The National Survey on Transport Poverty

Mobilizing Justice, under the Activity 1 Working Group led by Professor Catherine Morency (Polytechnique de Montréal) and Ms. Howaida Hassan (City of Edmonton), has launched the first national survey designed specifically to understand transport poverty in Canada. With responses from over 27,000 people across 41 census metropolitan areas and rural areas in every province and territory, the survey provides an unprecedented look at the everyday transportation challenges Canadians face, especially among equity-deserving groups whose experiences are often overlooked.

The survey includes several modules that go beyond conventional travel behavior data. Respondents were asked about their home and household circumstances, transportation options and barriers, usual places visited, personal travel habits, and attitudes toward transportation systems in their communities, in addition to detailed socio-demographic data. Unlike traditional travel surveys that focus on the trips people do take, this survey also captures the trips people want to take but can’t—due to financial, time-based, physical, or systemic barriers.

The dataset is now available for researchers, policymakers, planners, community organizations, and the public to explore and use. It provides a unique window into how transportation systems shape daily life, access to opportunities, activity participation, and social inclusion, among other things, across the country. We invite you to use this data to advance transportation equity in your own work—whether that is in planning, advocacy, academic research, or policymaking.

Learn About the Survey

What Is This Survey?

A large-scale national survey aiming to understand transport poverty and transportation-related social exclusion in Canada.

Who Is The Survey For?

Designed for researchers, governments, and organizations addressing transportation issues, especially for groups facing challenges such as low income, racialized, or being new to Canada.

Who Was Surveyed?

Over 27,000 respondents, including 20,000 low-income households from urban, suburban, and rural areas across Canada.

What Was Asked?

Questions covered transportation options, challenges, affordability, mobility needs, travel satisfaction, and housing location decisions, along with socio-demographic details.

How Were People Surveyed?

Participants were recruited via panels and directed to a secure web-based survey hosted at Polytechnique Montréal in English and French, led by Prof. Catherine Morency’s team.

How to Access the Data

Survey Documentation

This section provides detailed information on the survey’s design, sampling strategy, and data collection methods. It includes comprehensive documentation to ensure you fully understand the scope and methodology behind the dataset.

Access Documentation Access Data Dictionary

Public Access

Complete the form below to request access to the public version of the dataset. This version is intended for general use and contains anonymized data without any geographic identifiers suitable for non-restricted research and educational purposes.

Public Data Access Form

Restricted Access for MJ Partner Organizations

If you are a practitioner from one of our partner organizations, please complete the restricted data access application form. This version contains anonymized datasets with CSD/CMA identifiers.

Restricted Data Access Form

Restricted Access for MJ Faculty

Faculty members can request access by emailing us directly. This version of the data is distributed with Dissemination Block identifiers.

Email MJ UTSC

Non-MJ Researchers

Non-MJ researcher access requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Please email us with a detailed explanation of your research objectives and why you require access to the restricted dataset.