Table of contents
- Introduction
- Implementation: Privacy
- Training initiatives for privacy
- Policies, guidelines and procedures
- Complaints and investigations
- Monitoring of the requests
- Privacy breaches
- Privacy impact assessments
- Human Resources Analytics Management Dashboard
- Closed Circuit Television Use in Statistics Canada's Virtual Federal Research Data Centre at Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC): A Virtual Data Laboratory Prototype
- Live chat on Statistics Canada's website
- Statistics Canada – Canada School of Public Service Skills Inventory
- Authorized Workspace Use in Statistics Canada's Virtual Federal Research Data Centre at Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CMHC): A Virtual Data Laboratory Prototype
- Security Video Surveillance in Statistics Canada's Secure Access Points
- Statistics Canada's Microdata Access Portal: Researcher online registration and project application
- Supplement: Census Program / 2019 Census Test
- Supplement: Survey on Sexual Misconduct at Work
- Microdata linkage
- Types of disclosure under subsection 8(2) of the Privacy Act
- Appendix A: Delegation instrument
- Appendix B: Statistical report
- Appendix C: Microdata linkages
Introduction
The Privacy Act gives Canadian citizens and people living in Canada the right to access their personal information being held by federal government institutions. The Act also protects against unauthorized disclosure of that personal information and it strictly controls how the government collects, uses, stores, discloses, and disposes of any personal information.
The Annual Report on the Administration of the Privacy Act is prepared and submitted, in accordance with section 72 of the Act, and it covers the period from April 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. The report is tabled in Parliament.
Administration of the Privacy Act
The Privacy Act, which concerns itself with personal information, stipulates that government institutions can collect personal information only if it relates to the operation of programs or activities of these institutions. In the case of Statistics Canada, the Statistics Act provides the authority to collect personal information for statistical purposes. The privacy legislation demands that government institutions inform those from whom information is collected about the purpose of the collection. In addition, institutions are required to protect the collected information from disclosure.
The administration of the privacy legislation within Statistics Canada and the Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator for the Agency is the Director of the Office of Privacy Management and Information Coordination (formerly Information Management Division), who is also the ATIP Coordinator.
Organization and mandate of Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada's mandate derives primarily from the Statistics Act. The Act requires that the Agency collect, compile, analyze and publish statistical information on the economic, social, and general conditions of the country and its citizens. The Act also requires that Statistics Canada coordinate the national statistical system, in particular, to avoid duplication in the information collected by government. To this end, the Chief Statistician may enter into joint data collection or sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies, as well as with federal, provincial and territorial government departments, pursuant to provisions of the Act.
The Statistics Act specifically requires Statistics Canada to conduct a Census of Population and a Census of Agriculture every five years. The Act also gives the Agency substantial powers to request information for statistical purposes through surveys of Canadian businesses and households. Under the Act, the Chief Statistician determines whether a survey will be mandatory or voluntary. Statistics Canada has generally made voluntary household data collection other than the Census of Population and the Labour Force Survey, as the latter produces key economic data. The Census of Agriculture and most other business surveys are mandatory. Refusal to participate in a mandatory survey is subject to legal penalties.
By law, Statistics Canada can also access administrative records, including personal and business tax data, credit information, customs declarations, and birth and death records. Such records are critical sources of statistical information that enable the Agency to reduce the reporting burden on businesses and individual respondents. Statistics Canada is considered a leader among the world's statistical agencies in reducing reporting burden by using administrative data.
These mechanisms help Statistics Canada to fulfill its commitment to ensuring that Canadians have all the key information on Canada's economy, society and environment that they require to function effectively as citizens and decision-makers in a rapidly evolving world.
Delegation instrument
The delegation instrument exercises the powers and functions of the Minister as the head of a government institution, pursuant to section 73 of the Privacy Act. The current detailed list of authorities under the Privacy Act has been formally delegated by the Minister of Industry (Appendix A) as of November 2017 and provides full delegated authority to the Director of the Office of Privacy Management and Information Coordination (formerly the Information Management Division) and the Chief, Statistical Agreement, Legislation and Licensing Section.
Resources
The Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Office operates within an allocation of 2.07 persons/year. The Director of the Office of Privacy Management and Information Coordination and the Chief, Statistical Agreement, Legislation and Licensing Section have been delegated all the responsibilities. The Chief and Senior Statistical and Legal Analysts are dedicated part-time to the administration of the ATIP Office. A Senior Access to Information and Privacy Project Manager and a Senior Access to Information analyst work are assigned on a full-time basis to this responsibility.
Statistical report
The statistical report provides aggregate data on the application of the Privacy Act. This information is made public annually in an Info Source Bulletin, and is included with the annual report. The following includes the statistical report on privacy for the current reporting period (Appendix B).
Implementation: Privacy
The Privacy Act has a substantial impact on Statistics Canada, but the impact cannot be measured only by the number of requests processed. Although society seeks a broader range of detailed information, it also demands more accountability on the part of government about the collection of personal information and the purposes served by the information. The Agency has taken a number of initiatives to address the privacy challenges this dichotomy raises.
Statistics Canada has internal directives that reflect the basic principles found in the Privacy Act. The Agency's Directive on Informing Survey Respondents requires that all respondents be informed of the expected use of the statistics produced from the survey results, the authority under which the survey is taken, their obligation to respond, the confidentiality protection given to all information collected under the Statistics Act, and any data-sharing arrangements pursuant to provisions of the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada also developed the Directive on Microdata Linkage to respond to concerns of both respondents and privacy advocates on the potential of matching an individual's information gathered from a variety of sources.
These two directives not only support compliance with the letter and the spirit of the Privacy Act, but also demonstrate the Agency's commitment to the protection and appropriate use of the personal information under its control, while still meeting its mandate.
Privacy requests
Disposition of requests completed
- All disclosed: 268
- Disclosed in part: 32
- Nothing disclosed (exempt): 0
- Does not exist: 173
- Abandoned: 534
- Total: 1,007
The Agency received 1,012 new requests in 2018/2019 and 10 requests were carried over from the previous reporting period. During this period, 1,007 requests were completed and 15 requests were carried forward to the next reporting period.
For 300 requests, information was disclosed completely or in part. For 173 requests, the information did not exist, and 534 requests were abandoned by the requestors. The public is the largest privacy client group for Statistics Canada.
In addition to requests from the general public, the Agency receives requests from current and former federal public servants regarding personal or staff relations issues. Statistics Canada responds to a number of requests for personal information through its pension search program. This program provides members of the public with information from their own census records, and from the 1940 National Registration records, to support their applications for pensions, citizenship, passports and other services when other administrative records—such as birth certificates—are required, but no longer exist or were never issued. Census records are also being requested as a supporting document to assist those Canadians who are applying to enrol in the Qalipu Mi'kmaq First Nation.
