Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

Reporting Guide

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2020 Annual Civil Aviation Survey - Level I. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

Help Line: 1-877-949-9492

Your answers are confidential.

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.

Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Table of contents

• Business or organization and contact information
• Balance Sheet, Annual - Statement 20 (I)
• Statement of Revenues and Expenses, Annual - Statement 21 (I, II)

Business or organization and contact information

This section verifies or requests basic identifying information of the business or organization such as legal name, operating name (if applicable), contact information of the designated contact person, current operational status, and main activity(ies).

1. Legal name and Operating name

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

2. Designated contact person

Verify or provide the requested contact information of the designated business or organization contact person. The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire. If different than the designated contact person, the contact information of the person completing the questionnaire can be indicated later in the questionnaire.

3. Current operational status

Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name in question 1. If indicating the operational status of the business or organization is 'Not currently operational' then indicate an applicable reason and provide the requested information.

4. Main activity

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

If the current NAICS associated with this business or organizations is not correct, please provide a brief description of the main activity and provide any additional information as requested.

Balance Sheet, Annual - Statement 20 (I)

Financial assets

Current assets

Include:

• cash, bank balances (including deposits in transit, special deposits for the payments of debts, and so on) and short-term investments due within one year from the date of the balance sheet;
• current accounts and notes receivable as well as other current assets such as inventories, charges to subscribers on transportation contracts, interests and dividends receivable, and so on.

All other financial assets – (Include investments and special funds.)

Include investments in associated companies, other investments such as investments in stocks, bonds, and so on, and special funds such as equipment purchase funds, funds set aside for such special purposes as contractual deposits, pension funds, self-insurance funds, and so on.

Property and equipment

Operating - flight equipment – (Include capital leases.)

Include:

• flight equipment owned and/or under capital leases;
• the cost of aircraft (airframes), aircraft engines, propellers, components (aircraft communication and navigational equipment) and spare parts that have been purchased outright. Flight equipment under capital leases includes the cost of flight equipment acquired under a capital or finance lease, in other words, a lease for a period considered to be the whole or nearly the whole life of the aircraft.

Accumulated depreciation and amortization - flight equipment

Include:

• accumulated depreciation and amortization of flight equipment owned and/or under capital leases;
• accrued charges representing losses, not replaced by current repairs, occurring in physical property and suffered through current lessening of service value due to wear and tear from use and the action of time and the elements; and losses occurring through obsolescence, supersession, new technological developments, changes in popular demand and the requirements of public authority.

Operating - ground property and equipment – (Include capital leases.)

Include:

• ground property and equipment owned and/or under capital leases;
• the cost of non-airborne communication and meteorological equipment, ramp equipment, maintenance and engineering equipment, surface transport vehicles and equipment, furniture, fixtures and office equipment, buildings and land as well as miscellaneous ground equipment such as medical equipment, airport and lighting equipment, passenger service equipment, hotel, restaurant and food service equipment, storage and distribution equipment. Ground property and equipment under capital leases includes the cost of ground property and equipment under a capital or finance lease, in other words, a lease for a period considered to be the whole or nearly the whole life of the property or equipment.

Accumulated depreciation and amortization - ground property and equipment

Include:

• accumulated depreciation and amortization of ground property and equipment owned and/or under capital leases;
• accrued charges representing losses, not replaced by current repairs, occurring in physical property and suffered through current lessening of service value due to wear and tear from use and the action of time and the elements; and losses occurring through obsolescence, supersession, new technological developments, changes in popular demand and the requirements of public authority.

Non-operating property and equipment – (Include capital leases.)

Include the cost of all non-operating property and equipment, in other words, all property and equipment not included in the "operating" categories above.

Accumulated depreciation and amortization - non-operating property and equipment

Include accumulated depreciation and amortization of the non-operating property and equipment.

All other assets

Include long-term prepayments, developmental and pre-operating costs such as the cost of extraordinary training, unamortized discounts and expenses on the issue of long-term debt securities, property acquisition adjustments, other intangibles such as payments made for patents, copyrights, and so on, and other deferred charges.

Total assets

The sum of the assets above less the accumulated depreciation and amortization.

Liabilities and capital

Current liabilities

Include:

• current accounts and traffic balances payable, including balances subject to current settlement and payable to associated companies and/or shareholders, and notes payable on demand or within one year from the date of the balance sheet;
• the current portion of long-term debt and the current obligations under capital leases;
• air traffic liabilities (unearned transportation revenue), which includes the value of passenger tickets sold but not used or refunded as of the date of the balance sheet, and pre-paid amounts for the transportation of baggage, freight and mail for which the transportation has not occurred as of the date of the balance sheet;
• salaries and wages accrued and unpaid, taxes accrued and unpaid, dividends payable, deposits by subscribers on transportation contracts (air travel plan liabilities, in other words, deposits received under air travel plan contracts) and other current and accrued liabilities.

