Because of the absence of biographical fact-checking by the publishers (e.g. candidates send in their own biographical details without any checking), Canadian Who's Who is not used as a reference by mainstream Canadian media, and is rarely, if ever, quoted as a source, according to a journalist listed in the publication.
Every year the publisher invites new individuals to complete questionnaires from which new biographies are compiled.
University of Toronto Press became the new publisher in 1978 and began an annual schedule of publication.
[4] There is no charge, nor is there any obligation, for the inclusion of a biography in the Canadian Who's Who but according to Elizabeth Lumley, a former editor of the publication, entrants must be outstanding in their field.
Included are Canadians from business, academia, politics, sports, the arts and sciences.