The purpose of this survey is to gather information about paid and unpaid work, family time, changes to your household, and intentions to have children. Survey results will provide important information about the well-being of people in Canada and help decision makers develop programs and policies to better serve all Canadians.
The information you provide may be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.
Collection period:
From October 26 to December 7, 2021
Collection methods:
Electronic questionnaire with telephone interview follow-up for non-response
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.
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 the Address Register, Census, health data, personal tax data and the Longitudinal Immigration Database.
Topics covered in the survey
The survey asks questions about:
- life
- paid and unpaid work
- family time
- changes to your household
- intentions to have children.
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 Canadian Social Survey?
- Why are you collecting this information and what will it be used for?
- How was I selected to participate?
- Where can I find more information about this project?
- How long does it take to participate in this survey?
- What are the benefits of participating in this survey?
- I do not want to participate because I don't have time. Is my participation mandatory?
- How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
What is the Canadian Social Survey?
The Canadian Social Survey is a new Statistics Canada initiative that involves conducting surveys on different topics every three months. By pooling the quarterly data over the course of a year, we can release data at a more detailed level.
For now, this is an experimental project and part of a larger effort to modernize our data collection methods and activities. Thanks to respondents like you, we will be able to test this new collection method. The goal is to collect important data on Canadian society more efficiently, more rapidly, and at a lower cost compared to traditional survey methods.
Why are you collecting this information and what will it be used for?
The purpose of the Canadian Social Survey on COVID-19 and Well-being is to rapidly gain a better understanding how the pandemic affects the daily lives of people like you across the country. This survey will help measure the changes brought on by the pandemic. Topics include your health, well-being, and the life changes you've experienced.
The data will be used by government departments and organizations to inform a variety of sources such as research, analyses, and policy making related to the topics covered in the Canadian Social Survey.
How was I selected to participate?
Households across Canada were selected randomly. The invitation letter includes instructions on how to identify the person within the household who has been selected to participate.
Where can I find more information about this project?
You can find more information about this project at Canadian Social Survey (CSS).
How long does it take to participate in this survey?
The survey takes a maximum of twenty minutes to complete. It can be completed online, which means you can participate at any time that is convenient for you throughout the collection period.
What are the benefits of participating in this survey?
Participating in this survey helps us to implement a new method of data collection that will provide information on Canadian society more quickly and cost-effectively.
I do not want to participate because I don't have time. Is my participation mandatory?
While we would greatly appreciate your support, participation is not mandatory. Please note, however, that each survey only takes a maximum of twenty minutes of your time, and you can do it online whenever it is convenient for you.
How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
As with all Statistics Canada surveys, any information you provide will remain confidential pursuant to the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. Published data can never identify you or your household.
To find out more about the measures in place to safeguard the confidentiality of your information, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.