Do I have to participate in this survey?

If you have been contacted for the census, the Labour Force Survey, a business survey or an agriculture survey, you have to participate because these surveys are mandatory as per the Statistics Act. For other surveys, participation is voluntary.

Your participation is important

To ensure the most complete results, it is very important that the people selected answer the survey questions. Without your cooperation, Statistics Canada could not produce reliable and vital data.

The information gathered in our surveys has a direct impact on Canadians' lives. Click on any of the examples below for more details:

• Labour Force Survey
• Canadian Community Health Survey
• Survey of Household Spending

Moreover, all of your responses are equally important. For example, to produce objective, accurate information about Internet use in Canada, responses from people who don't use the Internet are just as important as the responses from people who do.

Why are businesses required by law to respond?

Canadians need accurate and reliable information as the cornerstone of democratic decision-making. Through the Statistics Act, Parliament has mandated Statistics Canada, as the national statistical agency, to produce such information.

Business surveys provide important economic information. It is used by businesses, unions, non-profit organizations and all levels of government to make informed decisions in many areas.

Because most business surveys feed directly or indirectly into legally mandated programs, mandatory response is required to ensure an adequate response rate and, therefore, reliable results.