Advances from associated companies and/or shareholders

Include the net amount from associated companies and/or shareholders for notes, loans or advances which are not currently settled.

Long-term debt and other non-current liabilities –(Include capital leases.)

Include:

• the face value or principal amount of debt securities (for example, bonds, trust certificates, debentures, notes) issued and assumed by the air carrier and in the hands of others, which is not payable within twelve months of the balance sheet date;
• long-term obligations under capital leases, which refers to the present value of unexpired contracts for the acquisition of aircraft under such lease arrangements.

Deferred income taxes

Include taxes that will be owed on income, but that have not yet been assessed.

All other liabilities

Include:

• deferred credits which correspond to unamortized premiums on all classes of long-term debt, and other deferred credits such as securities issued or assumed by the air carrier, and other unadjusted accounts that cannot be cleared as of the date of the balance sheet;
• provisions for major overhauls such as for flight equipment (in other words, liabilities of uncertain value or timing associated with the complete disassembly and inspection or repair of an aircraft, engine or other component of an aircraft) and other provisions such as liabilities of uncertain value or timing.

Shareholders' equity

Capital stock

Include the equity capital invested in a business through the purchase of various classes of common and preferred shares.

Retained earnings

Include the portion of after-tax profits left over, after dividends have been paid to shareholders, for reinvestment into the company. If this account is negative, then the amount indicated for this item should be shown with a negative (-) sign.

All other items

Include other paid-in capital and reserves. Other paid-in capital or contributed surplus includes the premiums or discounts that have resulted from selling stock, and stock received from donations. Reserves include any reserve fund such as reserve for self-insurance, reserve for pension, reserves against potential future losses, and so on. Also, include proprietorship or partnership accounts (balance year-end).

Total liabilities and capital

The sum of liabilities and capital plus the sum of shareholders' equity which should equal total assets.

Statement of Revenues and Expenses, Annual - Statement 21 (I, II)

Scheduled services

Transportation of passengers or goods, or both, by an aircraft provided by an air carrier that operates the air service and that, directly or indirectly, sells some or all of its seats or part or all of its cargo space to the public on a price per seat, price per unit of mass or price per volume of cargo basis.

Charter services

Transportation of passengers or goods, or both, by aircraft pursuant to a contract under which a person, other than the air carrier that operates the air service, or its agent, reserves a block of seats or part of the cargo space of an aircraft for the person's use or for resale to the public.

Include air ambulance service and the movement of people and goods to logging or heli-logging sites.

Exclude firefighting and heli-logging activities and the movement of people and goods to a firefighting site. (A complete list of activities which are specialty and therefore not subject to filing requirements as charter can be found in the Transport Canada document entitled "Starting a Commercial Air Service".)

Passenger revenue

Refers to the revenue earned from the transportation of passengers on scheduled and charter services. Include revenue from all surcharges (baggage, fuel, seat selection, changing or cancelling flights, and so on) that are retained by the air carrier. Exclude amounts such as taxes, navigation fees, security fees, and so on that are collected but passed on to other entities.

Goods revenue

Refers to the revenue earned from the transportation of goods on scheduled and charter services. Exclude taxes such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) or Provincial Sales Tax (PST).

All other flight-related revenue

Refers to the revenue earned from air transport activities not included in passenger revenue or goods revenue. Include revenue from other flying services such as flying training, recreational flying and other specialty flying.

All other revenue

Include subsidies and revenue earned from all other sources (including contra revenue, revenue of a corporate nature (leasing revenue, third party ground-handling, and so on), ancillary passenger revenue not easily allocated by operating flight (customs brokerage, and so on), revenue from in-flight sales (beverages, food, entertainment and wireless Internet access, and so on)).

Total operating revenue

The sum of passenger revenue, goods revenue, other flight-related revenue and revenue from all other sources.

Operating expenses - Ground property and equipment maintenance

Employee wages, salaries and benefits

Direct labour costs (wages and salaries) expended on the maintenance of ground property and equipment.

Include benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on.

All other maintenance - ground property and equipment expenses

Expenses, both direct and indirect, incurred in the repair and upkeep of ground property and equipment.

Include materials and supplies, purchased repair services and all other related expenses.

Total maintenance - ground property and equipment expenses

The sum of the previous two expense items.

Operating expenses - Aircraft operations

Flight crew wages, salaries and benefits

Include the wages, salaries and benefits for flight crews (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, and so on).

Include benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on and layover expenses such as hotels and meals.

