Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts, 1991, 1996 and 2001

The 1991, 1996 and 2001 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts consist of approximately 2.6 million (1991), 3.6 million (1996) and 3.5 million (2001) persons selected from the 1991, 1996 and 2001 Census long-form samples. To be included in the cohorts, individuals had to meet the following criteria: enumerated by the Census long-form questionnaires, residents of Canada, not institutionalized and filed an income tax return in the year before and during the Census year. In addition, for each cohort year individuals must also satisfy a corresponding age criterion:

• To be included in the 1991 cohort, individuals had to be aged 25 years and older on the Census day in 1991;
• To be included in the 1996 cohort, individuals had to be aged 19 years and older on the Census day in 1996;
• To be included in the 2001 cohort, individuals had to be aged 19 years and older on the Census day in 2001.

Cancer incidence data from Quebec are not part of the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) after diagnosis year 2017 because the data have not been submitted to the CCR. In addition, cancer incidence data for Nova Scotia are not available for the 2020 through 2022 diagnosis years.

During the record linkage, the 2019 to 2023 death data were considered preliminary due to improvements in methodology and timeliness, which shortened the duration of data collection. The 2017 to 2022 death data for Yukon were not available.

The data can be accessed through the Research Data Centres (RDCs). For details on how to request access, please visit the page Research Data Centres. In addition, individual data needs can be met through custom tabulation services, using the contact information below.