Canadian residents will be inquired about their sexual orientation in the upcoming national census scheduled for May 2026, according to information obtained by CBC News. Although sexual orientation has been a part of previous surveys by Statistics Canada, this will be the debut of the question on the long-form census distributed to 25% of Canadians.
The short-form census, reaching 75% of residents, will not include these questions. Additionally, the long-form census will introduce inquiries about homelessness and health issues for the first time. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet sanctioned the census questions on June 13, encompassing traditional topics like ethnic background, education, housing, employment, citizenship, and spoken languages.
It is mandatory for Canadians to complete the census forms, and their responses are confidential. The data is vital for generating statistics on Canada’s population, aiding in identifying service requirements nationwide. This inclusion will provide a comprehensive overview of the geographic distribution and socioeconomic statuses of individuals with diverse sexual orientations across the country.
Moreover, the census will gather data on respondents’ sex at birth, gender identity (with options like man, woman, or other), and will provide a gender definition for clarity. Question 36, specifically for individuals aged 15 and above, will directly address sexual orientation to enhance programs promoting equal opportunities for all residents.
Sébastien Larochelle-Côté, the director general of Statistics Canada, highlighted that the decision to include sexual orientation stemmed from recognizing a data gap in understanding Canada’s population. This initiative will enable combining census data with information on transgender and non-binary individuals, enhancing insights into the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
Furthermore, the census will explore homelessness situations and health conditions among respondents. The homelessness questions aim to identify individuals at risk and can be juxtaposed with socioeconomic characteristics. Health-related inquiries will help anticipate healthcare demands at various geographical levels.
Statistics Canada plans to release detailed information on next year’s census on July 4. This strategic data collection is in line with efforts from other countries such as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, although the United States, with a decennial census, has yet to include questions on sexual orientation.