Questions set for 2026 censuses

Summary#

The government has published the exact questionnaires that Statistics Canada will use for the 2026 Census of Agriculture and the 2026 Census of Population. The Order also fixes May 2026 as the month for the population census and sets out the topics that will be asked of farms and households (Order in Council dated June 13, 2025).

What it does#

• Prescribes the full set of questions to be used for the 2026 Census of Agriculture. The agriculture questionnaire covers topics such as land area and tenure, crops and livestock, farm operators and time spent on the farm, farm finances and equipment, technologies and renewable energy, direct sales, succession planning and organic certification.
• Fixes May 2026 as the month for taking the 2026 Census of Population, and prescribes that census’s questions. The population (long-form) questionnaire covers demographics, language, education, labour market activity, mobility, housing, health and social topics (including Indigenous identity and ethnocultural origin).
• Uses May 12, 2026 as the reference date for many person-level questions on the long form.
• Confirms that census content was tested and consulted on (Statistics Canada ran content tests and a 2024 Census Test before finalizing questions).
• Sets an expected schedule for data release: the agriculture data are planned to start being released in May 2027, and population data releases are planned beginning in early 2027 (further releases through 2027–2028).

Who's affected#

• Statistics Canada (responsible for collecting the information and protecting it).
• Farmers and all agricultural operations in Canada — the 2026 Census of Agriculture asks detailed questions about each operation’s land, production and finances.
• Households — a sample of households will receive the long-form 2026 Census of Population (the long form is sent to about one in four households).
• Indigenous peoples and communities, including First Nations, Métis and Inuit, because the population questionnaire includes questions on Indigenous identity and related topics.
• Governments, researchers, businesses and local planners who rely on census data for funding formulas, program design, market research and community planning.

Why it matters#

• The questionnaires determine what national and local data will be available about farms, rural communities and the Canadian population for the next five years. The results feed decisions about funding, services, trade, agricultural supports, research and local planning.
• The agricultural census provides the only consistent community-level farm data over time. That helps farmers, suppliers, lenders and policymakers understand trends in land use, crops, livestock and farm technology.
• Population census data support programs and policies aimed at employment, education, health, housing and services for specific groups and places — including data used to target supports for Indigenous peoples, newcomers and minority-language communities.
• Statistics Canada is required by law to protect respondents’ information and the Orders reflect the agency’s tested and consulted questionnaire content and its planned release timeline (first agriculture release in May 2027).