P.E.I. 2SLGBTQ+ advocates say a new sexual orientation question on Canada’s 2026 long-form census could improve visibility and support funding requests.
A new question on sexual orientation in Canada’s 2026 census is being welcomed by P.E.I. 2SLGBTQ+ advocates, who say the data could give community organizations stronger evidence when seeking public support, grants and policy changes.
Statistics Canada included the question for the first time on the long-form census questionnaire, which went to 25 per cent of Canadian residents in May 2026. The question does not appear on the short-form census sent to the remaining 75 per cent of residents, and it is asked of people aged 15 and older.
AinZ Kendrick, executive director of the P.E.I. Transgender Network, said the change suggests Statistics Canada is responding to calls from the wider national community for better data on 2SLGBTQ+ people. Kendrick said the information can help shape decisions in areas such as employment, health and housing.
“Having this information allows us to say we exist and here’s where we exist and here are our needs,” Kendrick said.
The P.E.I. Transgender Network uses census data in public education work and when applying for grants and project funding. Kendrick said having more specific information about 2SLGBTQ+ communities could help organizations show where services are needed and make a stronger case for resources.
Scott McLeish, director for the Centre for Population and Social Statistics at Statistics Canada, said census questions are intended to describe the population and help governments, businesses and organizations understand the people they serve. He said data on different population groups can show when experiences and outcomes are not the same.
Kels Smith of PEERS Alliance, a P.E.I. non-profit that advocates for queer and neurodivergent communities, said better information could be especially useful for understanding and supporting youth. Smith pointed to the value of data on identity and mental health as young people navigate circumstances that may differ from what many adults experienced.
Advocates also cautioned that the results may not capture everyone. Kendrick noted that a parent completing the census may not know a child’s sexual orientation or may choose not to record it. Smith said some people may also be hesitant to share information if they are concerned about how the data could be used or how the political climate might change.
For P.E.I. organizations, the next test will be whether the new census data translates into better visibility and practical support, while its limits are kept in view.
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