Organizational profile

Appropriate minister: The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, P.C., M.P.

Institutional head: Anil Arora

Ministerial portfolio: Innovation, Science and Economic Development

Enabling instrument[s]:

• Statistics Act
• Corporations Returns Act
• Corporations Returns Regulations

Year of incorporation / commencement: The Dominion Bureau of Statistics was established in 1918. In 1971, with the revision of the Statistics Act, the agency became Statistics Canada.

Other: Under the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is required to collect, compile, analyze, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic and general activities and condition of the people of Canada.

Statistics Canada has two primary objectives:

• to provide statistical information and analysis of the economic and social structure and functioning of Canadian society, as a basis for developing, operating and evaluating public policies and programs; for public and private decision making; and for the general benefit of all Canadians
• to promote the quality, coherence and international comparability of Canada's statistics through collaboration with other federal departments and agencies, with the provinces and territories, and in accordance with sound scientific standards and practices.

Statistics Canada's head office is located in Ottawa. There are regional offices across the country in Halifax, Sherbrooke, Montréal, Toronto, Sturgeon Falls, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver. There are also 35 research data centres located throughout the country in academic institutions. There are five secure rooms available for access by federal departments and selected provincial ministries. These centres provide researchers with access to microdata from population and household survey programs in a secure setting. Canadians can follow the agency on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, feeds and YouTube.

Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do

"Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do" is available on Statistics Canada's website.

For more information on the agency's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the Minister's mandate letter.

Operating context

A developed, democratic country such as Canada requires vast amounts of information to function effectively. Statistics provide Canadians with vital information to help monitor inflation, promote economic growth, plan cities and roads, adjust pensions, and develop employment and social programs. They help governments, businesses and individuals make informed decisions.

The value placed on data by every segment of society is growing at an exponential pace. At the same time, new tools and new computing power are emerging and multiplying the volume and types of information available.

As the demand for information increases along with its importance and availability, privacy concerns, call-screening technology and the busy lives of Canadians are making it harder to reach and obtain information from households. As a result, the agency is continually seeking out new and innovative approaches to meet emerging data needs.

As it innovates and modernizes, the agency will be well positioned to play a more active role in guiding and shaping this information age.

Reporting framework

Statistics Canada's Departmental Results Framework and program inventory of record for 2020–21 are shown below.

Financial, human resources and performance information for Statistics Canada’s program inventory is available in GC InfoBase.

The following supplementary information tables are available on Statistics Canada's website:

• Reporting on green procurement
  • Context
  • Commitments
  • Report on integrating sustainable development
• Gender-based Analysis Plus
• Response to parliamentary committees and external audits
  • Response to parliamentary committees
  • Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)
  • Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

Reporting on green procurement

This supplementary information table supports reporting on green procurement activities in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement.

1. Context

Although Statistics Canada is not bound by the Federal Sustainable Development Act and is not required to develop a full Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy, Statistics Canada adheres to the principles of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS) by complying with the Policy on Green Procurement.

The Policy on Green Procurement supports the Government of Canada's effort to promote environmental stewardship. In keeping with the objectives of the policy, Statistics Canada supports sustainable development by integrating environmental performance considerations into the procurement decision‑making process through the actions described in the 2019 to 2022 FSDS "Greening Government" goal.

2. Commitments

Greening Government: The Government of Canada will transition to low-carbon, climate-resilient and green operations.

Federal Sustainable Development Strategy target(s)	Federal Sustainable Development Strategy contributing action(s)	Corresponding departmental action(s)	Starting point(s), performance indicator(s), target(s)	Results achieved	Contribution by each departmental result to the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy goal and target
Actions supporting the Greening Government goal and the Policy on Green Procurement	Departments will use environmental criteria to reduce their environmental impact and ensure best value in government procurement decisions.	Integrate environmental considerations into procurement management processes and controls. Ensure paper purchased by Statistics Canada is made from recycled material.	To reduce waste generated and minimize the environmental impacts of assets throughout their lifecycle, Statistics Canada will continue to embed environmental considerations in public procurement in accordance with the Policy on Green Procurement. Copy paper purchased by Statistics Canada contains a minimum of 30% recycled content and has a forest certification, ECOLOGO certification or equivalent certification.	Statistics Canada incorporates environmental considerations into all public procurement by releasing all solicitations electronically, accepting electronic bids, and using existing procurement instruments available through Public Services and Procurement Canada that include environmental considerations. 100% of copy paper purchased contains a minimum of 30% recycled content and is certified to a recognized environmental standard to reduce the environmental impact of its production.	Motivate suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of their goods, services and supply chains.
	Departments will adopt clean technology and undertake clean technology demonstration projects.	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	Support for green procurement will be strengthened, including guidance, tools and training for public service employees.	Ensure that decision makers and materiel management and procurement specialists have the necessary training and awareness to support green procurement. Ensure that key officials include support for and contributions to the Government of Canada's Policy on Green Procurement objectives in their performance evaluations.	100% of specialists in procurement and materiel management have completed training on green procurement. Performance evaluations of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management include support for and contributions to green procurement in the given fiscal year.	100% of specialists in procurement and materiel management have completed the Canada School of Public Service Green Procurement course (C215) or equivalent. 100% of performance evaluations of managers and functional heads of procurement and materiel management are aligned to support the objectives of the Government of Canada Policy on Green Procurement.	Motivate suppliers to green their goods, services and supply chain.

