How does Canada’s outdated census question on religion distort public policy, and why are humanists calling for reform to reflect the country’s growing secularism?
By Robert Hamilton (President, Humanist Ottawa)
Let’s be honest — when was the last time you saw stats on religion[1] and thought: “Yep, that totally reflects what’s going on in Canada”? For most of us in humanist and secular circles, the answer is probably “never.” Yet, every ten years, millions of Canadians check a box or write in a religion — even if they haven’t practiced, believed, or even thought about it in years. And you know what? That outdated approach is holding us back.
The Census: Frozen in the Past
Right now, the census asks: “What is this person’s religion?” and Question 30 specifically tells you to answer even if you’re not practicing[2]. So, if you were baptized Catholic but haven’t been to church since the last Canada-Russia hockey win, you’re still counted as religious. If your family is culturally Jewish but you’re a proud atheist, you’re still on the “religious” side of the stats. The result? The numbers make it look like Canada is far more religious than it actually is[3][4]. Of course this isn’t a concern — for the religious.
This also isn’t just trivia for policy wonks. Governments use these numbers to decide how much money goes to health care, faith-based education, and justice programs[4]. If census data says there are tons of practicing believers, politicians assume we need more churches, chaplains, and religious accommodations. Meanwhile, the growing crowd of non-religious Canadians (now over a third of us nationally, and a majority in British Columbia and Yukon) gets sidelined when it comes to funding and services that actually reflect our lives[3][4].
Meet “Functional Atheism”
Here’s where it gets interesting: there’s a huge gap between what people say on the census and how they actually live. This is called “functional atheism.” It’s when folks claim a religious label but live as if religion doesn’t matter. For example, 53% of self-identified Christians in Canada rarely or never attend group religious activities, and 46% of Canadians report that religious or spiritual beliefs were not very important or not at all important in how to live one’s life[5]. In Quebec, for example, the drop in regular religious attendance has been dramatic: only about 17% of the population attend services at least once a month, down from nearly half in the mid-1980s[6].
What does this mean on the ground? In neighbourhoods where census data screams “super religious,” churches are closing their doors because hardly anyone shows up[6][7]. Government money — via tax breaks, for example — goes to faith-based services that fewer and fewer people actually use. Meanwhile, secular options — such as non-religious chaplaincy, inclusive public schools, and science-based health care — are left scrambling for support.
Why Should Humanists Care?
This is a big deal for all of us in the humanist movement. If the census keeps inflating religious numbers, it’s harder to make the case for fair funding for public schools, truly secular health care, and keeping government neutral on religion. More importantly, it props up tax breaks and subsidies for religious organizations, which costs us billions every year[8]; that just doesn’t make sense in a country where so many people are non-religious[3][4].
Let’s Fix It: A Better Way to Ask
So, what’s the fix? Groups such as the Centre for Inquiry Canada and the BC Humanist Association have a simple idea: ask two questions: “Do you have a cultural or family connection to a religion?”; and “Do you actually practice or believe it?” Other countries such as Ireland[9] ask multi-part questions about religion, and this gives a much clearer picture of what’s really happening.
Imagine a census that asks: “How often do you go to services?”; or “Does religion matter in your daily life?” Suddenly, we’d have real numbers to back up our push for secular schools, public services, and inclusive policies[5].
Moving Forward With Fairness
Canada is changing. We’re more diverse, more secular, and more open than ever[3][10][11]. It’s time for our census to catch up! If you’re part of a humanist group (national, provincial, or local), now’s the moment to speak up. Let’s push for a census that actually counts us, not just our cultural baggage.
Want a Canada where policy is based on reality, not ritual? Let’s make it happen. The ever-increasing rise of “functional atheism” is our wake-up call: let’s make sure our data — and our democracy — reflects who we really are. Speak up, get involved, and let’s build a more honest, inclusive Canada together!
References
[1] List of religious populations — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_religious_populations
[2] Statistics Canada: Archived 2021 Census 2A-L https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/statistical-programs/instrument/3901_Q2_V6
[3] Ethnocultural and religious diversity — 2021 Census promotional material https://www.statcan.gc.ca/en/census/census-engagement/community-supporter/ethnocultural-and-religious-diversity
[4] The Canadian Census: A rich portrait of the country’s religious and ethnocultural diversity (Archived) https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221026/dq221026b-eng.htm
[5] Religiosity in Canada and its evolution from 1985 to 2019 https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2021001/article/00010-eng.htm
[6] Canada’s Changing Religious Landscape | Pew Research Center https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2013/06/27/canadas-changing-religious-landscape/
[7] Church Closures and the Loss of Communiy Social Capital https://carleton.ca/panl/2023/church-closures-and-the-loss-of-community-social-capital-by-don-mcrae/#:~:text=As%20reported%20by%20CBC%20News,charities%20than%20they%20are%20losing.
[8] Centre for Inquiry Canada: The Cost of Religion in Canada https://centreforinquiry.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Cost-of-Religion-Conclusion.pdf
[9] Atheist Ireland asks CSO to improve census question on religion in 2027 https://atheist.ie/2023/01/census-question-on-religion-in-2027/
[10] Religion in Canada — Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Canada
[11] Religions on the rise: Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism are thriving in Canada https://broadview.org/canada-census-religion/
Photo by British Library on Unsplash