2006 Canadian census

Censuses in Canada June 2026 May 2016 2006 Canadian census Canada Census 2006 logo.png Statistics Canada logo.svg Canada May 16, 2006 31,612,897 5.4% province/territory Ontario (12,160,282) Nunavut (29,474) 2001 Canadian census 2001 2011 Canadian census 2011 The 2006 Canadian census was a detailed enumeration of the Canadian population. Census day was May 16, 2006. The following census was the 2011 census. Canada's total population enumerated by the 2006 census was 31,612,897. This count was lower than the official July 1, 2006 population estimate of 32,623,490 people.http://www.statcan.ca/estimadet-en.htm Differences between Statistics Canada's census counts and population estimates Statistics Canada 2006 August 21, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080410165420/http://www.statcan.ca/estimadet-en.htm April 10, 2008 dead mdy-all The previous census was the 2001 census and the following census was in 2011 census. Summary Over 12.7 million households, 32.5 million people were expected to be counted. Canada Post delivered census forms by mail to 70% of the country, primarily residents in urban areas. Census enumerators delivered to the remaining 30% of households. Every fifth home received the long questionnaire (53 questions versus 8 questions on the short form). For the first time, Canadian residents were able to go online to fill in their forms. Statistics Canada expected approximately 20% of households to file their surveys electronically. Persistent census staff are contacting tardy households. The total estimated cost of the 2006 census is $567 million spread over seven years, employing more than 25,000 full and part-time census workers. New in the 2006 census questionnaire: Education. Where did individuals receive their highest level of education? (Only on extended questionnaire) Income. Permission to use income information from an individual's income tax file. Income from child benefits. Income tax paid. (Also only on extended questionnaire) Access to personal information. Permission to make information public in 92 years. Questions not asked in the 2006 census: Religion. Normally asked only once every 10 years, and the religion question was asked in the 2001 census. Education. The number of years of schooling received. Modified questions Education Data products As the data were compiled, Statistics Canada released various census data products. The first set of data products was released on March 13, 2007, originally scheduled for release on February 13, 2007, covering population and dwelling counts by geographical unit. This was followed by other census data products.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/RelDates_e.cfm 2006 Census release dates 2006 Census Statistics Canada 2006 May 16, 2006 May 4, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20060504092139/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/RelDates_e.cfm dead Population and dwelling counts The first release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Tuesday, March 13, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080325173320/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070313/td070313.htm March 25, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011208/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070313/d070313.pdf May 30, 2008 was on March 13, 2007, covering population and dwelling counts by geographical unit. Population of the provinces and territoriesStatistics Canada, Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2006 Census https://web.archive.org/web/20080418022014/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Tables.cfm April 18, 2008 , Catalogue number 97-550-XWE2006002 https://web.archive.org/web/20170702195528/http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/IPS/display?cat_num=97-550-XWE2006002 July 2, 2017 , released March 13, 2007, Population and dwelling counts, for Canada, province and territories, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data https://web.archive.org/web/20080213160312/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/popdwell/Table.cfm?T=101 February 13, 2008 Population and dwellings Rank Province or territory Population as of2006 census Population as of2001 census Change Percentchange 1Ontario 12,160,282 11,410,046 750,236 6.6 2Quebec 7,546,131 7,237,479 308,652 4.3 3British Columbia 4,113,487 3,907,738 205,749 5.3 4Alberta 3,290,350 2,974,807 315,543 10.6 5Manitoba 1,148,401 1,119,583 28,818 2.6 6Saskatchewan 968,157 978,933 -10,776 -1.1 7Nova Scotia 913,462 908,007 5,455 0.6 8New Brunswick 729,997 729,498 499 0.1 9Newfoundland and Labrador 505,469 512,930 -7,461 -1.5 10Prince Edward Island 135,851 135,294 557 0.4 11Northwest Territories 41,464 37,360 4,104 11.0 12Yukon 30,372 28,674 1,698 5.9 13Nunavut 29,474 26,745 2,729 10.2 Canada 31,612,897 30,007,094 1,605,803 5.4 Age and sex The second release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Tuesday, July 17, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080518104847/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070717/td070717.htm May 18, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011209/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070717/d070717.pdf May 30, 2008 was on July 17, 2007, covering age and sex of the Canadian population. Among other findings, Statistics Canada reported that the 65-and-over population was at a record high of 13.7% of the total population of Canada.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_agesex.cfm Release no. 2: Age and sex April 21, 2008 April 18, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080418022038/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_agesex.cfm dead By comparison, the 2001 census found that the 65-and-over population was 13.0% of the total population of Canada.