Have you filed your 2026 Census? Some Canadians aren't in protest
Some Canadians are unhappy with the way PM Carney secured his majority government, and are using the census to voice their displeasure.
Author of the article:Brian Towie
Published May 12, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read
Some Canadians are unhappy with the census.
An image shared to X by a Canadian unhappy with the 2026 Census. Photo by @melissacare01 /X
Some Canadians are letting the government know what it can do with its 2026 Census.
The unofficial deadline to fill out the Statistics Canada census is May 12. Canadians should have received a slip in the mail containing a security code in order to complete the form online.
Three in four Canadian households were mailed the short-form questionnaire, which collects demographic information. Others would have received a long-form questionnaire asking for the same but with more questions about economic status and household.
StatsCan says it will send out reminder notes to households that don’t complete the forms on time and may also follow up with phone calls and in-person visits with census takers.
In July, those who don’t complete the census will be notified of the potential consequences and could eventually receive a $500 fine. Those who steadfast won’t do it could be referred to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. In 2021, 43 cases were referred, fewer than the 47 after the 2016 census, according to The Canadian Press.
Violation of privacy?
However, that’s not scaring some Canadians, who say they believe the census is a violation of their privacy. Some took to X to voice their displeasure with the federal government.
“‘Elbows Up’ is really feeling threatened by Canadians choosing not to fill out the census as a form of legitimate protest,” posted one X user. They’re posting the same message in hundreds of community Facebook groups all over Canada.”
Another X post features a picture of the census with “return to sender” written in black Sharpie ink.
Nina Koumodouros of Brampton, told CP that she feels Canadians distrust the government’s ability to protect their information and she returned the form to protest the Carney government’s majority that was gained via a series of floor-crossing MPs. Since November, four former Conservatives and one former New Democrat have joined the Liberals, securing Carney a majority in Parliament.
“This is just a protest against Carney’s majority government gained without a general election,” Koumodouros told CP. “The overall sentiment is that we don’t wish to provide personal information to an illegitimate majority government.”
Appeal to sense of civic duty
Liberal MP Mark Gerretsen said that the census is not a personal data grab engineered by Prime Minister Mark Carney, it’s information collected by the government to help build community infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, clinics and transit, understand demographic shifts, and determine how much funding municipalities need.
“It’s literally the opposite of none of your business. It is your business,” he said. “When people refuse the census, they’re not sticking it to Ottawa. They’re sticking it to their own community.”
He added that small towns would feel the impact even more.
“Skipping the census doesn’t hurt the government. It hurts your neighbours,” he said. “So if you want to protest something, go ahead. But mailing back a blank census form isn’t a rebellion. It’s just volunteering your community for fewer resources.”
Complete your census questionnaire online today. It's quick, easy, and secure.
census.gc.ca
Some Canadians are unhappy with how PM gained his majority, and are using census to say so.
torontosun.com