3. Report on integrating sustainable development

During the 2020–21 reporting cycle, Statistics Canada had no proposals that required a strategic environmental assessment and no public statements were produced.

Gender-based Analysis Plus

Section 1: Institutional Gender-based Analysis Plus capacity

As Canada's national statistical agency, Statistics Canada ensures Canadians have the information they need on Canada's economy, society and environment. With the importance of Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) steadily increasing over the past several years, the need for more detailed statistical information and disaggregated data has also increased. To best support its data users—including other government departments—and better its own organizational and accountability outcomes, Statistics Canada continues to increase its GBA+ capacity across the agency.

A significant GBA+ milestone occurred in 2018–19 with the development of Statistics Canada's Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics, which is responsible for reporting to Canadians and other government departments, generating new information, and building statistical capacity. To reach these objectives, the Centre developed a public-facing Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub, allowing data users to easily access and analyze Statistics Canada's GBA+ data holdings. The Centre is well placed to ensure that the agency is exercising leadership both internally and externally.

Within the agency, the Centre conducts GBA+ training, and all Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board submissions continue to include a GBA+ analysis and commitment to disaggregate data to the fullest extent possible. Externally, the Centre supports federal departments in their commitment to GBA+ analysis through data development and capacity building. In 2020–21, to further the availability of information on gender, diversity and inclusion, the agency worked extensively with Women and Gender Equality Canada to conduct research, training and other initiatives related to GBA+.

Statistics Canada strives to build a workforce that is representative of the Canadian population and continues to set objectives to further diversify and enrich its talent pool at all levels throughout the agency.

In 2020–21, the agency recognized the importance of greater accountability through structured governance and reporting to employment equity committees. As a result, the agency introduced the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Accountability Framework to better serve its employees and community through clearly identified roles and responsibilities.

Finally, the agency continued the development of two action plans to improve diversity and inclusion within the workplace—the 2021–25 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan: Moving Forward Together, and the Integrity and Respect Action Plan. These action plans are dynamic and data-driven strategies that include concrete measures, processes and tools designed to promote diversity and inclusion, eliminate systemic barriers in appointment processes, and increase representation across the agency.

Section 2: Gender and diversity impacts by program

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program name: Economic and Environmental Statistics

The Economic and Environmental Statistics program produces a wide range of economic and environmental statistics such as national and international accounts, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, research and development, price indexes, finance, tourism, transportation, agriculture, and the environment.

Target population: All Canadians

Key impacts:

Economic and Environmental Statistics: Key impacts

Performance indicators	Observed results 2020–21	Data source	Comment
Availability of economic and environmental analytical products relevant to GBA+
Number of Economic and Environmental Statistics analytical products and insights relevant to GBA+ and made available on Statistics Canada's website Description: This indicator measures the number of Economic and Environmental Statistics analytical products and insights (e.g., research articles, studies, fact sheets) relevant to GBA+ released through The Daily and made available on the Statistics Canada website. GBA+ factors used to calculate this indicator include one or more of the following: sex or gender, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, people with disabilities, immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ2+, and those living in rural areas.	45	Statistics Canada website	None

Other:

As part of the agency's commitment to making GBA+ disaggregated data available to Canadians, the Economic and Environmental Statistics program accomplished the following in 2020–21:

• National Economic Accounts program: To support the economic participation and prosperity pillar of the Gender Results Framework, the human resources modules for the infrastructure accounts and selected satellite accounts (natural resources, environment) contain detailed breakdowns for men and women.
• Corporations Returns Act: In March 2021, Statistics Canada released new data on the gender composition of corporate boards in Canada in 2017 and 2018. These data highlight women in leadership and strategic decision-making roles in corporations that conduct business in Canada.