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/AgeSex/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&View=1&Code=0&Table=1a&StartRec=1&Sort=2&B1=Counts&B2=Both Age and Sex, 2001 Counts for Both Sexes, for Canada, Provinces and Territories - 100% Data April 21, 2008 February 14, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090214110932/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/AgeSex/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&View=1&Code=0&Table=1a&StartRec=1&Sort=2&B1=Counts&B2=Both dead Population of each province and territory by ageStatistics Canada, Age and Sex Highlight Tables, 2006 Census https://web.archive.org/web/20080420144301/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/index.cfm April 20, 2008 , catalogue number 97-551-XWE2006002 https://web.archive.org/web/20071116061156/http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=97-551-X2006002 November 16, 2007 , released July 17, 2007, Population by broad age groups, 2006 counts for both sexes, for Canada, provinces and territories - 100% data https://web.archive.org/web/20070906234224/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page September 6, 2007 and sexAge and Sex Highlight Tables, 2006 Census, 2006 counts for males, for Canada, provinces and territories - 100% data https://web.archive.org/web/20160115081029/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=2&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page January 15, 2016 , 2006 counts for females, for Canada, provinces and territories - 100% data https://web.archive.org/web/20090214114707/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/agesex/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Sex=3&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page February 14, 2009 Province / territory 0 to 14 15–64 65+ Males FemalesNewfoundland and Labrador78,230356,97570,265245,730259,740Prince Edward Island23,98591,68520,18565,59570,260Nova Scotia146,435628,815138,210439,835473,630New Brunswick118,255504,110107,635355,495374,500Quebec1,252,5105,213,3351,080,2853,687,6953,858,435Ontario2,210,8008,300,3001,649,1805,930,7006,229,580Manitoba225,175761,340161,890563,275585,125Saskatchewan187,695631,155149,305475,240492,915Alberta631,5152,305,425353,4101,646,8001,643,550British Columbia679,6052,834,075599,8102,013,9852,099,495Yukon5,72022,3652,29015,28015,090Northwest Territories9,92029,5701,97521,22520,240Nunavut10,00018,66081015,10514,365Canada5,579,83521,697,8054,335,25515,475,97016,136,925 Families, marital status, households and dwelling characteristics The third release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Wednesday, September 12, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219211444/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070912/td070912.htm February 19, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011200/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/070912/d070912.pdf May 30, 2008 was on September 12, 2007, and covered families/households,http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/familieshouseholds.cfm Release no. 3: September 12, 2007, Families and households April 21, 2008 April 20, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080420141723/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/familieshouseholds.cfm dead marital status,http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_maritalstatus.cfm Release no. 3: September 12, 2007, Marital status (including common-law status) April 21, 2008 March 23, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080323075245/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_maritalstatus.cfm dead and dwelling characteristics.Release no. 3: dwelling and household characteristics https://web.archive.org/web/20080506175617/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/release_housingshelter.cfm May 6, 2008 The following table displays various census data (derived from the 20% sample that completed the long questionnaire) on marital status for the Canadian population aged 15 years or more, as well as data on the number of couples by various criteria, and where available the percentage change from the 2001 census: Number % change(2001–2006) Population aged 15 years and overStatistics Canada, Catalogue number 97-552-XWE2006007 https://web.archive.org/web/20071211022724/http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=97-552-X2006007 December 11, 2007 , https://archive.today/20130115135922/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/shared/redirectproduct.cfm?ips=97-552-XWE2006007 Legal Marital Status (6), Common-law Status (3), Age Groups (17) and Sex (3) for the Population 15 Years and Over of Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas and Census Agglomerations, 2001 and 2006 Censuses - 100% Data 26,033,060 +7.2 Legally married (and not separated) 12,470,400 +3.8 Separated, but still legally married 775,425 +5.7 Divorced 2,087,390 +12.5 Widowed 1,612,815 +4.6 In a common-law relationship 2,731,635 +19.6 In a same-sex unionhttp://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=3&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page Persons in same-sex unions by broad age groups and sex for both sexes, 2006 counts, for Canada, provinces and territories - 20% sample data April 21, 2008 June 2, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080602155317/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=3&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page dead 90,695 +32.6 Same-sex coupleshttp://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/tables/Table4.cfm?Lang=E Same-sex couples by type of union (married, common-law) and sex, 2006 Census - 20% sample data April 21, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080602155322/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/tables/Table4.cfm?Lang=E June 2, 2008 dead mdy-all 45,350 Male same-sex