There was a notable increase in privacy requests as a result of Canadians inquiring about their credit information held by Statistics Canada.
Responding to privacy requests involved reviewing more than 15,000 pages, of which over 13,500 were released. Thirty-two (32) requestors received information electronically on CD-ROM and two hundred and sixty-eight (268) requestors received the information in paper format.
| Fiscal Year | Requests Received | Requests Completed | Number of Pages Processed | Number of Pages Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018/2019 | 1,012 | 1,007 | 15,244 | 13,595 |
| 2017/2018 | 157 | 148 | 20,216 | 10,886 |
| 2016/2017 | 112 | 115 | 24,628 | 17,320 |
| 2015/2016 | 115 | 111 | 11,058 | 7,518 |
| 2014/2015 | 55 | 55 | 1,748 | 1,293 |
Other requests
During this period, Statistics Canada did not receive any Privacy Act consultation requests from other departments.
Disposition of completed requests
The disposition of the 1,007 requests completed in 2018/2019 was as follows:
- 268 were fully disclosed (27%)
- 68 were disclosed in part (3%)
- 173 had no existing information (17%)
- 534 were abandoned by applicants (53%)
Completion time and extensions
In 2018/2019 the number of privacy requests completed increased to 1,007 for an average of 290 over the last five years. All 1,007 requests processed in 2018/19 were all within the time period and as prescribed by the Act. Several factors contributed to the timely response, information sessions with officials and sector contacts and a streamlined delegation order. There were no extensions taken, however 226 requests were placed on hold pending clarification or a requirement for additional information in order to process a request.
The 1,007 requests completed in 2018/2019 were processed in the following time frames:
- 228 within 1 to 15 days (22%)
- 553 within 16 to 30 days (56%)
- 225 within 31 to 60 days (22%)
Exemptions invoked
In 2018/2019, exemptions were invoked as per specific sections of the Privacy Act, the exemptions were as follows:
- Section 22 (1) (b): Law enforcement and investigation (7)
- Section 26: Exempting personal information about individuals other than the requestor (27)
Costs
In 2018/2019, the ATIP Office incurred an estimated $69,966 in salary costs and $4,273 in costs related to administering the Privacy Act.
Training initiatives for privacy
In 2018/2019, the Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Office provided informal one-on-one training as needed.
Individual training assisted staff in understanding their obligations under the Act, as well as informing them about policies and directives related to personal information at Statistics Canada. These sessions are available to all staff across the Agency.
Statistics Canada's Office of Privacy Management and Information Coordination offers courses on a variety of subjects related to the Statistics Act and the Privacy Act as well as supporting policies and directives. These include sessions on “Privacy Impact Assessment” and “Privacy and Confidentiality”, with a focus on personal information collected about employees of Statistics Canada, clients or the public, and appropriate use of such personal information. Given the lack of demand for in-class training, no sessions were provided during the current reporting period.
Statistics Canada also requires employees to complete computer-based courses on confidentiality. A mandatory course for new employees provides them with a brief overview of confidentiality, illustrating its importance at Statistics Canada. A second course with similar content must be completed by Statistics Canada employees for renewal of their identification card. For most employees, this occurs every three years. In the current reporting period, a total of 1,583 employees completed these courses.
Policies, guidelines and procedures
The ATIP Office has a variety of tools in place to ensure that ATIP sector contacts are well informed about their roles and responsibilities for coordinating privacy requests. These tools include checklists on the steps to follow when providing records for privacy requests and on the availability of the ATIP team throughout the process. There are also a variety of directives and policies provided by Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada about the protection of personal information. Personal information is protected by the Privacy Actand will only be disclosed as permitted by that Act.
Given its unique position in the federal government in collecting personal information solely for statistical and research purposes, Statistics Canada has determined that the privacy issues associated with its statistical activities undertaken under the authority of the Statistics Act could be addressed by means of a generic Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA).
Although the Generic PIA is comprehensive and reflects the vast majority of Statistics Canada's operations, in the instance of extraordinary activities, specific PIA are conducted with input from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner. Statistics Canada prepares supplements to the Generic PIA for all new and significantly redesigned surveys and statistical programs involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal information that raise unique or additional privacy, confidentiality or security risks.
Complaints and investigations
Three new complaints against Statistics Canada were lodged with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC), and fourteen complaints had been carried over from the previous fiscal year. Of these, eleven complaints were discontinued and closed. From the 14 carried over complaints, eleven came from the same client. Three other requests were closed as they were deemed not substantiated or not well founded. Three complaints have been carried over.
The Privacy Commissioner launched an investigation into the pilot request for financial banking information from the banking sector, as well as, the credit information project. Statistics Canada is collaborating with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to complete the investigation. The pilot project, which is considered necessary to better meet policy needs in a digital society, as well as the credit information project, have been placed on hold until the investigation has been completed. Statistics Canada invited the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to help address the concerns expressed by Canadians prior to proceeding with the projects.
Monitoring of the requests
At Statistics Canada, the ATIP Office processes and monitors requests by registering them in a comprehensive system known as Privasoft – Access Pro Case Management. An acknowledgement of the request is sent to the client and a retrieval form is forwarded to the relevant program area, Office of Primary Interest (OPI). If the OPI and/or the ATIP Office need to clarify the request, the ATIP Office contacts the client.
The retrieval form was created by the ATIP Office at Statistics Canada and is based on the Policy on Privacy Protection and the Directive on Privacy Practices from the Treasury Board Secretariat of Canada. The form includes the text of the request, the name of the ATIP Officer and his/her phone number, and the date by which records are required (normally 5 to 10 days). The form states that the ATIP Office is required to report annually on the administrative costs related to requests and thus information is needed on the level(s) and group(s) of those involved in the retrieval and the amount of time spent working on the request (including time for search, retrieval, internal review (relevant or not to the request) and photocopying). The individuals providing the records are asked to identify any records which may be sensitive in nature (e.g., personal information, legal issues) and the Director or Director General of the program area signs the form.
The ATIP Office assists the program areas with the retrieval of records from day one. As 5 to 10 days are allowed for the retrieval, a follow-up is made on the fifth day. If additional time is required for the retrieval, this is when the program area is to notify the ATIP Office. An additional 1 to 5 days may be granted depending on the amount of work remaining. Once the documents are received from the OPI, the ATIP Office ensures the form is duly completed and that it has been signed by the appropriate manager. The ATIP Office takes 5 to 10 days to review and process the records. Once the work from the ATIP Office is completed, the final version is released to the client. The OPI and management are very aware of the importance of ATIP requests.
