Survey on Canadians' Safety

Start your survey

Have you been invited to participate in this survey via email or mail? To log in to the survey, complete the following steps.

Step 1: Visit the electronic questionnaire portal and select Start my survey.

Step 2: Enter your secure access code (you will find this code in the invitation letter or email you previously received from Statistics Canada).

Step 3: Complete the survey.

Are you missing your secure access code, or do you need help?

Phone:

1-877-949-9492
(TTY: 1-800-363-7629)
Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern time

If you use an operator-assisted relay service, you can call us during regular business hours. You do not need to authorize the operator to contact us.

Email:

infostats@statcan.gc.ca

The Survey on Canadians' Safety (SCS) is a national survey that explores Canadians' perceptions of crime and the justice system, and how safe they feel in their communities.

As not all crimes are reported to the police, this survey is an essential source of information on unreported crimes and provides an important supplement to recorded crime rates. Survey results will enhance our understanding of crime and its impact on Canadians and will help all levels of government, researchers, social service agencies and other organizations develop programs and services that are adapted to the needs of Canadians.

The survey results will also be used to inform Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate which brings together a whole-of-government approach to confronting hate by empowering communities, increasing research and data gathering, and building partnerships, to create a Canada that is free of all forms of hate.

The SCS is part of the General Social Statistics Program (GSSP), which gathers data on social trends and changes in the living conditions and well-being of Canadians.

Collection period:

From June 16, 2025, to February 28, 2026

Collection methods:

For provinces – Electronic questionnaire and telephone interviews

For territories – Electronic questionnaire, telephone interviews and in-person interviews

Survey participation:

Voluntary

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.

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Data sharing agreements and record linkage

Record linkage

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from the Canada Revenue Agency’s T1 file to obtain your personal and family income. Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.

Topics covered in the survey

The survey asks questions about

  • Perceptions of crime and the justice system
  • Sense of belonging and trust
  • Neighbourhood safety
  • Experiences of property crime, motor vehicle crime, theft, criminal victimization, fraud
  • Experiences of stalking and criminal harassment
  • Discrimination
  • Lifetime experiences
  • Health
  • Socio-demographic characteristics

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.

Survey-specific questions

What is the Survey on Canadians' Safety?

The Survey on Canadians' Safety is a national survey that explores Canadians' perceptions of crime and the justice system, and how safe they feel in their communities.

As not all crimes are reported to the police, this survey is an essential source of information on unreported crimes and provides an important supplement to recorded crime rates. Survey results will enhance our understanding of crime and its impact on Canadians and will help all levels of government, researchers, social service agencies and other organizations develop programs and services that are adapted to the needs of Canadians.

I just did a similar survey. Why are you contacting me again?

There are a number of surveys being conducted by Statistics Canada at one time. Every effort has been made to prevent overlap between surveys; however, it is possible that you have been selected for more than one survey. Each of the surveys have their own objectives and relate to different aspects of Canadian life.

Am I obligated to take part in the survey?

While your participation is voluntary, you have been selected to represent other individuals with similar characteristics. Your participation is very important to ensure the results of the survey accurately represent the Canadian population as a whole.

Why should I complete this survey?

It is important to hear from all people living in Canada, regardless of whether or not you have had any of these experiences. Data from this survey will be used by federal and provincial governments to develop and monitor policies and programs for victim services, police resourcing, and to develop public awareness programs. The results will help identify gaps in services and develop strategies to increase reporting to the police. Data from this survey will also inform Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate,

What is hate based violence?

Many Canadians across the country encounter violence motivated by bias, prejudice, or hatred toward individuals or groups based on characteristics like race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or other identities. This type of violence includes physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, and economic harm and is considered a serious threat to public safety, social cohesion, and democracy.

What is Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate?

Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate is the Government of Canada's first comprehensive, cross-government strategy to address hate in all its forms. It is structured around three pillars:

  • Empowering communities to identify and prevent hate
  • Supporting victims and survivors while protecting communities
  • Building community trust, partnerships, and institutional readiness

Overall, the goal of the strategy is to create a safer, more inclusive, and equitable Canada for everyone.

This survey is one source of information that can be used to help better understand the experiences and needs of those who have experienced hate-based violence in Canada.

How many people will be contacted to participate in the survey?

Approximately 104,800 people living in Canada 15 years of age and older will be invited to complete the questionnaire.

How is this survey funded?