Aircraft fuel and oil

Expenses for turbo fuel, gasoline and all other fuel and oil consumed such as turbine oil and piston oil.

Include throughput charges, non-refundable duties and taxes.

Landing fees

Include airport landing fees paid both in Canada and outside of Canada.

Navigation fees

Charges remitted to NAV CANADA or other international suppliers for the provision of air navigation services. Air navigation services include aeronautical communication services, aeronautical information services, aeronautical radio navigation services, air traffic control services, aviation weather services, emergency assistance services and flight information services.

Aircraft insurance

Expenses for insurance against accidental damage to flight equipment while in flight or on the ground and for insurance against liability occurring from the operation of aircraft or, in the case of non-insurance, the resulting expenses for which the carrier is liable.

Aircraft rental

Expenses incurred for the rental of aircraft (and crew) from other carriers, such as in chartering, interchange and operating or lease agreements.

All other aircraft operation expenses

Expenses incurred directly for the in-flight operation and related standby time of aircraft which are not elsewhere classified.

Total aircraft operations expenses

The sum of the previous seven expense items.

Operating expenses - Flight equipment maintenance

Employee wages, salaries and benefits

Direct labour costs (wages and salaries) expended on the maintenance of flight equipment.

Include benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on.

Materials and supplies

Expenses on materials and supplies for the maintenance of flight equipment.

Purchased repair services

Expenses for repair services for the maintenance of flight equipment purchased from outside suppliers.

All other maintenance - flight equipment expenses

Expenses, both direct and indirect, incurred in the repair and upkeep of flight equipment.

Total maintenance - flight equipment expenses

The sum of the previous four expense items.

Operating expenses - In-flight services

Employee wages, salaries and benefits

Include:

• the wages, salaries and benefits paid to cabin crews (flight attendants, and so on);
• benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on, and layover expenses such as hotels and meals.

Passenger food and supplies

Include expenses for in-flight meals, complimentary drinks, and so on, and the cost of supplies and personal services furnished to passengers.

Passenger liability insurance

Include the premiums for passenger liability and accident insurance paid by the carrier.

All other in-flight service expenses

Include passenger-related expenses incurred due to interrupted flights, including hotels, meals, taxi fares and other expense items, the cost of other services provided to passengers, such as pay, allowances and the cost of passenger service personnel, and all other services provided for the comfort of passengers in transit.

Total in-flight service expenses

The sum of the previous four expense items.

Operating expenses - Aircraft and traffic servicing

Employee wages, salaries and benefits

Include:

• the wages, salaries and benefits paid to ground personnel;
• benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on.

Purchased services

Expenses for aircraft and traffic servicing purchased from outside suppliers.

All other aircraft and traffic servicing expenses

Include expenses incurred on the ground for scheduling or preparing aircraft for arrival and takeoff, expenses incurred in enplaning and deplaning passenger and cargo traffic, and expenses involved in servicing and handling individual aircraft and traffic on the ground, in preparing aircraft crews for flight assignment, in controlling the in-flight movements of aircraft and the in-flight expenses of handling all traffic including baggage.

Total aircraft and traffic servicing expenses

The sum of the previous three expense items.

Operating expenses - Promotion and sales

Employee wages, salaries and benefits

Include:

• the wages, salaries and benefits paid to all staff engaged in reservations, ticketing, sales and promotional activities;
• benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on.

All other promotion and sales expenses

Include:

• passenger and cargo commission expenses;
• the net commission payable to others for the sale of transportation on the reporting carrier's service less the commission receivable from the reporting carrier's sale of transportation on other carriers' services, advertising and publicity expenses and any related expenses, accommodation costs, agency fees for outside services, expenses associated with reservations, city ticket offices and other sales expenses.

Total promotion and sales expenses

The sum of the previous two expense items.

Operating expenses - Depreciation

Depreciation - flight equipment

Include:

• provisions for the depreciation of flight equipment only;
• all charges incurred in normal wear and tear on flight equipment which have not been replaced by current year repair, as well as losses in service ability.

All other depreciation

Include:

• provisions for the depreciation of all non-flight ground and property equipment;
• all charges incurred in normal wear and tear which have not been replaced by current year repair, as well as losses in service ability;
• charges for the amortization of capitalized development and other intangible assets.

Total depreciation

The sum of the previous two expense items.

Operating expenses - All other expenses

Include general administration.

Employee wages, salaries and benefits

Include:

• the wages, salaries and benefits paid to all employees performing the general and administrative functions of the air carrier;
• benefits such as employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on.

Exclude all amounts reported in the previous six wages, salaries and benefits categories.