Privacy breaches
A standard template is used to document incidents. This template incorporates the elements suggested in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's guidelines on how to respond to a privacy breach. The template has been approved by the Agency's senior management. At a minimum, the incident report will contain the following information:
- a description of the incident (who, what, when, where, why, how)
- the actions already taken and planned for the future
- a description of the risks/impacts
- any other information that might be helpful in locating any lost item or in assessing the consequences of loss or compromise
- recommendations for reducing or eliminating the risk of the event reoccurring in future
- information on whether the individuals or organizations whose information was breached were informed of the incident
- indication if the individuals, Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) and Treasury Board Secretariat will be informed of the incident and if not, rationale for not informing them.
"Best practices" to eliminate or reduce future recurrences that are identified during an investigation must be communicated to other employees to prevent a recurrence of the breach.
There were 10 privacy breaches at Statistics Canada during the reporting period, of which four were material in nature. A total of 102 people were affected by these 10 breaches. Amongst the 102 people affected, 90 were a result of two incidences that were not material in nature.
Four material breaches were reported to the OPC, affecting a total of 4 individuals:
- A T4 was sent in a double envelope to the home of the wrong employee.
- A screen shot (name, address and banking information) of a pay equity settlement deposit was sent to the wrong former employee (same first name and last name).
- A completed Declaration Card from Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) was found and brought to the security reception by a public servant of another department working in the same building as Statistics Canada.
- A mid-year assessment found in a washroom was left un-sealed on the employee's desk.
In all the material breach cases, all individuals impacted were informed and told of their ability to submit a complaint to the OPC, with the exception of one. In this case, despite exhaustive efforts to try to find current contact information for the impacted individual, we were unable to locate the person. Given that the breach occurred in close proximity to the Statistics Canada building and the information was recovered, the risk to the impacted individual is considered low. None of the breaches are known to have led to criminal activity.
Additional measures, specific to the areas which experienced a breach, were implemented, including the following:
- training for employees on the protection of personal/protected information
- conducting regular security sweeps to ensure proper storage of confidential information
Privacy impact assessments
The Statistics Canada Directive on Conducting Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) specifies the roles and responsibilities of its senior managers and privacy specialists with regard to the collection, use and dissemination of personal information. This directive applies to all statistical and non-statistical programs that engage in the collection, use or dissemination of personal information.
Statistics Canada's Generic PIA covers all aspects of the Agency's statistical programs that collect, use and disseminate information in support of the mandate under the Statistics Act. The Generic PIA addresses the ten privacy principles, and includes a threat and risk assessment for various collection and access modes.
Supplements to the Generic PIA are produced for new and significantly redesigned collections, uses or disclosures of personal information that raise unique or additional privacy, confidentiality or security risks. The Generic PIA and its supplements are posted on the Statistics Canada website: Generic privacy impact assessment.
Specific PIAs are also conducted for new or redesigned administrative programs and services that involve the collection, use and disclosure of personal information that are not addressed in the Generic PIA. Summaries of completed privacy impact assessments can be found on the Statistics Canada website: Privacy impact assessments.
In the current reporting period, one PIA and three supplements were approved and submitted to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and the Treasury Board Secretariat. The following are brief descriptions:
Statistics Canada Young Professionals Network Challenges and Contests
A PIA for Statistics Canada's Young Professionals Network (SYPN) challenges and contests was conducted to determine if there were any privacy, confidentiality and security issues associated with these challenges and contests, and if so, to make recommendations for their resolution or mitigation. The purpose of the SYPN contests and challenges is to engage participants and give them an opportunity to create innovative products with Statistics Canada data to enhance the public awareness of Statistics Canada's programs and services. Participants are required to register online and are asked to provide basic personal information. The use of participants' information is strictly limited to the purposes of the specific challenges and contests. The assessment did not identify any privacy risks that cannot be managed using existing safeguards.
Supplement: Acquisition of Financial Transactions Data
A supplement to the generic PIA was conducted to describe the additional safeguards being implemented for the planned collection, processing and use of payment and income history information due to the highly sensitive nature of these data. The payments and income history information would be used to create a statistical database in support of various statistical programs in the economic and socio-economic fields. Under no circumstances would the information obtained from financial institutions be used to perform credit, expenditure or income checks on individual Canadians. This assessment concluded that, with the safeguards in place, any remaining risks would be such that Statistics Canada is prepared to accept and manage the risk. The pilot project has been placed on hold until the Office of the Privacy Commissioner investigation previously noted, has been completed.
Supplement: Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population
A supplement to the generic PIA was conducted for the new Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population to demonstrate the statistical need for this information and to describe specific measures being implemented due to the sensitivity of the questions asked. The survey will fill a gap in estimates of sexual harassment, victimization and discrimination based on gender and sexuality in the postsecondary student population. The results will be used in support of the Government of Canada's Strategy to Prevent and Address Gender-Based Violence. Given the sensitive nature of the questions, respondents will be provided with information to reach support services and resources for victims of sexual violence, and Statistics Canada interviewers will also have received specialized training prior to collection. This assessment concluded that, with the safeguards in place, any remaining risks would be such that Statistics Canada is prepared to accept and manage the risk.
Supplement: Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform
A supplement to the generic PIA was conducted for the Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform (ELMLP) to describe this new data environment and to clearly illustrate the need for this use of personal information. The ELMLP provides secure access to anonymized longitudinal information about college and university students and registered apprentices, to better understand their pathways through the postsecondary education system and how their education and training affects their career prospects in term of earnings. Research using data from the ELMLP will address a wide range of policy questions pertaining to student and apprentice persistence, completion, mobility and pathways. The assessment did not identify any privacy risks that cannot be managed using existing safeguards.
Microdata linkage
As outlined in Statistics Canada's Directive on Microdata Linkage, linkages of different records pertaining to the same individual are carried out only for statistical purposes and only in cases where the public good is clearly evident. One of the primary objectives of these linkages is to produce statistical information that facilitates a better understanding of Canadian society, the economy and the environment.
All microdata linkage proposals must satisfy a prescribed review process as outlined in the directive. In addition to demonstrating the public benefit, each submission must provide details of the output. The public dissemination of any information resulting from microdata linkage, like all other statistical information, is only at an aggregate level which protects the confidentiality of the information of individuals.
In 2018/2019, there were 23 approved microdata linkages that involved personal information. A summary of these record linkages is found in Appendix C.
Types of disclosure under subsection 8(2) of the Privacy Act
Subsection 8(2) of the Privacy Act describes the circumstances under which personal information may be disclosed without the consent of the individual to whom the information pertains. Although this disclosure of personal information is discretionary, it is subject to any other Act of Parliament. In the case of Statistics Canada, the Statistics Act provides a statutory prohibition against disclosure of identifiable information, without the knowledge and consent of the individual concerned. Therefore, personal information collected under the Statistics Act cannot be disclosed pursuant to subsection 8(2).
