2016 Census of Agriculture

Consultation objectives

In October and November 2012, Statistics Canada consulted with key stakeholders and data users to ensure the content of the Census of Agriculture remains relevant and satisfies the requirements of data users.

Consultation method

Statistics Canada sought input and feedback regarding questionnaire content from public and private stakeholders and users of Census of Agriculture data through consultation workshops held in various Canadian cities and the submission of written of proposals.

How to get involved

The consultation is now closed.

Individuals who wish to obtain more information or to take part in a consultation may contact Statistics Canada by sending an email to consultations@statcan.gc.ca.

Please note that Statistics Canada selects participants for each consultation to ensure feedback is sought from a representative sample of the target population for the study. Not all applicants will be asked to participate in a given consultation.

Statistics Canada is committed to respecting the privacy of consultation participants. All personal information created, held or collected by the agency is protected by the Privacy Act. For more information on Statistics Canada's privacy policies, please consult the Privacy notice.

Results

Over 460 consultation invitations were sent out and recipients were encouraged to forward the invitations to other interested users and stakeholders of Census of Agriculture data. A total of 168 participants attended 1 of 13 consultation workshops held across Canada in October 2012. Participants included agricultural community stakeholders representing producer associations, farm organizations and advisory groups, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, provincial agricultural departments, university researchers, other federal government departments and other divisions within Statistics Canada.

As well, more than 200 submissions for content changes were received and more than 1,000 comments and suggestions were evaluated. Recommendations that met the basic acceptance criteria moved on to testing with farm operators. Proposed questions were tested through seven focus groups and 248 one-on-one interviews with farm operators.

For more information about the 2016 Census of Agriculture consultation process and results, the Census of Agriculture: Content Consultations publication is available from the Browse by key resource module of our website under Publications.

Statistics Canada thanks participants for their participation in this consultation. Their insights guide the agency's content development and ensure that the final products meet users' expectations.