All other expenses

Include:

• all operating expenses and general administration expenses not reported elsewhere;
• expenses for general financial accounting activities, supplementary labour income, property taxes, building rentals, communications purchased, purchasing activities, representation at law, and all other operational administration expenses not directly applicable to a particular function that are not included in the previous operating expenses categories;
• expenses such as incidental air transport-related expenses associated with revenue reported as "all other revenue";
• all miscellaneous operating expenses not covered elsewhere;
• staff reduction expenses.

Total other expenses

The sum of the previous two expense items.

Total operating expenses

The sum of the eight expenses sub-totals, in other words, Total maintenance - ground property and equipment expenses, Total aircraft operations expenses, and so on.

Operating income

Net operating income (a loss should be a negative number)

Total operating revenue less total operating expenses – calculated from the previous questions.

Non-operating income/expenses

Interest and discount income

Include interest income from all sources and cash discounts on the purchase of materials and supplies.

Interest expenses

Include interest on unpaid taxes and all classes of debt including premiums, discounts and expenses on short-term obligations, amortization of premiums, discounts and expenses on short-term and long-term obligations.

All other net non-operating income (enter a negative number for a loss)

Include:

• capital gains (or losses) from retiring operating property and equipment, aircraft equipment, expendable parts, miscellaneous materials and supplies and other assets, when they are sold or otherwise retired from service as part of a general program and not as incidental sales performed as a service to others;
• gains or losses made on investments in securities;
• net miscellaneous non-operating income or loss, which refers to revenue and expenses attributable to financing or other activities that are not an integral part of the air transportation activities undertaken by the carrier, or its incidental services. These could include dividend income, the balance of all income or losses from affiliated companies reimbursed to the carrier, foreign exchange adjustments and special items, such as restructuring expenses, which do not occur on a regular basis.

Exclude staff reduction expenses which should be included under all other expenses.

Net non-operating income (a loss should be a negative number)

The sum of the previous three income or expense items.

Provision for income taxes

Include the provision for taxes payable on net income for the accounting period and adjustments of income taxes relating to previous years, including provisions for deferred income taxes resulting from differences between accounting income and taxable income that arise when the time of including items of revenue and expense in the computation of accounting income and taxable income do not coincide. If the net amount is negative, then the amount indicated for this item should be shown with a negative (-) sign.

Net income (a loss should be a negative number)

Net operating income plus net non-operating income less the provision for income taxes.

Fuel and oil consumed

Turbo fuel consumed

Include fuel used in both turboprop and jet aircraft.

Provide the quantity and expenses for turbo fuel consumed. Turbo fuel includes the turbine fuel uplifted for all aircraft in the carrier's fleet. Fuel uplift can be determined based on delivery notes or invoices, aircraft onboard measurement systems or, if the fuel was supplied by a customer, estimated based on hours flown. Report the quantity of turbo fuel consumed in litres.

Include turbo fuel consumed for all scheduled and/or charter operations, regardless of where purchased. The expenses for turbo fuel consumed should be reported in Canadian dollars, regardless of where purchased. Include throughput charges, non-refundable duties and taxes. If the fuel was supplied by a customer, an approximate value may be provided based on prevailing market rates.

Conversion factor

To convert gallons (imperial) into litres (l), multiply by 4.546092.

All other fuel and oil consumed

Provide the quantity and expenses for all non-turbo fuel and oil consumed. Report the quantity of all other fuel and oil consumed in litres.

The quantity should include gasoline, turbine oil, piston oil and all other types of fuel and oil consumed for all scheduled and/or charter operations, regardless of where purchased. The expenses for all other fuel and oil consumed should be reported in Canadian dollars, regardless of where purchased. Include throughput charges, non-refundable duties and taxes.

Conversion factor

To convert gallons (imperial) into litres (l), multiply by 4.546092.

Total fuel and oil consumed

The sum of the quantities and expenses reported in the previous two items.

Employment

Average number of employees

Refer to the average number of people employed for each of the six categories of personnel.

Include all employees, temporary or permanent, on the payroll of the air carrier during the reporting period. Include part-time employees, prorated to the amount of time worked when compared to full-time employees (for example, two part-time employees working half-time are equivalent to one full-time employee).

Wages and salaries expenses

Include a breakdown of the wages and salaries paid for each of the six categories of personnel.

Exclude all benefits, in other words, employer contributions to pensions, medical benefits, insurance, and so on or layover expenses, such as hotels and meals, for flight and cabin crews.