In the case of personal information, in records held by Statistics Canada, and subject only to the Privacy Act (i.e., those of employees and contractors), disclosures under subsection 8(2) can occur in certain circumstances: for the purpose for which information is obtained or compiled by the institution, for a use consistent with the purpose described in personal information banks registered to Statistics Canada, or for the purpose of complying with subpoenas, warrants, court orders and rules of court.
Paragraph 8(2)(m) of the Privacy Act allows for disclosures of personal information in the public interest, and Paragraph 8(2)(e) allows for disclosures of personal information “to an investigative body…for the purpose of enforcing any law.” During the reporting period, Statistics Canada did not disclose any personal information under subsections 8(2)(e) or/and 8(2)(m) of the Privacy Act.
Appendix A
Access to Information and Privacy Acts Delegation Order
The Minister of Industry, pursuant to section 73 of the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, hereby designates the persons holding the positions set out in the schedule hereto, or the persons occupying on an acting basis those positions, to exercise the powers and functions of the Minister as the head of Statistics Canada, under the section of the Act set out in the schedule opposite each position. This designation replaces all previous delegation Orders.
Schedule
| Position | Access to Information Act and Regulations | Privacy Act and Regulations |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Statistician of Canada | Full authority | Full authority |
| Chief of Staff, Office of the Chief Statistician | Full authority | Full authority |
| Director, Information Management Division | Full authority | Full authority |
| Chief, Statistical Agreements, Legislation and Licensing Section | Full authority | Full authority |
| Senior Statistical and Legal Analyst, Statistical Agreements, Legislation and Licensing Section | Sections: 7(a), 8(1), 9, 11(2), 11(3), 11(4), 11(5), 11(6), 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27(1), 27(4), 28(1)(b), 28(2), 28(4), 68, 69, 71(1) Regulations: Sections: 6(1), 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 8, 8.1 |
Sections: 8(2)(j), 8(2)(m), 10, 14, 15, 17(2)(b), 17(3)(b), 18(2), 19(1), 19(2), 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 70 Regulations: Sections: 9, 11(2), 11(4), 13(1), 14 |
| Senior Access to Information and Privacy Project Manager | Sections: 7(a), 8(1), 9, 11(2), 11(3), 11(4), 11(5), 11(6), 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27(1), 27(4), 28(1)(b), 28(2), 28(4), 68, 69, 71(1) Regulations: Sections: 6(1), 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 8, 8.1 |
Sections: 8(2)(j), 8(2)(m), 10, 14, 15, 17(2)(b), 17(3)(b), 18(2), 19(1), 19(2), 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 70 Regulations: Sections: 9, 11(2), 11(4), 13(1), 14 |
| Senior Access to Information and Privacy Project Officer | Sections: 7(a), 8(1), 9, 11(2), 11(3), 11(4), 11(5), 11(6), 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27(1), 27(4), 28(1)(b), 28(2), 28(4), 68, 69, 71(1) Regulations: Sections: 6(1), 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 8, 8.1 |
Sections: 8(2)(j), 8(2)(m), 10, 14, 15, 17(2)(b), 17(3)(b), 18(2), 19(1), 19(2), 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 70 Regulations: Sections: 9, 11(2), 11(4), 13(1), 14 |
The original version was signed by
The Honourable Navdeep Bains
Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Dated, at the City of Ottawa
November 1, 2017
Appendix B: Statistical Report on the Privacy Act
Name of institution: Statistics Canada
Reporting period: 2018-04-01 to 2019-03-31
Part 1: Requests Under the Privacy Act
| Number of Requests | |
|---|---|
| Received during reporting period | 1012 |
| Outstanding from previous reporting period | 10 |
| Total | 1022 |
| Closed during reporting period | 1007 |
| Carried over to next reporting period | 15 |
Part 2: Requests Closed During the Reporting Period
2.1 Disposition and completion time
| Disposition of Requests | Completion Time | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 Days | 16 to 30 Days | 31 to 60 Days | 61 to 120 Days | 121 to 180 Days | 181 to 365 Days | More Than 365 Days | Total | |
| All disclosed | 42 | 65 | 161 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 268 |
| Disclosed in part | 4 | 22 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No records exist | 60 | 56 | 57 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 173 |
| Request abandoned | 122 | 410 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 534 |
| Neither confirmed nor denied | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 228 | 553 | 225 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1007 |
2.2 Exemptions
| Section | Number of Requests |
|---|---|
| 18(2) | 0 |
| 19(1)(a) | 0 |
| 19(1)(b) | 0 |
| 19(1)(c) | 0 |
| 19(1)(d) | 0 |
| 19(1)(e) | 0 |
| 19(1)(f) | 0 |
| 20 | 0 |
| 21 | 0 |
| 22(1)(a)(i) | 0 |
| 22(1)(a)(ii) | 0 |
| 22(1)(a)(iii) | 0 |
| 22(1)(b) | 7 |
| 22(1)(c) | 0 |
| 22(2) | 0 |
| 22.1 | 0 |
| 22.2 | 0 |
| 22.3 | 0 |
| 22.4 | 0 |
| 23(a) | 0 |
| 23(b) | 0 |
| 24(a) | 0 |
| 24(b) | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 26 | 27 |
| 27 | 0 |
| 28 | 0 |
2.3 Exclusions
| Section | Number of Requests |
|---|---|
| 69(1)(a) | 0 |
| 69(1)(b) | 0 |
| 69.1 | 0 |
| 70(1) | 0 |
| 70(1)(a) | 0 |
| 70(1)(b) | 0 |
| 70(1)(c) | 0 |
| 70(1)(d) | 0 |
| 70(1)(e) | 0 |
| 70(1)(f) | 0 |
| 70.1 | 0 |
2.4 Format of information released
| Disposition | Paper | Electronic | Other formats |
|---|---|---|---|
| All disclosed | 262 | 6 | 0 |
| Disclosed in part | 6 | 26 | 0 |
| Total | 268 | 32 | 0 |
2.5 Complexity
2.5.1 Relevant pages processed and disclosed
| Disposition of Requests | Number of Pages Processed | Number of Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests |
|---|---|---|---|
| All disclosed | 8985 | 8985 | 268 |
| Disclosed in part | 6259 | 4610 | 32 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Request abandoned | 0 | 0 | 534 |
| Neither confirmed nor denied | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 15244 | 13595 | 834 |
2.5.2 Relevant pages processed and disclosed by size of requests
| Disposition | Less Than 100 Pages Processed | 101-500 Pages Processed | 501-1000 Pages Processed | 1001-5000 Pages Processed | More Than 5000 Pages Processed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | |
| All disclosed | 268 | 8985 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Disclosed in part | 21 | 474 | 6 | 1436 | 4 | 2206 | 1 | 494 | 0 | 0 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Request abandoned | 534 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neither confirmed nor denied | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 823 | 9459 | 6 | 1436 | 4 | 2206 | 1 | 494 | 0 | 0 |
2.5.3 Other complexities
| Disposition | Consultation Required | Legal Advice Sought | Interwoven Information | Other | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All disclosed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Disclosed in part | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Request abandoned | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neither confirmed nor denied | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2.6 Deemed refusals
2.6.1 Reasons for not meeting statutory deadline
| Number of Requests Closed Past the Statutory Deadline | Principal Reason | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workload | External Consultation | Internal Consultation | Other | |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2.6.2 Number of days past deadline
| Number of Days Past Deadline | Number of Requests Past Deadline Where No Extension Was Taken | Number of Requests Past Deadline Where An Extension Was Taken | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 to 30 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 to 60 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 61 to 120 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 121 to 180 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 181 to 365 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| More than 365 days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2.7 Requests for translation
| Translation Requests | Accepted | Refused | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| English to French | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| French to English | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Part 3: Disclosures Under Subsections 8(2) and 8(5)
| Paragraph 8(2)(e) | Paragraph 8(2)(m) | Subsection 8(5) | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disclosures | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Part 4: Requests for Correction of Personal Information and Notations
| Disposition for Correction Requests Received | Number |
