It's Canada census time. Can you be jailed for not filling it out?
The government of Canada has announced that it has begun the collection of data for the 2026 Census of Population and the 2026 Census of Agriculture. Here’s what to know.
What is the Census?
Canada’s census, like those going back thousands of years in various parts of the world, is a collection of information about the population, used to help determine political representation and infrastructure needs.
The first Canadian census was taken in New France by its first Intendant, Jean Talon. The recorded population (excluding Aboriginal persons and royal troops) was 3,215. Information was obtained on age, sex, marital status, locality, professions and trades.
The British North America Act (later The Constitution Act) of 1867 required that a census be taken every 10 years. In 1906, the prairie provinces changed that to every five years due to rapid growth, and in 1956 the rest of the country switched to this as well.
It is traditionally held in early May because it predates summer holidays for most Canadians, making it easier to reach them at home. The census is mailed to households and includes information for filling it out online and a toll-free number for assistance.
What are the penalties for not filling it out?
The form says right on the front that completion “Is required by law.” And while that law since 2016 no longer includes the possibility of prison time, there are penalties of up to $500 for false information, and up to $1,000 for refusing outright, plus a criminal record.
Actual cases of people refusing to fill out the census are rare. A spokesperson from Statistics Canada, which oversees the census, told National Post the overall response rate was 98 per cent or higher in both 2021 and 2016.
In 2014, a 79-year-old woman was found guilty of violating the Statistics Act for refusing to fill out the 2011 census, but she was.given a conditional discharge and no permanent criminal record after completing 50 hours of community service.
Another woman who refused that survey was acquitted by a judge who called the government’s decision to prosecute her a bad public relations move.
Is the information private?
The government goes to great lengths to maintain confidentiality of the data. Employees go through a screening process that includes a credit check and a name-based criminal record check by the RCMP. They then take an oath of secrecy that remains in effect for life.
That said, census information is released to Library and Archives Canada after 92 years and is no longer confidential. So your census data will be available to the public in 2118, and records from the 1931 census and earlier can now be searched to, as Statistics Canada puts it, “conduct research and help us better understand our past and, therefore, better build our future.”
What’s the difference between the long and the short version?
The short-form census, which goes out to 75 per cent of Canadian households, has 20 basic questions including age, gender, sex at birth, language, and how many people live in your household.
The other 25 per cent of households get the long-form questionnaire , with other questions including social and economic status, education and job type, and the dwellings people live in.
The Census of Agriculture uses the same questionnaire for all farm operations across Canada.
Hasn’t it already begun in the Far North?
Yes. In February and March 2026, census collection took place in select northern and remote communities. Collection begins early to ensure access to areas that are easier to reach in winter when roads are frozen, and to count populations that typically migrate out of their communities in the spring.
Why are there two types of censuses?
The Census of Population collects demographic information from every household in the country, while the Census of Agriculture collects information about every agricultural operation in Canada.
“Together, they paint a complete portrait of Canada’s population and agriculture sector, providing high-quality information that helps Canadians make important decisions that affect their families, their communities and their businesses,” according to Statistics Canada .
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