Overview
- Invitation letters for the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture are arriving with a 16-digit code for secure online access.
- By law, every household and farm operator must respond, and Statistics Canada keeps responses confidential.
- May 12 is the reference date for answers, with reminder letters, phone calls, and in-person visits planned for non-respondents.
- Refusing to respond can bring fines up to $500, with final warnings and possible prosecution referrals expected to start in mid-July.
- Reporters say the 2026 questionnaire adds a sexual orientation question for the first time to capture more detailed demographic data.