A landmark day, the official Census Day in Canada is Tuesday, 12 May 2026. By now, you should have received a notification through Canada Post with a secure code to complete your return online. You can file early; you may want to wait if your household status is expected to change due to a birth, death, or relocation.
The Long-Form Census
According to Statistics Canada, 75% of Canadian households receive the short-form census. The long-form was introduced in 1941, with 10% of households receiving it. The long-form proportion was then increased to 20%, and to 25% in 2016.
The 2026 long form requires details including:
Religious affiliation and educational background.
Sexual orientation
The number of rooms in your home
Specific costs for utilities and property taxes.
Genealogical Records and ATIP Requests
The online census portal does not provide you with an option to save or print your completed return. If you want a copy for your family history files, you may submit a Personal Information Request under the Privacy Act. You can do this through the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s ATIP Online Request Service or by mailing a request to the ATIP Coordinator at Statistics Canada.
Regardless of when you choose to click “submit,” please ensure your voice is included in the national record.
I downloaded the E text version of the long form Census and I plan to complete that with the same answers I will use online. Then I can keep that for my records and to pass down to my family.