Employment category

Include:

• Pilots and co-pilots. Self-explanatory;
• Other flight personnel. Flight crew (including flight engineers, navigators, and so on) and cabin crew (including flight attendants, and so on);
• General management and administration employees (including the personnel performing the general and administrative functions such as administrative personnel at headquarters, comptrollers and assistants, directors and assistants (operations, passenger service, public relations, sales), and so on);
• Maintenance personnel (including the personnel performing the ground property and equipment maintenance such as the carpenters, cleaners, and so on and including the personnel performing the flight equipment maintenance such as the aircraft maintenance engineers and the inspectors of flight equipment);
• Aircraft and traffic servicing personnel (including supervisory personnel, assigned to ground activities, engaged directly in protecting and controlling aircraft in flight (flight dispatch personnel, flight planning staff), in scheduling and preparing flight crews for flight assignment, in parking and servicing aircraft incidental to line operations and including baggage handlers, aircraft fuelers, and so on);
• All other employees (including air ambulance attendants, accountants, economists, statisticians, lawyers, purchasing personnel, publicity representatives, and so on).

Total employees

The sum of the number and the wages and salaries expenses for the six categories of personnel.

Revenue or expenses by area of operation

Passenger revenue

Include a breakdown of the revenue earned from the transportation of passengers for each province, territory and outside of Canada based on where the transportation service was provided. Total passenger revenue should equal the sum of passenger revenue from scheduled services and charter services previously reported.

Goods revenue

Include a breakdown of the revenue earned from the transportation of goods for each province, territory and outside of Canada based on where the transportation service was provided. Total goods revenue should equal the sum of goods revenue from scheduled services and charter services previously reported.

Employee wages and salaries

Include a breakdown of employee wages and salaries for each province, territory and outside of Canada based on where the employees are located. Total employee wages and salaries should equal the total wages and salaries expenses reported in the "Employment" section above.

The protection of sensitive data is of the utmost importance to Statistics Canada; it is a fundamental value ingrained in the agency’s culture and is at the centre of all its policies and procedures.

There are occasions when providing limited access to information before its release is necessary to brief a very limited number of pre-authorized senior officials and ministers who require the data on a need-to-know basis in a timely way on information that affects Canada’s economy. Under the Policy on Official Release, Statistics Canada may also authorize the sharing of information in advance of release for data validation or research purposes.

Technology, procedures and transparency

In keeping with the principles outlined in Canada’s Digital Charter, security protocols have been developed to make Statistics Canada’s Policy on Official Release relevant in a digital world where information moves quickly and is more easily shared.

The protocols provide strict controls and ensure transparency; designated officials with advance access must comply with clear rules and, as a result, will be openly accountable to Canadians. This ensures that the advance release of sensitive information is handled in a secure manner and with the utmost integrity so that the data are always kept safe.

The Policy on Official Release respects the following:

• Transparency
  • To ensure compliance through openness and transparency, Statistics Canada posts the Policy on Official Release.
• Technology
  • Sensitive information can be accessed only in an isolated virtual environment that includes login, authentication and audit features that uniquely identify and track each designated official every time they access the information before release.
  • The terms and conditions of use on this secure platform conform to security and governance protocols.
• Process
  • Advance access to information is provided within a predefined timeframe. Officials are asked to confirm their understanding of the Policy on Official Release requirements, acknowledge that their online activities on the secure virtual environment are tracked and commit to an undertaking not to disclose information in advance of its official release by Statistics Canada.

• Need-to-know basis
  • Access to sensitive information before release is granted only to two designated individuals per organization that submits a request and is approved for those data. They are identified as requiring access to advance releases on a need-to-know basis for the express purpose of having adequate time to brief senior officials and ministers—solely from that approved organization—on information that affects Canada’s economy. They are subject to the security and governance protocols of the Policy on Official Release, which include using secure Statistics Canada infrastructure and ensuring the data are not extractable from the Statistics Canada server.

For more information on the pilot project, please visit Completion of the pilot project on advance release.

Statistics Canada launched the Virtual Data Lab (VDL) pilot that—in its end state—will provide remote access to detailed, anonymized social and business microdata for research and analysis through a secure cloud-based interface. The pilot was built on the foundation of the research data centres (RDC) and the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research (CDER).

The evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Treasury Board's Policy on Results (2016) and Statistics Canada's Integrated Risk-based Audit and Evaluation Plan (2019–20 to 2023–24). The main objective of the evaluation was to provide a neutral, evidence-based assessment of the VDL pilot. Three areas were examined:

• To what extent are existing DataLab assessments comprehensive in considering all users, identifying user needs and aligning project planning with desired outcomes?
• To what extent has information from completed assessments been integrated into the DataLab project?
• To what extent have performance measurement and risk assessment frameworks been implemented?

It should be noted that the conducting phase of the evaluation, during which all data for the report were collected, was completed before the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the findings and recommendations do not consider the activities or decisions that took place after March 2020.

