Statistics Canada

Census

The first national census was in 1871, a few years after Confederation (1867). The census included the four original provinces and expanded as additional provinces joined Confederation. When the prairie provinces joined Confederation, an Agricultural Census was initiated (1906) and repeated every 5 years to help monitor the growth of the west. Since 1956, these two censuses have been administered together every 5 years. Agricultural producers across the country received a copy of the Census of Population questionnaire as well as a copy of the Census of Agriculture questionnaire. Participation in the census is required by law.

The intent of the first national census was to determine population estimates to ensure representation by population in Parliament, a purpose still relevant today. In Canada, the census is also used to calculate transfer payments between the different government jurisdictions (federal government to the provinces and territories; provinces and territories to municipalities). The transfer payments fund schools, hospitals, and other public services.

Prior to the 1950s, the census involved multiple questionnaires and ranged from 200 to 500 questions. To reduce response burden and administration costs, sample surveys were initiated to gather certain data and the census questionnaires were reduced in size. Two versions of the census questionnaire were introduced. The short version is administered to all Canadian households, except every fifth household, which receives a long version of the questionnaire. The short version gathers information about names of household members, relationship to the head of household, sex, age, marital status, and language. The long version includes these questions as well as additional questions about education, ethnicity, mobility, income, and employment. The content of the long version is more apt to change across time, with the short version staying more consistent in content.

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