GBA+ data collection plan:

In 2020–21, Statistics Canada continued to identify and address data gaps across its statistical programs. Statistics Canada responded by enhancing existing survey programs and integrating data sources to enable reporting on key population groups. Measures taken included integrating existing data sources, developing new survey questions, oversampling key population groups to allow for disaggregation and adding indicators to existing surveys.

Statistics Canada is currently developing a set of key performance indicators to measure the availability of disaggregated data relevant to GBA+ and exploring the possibility of measuring the relevance and impact of the data.

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program name: Socio-economic Statistics

The Socio-economic Statistics program provides integrated information and relevant analysis on the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of individuals, families and households, as well as on the major factors that affect their well-being. Many of the statistical products produced allow for GBA+ analyses for key population groups.

Target population: All Canadians

Key impacts:

Socio-economic Statistics: Key impacts

Performance indicators	Observed results 2020–21	Data source	Comment
Initiatives that support GBA+ capacity building
Number of GBA+ consultations, training sessions and presentations conducted by the agency for external stakeholders Description: This indicator measures the number of GBA+ capacity building activities conducted by the agency for external stakeholders.	18	Administrative data contained in an Excel spreadsheet titled "Number of GBA+ consultations"	None
Availability of socio-economic analytical products relevant to GBA+
Number of Socio-economic Statistics analytical products and insights relevant to GBA+ and made available on Statistics Canada's website Description: This indicator measures the number of Socio-economic Statistics analytical products and insights (e.g., research articles, studies, fact sheets) relevant to GBA+ released through The Daily and made available on the Statistics Canada website. GBA+ factors used to calculate this indicator include one or more of the following: sex or gender, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, people with disabilities, immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ2+, and those living in rural areas.	224	Statistics Canada website	None
Number of Gender Results Framework indicators released by sex or gender Description: This indicator measures the number of sex or gender disaggregated data tables, which correspond to Gender Results Framework indicators, made available through the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub.	36	Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub	This represents 84% of the Gender Results Framework indicators.
Number of Gender Results Framework indicators released by sex or gender and other identity factor Description: This indicator measures the number of data tables disaggregated by sex or gender and other identity factors, which correspond to Gender Results Framework indicators, made available through the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub.	7	Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub	This represents 16% of the Gender Results Framework indicators.
Number of GBA+ socio-economic products related to the impacts of COVID-19 Description: This indicator measures the number of analytical products related to the impacts of COVID-19 on diverse population groups in Canada that have been made available.	15	Administrative data from Diversity and Sociocultural Statistics	None
Number of page visits to the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub Description: This indicator measures the number of page visits to the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub in a given fiscal year.	47,024	Adobe Analytics	None

Other:

Centre for Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics: The creation of the Centre in 2018–19 brought together much of the agency's GBA+ expertise, and its Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub centralized resources relevant to GBA+; promoted and provided greater access to research and detailed statistical information, including data disaggregated by sex, gender and other diversity characteristics; and reported on the Government of Canada's Gender Results Framework indicators.

Given the importance of statistical standards in the agency's work, the Centre released an infographic defining what statistical standards are and their importance. Moreover, the Centre, in collaboration with the Centre for Statistical and Data Standards, began developing a standard for measuring sexual orientation and completed the first round of consultations with experts within the federal government, academia and community organizations in early 2020. The second phase, which included 17 focus groups, took place in summer 2020. Since late January 2021, the proposed sexual orientation standards have been available for public review. A final round of qualitative testing will take place in late March 2021. This work is ongoing.

In collaboration with other government departments, Statistics Canada played a substantive role in filling important data gaps and making national standards available. Furthermore, recognizing the increasing need for GBA+ disaggregated data, the Centre worked with other Statistics Canada program areas to develop strategic priorities and an action plan to ensure that the data needed to disaggregate at the lowest level of population or geographic detail possible were available, while meeting quality requirements and respecting confidentiality. The action plan proposal outlined the need for data to be disaggregated by gender, for Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities and people in groups designated as visible minorities. Additional disaggregation priorities include people who identify as LGBTQ2+, children and youth, seniors, immigrants, veterans, people living in minority official language communities, and those living in low-income situations.

