Time periods vary. Regular Passenger Lists DO NOT commence until 1865. Microfilm of records up to 1921 is available for viewing. Only a few scattered lists have been found prior to 1865. Some census records are available prior to 1851, but for the most part they are incomplete and do not offer full information.
Some indexes are available for some provinces for some census years.
NOT ALL census years are available for all provinces or territories. Our government is based on the British system. Our nation's capitol is Ottawa, Ontario. Each province has their own capital city where the provincial government is located. Vancouver was added in 1905.