|---|---|
| Notations attached | 0 |
| Requests for correction accepted | 0 |
| Total | 0 |
Part 5: Extensions
5.1 Reasons for extensions and disposition of requests
| Disposition of Requests Where an Extension Was Taken | 15(a)(i) Interference With Operations |
15(a)(ii) Consultation |
15(b) Translation or Conversion |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 70 | Other | |||
| All disclosed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Disclosed in part | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No records exist | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Request abandoned | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5.2 Length of extensions
| Length of Extensions | 15(a)(i) Interference with operations |
15(a)(ii) Consultation |
15(b) Translation purposes |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section 70 | Other | |||
| 1 to 15 days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 to 30 days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Part 6: Consultations Received From Other Institutions and Organizations
6.1 Consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions and other organizations
| Consultations | Other Government of Canada Institutions | Number of Pages to Review | Other Organizations | Number of Pages to Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Received during the reporting period | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Outstanding from the previous reporting period | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Closed during the reporting period | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pending at the end of the reporting period | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6.2 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other Government of Canada institutions
| Recommendation | Number of Days Required to Complete Consultation Requests | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 Days | 16 to 30 Days | 31 to 60 Days | 61 to 120 Days | 121 to 180 Days | 181 to 365 Days | More Than 365 Days | Total | |
| All disclosed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Disclosed in part | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Consult other institution | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6.3 Recommendations and completion time for consultations received from other organizations
| Recommendation | Number of days required to complete consultation requests | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 15 Days | 16 to 30 Days | 31 to 60 Days | 61 to 120 Days | 121 to 180 Days | 181 to 365 Days | More Than 365 Days | Total | |
| All disclosed | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Disclosed in part | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All exempted | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All excluded | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Consult other institution | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Part 7: Completion Time of Consultations on Cabinet Confidences
7.1 Requests with Legal Services
| Number of Days | Fewer Than 100 Pages Processed | 101-500 Pages Processed | 501-1000 Pages Processed | 1001-5000 Pages Processed | More than 5000 Pages Processed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | |
| 1 to 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 to 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 to 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 61 to 120 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 121 to 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 181 to 365 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| More than 365 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
7.2 Requests with Privy Council Office
| Number of Days | Fewer Than 100 Pages Processed | 101‒500 Pages Processed | 501-1000 Pages Processed | 1001-5000 Pages Processed | More than 5000 Pages Processed | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | Number of Requests | Pages Disclosed | |
| 1 to 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 to 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 to 60 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 61 to 120 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 121 to 180 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 181 to 365 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| More than 365 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Part 8: Complaints and Investigations Notices Received
| Section 31 | Section 33 | Section 35 | Court action | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints and Investigations Notices Received | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Part 9: Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)
9.1 Privacy Impact Assessments
Number of PIA(s) completed: 1
Part 10: Resources Related to the Privacy Act
10.1 Costs
| Expenditures | Amount |
|---|---|
| Salaries | $69,966 |
| Overtime | $0 |
| Goods and Services | $4,273 |
| Professional services contracts | ($4,273) |
| Other | ($0) |
| Total | $74,239 |
10.2 Human Resources
| Resources | Person Years Dedicated to Privacy Activities |
|---|---|
| Full-time employees | 1.01 |
| Part-time and casual employees | 0.00 |
| Regional staff | 0.00 |
| Consultants and agency personnel | 0.00 |
| Students | 0.00 |
| Total | 1.01 |
Appendix C: Microdata linkages
Approved record linkages containing personal information
Estimating labour market indicators on reserves using the Census programs and administrative data (006-2018)
Purpose: The objective of this program is to fill a data gap in labour market information for the population living on reserve by calculating labour market indicators pertinent to the development of labour market policies and programs.
The linkage between the Census programs, the Longitudinal Workers File, the T4 Files and the T1 Family Files will be used to calculate yearly labour market indicators for those living on reserve as well as those living in adjacent communities. The linkage will also be used to perform research on specific issues related to labour market indicators.
Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) will use the non-confidential labour market estimates as well as the research results to develop labour market policies regarding Aboriginal persons and persons living on reserves.
Output: Only non-confidential aggregated data estimates, which conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act, will be released outside of Statistics Canada.
Linkage of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) to Mortality, Cancer, Hospital Administrative Files, and tax data (007-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to create a series of outcome files resulting from the CCHS survey files (annual and theme) being linked to a health outcomes including hospitalizations, mortality and cancer. These linked files will facilitate the study of the impact of a broad range of social determinants of health (i.e. socioeconomic status, ethnicity, risk factors and disease states) on health outcomes at the population level. T1FF information for both the individual as well as the different family members will provide information on change of income over time to assess the economic impact of health conditions on the population.
Output: Access to the linked microdata files will be restricted to Statistics Canada personnel (including Statistics Canada deemed employees) whose work activities require access. Only aggregate data that conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act will be released outside of Statistics Canada. Analytical datasets will be placed in the Research Data Centres (RDCs) and access will be granted following standard RDC approval process. The source datasets will be anonymized and will respect variable restrictions in effect for the source datasets (e.g., hospital, vital statistics, cancer, tax files). Major findings will be used to create research papers for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at workshops and conferences.
Surrey Opioid Data Collection and Community Response Project: Linking Surrey Opioids data with income, health and immigration data (008-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to build the capacity for identifying the primary risk factors and the sub-populations at greatest risk of an overdose in Surrey BC. It will create a better understanding of the characteristics of those individuals at the heart of the opioid crisis-particularly for those individuals using and dying in their residence. This work is being conducted for Public Safety Canada and the city of Surrey to assist them in identifying the root of the illicit drug epidemic and the individuals most at risk of overdose, as well as deriving a typology for the classification of incidents and individuals at risk of opioid related overdose.