In addition, as part of the agency's commitment to making GBA+ disaggregated data available to Canadians, the Socio-economic Statistics program had the following key developments in 2020–21:

• Social inclusion program: From the funding provided by Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy, Diversity and Sociocultural Statistics continued to work on developing its conceptual framework on social inclusion, including a large number of social inclusion indicators based on 2016 Census data (to be later updated with 2021 Census data) and data from other surveys such as the General Social Survey. Work continues to progress on this project. These indicators will be presented in the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub using a new disaggregated classification of ethnocultural groups that combines the population group question with the ethnic and cultural origin question. Work is currently underway on the Social Indicators Visualization Project to produce indicators that will be used in a new interactive tool presented on the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub.
• General Social Survey on Social Identity: The new cycle of the General Social Survey on Social Identity will allow for the disaggregation of data for some specific ethnocultural groups.
• Labour Force Survey: The survey was updated in July 2020 to begin collecting information on the labour market activities of population groups designated as visible minorities.
• Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics: The agency published 11 justice-related analytical reports and 34 fact sheets from a GBA+ perspective. In addition, the agency engaged with police, academics and community groups to develop new variables to capture more detailed information on hate-motivated crime. Gender and selected diversity indicators are available on the accused and victim files.

Supplementary information sources:

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub

GBA+ data collection plan:

In 2020–21, Statistics Canada continued to identify and address data gaps across its statistical programs. Statistics Canada responded by enhancing existing survey programs and integrating data sources to enable reporting on key population groups. Measures taken included integrating existing data sources, developing new survey questions, oversampling key population groups to allow for disaggregation and adding indicators to existing surveys.

Statistics Canada is currently developing a set of key performance indicators to measure the availability of disaggregated data relevant to GBA+ and exploring the possibility of measuring the relevance and impact of the data.

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program name: Cost-recovered Statistical Services

Through the Cost-recovered Statistical Services program, Statistics Canada conducts special surveys to gather new data; produces high-quality statistics that are currently not part of the agency's data holdings; and conducts on-demand special analytical projects to meet specific needs of federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients.

Target population: All Canadians

Key impacts:

At this time, indicators for cost-recovered products are included in their respective program area (i.e., Economic and Environmental Statistics, Socio-economic Statistics, Centres of Expertise) and not identified separately.

Other:

In 2020–21, the Cost-recovered Statistical Services program had requests from a few departments to produce statistical information with a focus on GBA+ analysis.

• Funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada:
  • Economic analysis projects focused on human capital by gender, gross domestic product by gender, the performance gaps between women-owned and men-owned enterprises, Black business owners, and people with disabilities and business ownership in Canada.
  • Social analysis projects focused on gender differences in science, technology, engineering and math enrolment and graduation; education and work experiences of women with disabilities; fathers' use of parental leave; gender gaps and characteristics of elected and appointed members of legislative bodies; and neighbourhoods, vulnerable populations and well-being across genders.
  • Health analysis projects focused on the extent to which the timing and the type of abuse are associated with receiving social assistance in adulthood, and whether there are differential effects of abuse on the probability of receiving social welfare according to the sex of the individual.
• Funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, information was provided related to early learning and child care, which has a strong effect on women as it impacts their participation in the labour force and they make up a majority of the child care workforce.
• Funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, information was provided focusing onspecific immigrant groups in the labour market (including during the pandemic), predicting factors for employment earnings, and trends in the number and characteristics of international students in Canada.

GBA+ data collection plan:

In 2020–21, Statistics Canada continued to identify and address data gaps across its statistical programs. Statistics Canada responded by enhancing existing survey programs and integrating data sources to enable reporting on key population groups. Measures taken included integrating existing data sources, developing new survey questions, oversampling key population groups to allow for disaggregation and adding indicators to existing surveys.

Statistics Canada is currently developing a set of key performance indicators to measure the availability of disaggregated data relevant to GBA+ and exploring the possibility of measuring the relevance and impact of the data.

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program name: Census Program

The Census Program provides statistical information and analyses that measure changes in the Canadian population and its demographic characteristics, and in the agricultural sector. The program includes the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture.

Target population: All Canadians

Key impacts:

Census Program: Key impacts

Performance indicators	Observed results 2016 Census	Data source	Comment
Availability of Census Program indicators relevant to GBA+
Number of GBA+ factors for which Census of Population statistical products are disaggregated Description: This indicator measures the number of GBA+ factors for which the Census of Population statistical products are made available on Statistics Canada's website.	16	Statistics Canada website	Factors included are: Indigenous peoples Age and sex Education Families, households and marital status Housing Immigration and ethnocultural diversity Income Labour Language Language of work Mobility and migration
Percentage of Census of Population analytical products and insights relevant to GBA+ and made available on Statistics Canada's website Description: This indicator measures the percentage of Census of Population products and insights (e.g., data tables, census profile, highlight tables) relevant to GBA+ released through The Daily and made available on the Statistics Canada website. GBA+ factors used to calculate this indicator include one or more of the following: age, sex, language, Indigenous peoples, education, immigration, income, etc.	100%	Statistics Canada website	All Census of Population products include one or more GBA+ factors.
Number of GBA+ factors for which Census of Agriculture statistical products are disaggregated Description: This indicator measures the number of GBA+ factors for which the Census of Agriculture statistical products are made available on Statistics Canada's website.	11 factors	Statistics Canada website	Factors included are: Sex Language Geography Income Age Education Indigenous peoples Immigration status Employment class Operating arrangement (e.g., ownership) Capital
Percentage of key users and clients satisfied with the level of detail in the census statistical products. Description: This indicator measures the overall satisfaction of key users and clients with the level of detail available in the census statistical products they used. The level of detail is not exclusive to GBA+ factors. The question is answered on a five-point satisfaction scale (very dissatisfied, dissatisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, satisfied, and very satisfied). Only the responses of satisfied and very satisfied are included in the result.	75%	Census Dissemination Consultation	None

Other:

The 2021 Census of Population added and modified more than 30 questions that measure concepts such as immigration, language group, ethnic origin and visible minority status, as well as new questions for Métis and Inuit. These indicators allow for robust intersectional analysis across all key identity characteristics, age groups and geographies.

Supplementary information sources:

2021 Census questionnaires

GBA+ data collection plan:

In 2020–21, Statistics Canada continued to identify and address data gaps across its statistical programs. Statistics Canada responded by enhancing existing survey programs and integrating data sources to enable reporting on key population groups. Measures taken included integrating existing data sources, developing new survey questions, oversampling key population groups to allow for disaggregation and adding indicators to existing surveys.

Statistics Canada is currently developing a set of key performance indicators to measure the availability of disaggregated data relevant to GBA+ and exploring the possibility of measuring the relevance and impact of the data.

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program name: Centres of Expertise

The Centres of Expertise support all Statistics Canada programs to ensure that Canadian citizens, businesses, governments, universities and other institutions have access to the most detailed, timely and accurate information at the lowest cost possible—both in terms of dollars and response burden—while protecting the privacy of their information. The Centres undertake innovative research, analysis and data development activities and continually seek new data sources, leading-edge methods and systems, cost-effective operations, and new statistical products to address the current and future information needs of Canadians.

Target population: All Canadians

Key impacts:

Census Program: Key impacts

Performance indicators	Observed results	Data source	Comment
Availability of analytical products relevant to GBA+ produced by Statistics Canada's Centres of Expertise
Number of Centres of Expertise analytical products and insights relevant to GBA+ and made available on Statistics Canada's website Description: This indicator measures the number of Centres of Expertise analytical products and insights (e.g., research articles, studies, fact sheets) relevant to GBA+ released through The Daily and made available on the Statistics Canada website. GBA+ factors used to calculate this indicator include one or more of the following: sex or gender, Indigenous peoples, visible minorities, people with disabilities, immigrants, people who identify as LGBTQ2+ and those living in rural areas.	63	Statistics Canada website	None

Other:

In 2020–21, as part of the agency's commitment to make GBA+ disaggregated data available to Canadians, the Centres of Expertise program had the following key developments:

• Sustainable development goals:

  Statistics Canada updated data for the Global Indicator Framework, which includes disaggregation and published 17 fact sheets. Additionally, to monitor progress on national priorities, Statistics Canada developed and released the Canadian Indicator Framework, which includes 76 indicators and GBA+-relevant disaggregation.

• Economic analysis focused on statistical information on private enterprises by gender of primary owner, age of primary owner and enterprise size. Statistics on hours worked, labour compensation and other labour market information by gender, education, age, and paid versus self-employed were updated and used for calculating the contribution of labour skills to productivity and economic growth.
• Health analysis: The 2016 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort was updated with deaths from 2016 to 2019 to allow the use of detailed information (e.g., age, sex, ethnicity). In addition, four GBA+-relevant papers using an immigration lens or a quality-of-life lens were published. Other reports completed include hospitalizations and mortality among immigrant men and women, among Indigenous men and women, and, in some instances, among various ethnic groups.

• Social analysis: The Centres further developed income-tax-related data sources in terms of data validation, additional linkage feasibility, and the retrospective addition of a gender variable to files (1983 to 2018). New indicators were developed to measure multi-dimensional income mixing and distribution at the neighbourhood level, and social inclusion across a set of economic, social and health variables.