The evaluation found that the assessments are comprehensive in their coverage of existing users and in identifying user needs and feedback trends - particularly among federal government and academic users. In addition, collectively the existing assessments are comprehensive in their coverage of all project dimensions and in alignment with the desired outcomes set out in project planning and framework documents. Finally, the assessments have been leveraged to inform strategies and planning.

In terms of performance measurement and risk assessment frameworks, the evaluation found that performance indicators have been articulated and a risk management framework exists.

The evaluation proposed two recommendations:

• Recommendation 1:
  The Assistant Chief Statistician, Strategic Engagement (Field 4), should ensure that given the level of complexity and dependence on other parts of the agency, contingencies and clearer timeframes be articulated for activities.
• Recommendation 2:
  The Assistant Chief Statistician, Strategic Engagement (Field 4), should ensure that governance mechanisms are in place that effectively manage horizontal activities in a holistic manner including the clear establishment and understanding of roles and responsibilities.

COVID-19 timeline

• The Government of Manitoba announced on April 1st it was extending the provincewide state of emergency for a period of 30 days. On April 30th, the Government extended the state of emergency for another 30 days.
• The Government of Nova Scotia announced on April 2nd it was renewing the state of emergency until April 18th. On April 13th, the Government announced that restrictions on the New Brunswick border would be reinstated on April 15th and that people coming from New Brunswick would have to self-isolate upon arrival. On April 16th, the state of emergency was renewed until May 2nd.
• The Government of Saskatchewan announced on April 7th it was extending the provincial public health orders announced on March 9th, and the Regina and area revisions announced on March 24th, until April 26th. On April 20th, the Government extended all current provincial health orders until May 10th.
• The Government of the Northwest Territories announced on April 8th it had extended the State of Emergency in the City of Yellowknife until April 22nd. On April 22nd, the State of Emergency was extended until May 6th. On April 13th, the Government announced it had extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency until April 27th. On April 27th, the Government extended the territory-wide Public Health Emergency until May 11th.
• The Government of British Columbia announced on April 13th it had formally extended the provincial state of emergency until April 27th. On April 27th, the Government extended the provincial state of emergency until May 11th.
• The Council of Atlantic Premiers announced on April 13th that given the recent surge in cases of COVID-19 in parts of Atlantic Canada and the emergence of more transmissible forms of the virus, it had agreed to delay the reopening of the Atlantic Bubble by at least two weeks, to May 3rd.
• The Government of Nunavut announced on April 15th it had extended the territory's public health emergency until April 29th. On April 29th, the Government extended the public health emergency until May 13th.
• The Government of Canada announced on April 20th that discretionary (non-essential) travel restrictions between the United States and Canada would be extended until May 21st. On April 22nd, the Government of Canada announced it was suspending all commercial and private passenger flights from India and Pakistan for 30 days.

