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Municipal census

Training, resources and requirements for conducting a municipal census.

Overview

In Canada, 2 provinces and 2 territories have legislation that allow municipalities to conduct a municipal census. These include the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and the territories of Nunavut and Yukon.

Training

We offer training sessions on how to conduct a municipal census. The sessions, which are based on the Municipal Census Regulation and Municipal Census Manual, are designed to help census coordinators plan and carry out a municipal census. Sessions are offered virtually at no cost to municipalities and Metis Settlements.

Requirements

The Municipal Government Act (MGA) allows municipalities to conduct a census. The mandatory requirements to undertake a census are contained in the following:

In planning a census, municipalities must collect, use, disclose, protect, retain and dispose of census information according to the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, and should refer to FOIP Information for Conducting a Municipal Census.

Forms

Population list

The following files provide the municipal population figures as of September 1 of the municipal census year. The information found in each file is organized by the type of municipality.

The Population List was discontinued after 2019 following the repeal of Determination of Population Regulation and will be published again in 2023.

Contact

Connect with the Information Services Team:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-427-2225
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]