The Constitution of Canada gives the Federal Government exclusive responsibility for conducting a census.

The Census in Canada began with the country's first census in 1666. In the years leading up to 1871, Canada's first national census, a total of 98 colonial and regional censuses were conducted. The number and types of questions have varied over the years, to suit the times and purposes of collection.

Today, Statistics Canada uses the census to obtain a demographic snapshot of Canada's population, both socially and economically, living in the various census divisions. And because censuses are conducted every 5 years, longitudinal study of current census data with previous census data yields insight into trends. In addition, census information is also used to plan public services including health care, education, and transportation, and determine federal transfer payments.

Highlights

Highlights of the census in Canada include:

• 1666 - colony's first census
• 1871 - first national census
• 1881 - census takers sworn to oath of secrecy
• 1891 - census advertising through newspapers and from pulpits
• 1901 - census adds questions on religion, birthplace, citizenship and period of immigration
• 1906 - the first special census of the Northwest Provinces
• 1911 - last census to ask questions on "infirmities"
• 1921 - mechanical tabulation
• 1931 - census adds questions to assess unemployment
• 1941 - questions on fertility
• 1951 - first census covering all 10 provinces and (then) 2 territories
• 1956 - first mid-decade mini census; the Census of Agriculture and Census of Population would be taken together every 5 years
• 1961 - census adds question on level of education
• 1966 - last census to use only interviews
• 1971 - self-enumeration and long/short forms introduced
• 1976 - last mini-census; last census to ask question on "head" of family
• 1981
• 1986 - first full mid-decade census
• 1991 - question on common-law relationship
• 1996 - census questions translated into 49 non-official languages
• 2001 - collection of data on same sex common-law couples
• 2006 - online questionnaire
• 2011

References

See also

• Demographics of Canada
• Census geographic units of Canada
• Census division statistics of Canada
• Curtis, Bruce. Politics of Population: State Formation, Statistics, and the Census of Canada. Toronto: UTP, 2000.

External links

• Censuses of Canada. 1665 to 1871.
• List of Census Tables from 1665 to 1871.
• Historical statistics of Canada (1867 to the mid-1970s)
• Historical Census Online