDs are removed from 14 preliminary 2011 CAs.  There are five CAs where two or more CSDs are removed: Victoriaville, Amos, Portage la Prairie, Penticton and Port Alberni.  Thirteen of the 26 CSDs removed from CAs are in the province of Quebec.  Table 3.9 lists all CSDs that are removed from the preliminary 2011 CAs and the delineation rule that each CSD met in 2006.

Table 3.9
Census subdivisions removed from the preliminary 2011 census agglomerations
CA Name CSD
SGC Name Type 2006
Population
2006 Rule
Alma 2493070 Saint-Henri-de-Taillon, (Que.) 739 Forward commuting
Amos 2488035 Landrienne, (Que.) CT 986 Forward commuting
Amos 2488040 Saint-Marc-de-Figuery, (Que.) PE 692 Forward commuting
Baie-Comeau 2496902 Rivière-aux-Outardes, (Que.) NO 835 Reverse commuting
Cowansville 2446085 East Farnham, (Que.) VL 484 Forward commuting
Joliette 2461020 Saint-Pierre, (Que.) VL 304 Forward commuting
North Battleford 4716028 North Battleford No. 437, (Sask.) RM 737 Forward commuting
Penticton 5907049 Okanagen-Similkameen E, (B.C.) RDA 2,010 Forward commuting
Penticton 5907051 Okanagen-Similkameen F, (B.C.) RDA 2,011 Forward commuting
Port Alberni 5923047 Alberni-Clayoquot A,(B.C.) RDA 303 Reverse commuting
Port Alberni 5923803 Anacla 12, (B.C.) IRI 95 Spatial contiguity
Port Alberni 5923805 Elhlateese 2, (B.C.) IRI 27 Spatial contiguity
Port Alberni 5923821 Keeshan 9, (B.C.) IRI 0 Spatial contiguity
Port Alberni 5923801 Numukamis 1, (B.C.) IRI 5 Spatial contiguity
Port Alberni 5923814 Sachsa 4, (B.C.) IRI 0 Spatial contiguity
Portage la Prairie 4609026 Dakota Plains 6A, (Man.) IRI 65 Manual adjustment
Portage la Prairie 4609027 Dakota Tipi 1, (Man.) IRI 156 Spatial contiguity
Portage la Prairie 4609025 Long Plain (Part) 6, (Man.) IRI 752 Manual adjustment
Portage la Prairie 4609029 Portage la Prairie, (Man.) IRI 6,793 Spatial contiguity
Rimouski 2410060 Saint-Valérien, (Que.) PE 835 Forward commuting
Saint-Hyacinthe 2454035 La Présentation, (Que.) PE 2,115 Forward commuting
Saint-Hyacinthe 2454105 Saint-Barnabé-Sud, (Que.) 864 Forward commuting
Shawinigan 2435040 Grandes-Piles, (Que.) VL 350 Reverse commuting
Sorel-Tracey 2453032 Saint-Ours, (Que.) V 1,700 Reverse commuting
Victoriaville 2439030 Chesterville, (Que.) 894 Forward commuting
Victoriaville 2439077 Warwick, (Que.) V 4,804 Reverse commuting
Date modified: