Participating in the census is part of our heritage and civic duty, but many of us do it without knowing why certain information is collected or how it is used. To help you get a better understanding, check out these answers to common questions.
Will my personal information be secure?
Statistics Canada has stringent measures in place to ensure the confidentiality of respondents. When questionnaires are completed online, the information is protected through a secure login process and strong bidirectional encryption between the participant's browser and official servers.Are the questions available in languages other than English and French?
The 2021 Census questions will be available in 24 languages, in addition to English and French. When the census collection starts, you will be able to get a copy of the census questions in any of these languages on the census website.Why are some, and not all, areas visited by an enumerator?
About 1% of dwellings are visited by a census enumerator. Most of these households are located in remote and Northern communities, where it is difficult for census employees to make repeat visits to conduct follow-up activities to obtain completed questionnaires.Why does Statistics Canada require names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses?
This information helps ensure that every person in each household is counted and is counted only once. Phone numbers and emails allow an enumerator to follow up if a questionnaire hasn't been answered completely.How do I know if a caller or in-person visit is really from the census and not a scam?
All enumerators who call respondents will clearly identify themselves and explain the purpose of their call. Enumerators at the door will always present their official identification. You can always verify their identity by contacting the Census Help Line.
Find more information on the Frequently asked questions page of the census website.