married couples 4,010 Female same-sex married couples 3,455 Male same-sex common-law couples 20,730 Female same-sex common-law couples 17,155 All coupleshttp://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page Couple families by presence of children in private households April 21, 2008 June 2, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080602160434/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights/households/pages/Page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo=PR&Code=01&Table=1&Data=Count&Age=1&StartRec=1&Sort=2&Display=Page dead 7,482,780 +6.0 Married couples with children 3,443,775 -0.7 Married couples without children 2,662,130 +9.5 Common-law couples with children 618,150 +16.4 Common-law couples without children 758,715 +20.9 Immigration, citizenship, language, mobility and migration The fourth release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Tuesday, December 4, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219141741/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/td071204.htm February 19, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011205/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/071204/d071204.pdf May 30, 2008 was on December 4, 2007, and covered immigration, citizenship, language, mobility, migration and other population data. Aboriginal peoples The fifth release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Tuesday, January 15, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219180141/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/td080115.htm February 19, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011206/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080115/d080115.pdf May 30, 2008 was on January 15, 2008, covering aboriginal peoples. Labour, place of work/commuting to work, education, language The sixth release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Tuesday, March 4, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080508223804/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080304/td080304.htm May 8, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011202/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080304/d080304.pdf May 30, 2008 was on March 4, 2008, covering labour,http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/labour.cfm Release no. 6: labour April 21, 2008 May 5, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080505035753/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/labour.cfm dead educationhttp://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/education.cfm Release no. 6: Education April 21, 2008 April 10, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080410161226/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/education.cfm dead and some other topics going with that. Ethnic origin, visible minorities The seventh release of 2006 census dataStatistics Canada, The Daily, Wednesday, April 2, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080407035153/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/td080402.htm April 7, 2008 The Daily (pdf) https://web.archive.org/web/20080530011203/http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080402/d080402.pdf May 30, 2008 was on April 2, 2008, covering ethnic origins and visible minoritieshttp://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/ethnicorigin.cfm Release no. 7: Ethnic origin and visible minorities April 21, 2008 April 21, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080421115328/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/ethnicorigin.cfm dead and commuting to work.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/pow.cfm Release no. 7: Place of work and commuting to work April 21, 2008 May 1, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080501113839/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/pow.cfm dead Income/earnings, shelter costs The eighth release of 2006 census data was on May 1, 2008, covering income and earnings, and shelter costs.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/index.cfm#note5 Statistics Canada, Census 2006 Release topics and dates. April 21, 2008 April 12, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080412083621/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/release/index.cfm#note5 dead Advertising In contrast to 1996 focus-groups that found it important to know the legal requirement at the outset, participants of 2005 focus-groups were annoyed or provoked by draft ads reminding Canadians about the census law. As a result of the finding, Statistics Canada's initial newspaper, radio and TV ads avoided mention of the legal requirement. Instead, reference to the census law was highlighted only in ads appearing after census day, to capture late filers. To encourage participation, Statistics Canada set aside $13 million for "saturation" advertising, including billboards, bookmarks, inserts in municipal tax bills, and ads on bags of sugar and milk cartons.Beeby, Dean Statistics Canada revamps census ad campaign to play down legal requirements Canoe Inc. March 26, 2005 Outsourcing Statistics Canada reports less than 20% of the work will be outsourced, spending $85 million over 5 years. Despite an open public tender process, controversy arose on the announcement of a $43.3 million deal awarded to Lockheed Martin Canada—a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor by defense revenue—for the purchase of scanning and printing software and hardware.Lambert, Steve http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/10/10/663339.html Census contractor comes under fire The London Free Press October 10, 2004 April 28, 2006April 2026 medicmedic Forms A variety of forms were available in both official languages, varying in length, colour, and recipient's location.