  A number of intersectional research projects that examined the gender pay gap, economic and labour market trends among diverse groups, and educational and social outcomes such as life satisfaction of women, racialized groups, seniors, youth, and immigrants were published.

  As part of Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy, two research projects were completed on the economic participation of racialized groups, including differences in weekly earnings of men and women in designated visible minority categories and differences across broad workplace sectors (e.g., private versus public, large versus small firms).

• Social Policy Simulation Database and Model: Three COVID-19-specific versions of the Social Policy Simulation Database and Model were released. The models allow users to analyze the distributional effects of tax and transfer policies across a number of dimensions, including gender.

Supplementary information sources:

Sustainable Development Goals Data Hub

GBA+ data collection plan:

In 2020–21, Statistics Canada continued to identify and address data gaps across its statistical programs. Statistics Canada responded by enhancing existing survey programs and integrating data sources to enable reporting on key population groups. Measures taken included integrating existing data sources, developing new survey questions, oversampling key population groups to allow for disaggregation and adding indicators to existing surveys.

Statistics Canada is currently developing a set of key performance indicators to measure the availability of disaggregated data relevant to GBA+ and exploring the possibility of measuring the relevance and impact of the data.

Section 3: Program links to Gender Results Framework

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program links to Gender Results Framework

Program name	Education and skills development	Economic participation and prosperity	Leadership and democratic participation	Gender-based violence and access to justice	Poverty reduction, health and well-being	Gender equality around the worldTable note 1
Economic and Environmental Statistics	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
Socio-economic Statistics	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Cost-recovered Statistical Services	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Census Program	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	No
Centres of Expertise	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Table note 1 Statistics Canada disseminates Gender Results Framework indicators via the Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Statistics Hub. At present, Statistics Canada does not report on indicators related to gender equality around the world. Return to table note 1 referrer

Section 4: Program links to Quality of Life Framework

Core responsibility: Statistical information

Program links to Quality of Life Framework

	Prosperity	Health	Environment	Society	Good governance
Economic and Environmental Statistics	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Socio-economic Statistics	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Cost-recovered Statistical ServicesTable note 1	Yes	No	No	No	Yes
Census ProgramTable note 2	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No
Centres of Expertise	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Table note 1 Further examination is required to assess the feasibility of using cost-recovered statistical services to produce health-, environment- and society-related indicators within the Quality of Life Framework. Return to table note 1 referrer Table note 2 Further examination is required to assess the feasibility of using the Census of Population or Census of Agriculture to produce environment-related indicators within the Quality of Life Framework. Return to table note 2 referrer

Response to parliamentary committees and external audits

Response to parliamentary committees

There were no parliamentary committee reports requiring a response in 2020–21.

Response to audits conducted by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada (including audits conducted by the Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development)

There were no audits in 2020–21 requiring a response.

Response to audits conducted by the Public Service Commission of Canada or the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages

There were no audits in 2020–21 requiring a response.

The tax system can be used to achieve public policy objectives through the application of special measures such as low tax rates, exemptions, deductions, deferrals and credits. The Department of Finance Canada publishes cost estimates and projections for these measures each year in the Report on Federal Tax Expenditures. This report also provides detailed background information on tax expenditures, including descriptions, objectives, historical information and references to related federal spending programs and evaluations and GBA+ of tax expenditures.

Table of contents

• From the Minister
• From the Chief Statistician
• Results at a glance
• Results: what we achieved
  • Statistical information
  • Internal services
• Analysis of trends in spending and human resources
  • Actual expenditures
  • Actual human resources
  • Expenditures by vote
  • Government of Canada spending and activities
  • Financial statements and financial statements highlights
• Corporate Information
  • Organizational profile
  • Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do
  • Operating context
  • Reporting framework
• Supporting information on the program inventory
• Supplementary information tables
• Federal tax expenditures
• Organizational contact information
• Appendix: definitions

Email
infostats@statcan.gc.ca

Telephone
Toll-free: 1-800-263-1136
International: 1-514-283-8300
TTY: 1-800-363-7629

Fax
1-877-287-4369 or 613-951-0581

Mail
Statistics Canada
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Website
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Twitter
Facebook

appropriation (crédit)

Any authority of Parliament to pay money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

budgetary expenditures (dépenses budgétaires)

Operating and capital expenditures; transfer payments to other levels of government, organizations or individuals; and payments to Crown corporations.

core responsibility (responsabilité essentielle)

An enduring function or role performed by a department. The intentions of the department with respect to a core responsibility are reflected in one or more related departmental results that the department seeks to contribute to or influence.