Output: Only non-confidential aggregate statistics and analyses that will not result in the identification of an individual person, business or organization will be released outside of Statistics Canada. High-level findings may be reported in the form of presentations to various Public Safety Canada partners.
Integrated Criminal Court Survey (ICCS) data linkage project (010-2018)
Purpose: Understanding the characteristics of those who come in contact with the criminal court system is of importance to a variety of different individuals, including different levels of government, policy makers, legal professionals and the public. The proposed record linkage project will benefit Canadians by providing new data on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of accused persons who are before the criminal courts, by examining them in relation to case/charge characteristics and outcomes. It will also provide new data related to the different health situations of these individuals (e.g. substance abuse, disability issues), including their interactions with the health care system, with a particular focus on mental health. This project will also allow Justice Canada to generate specific metrics of marginalization and overrepresentation across the criminal justice system that were identified in the framework endorsed by federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety.
This study will link data from the Integrated Criminal Court Survey (ICCS) to the Census/National Household Survey (NHS), the Discharge Abstract database (DAD), the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS) and the T1 Family File (T1FF) in order to gain information on the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of accused persons involved in the criminal court system.
Output: All access to the linked microdata will be limited to Statistics Canada employees and Statistics Canada deemed employees whose work activities require access. Only aggregate data that conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act will be released outside of Statistics Canada. This will likely be in the form of analytical reports, or presentations to criminal justice stakeholders.
2016 Census of Population linkage to income tax files and benefits records to monitor tax filing behaviour and take-up rate of various benefit programs (011-2019)
Purpose: The purpose of this linkage is to obtain information on possible barriers to families and individuals receiving various benefits programs, and to provide more direct evidence on the take-up rate for these programs. Receipt of many government benefits is contingent upon filing an income tax return. This project will provide analysis of T1 tax filing profile and take-up rates of various benefits programs according to socio-demographics characteristics, analysis of the incidence of benefit take-up and the benefit receipts according to income levels, and analysis of the characteristics of the non-filers or those who do not receive the grants.
Output: Only non-confidential aggregated tables, conforming to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act, will be released outside of Statistics Canada. Confidentiality rules for the Census would be applied to all products before release.
Financial Capability, Employment and Income Database (FCEID): Mapping between Self-Reported and Objective Measures of Financial Performance (012-2018)
Purpose: The aim of this initiative is to create a database to facilitate research on topics related to financial literacy, financial choice and management, life-cycle saving and investing, and retirement preparedness. The proposed linkage will combine data on financial literacy, spending and budgeting strategies, sources of financial advice used, and wealth accumulation from the Canadian Financial Capability Survey (CFCS) with a wide set of longitudinal information on earnings and income dynamics, returns on investments, tax-planning performance, and life-cycle savings behaviour from taxation- and employment-based administrative files.
Output: Analytical findings from these linked datasets will be used to prepare research papers for publication and dissemination at research conferences and seminars. Only non-confidential aggregate statistics that cannot result in the identification of an individual, person, business, or organization will be released outside of Statistics Canada.
Tobacco Litigation Research Using the New Brunswick Smoking Record Linkage Environment (014-2018)
Purpose: Statistics Canada has created a record linkage environment for the New Brunswick Tobacco Litigation Project called the New Brunswick Smoking Record Linkage Environment (NBSRLE). This environment will hold de-identified Statistics Canada survey data and New Brunswick administrative health data.
The purpose of this project is to create analysis files from the de-identified files for use by litigant experts. There are two areas of study proposed by this record linkage project for the ongoing litigation. First, a study of the relationship between smoking behavior and the cost of health care in New Brunswick. Second, this file may be used to substantiate or refute evidence presented during the litigation process.
Statistics Canada has removed all personal identifiable information and a unique anonymous identifier was assigned to the administrative records for each person during the development of the linkable files (RL-085-2016) for this project. Common linking keys based on the identifiers have been created for the share-link Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and National Population Health Survey (NPHS) and de-identified versions of the administrative files and the survey files were placed in the Research Data Center (RDC) environment where they can be merged to create analytical datasets (RL-016-2017). The common linking key allows the litigant's experts to merge de-identified files within the NBSRLE to achieve their research objective.
Output: Outputs will be vetted for confidentiality prior to being released from the RDC.
No identifiable personal information will be released from the NBSRLE.
Furthermore, during a five-year period of exclusive access, which may be extended based on requirements of the litigation, use of these files may only be carried out as part of a research agenda initiated by the designated representatives (litigant experts) from the province of New Brunswick or the Signing Defendants under contract with Statistics Canada.
Elections Canada Data Quality Confirmation Study of the National Register of Electors (016-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of the project is to evaluate the coverage, accuracy and currency of the National Register of Electors (the Register) maintained by Elections Canada. Certain data elements from the Register will be linked to Canadian Vital Statistics – Death records, Census of Population 2016 long-form respondent records and Labour Force Survey respondent records to conduct the evaluation and produce estimates at a variety of geographic levels (Canada, province/territory, electoral district). The results of the study will inform Elections Canada on the quality of the Register.
Output: Only non-confidential aggregated data and an analytical report that conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act and any applicable requirements of the Privacy Act will be released outside of Statistics Canada to Elections Canada.
Characteristics of repeated contact with the Ontario criminal justice system: Linking Ontario re-contact data with income, health and immigration data. (017-2018)
Purpose: Repeat contact, or re-contact, with the justice system has been identified as a key justice priority by Deputy Ministers responsible for Justice and Public Safety, as well as other policy makers and justice administrators. Until recently, the lack of information on the nature and extent of repeat contact with, and pathways through, the justice system represented one of the more conspicuous gaps in our understanding of crime in Canada.
In an effort to address this data gap, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS), in cooperation with representatives of the National Justice Statistics Initiative (NJSI), undertook a project aimed at the creation and ongoing delivery of high-quality indicators of re-contact with the justice system. Whereas a contact is defined as an official intervention by police, courts, or corrections, a re-contact is defined as a subsequent contact with the police, courts, or corrections signifying a new, official intervention.
The purpose of the project is to establish baseline information about individuals who have had contact with the Ontario Justice system. This data will then be used to generate additional information about their involvement with Ontario's other social services, namely education, health and those in other social sectors.
Output: Only non-confidential aggregate statistics and analyses that will not result in the identification of an individual person, business or organization will be released outside of Statistics Canada. High-level findings may be reported in the form of presentations to various NJSI partners.
Creation of the Research Analysis Files Using the British Columbia Smoking Record Linkage Environment (018-2018)
Purpose: Statistics Canada has created a record linkage environment for the British Columbia Tobacco Litigation Project called the British Columbia Smoking Record Linkage Environment (BCSRLE). This environment will be used to link Statistics Canada survey data to British Columbia administrative health data using a common unique, anonymized identifier, created as part of Record Linkage 024-2017.
