The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne,
Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
It is our pleasure to present the 2020–21 Departmental Results Report for Statistics Canada.
In a year that was characterized by uncertainty and rapidly shifting priorities as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and its Portfolio partners remained committed in their continued efforts to meet the evolving needs of Canadians and the Canadian economy. The ISED and Portfolio Departmental Results Reports describe a number of immediate and remarkable contributions over the past year, including those that were part of Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan.
To meet the urgent data needs of Canadians, Statistics Canada worked to establish key partnerships to develop innovative approaches to data collection, analysis and integration beyond its traditional survey-first approach. Over the course of 2020–21, the agency collaborated with all levels of government, civil society groups and the private sector to provide data-driven insights that have informed the pandemic response and continue to shape the country's recovery.
In 2020–21, Statistics Canada played an important role in informing the government's pandemic response by disaggregating large datasets, revealing that COVID-19 has not affected all Canadians in the same ways. These insights will continue to inform policy decisions for years to come.
Statistics Canada quickly adapted to ensure that the 2021 Census of Population could be conducted during a pandemic safely, securely and remotely. The data collected will be crucial to policy and decision makers, as Canadians continue to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through all these initiatives and more, we continued to deliver on our commitment to foster a dynamic and growing economy that creates jobs, opportunities and a better quality of life for all Canadians, including those from diverse backgrounds, such as women, Indigenous peoples, racialized Canadians, persons with disabilities and LGBTQ+ groups.
We invite you to read this report to learn more about how Statistics Canada, like ISED and other Portfolio partners, is building a strong culture of innovation to position Canada as a leader in the global economy.