Departmental Plan (plan ministériel)

A report on the plans and expected performance of an appropriated department over a three year period. Departmental Plans are usually tabled in Parliament each spring.

departmental priority (priorité ministérielle)

A plan or project that a department has chosen to focus and report on during the planning period. Priorities represent the things that are most important or what must be done first to support the achievement of the desired departmental results.

departmental result (résultat ministériel)

A consequence or outcome that a department seeks to achieve. A departmental result is often outside departments' immediate control, but it should be influenced by program-level outcomes.

departmental result indicator (indicateur de résultat ministériel)

A quantitative measure of progress on a departmental result.

departmental results framework (cadre ministériel des résultats)

A framework that connects the department's core responsibilities to its departmental results and departmental result indicators.

Departmental Results Report (rapport sur les résultats ministériels)

A report on a department's actual accomplishments against the plans, priorities and expected results set out in the corresponding Departmental Plan.

experimentation (expérimentation)

The conducting of activities that seek to first explore, then test and compare the effects and impacts of policies and interventions in order to inform evidence-based decision making, and improve outcomes for Canadians, by learning what works, for whom and in what circumstances. Experimentation is related to, but distinct from innovation (the trying of new things), because it involves a rigorous comparison of results. For example, using a new website to communicate with Canadians can be an innovation; systematically testing the new website against existing outreach tools or an old website to see which one leads to more engagement, is experimentation.

full-time equivalent (équivalent temps plein)

A measure of the extent to which an employee represents a full person-year charge against a departmental budget. For a particular position, the full-time equivalent figure is the ratio of the number of hours the person actually works divided by the standard number of hours set out in the person's collective agreement.

gender-based analysis plus (GBA+) (analyse comparative entre les sexes plus [ACS+])

An analytical process used to assess how diverse groups of women, men and gender-diverse people experience policies, programs and services based on multiple factors including race, ethnicity, religion, age, and mental or physical disability.

government-wide priorities (priorités pangouvernementales)

For the purpose of the 2020–21 Departmental Results Report, those high-level themes outlining the government's agenda in the 2019 Speech from the Throne, namely, fighting climate change, strengthening the middle class, walking the road of reconciliation, keeping Canadians safe and healthy, and positioning Canada for success in an uncertain world.

horizontal initiative (initiative horizontale)

An initiative where two or more federal organizations are given funding to pursue a shared outcome, often linked to a government priority.

non-budgetary expenditures (dépenses non budgétaires)

Net outlays and receipts related to loans, investments and advances, which change the composition of the financial assets of the Government of Canada.

performance (rendement)

What an organization did with its resources to achieve its results, how well those results compare with what the organization intended to achieve, and how well lessons learned have been identified.

performance indicator (indicateur de rendement)

A qualitative or quantitative means of measuring an output or outcome, with the intention of gauging the performance of an organization, program, policy or initiative respecting expected results.

performance reporting (production de rapports sur le rendement)

The process of communicating evidence‑based performance information. Performance reporting supports decision making, accountability and transparency.

plan (plan)

The articulation of strategic choices, which provides information on how an organization intends to achieve its priorities and associated results. Generally, a plan will explain the logic behind the strategies chosen and tend to focus on actions that lead to the expected result.

planned spending (dépenses prévues)

For Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports, planned spending refers to those amounts presented in Main Estimates.

A department is expected to be aware of the authorities that it has sought and received. Determining planned spending is a departmental responsibility, and departments must be able to defend the expenditure and accrual numbers presented in their Departmental Plans and Departmental Results Reports.

program (programme)

Individual or groups of services, activities or combinations thereof that are managed together within the department and focus on a specific set of outputs, outcomes or service levels.

program inventory (répertoire des programmes)

Identifies all the department's programs and describes how resources are organized to contribute to the department's core responsibilities and results.

respendable revenues (revenus disponibles)

A type of revenue that, once received, increases the departmental spending authority. A department requires specific authority from Parliament to respend revenues. Respending authority is derived from the Financial Administration Act (FAA), subsection 29.1(1); the FAA and an Appropriation Act, subsection 29.1(2); legislation specific to a department (e.g., enabling and/or program); or other specific legislation.

result (résultat)

A consequence attributed, in part, to an organization, policy, program or initiative. Results are not within the control of a single organization, policy, program or initiative; instead they are within the area of the organization's influence.

statutory expenditures (dépenses législatives)

Expenditures that Parliament has approved through legislation other than appropriation acts. The legislation sets out the purpose of the expenditures and the terms and conditions under which they may be made.

synthetic data (données synthétiques)

Stochastically generated data with analytical value geared towards data protection and disclosure control

target (cible)

A measurable performance or success level that an organization, program or initiative plans to achieve within a specified period. Targets can be either quantitative or qualitative.

voted expenditures (dépenses votées)

Expenditures that Parliament approves annually through an appropriation act. The vote wording becomes the governing conditions under which these expenditures may be made.

web panel (panel en ligne)

Access panel of people willing to respond to web questionnaires.