The purpose of this linkage is to build analytical research files from the linkable survey and administrative files placed in the Research Data Centre (RDC) for the British Columbia Tobacco Litigation Project.
Personal identifiers were removed and a unique anonymous identifier was assigned to the administrative records for each person. Furthermore, common linking keys based on the identifiers have been created for the share-link Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and de-identified linkable versions of the administrative files and the survey files were placed in the RDC environment (RL-024-2017).
The purpose of this project is to allow the litigant experts to create de-identified analysis files for use in the litigation using the linkable files previously placed in the RDC. There are three areas of study proposed by this record linkage project. First, researchers will address the question of the comparability of smoking attributable fraction (SAF) estimates derived from the Public Use Microdata File of the CCHS to estimates derived from the share-link file of the CCHS. Second, this project seeks to extend the estimation model to additional aspects of health care utilization (i.e. beyond hospital and physician care) and to examine the comparability of SAFs derived from self-report versus 'administrative' measures of health care utilization. Third, these file may be used to substantiate or refute evidence presented during the litigation process.
Output: Linked analysis files, statistical models, tabulations, and other analytical products will be created as part of this record linkage. Output files will contain the anonymous BCSRLE identifier and analysis variables for the share-link CCHS and British Columbia administrative datasets previously linked to the BCSRLE (record linkage number RL-024-2017) will be used in the RDCs identified by the Province of British Columbia. No identifiable personal information will be released from the BCSRLE.
Research projects to access and link the BCSRLE output files in the RDC will be approved on a study-by-study basis. Furthermore, during a five-year period of exclusive access, research using these files may only be carried out as part of a research agenda initiated by the designated representatives (litigant experts) from the province of British Columbia or the Signing Defendants under contract with Statistics Canada. A summary of each approved study will be posted on the Statistics Canada website.
Radon-progeny exposure and lung cancer risk: The Newfoundland Fluorspar Miners Cohort Study update (021-2018)
Purpose: This linkage of the Newfoundland Fluorspar Miners Cohort to the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR), National Cancer Incidence Reporting System (NCIRS), and Canadian Vital Statistics Deaths (CVSD) will be used to examine the long-term health outcomes of the miners who were exposed to radon gas while working in the fluorspar mines of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland from the 1930s to 1978.
The study will provide a better understanding of how radon gas affects Canadians' long-term health, as radon gas may be found in many homes. This information is valuable for not only Canadian stakeholders, but international stakeholders for decision-making relating to regulation of exposure to radon gas.
Output: The linked datasets will be available to deemed employees to use in a Research Data Center (RDC). All data and analytical products to be released outside of Statistics Canada and the RDC will conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act. These file will be retained in accordance with the Directive on the Management of Statistical Microdata Files.
The impact of public pension benefits on low-income among senior immigrants using linked data from Census and the Longitudinal Administrative Databank (LAD). (023-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of the project is to study the importance of public pensions for the economic well-being of elderly immigrants. The project will also provide methodological information on differences in family structure for elderly immigrants in Census and administrative data sources, and evaluate the importance of these differences for studies of low income.
Output: Article in Statistics Canada's Insights on Canadian Society publication; and possible peer-reviewed journal article and data visualization products (such as heat maps and interactive dashboards for conference and web presentations).
Postsecondary education and employment/earnings dynamics (025-2018)
Purpose: The aim of this initiative is to create a database to facilitate research on topics related to choice of postsecondary education and program, timing of post-secondary attendance during the life-cycle, retraining following layoffs, and outcomes and mobility of international students in Canada. The proposed linkage will combine data on postsecondary education from the Postsecondary Student Information System (PSIS), and data on temporary and permanent residence status, with longitudinal information on earnings and employment dynamics from the Longitudinal Worker File (LWF), a tax-based administrative database.
Output: Analytical findings from these linked datasets will be used to prepare research papers for publication and dissemination at research conferences and seminars. Only non-confidential aggregate statistics that cannot result in the identification of an individual, person, business, or organization will be released outside of Statistics Canada.
Creation of the Longitudinal Immigration Statistical Environment (LISE) (026-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of the LISE is to comprehensively encapsulate the outcomes of immigrants to Canada using existing administrative and survey data. Using the Longitudinal Immigration Database (IMDB) as its base, the LISE will include health, labour, community, housing, social, and educational outcomes to the existing economic outcomes of the IMDB without incurring any additional response burden.
Output: The final series of keys will be made available in the Research Data Centre (RDC) for researchers, as well as any outcome files that are required for the linkage. No linked microdata files will be available in the RDC. All statistical tables and analytic outputs will be vetted, to ensure conformity to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act, by Statistics Canada employees before being removed from Statistics Canada premises. Users will require access to any and all databases required for the linkage, as well as the keys necessary to link them all. No direct identifiers will be included in any of the files. In accordance with the Directive on the Management of Statistical Microdata Files, the analysis file will be retained until no longer required, at which time it will be destroyed.
Non-confidential aggregate statistical tables will be produced for MCI yearly. On request, ad-hoc statistical tabulations may be produced for MCI.
Linkage of Federal Skills Training Programs (028-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of the project is to understand the characteristics and outcomes of those participating in federal skills training programs. Understanding these characteristics will assist the federal government in the development of policies to support an adaptable and inclusive workforce capable of meeting labour market demands now and in the future.
Output: Only non-confidential aggregated statistics and analytical output that conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act and any applicable requirements of the Privacy Act will be released outside of Statistics Canada.
Studying the relationship between worker mobility and child birth using the Workplace Employee Survey and administrative data (031-2018)
Purpose: The researchers wish to examine the links between child birth and female worker job mobility, and ultimately the gender earnings gap. The study will have implications for the development of human resource policies and practices in firms that are seeking to reduce female representation gaps at different levels in their workforce.
Output: Security measures for the linking keys, identifiers and linked analysis file will conform to Statistics Canada's policies and standards. All direct business and employee identifiers will be removed from the analysis file once linkage is complete. External researchers can only access the linked data in the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research, on Statistics Canada premises, and under the Directive on the Use of Deemed Employees. The linked file will be retained in accordance with the Directive on the Management of Statistical Microdata Files, until no longer required, at which time it will be destroyed.
Linkage of Business Accelerators and Incubators to the Linkable File Environment (LFE) (032-2018)
Purpose: Announced in Budget 2016, the government committed to developing a Performance Measurement Framework for Business Accelerators and Incubators (BAIs) in partnership with leading BAIs. As a core component of this measurement framework, this project proposes to link the firm data collected from BAIs to the LFE in order to enable the production of key performance indicators of the impact BAIs have on their client firms. Active partners from the BAI community have been heavily engaged in the development and execution of this initiative and expectations are high in terms of the value that will be added through this partnership with the Government.
