Winnipeggers react to census 2026 as the first deadline to fill the questionnaire arrives

Starting May 4, every household across the country received this slip inviting them to fill out a questionnaire for the 2026 census, and May 12, that first deadline arrived.

CityNews hit the streets to see what Winnipeggers thought about the 2026 census and why some are feeling cautious.

“We do know that response has been excellent. We’ve had really great take-up in the census in the 2026 so far,” said Geoff Bowlby, an assistant chief statistician for Statistics Canada.

“I think that the census is super important. It’s really important to get accurate information for funding, for budgets and to just know what is going on in the country.”

The last census was carried out in 2021 with a 98 per cent turnout. May 12 is the so-called soft deadline, with Statistics Canada planning to keep gathering the information till mid-summer.

“The placements of schools and hospitals and transit routes etc. Core services of government are dependent upon the census results. We need to know where people live to put the services in the right place,” said Bowlby.

Some Winnipeggers we spoke to said the census data was essential for them to discover their heritage.

“Because my family filled that out in 1884, I can find my Indigenous history. So I can see that my great-great-gandfather wrote that he was Cree. This is the sort of thing I find helpful. And it’s a way of tracking our history,” said one Winnipegger.

But some CityNews spoke to shared privacy concerns related to the data gathered.

“In the United States, they are actually making a way of being more intrusive with people’s lives. And it’s coming here too. I am not overly concerned about it now. But I think people should have their privacy,” said Al Wiebe, a Winnipegger.

Said another Winnipegger, “I think that the benefit coming out of censuses is much more important than the risk that comes out of it.”

Bowlby, however, says, “We are going through great strides to make sure to protect the privacy and confidentiality of everyone who responds to the census.”

But some Winnipeg residents say they haven’t received their census yet and are anxious about potential fines.

“But there are a lot of people who are not capable. So what are you going to do with them?” said Wiebe.

One Winnipegger said, “I don’t want fines. I like doing my civic duties. I’d like to actually get that.”

While another said, “500 dollars is steep for not filling out the census. I feel that there is another way to go about it.”

The first results will be available to the public in early 2027.