Consultation and public engagement

Statistics Canada's efforts to modernize the Census of Population are built on a robust foundation that includes both past and ongoing consultations, as well as transparent communication with stakeholders and the Canadian public.

Several qualitative studies have been initiated to evaluate the social acceptability of using administrative data for statistical purposes. The preliminary results of these studies indicate that the public generally expects Statistics Canada to reuse data that Canadians have already provided to other government departments. This reuse is deemed socially acceptable provided that the objectives and methods are transparent and justifiable, and that the privacy and confidentiality of personal information are safeguarded. These insights have shaped the design of the first quantitative study on this matter, which is scheduled to be part of the 2024 Census Test.

Census Futures Test in 2024

Before each census, Statistics Canada conducts extensive tests of its operations. The 2024 Census Test will introduce a new participation method for some selected households. For the first time, a limited number of dwellings will receive a letter providing the option to either complete a census questionnaire or permit Statistics Canada to use administrative data already collected from other federal and provincial government departments to enumerate their household. Should a household opt for the latter, they are not required to take any action (i.e., they do not need to fill out a questionnaire). In this case, Statistics Canada will use administrative records to determine the number of usual residents at their dwelling, including their age and sex at birth or gender. This group is only a fraction of the 2024 Census Test population – the majority of sampled dwellings will be asked to complete a questionnaire. Participation in the 2024 Census Test is mandatory by law for all selected dwellings.

For those selected dwellings given the choice between completing a questionnaire and allowing the use of administrative information, Statistics Canada will assess and compare the proportion of dwellings that select each option. The objective of this portion of the 2024 Census Test is to gauge the public's commitment to the Census by their willingness to fill out a questionnaire themselves, as well as the social acceptability of repurposing information that households have previously supplied to the government. While Statistics Canada does not intend to offer this choice in the 2026 Census, the outcomes of this test will guide our communication with Canadians and potential enhancements to future censuses.