Never has the role of data—and data-driven insights—been more important in supporting Canadians in their time of need than during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the first wave hit in March 2020, data immediately went from being a nice-to-have asset to a critical decision-support tool. Virtually overnight, Statistics Canada employees pivoted to the new reality by rapidly adapting operations to better serve Canadians. This report outlines how Statistics Canada has responded to the nation's urgent demands for data over the course of a rapidly evolving public health emergency.

In particular, the agency has delivered results for Canadians on the following priorities for 2020–21:

• Provide frontline pandemic response: Over the past year, Statistics Canada helped the provinces and territories track and limit the spread of COVID-19. By March 31, 2021, Statistics Canada's specially trained interviewers had made the equivalent of 1.2 million 15-minute calls for contact tracing, conducting everything from daily health check-ins with Canadians to in-depth case investigations, while still juggling their ongoing survey collection duties. Statistics Canada data have also been used by public health officials to manage the nation's supply of personal protective equipment, identify COVID-19 hotspots that require enhanced public health response and plan the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Prepare for the 2021 Census of Population and Census of Agriculture: In the months leading up to the May 2021 launch of Statistics Canada's flagship statistical program, the Census of Population and Census of Agriculture, the agency prepared to implement a virtually contact-free operation. Against the backdrop of a pandemic, Statistics Canada employees adapted to public health measures such as physical distancing during the collection of census data so that respondents and enumerators alike could participate safely, securely and remotely. The data collected for this census will capture the sheer scale of the social and economic impacts that Canadians continue to face as a result of COVID-19.
• Collaborate and engage with Canadians: To meet the urgent data needs of Canadians during a pandemic, Statistics Canada developed an ever-increasing number of partnerships so that data could be collected, analyzed and integrated in agile and innovative ways, beyond the traditional survey-first approach. Over the past year alone, the agency has collaborated with all orders of government, civil society groups and the private sector to provide data-driven insights that have helped shape the pandemic response and continued to determine the trajectory of the nation's recovery.
• Enhance coverage of emerging issues: In the early days of the pandemic, Statistics Canada partnered with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Canada's largest business group, to examine the impact of the nationwide economic shutdown on firms across the country. The results of this survey were vital in providing the Government of Canada with the information it needed to design and implement emergency income-support programs that met the urgent needs of the moment. Statistics Canada staff also disaggregated large datasets to better identify the impact of the pandemic on vulnerable populations. Those data revealed a stark and inconvenient truth: COVID-19 has not affected all Canadians equally. The social disparities Statistics Canada uncovered will guide and shape public policy decisions for years to come.
• Seek out alternative data sources: Canadians often wonder why they are asked to provide the same data multiple times to Statistics Canada. Over the past year, against the backdrop of a rapidly evolving pandemic, agency employees have found innovative ways to reduce the number of survey questions that Canadians are asked to respond to, while respecting public health measures such as physical distancing. Employees have found new ways to work safely, securely and remotely to integrate more administrative data—information already held by other organizations—into the agency's data holdings. And through data collection methods, such as crowdsourcing surveys launched in April 2020, after the first wave hit, Canadians told Statistics Canada about how COVID-19 was having a negative impact on their mental health. Meanwhile, throughout the pandemic, agency staff have tracked price fluctuations for the monthly measure of inflation, without stepping into a single store. They have measured employment trends without interviewing anyone on their doorstep. And Statistics Canada now releases monthly flash estimates of high-frequency economic indicators such as gross domestic product.

The agency is continuously sharing information about what it does and how it goes about providing high-quality statistics. Statistics Canada's commitment to privacy and transparency continues to be strengthened through the Proportionality and Necessity Framework and the Trust Centre. I invite Canadians to see how Statistics Canada uses their data responsibly to provide the fact base they need to make informed decisions.

The need for timely and accurate data has never been greater in revealing whether Canada is on the right track as the nation, and its economy and society, gradually recovers from the pandemic.

I invite you to learn more through this report and the article "COVID-19 in Canada: A One-year Update on Social and Economic Impacts" to learn how Statistics Canada delivered better data to drive better outcomes for the people of Canada during COVID-19.

Anil Arora
Chief Statistician of Canada

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.