The proposed project will link the 2017 firm data to Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment to build a profile of BAIs client firms. To do so, researchers from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) Small Business Branch will arrange for BAIs firm data to be provided to Statistics Canada's Centre for Special Business Projects for the linkage.
Output: A custom analytical report, based on the customized research database extracted from Statistics Canada's Linkable File Environment, will be produced by deemed employees of Statistics Canada.
Only non-confidential aggregate statistical outputs and analysis that conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act will be released outside of Statistics Canada.
Linkage of provincial and territorial social and affordable housing administrative data to T1 Family File and Census of population data (036-2018)
Purpose: The purpose of this record linkage is to construct two microdata files that will be used by Statistics Canada's employees for the production of custom tabulations available to provincial and territorial managers of social and affordable housing programs and to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. These aggregated data will inform important topics related to the demographics and income of those living in social and affordable housing, as well as some characteristics of the dwellings as they relate to various social and affordable program parameters.
Output: Only non-confidential, aggregated tables, conforming to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act, will be released.
The impact of Intellectual Property on the Canadian Economy (003-2019)
Purpose: The purpose of the project is to examine the role individuals play in the generation of intellectual property, in the leveraging of that intellectual property to drive firm performance, and in the diffusion of the skills for innovation across the economy. The project will inform the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan and Intellectual Property Strategy, particularly in the areas of skills development, the diffusion of knowledge, and intellectual property awareness among individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds.
Output: Security measures for the linking keys, identifiers and linked analysis file will conform to Statistics Canada's policies and standards. All direct business and individual identifiers will be removed from the analysis file once linkage is complete. External researchers can only access the linked analysis file in the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research, on Statistics Canada premises, and under the Directive on the Use of Deemed Employees. The linked file will be retained in accordance with the Directive on the Management of Statistical Microdata Files, until no longer required, at which time it will be destroyed.
LASS 2016 to Census 2016, Census 2011 and NHS 2011 Linkage (004-2019)
Purpose: The resulting data from this microdata linkage will be used by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation to better understand the housing, dwelling and other complementary characteristics of a cohort of Canadian veterans, who have been identified as an at-risk population in the latest national housing strategy.
Output:The resulting aggregated data will be disseminated in a tabular format. Only non-confidential aggregated statistics and analytical output that conform to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act and any applicable requirements of the Privacy Act will be released outside of Statistics Canada.
Linkage of the National Dose Registry to cancer and mortality outcomes, an update (005-2019)
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to the update the linkage of the National Dose Registry to the Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) and the Canadian Vital Statistics Death (CVSD) database with the aim to continue to assess long-term health effects that may be related to occupational exposure to radiation. Occupational health and safety legislation establishes thresholds for occupational exposure, as well as workplace and personal protective measures, in order to minimize the hazards related for those whose work includes exposure to radiation. The effects of occupational exposure to radiation are not always apparent in the short term and may take several years to manifest themselves. As such, it is important that epidemiological studies are performed to help establish any long term health effects that may be linked to radiation exposure.
Output: The linked de-identified data will be available to deemed employees of Health Canada within the Federal Research Data Centre (FRDC) and to other researchers within the Research Data Centers (RDC). Results of the study will serve to better inform the general public on cancer and mortality outcomes related to occupational exposure to radiation and will provide policymakers, employers and employees with information that may be used to guide health and safety legislation or workplace practices relating to occupational radiation exposure.
Adding Gender to the Corporations Returns Act (CRA) database (007-2019)
Purpose: The Corporations Returns Act (CRA) program was identified as a potential source of information regarding gender diversity on corporate boards. Although the CRA does compile information on board governance and control, it does not collect information on the gender profile of the directors. The results of a record linkage between the CRA data and the Social Data Linkage Environment (SDLE) combined with imputation methods permit the integration of a sex field onto the CRA database. Statistics on the composition of corporate boards and more specifically on women having a governance role on boards of directors can then be produced. While information of this nature is produced by the private sector, their observations focus on boards of publicly traded corporations. The CRA provides information on board composition of public, private and government businesses. The CRA data compiles this detailed information at the enterprise level but also at the legal entity level. This provides further insight into the overall gender distribution of governance roles within the entire corporate structure and not solely from the top executive board of the enterprise. This initiative is aligned with the priorities of the Government regarding a diverse and inclusive Canada and also contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of achieving gender equality.
Output: Only aggregate statistical outputs and analyses will be released, subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act. Disclosure control rules will be applied in order to safeguard the privacy of individual Canadians' personal information. Data validation processes will be established in order to ensure the accuracy of all disseminated materials, including tabulations and analytical products.
Indian Register linked to tax data, (Longitudinal Indian Register Database (LIRD)) (009-2019)
Purpose: By combining the Indian Register (IR) with annual tax data, this database would allow First Nations governments and organizations, analysts, and government departments to better understand the income trends of the Registered Indian population, as well as the impact of various policies. Due to its longitudinal design, this database is able to provide economic indicators over time, accompanied by various socio-demographic characteristics that add depth and nuance to analyses. Specific cohorts can be followed and the effects of policies or programs can be more accurately measured. Since this database combines administrative data sources, response burden is reduced compared to a survey with similar content. Furthermore, administrative databases, such as this one, are not affected by sample size limitations and are able to produce reliable estimates at a detailed level.
Output: Only aggregate statistical outputs and analyses will be released, subject to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act. Disclosure control rules will be applied in order to safeguard the privacy of individual Canadians' personal information. Data validation processes will be established in order to ensure the accuracy of all disseminated materials, including tabulations and analytical products.
While the database is being developed and tested, and its analytical potential is being explored, preliminary statistical outputs will be shared for discussion and engagement purposes only. During this feasibility phase, outputs will be released to Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) / Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), as well as to First Nations Governments, communities, and organizations, either on request or as part of planned engagement activities. Subsequent broader release of finalized statistical outputs will be considered in collaboration with stakeholders.
2016 Census of Population linkage to income tax files and benefits records to monitor tax filing behaviour and take-up rate of various benefit programs (011-2019)
Purpose: The purpose of this linkage is to obtain information on possible barriers to families and individuals receiving various benefits programs, and to provide more direct evidence on the take-up rate for these programs. Receipt of many government benefits is contingent upon filing an income tax return. This project will provide analysis of T1 tax filing profile and take-up rates of various benefits programs according to socio-demographics characteristics, analysis of the incidence of benefit take-up and the benefit receipts according to income levels, and analysis of the characteristics of the non-filers or those who do not receive the grants.
Output:Only non-confidential aggregated tables, conforming to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act, will be released outside of Statistics Canada. Confidentiality rules for the Census would be applied to all products before release.