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/questions/index.cfm 2006 Census: Census questionnaires and guides February 14, 2008 March 22, 2008 Statistics Canada March 29, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080329122406/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/questions/index.cfm dead Most households (80%) received the short form (2A): English: orange French: yellow One in five received the long form (2B): English: red French: purple Federal and provincial employees and their families working in embassies and National Defence bases abroad (2C): English: purple French: red In the three northern territories and on Aboriginal communities and settlements (2D): English: orange French: yellow Census of Agriculture (6): English: yellow French: orange Controversy Special interest groups criticised Statistics Canada over the design of questions, accuracy, and the future of the census data:Freeze, Colin. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060515.wxcensus15/BNStory/National/home Census coloured by broad array of interests The Globe and Mail May 15, 2006 May 16, 2006May 2022 InternetArchiveBot yes Question 6: Relationship. Couples in same-sex marriages were offended by and/or objected to Statistics Canada's instruction that they use the write-in field "Other" instead of checking the "husband or wife" box. Question 16: Mother tongue. An anonymous email misinformation campaign advised bilingual francophones to not mention their knowledge of English. Question 53: Election to release census data after 92 years.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/genealogy.cfm Statistics Canada, Genealogy corner April 21, 2008 April 26, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080426231304/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/genealogy.cfm dead Genealogists worried that future research will be hampered if Canadians didn't check this box.April 2008 Nationally, there was a yes response in respect of 55.58% of persons enumerated in the census. The yes percentage was highest in Prince Edward Island, 64.50%, and lowest in Nunavut, 51.39%.Statistics Canada, 2006 Census results: The 92-year question https://web.archive.org/web/20080426231259/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/gen_results.cfm April 26, 2008 . Retrieved April 21, 2008. Individual respondents are permitted to change their response to this question by mailing in a request-for-change form.http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/change.cfm Statistics Canada, Change or verify your response to the consent question on the 2006 Census of Population April 21, 2008 February 19, 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080219154402/http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/reference/info/change.cfm dead In addition, Statistics Canada's online questionnaire had been criticized over accessibility issues:Byfield, Bruce http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/05/12/144252.shtml?tid=136&tid=132&tid=150 Canadian Census controversy continues NewsForge May 12, 2006 May 16, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20061114182827/http://trends.newsforge.com/trends/06/05/12/144252.shtml?tid=136&tid=132&tid=150 November 14, 2006 dead mdy-all Failure to comply with Treasury Board, guidelines to meet W3C accessibility recommendations for the visually impaired Failure to support open source, operating systems. Support for Linux was eventually added,http://www22.statcan.ca/ccr02/ccr02_003_e.htm Notice to Linux users Statistics Canada 2006 May 16, 2006 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060615032512/http://www22.statcan.ca/ccr02/ccr02_003_e.htm June 15, 2006 but support for other operating systems was not. The quality of data was further hampered by individuals who advocated minimal cooperation or non-cooperation, in protest to the outsourcing contract awarded to Lockheed Martin.Riga, Andy http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=09adc99b-e3e5-418c-a274-296d8abed7bf&rfp=dta Census faces attack from blog rumours National Post May 8, 2006 May 16, 2006 https://web.archive.org/web/20121107113652/http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=09adc99b-e3e5-418c-a274-296d8abed7bf&rfp=dta November 7, 2012 dead mdy-all Many people believed that Lockheed Martin would have access to their information, and that the US government could then access that information through the USA PATRIOT Act. However, despite assurances to the contrary (i.e., only Statistics Canada employees would and could handle, store, and access the information), some people refused to participate fully in the census. The release of data was postponed to numerous issues during enumeration.https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/2006-census-results-delayed-amid-problems-1.676358 2006 census results delayed amid problems CBC February 12, 2007 December 18, 2011 These included: the recruitment of enumerators amid a competitive job market, particularly in Western Canada the requirement of some people to fill out a second form after their first forms did not arrive in the mail; and delays in payments to enumerators As a result, the first release of data from the census, originally scheduled for release on February 13, 2007, was delayed to March 13, 2007. See also 2011 Canadian census Demographics of Canada Statistics Act Population and housing censuses by country External links 2006 Census by topics and regions - Statistics Canada's page on the 2006 census Census 2006 - 2A (Short Form) https://web.archive.org/web/20200916184601/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/ref/about-apropos/version2A-eng.cfm September 16, 2020 Census 2006 - 2B (Long Form) https://web.archive.org/web/20180213040733/http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/ref/about-apropos/version-eng.cfm February 13, 2018 References 2 Census Category:Censuses in Canada Category:2006 censuses