Selected COVID-19 responses

• On April 1st, the Government of Ontario announced it was imposing a provincewide emergency brake, effective April 3rd for at least four weeks. The Government said measures include:
  • Prohibiting indoor organized public events and social gatherings and limiting the capacity for outdoor organized public events or social gatherings to a 5-person maximum;
  • Restricting in-person shopping in all retail settings, including a 50% capacity limit for supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores, and 25% for all other retail including big box stores;
  • Prohibiting personal care services;
  • Prohibiting indoor and outdoor dining; and
  • Prohibiting the use of facilities for indoor or outdoor sports and recreational fitness (e.g., gyms).
• The Government also asked Ontarians to limit trips outside the home to necessities such as food, medication, medical appointments, supporting vulnerable community members, or exercising outdoors.
• On April 7th, the Government declared a third provincial emergency and that, effective April 8th, the Government was issuing a province-wide Stay-at-Home order except for essential purposes, with measures including:
  • Limiting the majority of non-essential retailers to only operate for curbside pick-up and delivery;
  • Restricting access to shopping malls;
  • Restricting discount and big box stores and in-person retail sales to grocery items, pet care supplies, household cleaning supplies, pharmaceutical items, health care items, and personal care items only;
  • Permitting certain stores, including safety supply stores, rental and leasing services, optical stores, vehicle and equipment repair, and telecommunication providers, to operate for in-person retail by appointment only and subject to a 25% capacity limit and restricting allowable hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.; and
  • Permitting outdoor garden centres and plant nurseries, and indoor greenhouses, to operate with a 25% capacity limit and a restriction on hours of operation to between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m.
• The Government said schools and childcare will remain open in public health regions where permitted.
• On April 12th, the Government announced it was moving elementary and secondary schools to remote learning effective April 19th, following the April break.
• On April 16th, the Government said both the provincial declaration of emergency and the Stay-at-Home order had been extended for an additional two weeks and that it was restricting travel into Ontario from Manitoba and Quebec. The Government also said it intended to implement the following public health and workplace safety measures effective April 17th:
  • Prohibit all outdoor social gatherings and organized public events;
  • Close all non-essential workplaces in the construction sector; and
  • Reduce capacity limits to 25% in all retail settings where in-store shopping is permitted, including supermarkets, grocery stores, and convenience stores.
• On March 31st, the Government of Quebec announced that effective April 1st, the Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches and Outaouais were moved to the red level. In addition, the Government said special emergency measures would apply from April 1st until April 12th in the Metropolitan Community of Quebec (including Lévis) and in the city of Gatineau and the MRC des Collines-de-l'Outaouais, including:
  • A curfew in effect from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.;
  • The closure of primary and secondary schools (online learning); cinemas, theaters and museums; restaurants (except for delivery and take-out counters); and non-essential businesses;
  • Banning businesses from selling non-essential products; and
  • Outdoor sports or leisure activities permitted only with people residing at the same address or by a group of 8 people with distancing.
• On April 4th, the Government of Quebec announced that given the significant increase in new cases, the above special emergency measure would apply to several sectors of the Chaudière-Appalaches region effective April 5th until April 12th.
• On April 6th, the Government announced a tightening of health restrictions for the red alert level, effective April 8th, including:
  • Indoor public places closed for the practice of leisure and sports;
  • Gyms are closed;
  • Prohibition to travel to a yellow tier region.
• On April 8th, the Government announced the extension of special emergency measures until April 18th in Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches and Outaouais regions. The Government also said that effective April 11th until further notice, the curfew in the Montreal and Laval regions will be extended by 1 hour to between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.
• On April 13th, the Government announced that the special emergency measures in force would be extended to April 25th for the Quebec Metropolitan Community of the Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches and Outaouais regions.
• On April 20th, the Government announced that the special emergency measures would be extended until May 2 in the Outaouais and Chaudière-Appalaches regions and in the territory of the Quebec Metropolitan Community.
• On April 6th, the Government of Alberta announced that it was moving back into Step 1 of COVID-19 restrictions and that effective midnight:
  • Retail services and shopping malls will be limited to 15% capacity;
  • Only one-on-one training with an individual or household is permitted for indoor fitness activities;
  • Outdoor physical activity is allowed with up to 10 people; and
  • Adult performance activities, including dancing, singing, acting, playing a musical instrument and any rehearsal or theatrical performances, are not permitted.
• The Government also said that effective noon on April 9th:
  • Restaurants would be restricted to providing only takeout, delivery, and patio service.
• On April 6th, the Government of Nova Scotia announced that effective April 7th:
  • The Newfoundland and Labrador border is opening, and that with this change all residents of Atlantic Canada can go to Nova Scotia without having to self-isolate upon arrival;
  • Malls, retail businesses and fitness facilities can return to operating at 100% capacity, with physical distancing; and
  • Sports practices, training and games, and arts and culture rehearsals and performances can have 75 people.
• On April 20th, the Government announced it was placing additional restrictions on travel into the province and that effective April 22nd, people from outside Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador would not be allowed to enter Nova Scotia unless their travel was essential or they were permanent residents of Nova Scotia.
• On April 22nd, the Government announced that effective April 23rd the following restrictions would be in place for all areas of Halifax Regional Municipality and some communities on its borders:
  • The indoor and outdoor gathering limit is five;
  • Restaurants and licensed establishments are closed to seated service;
  • Retail businesses and malls can operate at 25% capacity;
  • Personal services such as hair salons, barber shops and spas are closed;
  • Indoor fitness facilities, like gyms and yoga studios, and sport and recreation facilities are closed;
