Documents from Statistics Canada showed that census workers, while collecting data for the 2021 census, recorded hundreds of reported cases of domestic violence and at least 15 assaults by family members.

A data table obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act listed 680 reports of assaults, including more than 280 cases of harassment or violence.

In some of the more extreme examples, the data showed that some individuals were punched, threatened with firearms, spat on, or sexually assaulted.

In one case, a census worker was assaulted by a resident using a "BB gun," while there was a "gun aimed at her from another vehicle," according to the documents.

One worker fell down the stairs after being punched in the face by a resident, resulting in a trip to the hospital.

The documents stated that another census employee was unintentionally detained in the home of an angry resident. The incident was reported to the RCMP.

In at least three separate cases, individuals collecting data for Statistics Canada reported being sexually assaulted by some residents.

The Canadian government collects national population data every five years, and representatives from Statistics Canada are sent to visit households that have delayed submitting their census questionnaires.

Details regarding the total number of assaults and psychological injuries in the documents were redacted, as well as information regarding any fatalities in homes.

Other categories of injuries included car accidents and "potential contamination" and other "emergency" cases.