Question about country of birth of parents in the 2016 long-form Census

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May 4, 2016

OTTAWA — The Census provides a portrait of our people and where we live and needs to evolve to reflect the diversity of our country.

Some Canadians have been wondering how to answer question 24 on the long-form census questionnaire when they have same-sex parents. Respondents are asked to identify the birth place of their mother and their father in the current long-form census. We will be consulting broadly with Canadians on the wording of questions such as this one in advance of the next census. In the meantime, Statistics Canada encourages Canadians who have same-sex parents to indicate the place of birth of their first parent in question 24a) and that of their second parent in question 24b).

It is important to note that Question 24 is used to assess the social and economic conditions of second-generation Canadians, and helps us understand Canada’s immigration history. Responses to question 24 are not used to identify same-sex couples or same-sex parents.

Question 6 measures the prevalence of same-sex couples and same-sex parents in Canada as well as the number of children in Canada who live with same-sex parents.

We thank Canadians for their keen interest in, and ongoing support for, the 2016 Census Program.


For more information, contact Media Relations at 613-951-4636 or STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca.

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