What to know
- A viral video appears to show a Statistics Canada enumerator entering a home during a census follow-up visit.
- Statistics Canada confirmed it is aware of the video but said it cannot comment on the specific incident due to privacy policies. The agency says all enumerators receive training on procedures for visiting private residences.
- Census information is protected under the Statistics Act, Privacy Act and Access to Information Act.
- Completing the census is mandatory, with refusal potentially carrying a fine of up to $1,000 or imprisonment.
A tense encounter between a census worker and a resident is going viral after a video appeared to show the Statistics Canada employee inside a home without the resident’s permission, and now the federal agency is responding.
In the video, the resident threatens to call police while accusing the enumerator of entering the home uninvited. The worker apologizes for entering and explains that she was there because the household had not completed its census.
‘I’m gonna call the cops’: What happened in the viral video
A video circulating on social media shows the employee standing at the house’s foyer, while a woman recording the interaction alleges she has entered the house uninvited.
As seen in the video, the employee steps out, apologizes for entering, and explains that the house’s resident has failed to complete her census. However, the owner suggests she would like written proof that her information “is not being sold off to third parties” before completing the census.
“I’m gonna call the cops, it’s breaking and entering,” the woman says. “I’m not refusing [to complete the census]. When you can show me a piece of paper showing that [Prime Minister] Mark Carney is not selling our information to other people so migrants can come into my fricking house…”
The woman continues to question the employee about Statistics Canada’s policy and demands to see her identification card.
Another man who appears to be inside of the house then tells the employee he is calling the police and says she is not allowed to leave.
“Cops are coming. If you leave you are running away from a crime, just stay,” he said.
The employee then says she will take the interaction as a refusal to complete the census, and suggests that not allowing her to leave would be “kidnapping.”
Based on the video interaction, it is unknown whether the employee left the house or whether police were indeed called into the scene.
‘This was completely unnecessary’: Video divides social media
The video is sparking mixed reactions online, with many defending the employee and saying the resident appeared to be overreacting.
“I’m pretty sure she entered by accident. She probably thought it was a double door entrance. This is super unnecessary. She handled it calmly and professionally,” one person said on Instagram.
“As someone who used to work for Census Canada this is a person doing their job… Poor girl was probably so scared. The homeowner could have been more polite and just asked her to leave without yelling and threatening to call the police,” another person added.
“This was completely unnecessary. You can be mad and not agree with the census but this is not OK,” a different user said.
Meanwhile, others agreed with the author of the video, saying the employee was wrong for entering the home.
“Totally valid reaction. Entering someone’s home (and continuing to make excuses and not leave) is not a ‘mistake,’” one person said.
“The lady of the house is right. Trespassing is trespassing. If it was a ‘mistake’ the girl would have apologized and left,” another person said.
“You cannot enter someone’s home without their permission! If they don’t answer then keep it moving!!!!” a different person added.
What Statistics Canada says about the incident
In a statement to Now Toronto, Statistics Canada said it’s aware of the video, but noted it cannot offer specific details or actions taken as a result of the event due to [its] privacy policies.
“All Statistics Canada enumerators receive training on the procedures and expectations for in-person visits to private residences as part of their onboarding,” the agency said.
In addition, the agency shared that the data it collects is protected under the Statistics Act, the Privacy Act, and the Access to Information Act, and said it “takes safeguarding of Canadians’ information very seriously.”
Residents can find more information about Statistics Canada information collection and privacy on its website.
Incident comes after some refused to fill the census: What happens if you refuse to complete the census?
The interaction comes after some Canadians shared they would be refusing to fill out the census, with some posting images of their mailed-in census letter with the “return to sender” message on the envelope.
Read More
Refusing to fill out the census is illegal in Canada, and could leave residents with a fine of up to $1,000 or even jail time, according to Statistics Canada.
The physical survey happens every five years and gathers data on various demographics across the country. In 2026, the census was sent out in May, with the deadline to fulfill it being May 12.
Can census workers come to your door?
On June 2, Statistics Canada announced its census enumerators would begin contacting households that had not yet filled the survey, and would conduct door-to-door visits to remind residents to complete the survey or assist them with completion.
