The purpose of the Canadian Legal Problems Survey is to identify the kinds of serious problems people face, how they attempt to resolve them, and how these experiences may impact their lives. The information collected will be used to better understand the various methods people use to resolve problems - not just formal systems such as courts and tribunals, but also informal channels such as self-help strategies.
Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.
-
Block Information Confidentiality
Confidentiality
Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
-
Block Information on Data sharing agreements and record linkage
Record linkage
To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from immigration data.
-
Block Information on Topics covered in the survey
Topics covered in the survey
The survey asks questions about:
- crime and justice
- justice issues.
-
Block Information on Published data
Published data
Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.
Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.
Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.
-
Block Information on Survey-specific questions
Survey-specific questions
- Who is conducting this survey?
- Am I obligated to take part in the survey?
- Someone else in my household is interested to participate in the survey. I am not. Can they do it instead of me?
- How will the survey benefit me (and other Canadians)?
- Is my information confidential?
- When will survey results be available?
- Why do you ask about Age / Sexual orientation / Gender / Race / Income, etc.?
Who is conducting this survey?
The Canadian Legal Problems survey is being conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of the Department of Justice Canada. The questionnaire content was developed in collaboration by both departments.
Am I obligated to take part in the survey?
Your participation is voluntary. You have been randomly selected for the survey. Your participation is very important because it ensures that individuals with your characteristics and experiences are represented, so that the results of the survey accurately represent the Canadian population as a whole.
We want to hear from you whether or not you have experienced a serious dispute or problem.
Someone else in my household is interested to participate in the survey. I am not. Can they do it instead of me?
To select survey participants, Statistics Canada uses a statistical method called sampling. It is an established way to determine characteristics of an entire population with the answers from a randomly chosen sample.
For statistical reasons, we cannot select someone else to replace you. Your co-operation is important to ensure that the survey results are accurate and comprehensive.
How will the survey benefit me (and other Canadians)?
Your participation in this survey will provide important data that will be used to understand your experiences and to develop programs, tools and policies that will help you and others resolve serious problems that might occur in everyday life. You or other people you care about, could benefit from such programs.
Is my information confidential?
Yes. Statistics Canada takes measures to ensure that all information you give us remains strictly confidential:
All employees of Statistics Canada are under oath and liable to prosecution and/or severe penalties if they do not safeguard the information they collect.
Precautions are taken during the collection and processing of information. (For example, passwords are used to ensure only authorized individuals can collect or process your information, information is collected and processed on a secure network.)
Responses are combined with those of other respondents. The results are produced in a summary format such as graphs, charts and statistical tables. No information is produced that will identify an individual.
When will survey results be available?
The current plan is to release the survey results in early 2022.
Why do you ask about Age / Sexual orientation / Gender / Race / Income, etc.?
The sociodemographic data that we are collecting is important and necessary to better understand the social determinants of justice. Some research has noted that there are certain characteristics that influence justice outcomes (income, age, education, race, geography). For example, we know that characteristics such as sexual orientation or gender identity can lead to marginalization, discrimination and harassment, but we lack national data on this.
-
Block Information on Other information
Brochure
Canadian legal problems survey
Your participation is important!
Statistics Canada is conducting a survey on behalf of the Department of Justice Canada.
Serious problems, which may or may not require legal help, can affect all of us and occur at any time—with a job, housing, family or other areas of life. These problems can affect everyone differently, and people may use a variety of strategies to try and resolve them.
Serious problems could be related to
- employment
- personal injury or health
- property damage
- finances
- housing
- experiences with the criminal justice system (e.g., police, courts)
- family (e.g., divorce, child custody)
- discrimination.
Why participate?
These types of problems are rarely studied, yet they can represent a challenge for many people. The purpose of this survey is to find solutions. The more people participate, the more accurate the data will be. We want to hear from you whether or not you have experienced a serious problem. Every answer counts!
Participating is easy
You only need a secure access code to participate in this online survey. The website and code can be found in the letter you received with this brochure.
How will the results be used?
Results will be made available to governments, community organizations, legal professionals and other stakeholders to help them
- better understand your experiences
- develop programs, tools and policies to help resolve serious problems that might occur in everyday life.
Your privacy is important to us
All information collected by Statistics Canada is strictly confidential and is protected under the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada cannot release any information that would identify you without your consent. Furthermore, this information cannot be released under any other law, including the Access to Information Act.
When survey data are released, your answers will be grouped with those of other participants. We will not release any information linking you to the data you provide.
Want to know more?
Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-833-977-8287
(TTY: 1-866-753-7083)Visit Information for survey participants (ISP)
Follow us on social media
Need help right now?
Dial 211, a free, confidential service to connect to government and community resources in your area, including for legal help or mental health support.
For legal issues, visit Public Legal Education Association of Canada (PLEAC) Current Members to find a local public legal education organization.
For mental health support, contact the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 (in Quebec: 1-866-277-3553) or visit their website The Canada Suicide Prevention Service.
List of resources
Legal and Mental Health Resources by Province Province Legal Assistance and Public Legal Education and Information Mental Health Assistance Alberta Pro Bono Law Alberta
403-541-4804Alberta Mental Health Help Line
1-877-303-2642Canadian Mental Health Association (Alberta Division)
780-482-6576British Columbia Access Pro Bono
1-877-762-6664310-Mental Health Support
310-6789 (no area code needed)Canadian Mental Health Association (British Columbia Division)
604-688-3234 or 1-800-555-8222 (British Columbia only)Manitoba Legal Aid Manitoba
1-800-261-2960Klinic Community Health
Klinic Crisis Line: 1-888-322-3019New Brunswick Public Legal Education and Information Service of New Brunswick
1-888-236-2444 or 506-453-5369Chimo Helpline
1-800-667-5005Canadian Mental Health Association (New Brunswick Division)
506-455-5231Newfoundland and Labrador Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
Phone: 1-888-660-7788Mental Health Crisis Line
709-737-4668 or 1-888-737-4668Canadian Mental Health Association (Newfoundland and Labrador Division)
1-877-753-8550 or 709-753-8550Nova Scotia Legal Info Nova Scotia
1-800-665-9779Mental Health Crisis Line
1-888-429-8167Government of Nova Scotia
1-855-922-1122Ontario Community Legal Education Ontario
416-408-4420Telehealth Ontario
1-866-797-0000Government of Ontario
1-866-531-2600Prince Edward Island Community Legal Information
1-800-240-9798The Island Helpline
1-800-218-2885Government of Prince Edward Island
902-892-0853Quebec Quebec Ministry of Justice
1-866-536-5140Mental Health Crisis Line
1-866-277-3553Canadian Mental Health Association (Quebec and Montréal Division)
1-514-521-4993Saskatchewan Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan
306-653-1868HealthLine: 811
(in case of technical difficulties: 1-877-800-0002)Canadian Mental Health Association (Saskatchewan Division)
1-800-461-5483 - For more information about this survey (questionnaires, definitions, data sources and methods used): survey number 5337