The 2025 Survey on Canadians' Safety is funded by Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate (CAPCH) as part of the federal government's strategy to prevent and end hate-based violence and build a more resilient, safer, inclusive, and equitable country for all.

It is also funded by the Disaggregated Data Action Plan (DDAP) which is a whole-of-government approach led by Statistics Canada to support governmental and societal efforts to address known inequalities and promote fair and inclusive decision making.

What do I do if I need to stop in the middle of the survey? Will my responses be saved? Can I complete the survey at a later time?

Yes, your responses will be saved. If you are completing the survey online, you can save your answers with a password and resume later. If you are completing the survey by telephone, you can make an appointment with the interviewer and resume later.

How do you protect my information?

Statistics Canada takes your confidentiality very seriously. Under the Statistics Act, all information provided to Statistics Canada will be kept confidential and used only for statistical purposes. We do not release any information that could identify individuals, businesses, or households.

All employees of Statistics Canada are under oath and are liable to prosecution and/or severe penalties if they do not safeguard that confidentiality.

Stringent precautions are taken during the collection and processing of survey information to ensure that no unauthorized person will be allowed access to the data and that no identifiable information is released.

Why should I answer questions that I feel are too personal or an invasion of my privacy?

We realize that some questions are personal, but keep in mind that we get many answers from many people. These answers are grouped together and used to produce overall statistics. It will not be possible to identify any of your responses from materials released to the public.

It is important to hear from all people living in Canada, regardless of whether or not you have had any of these experiences. Data from this survey will be used to inform the government's Action Plan on Combatting Hate, as well as assist with program and policy decisions, and research of all kinds in the field of victimization.

Why do you ask for a postal code?

Your postal code tells us in which part of a city or rural area you live. Statistics Canada uses this information to calculate the number of people with specific characteristics that you represent in your area. Your postal code will not be shared with any other organization.

Will you use my name? Or will my name be put on a mailing list?

No. All personal information such as names and addresses will be separated from survey answers. Names and addresses are only used by Statistics Canada to contact people for the survey. No information will be published that could allow an individual to be identified. Statistics Canada will keep personal identifiers for internal linkage purposes, and they will be removed once data linkage is done.

Why do you ask about population groups?

The main purpose of the population group question is to determine whether a person belongs to the visible minority population, that is, one of the four designated groups identified by the Employment Equity Act. This act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than AboriginalFootnote 1 peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese. Asking a direct question is the best way to determine the visible minority population.

Why do you ask if I am an Indigenous person?

Published survey results are used by Indigenous communities, businesses and organizations to explore a wide variety of demographic and socio-economic issues. It also contributes to a complete picture of the situation of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

I am a trained volunteer at a local distress centre. Their policy states very clearly that as volunteers, for reasons of confidentiality, we don't talk about the agency, clients or what we do. I really feel that I can't take part in this survey.

The survey does not ask about your dealings with people when you volunteer. Under the Statistics Act all your answers are strictly confidential, and your participation is very important.

When will the results from the survey be available?

Results will be available in Fall 2026.

Resources for respondents

Some of the content of this survey may bring up upsetting memories of stressful or traumatic events, which could cause distress. Should you need any support, the following resources may be helpful.

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Northwest Territories

Nova Scotia

  • Victim Services Head Office
    1-888-470-0773
  • Halifax, Dartmouth and Halifax County
    Victim Services Dartmouth Regional Office
    902-424 -3307
  • Annapolis, Kings, Hants, Lunenburg, Queens, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Digby Counties
    Victim Services Kentville Regional Office
    1-800-565-1805
  • Pictou, Guysborough, Antigonish, Colchester, Cumberland Counties
    Victim Services Pictou Regional Office
    902-485-3580 or 1-800-565-7912
  • Cape Breton, Richmond, Inverness, Victoria Counties
    Victim Services Sydney Regional Office
    902-563-3655 or 1-800-565-0071

Nunavut

Ontario

  • Victim Support Line (24 hrs – 7 days a week)
    1-888-579-2888 or 416-314-2447
  • Assaulted Women's Helpline (24 hrs - 7 days a week)
    1-866-863-0511 or 416-863- 0511

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Saskatchewan

  • Government of Saskatchewan - Victim Services Branch (Regina)
    1-888-286-6664 or 306-787-3500
    TTY 1-866-445-8857

Yukon

For more information about this survey

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