  • No sports practices, training, games, competitions or tournaments;
  • No social events, special events, festivals, arts/cultural events, sports events, faith gatherings, wedding receptions, or funeral visitation or receptions; and
  • Museums, libraries and the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia are closed.
• On April 26th, the Government announced that in all other parts of the province, the following restrictions were in effect as of April 27th until at least May 20th:
  • The indoor and outdoor gathering limit is 10;
  • No social events, special events, festivals, arts/cultural events, sports events, wedding receptions, or funeral visitation or receptions;
  • Maximum of 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors for sports practices and training but no games, competitions or tournaments;
  • Maximum of 10 people indoors or 25 people outdoors for arts and culture rehearsals but no in-person performances;
  • Restaurants and licensed establishments operate at 50% capacity, provide service until 11 p.m. and close for seated service by midnight;
  • Retail businesses and malls can operate at 50% capacity;
  • Indoor fitness facilities like gyms and yoga studios and sport and recreation facilities like pools, arenas, tennis courts and large multipurpose recreation facilities can operate at 50% capacity; and
  • Museums and libraries can operate at 50% capacity.
• On April 27th, the Government announced new restrictions across the province, including:
  • Nova Scotians can only gather indoors or outdoors with their household bubble;
  • No unnecessary travel between communities;
  • All public and private schools are closed, day cares will remain open;
  • Retail stores are closed for in-person service unless those stores provide services essential to life, health, or personal safety, which can remain open at 25% capacity;
  • Restaurants and licensed establishments are closed for dine-in service;
  • Personal services such as hair salons, barber shops and spas are closed; and
  • Indoor fitness facilities like gyms and yoga studios are closed.
• On April 6th, the Government of Nunavut announced an easing of public health measures across the Kivalliq region. In Arviat, effective April 7th:
  • Indoor gatherings for public community spaces, including arenas and places of worship, may allow 50% of the facility's capacity; and
  • Outdoor gatherings up to 50 people with physical distancing are permitted.
• For the remaining Kivalliq communities, effective April 7th:
  • Indoor private gatherings are increased to 15 plus household members; indoor gatherings for public community spaces, including places of worship, may allow 75% of the facility's capacity;
  • Public swimming pools, recreation centres, gyms, galleries, museums and libraries may open to a maximum occupancy of 50% capacity;
  • Arenas may open to a maximum occupancy of 50% capacity; and
  • Buildings, all public playgrounds, municipal parks and territorial parks may open.
• In Arviat effective April 12th:
  • Schools would move to Stage 2 of the 2020-21 Opening Plan for Nunavut Schools.
• On April 10th, the Government of New Brunswick announced a section of Zone 4 (Edmundston region) would go into lockdown. The Government said people must stay within their single-household bubble, no unnecessary travel in and out of the lockdown area, and schools in the lockdown area will move to online learning only. On April 27th, the Government announced that Edmundston and the Upper Madawaska region would move from lockdown to the Orange level effective April 28th.
• On April 13th, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that a change to the Public Health Order came into effect limiting household bubbles to immediate households only for all of Saskatchewan and limiting worship gathering sizes to no more than 30 people effective April 16th. The Government also said that revisions made March 24th to Regina and area were in effect until April 26th. On April 20th, the Government said it had extended all current provincial health orders until May 10th and that additional restrictions were in place for Regina and area, including all restaurants and licensed establishments must remain closed for in-person dining.
• On April 19th, the Government of British Columbia announced that as a result of current levels of transmission in B.C., orders that were set to expire, including current restrictions on restaurants, pubs, bars, and indoor group fitness activities, would be extended for a further five weeks until May 24th. On April 23rd, the Government announced it was introducing travel restrictions and prohibiting non-essential travel between Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and Northern/Interior.
• On April 19th, the Government of Manitoba announced new public health orders and that effective April 20th:
  • All households may only have two designated visitors indoors;
  • Outdoor gatherings on public and private property are limited to a maximum of 10 people;
  • Weddings and funerals are reduced to 10 people.
• The Government also said that effective April 21, retail stores must be limited to one-third capacity and that these changes would be in effect until May 12th.
• On April 26th, the Government announced new public health orders, effective April 28th until May 26th, including:
  • No visitors will be allowed to private households either indoors or outdoors;
  • No indoor gatherings will be permitted and outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed in public outdoor spaces only;
  • Food courts in malls and shopping centres will be required to close; and
  • Retail stores must be limited to 25% capacity of the store, and malls will be limited to 25% of the facility's capacity.
• On April 19th, the Government of Prince Edward Island announced that until at least May 17th, it was altering some travel into the province, including:
  • Seasonal residents from outside Atlantic Canada planning to travel to PEI in the next four weeks are advised to defer travel until at least May 17th;
  • Rotational workers and truck drivers working outside of Atlantic Canada will be required to self-isolate until they receive their first negative result after arriving in PEI;
  • Everyone arriving in PEI from outside of Atlantic Canada is required to self-isolate for 14 days and will require testing on days 0-1, 4-6, and 9-11.

Transportation

• The Government of Canada announced that the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation (CEEFC) had committed to provide $4 billion in repayable loans and an equity investment in Air Canada of $500 million in Class B Voting Shares and that, as a condition of its agreement, Air Canada had made a number of commitments.
• Toronto-based Porter Airlines Inc. announced it was resetting its tentative date for resuming flights to June 21st.
• Calgary-based WestJet Airlines Ltd. announced it would extend its temporary suspension of international sun flights to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean until June 4th.

Other news

• The Government of Canada released Budget 2021 on April 19th, which included $101.4 billion over three years in proposed investments, including establishing a Canada-wide childcare and early learning system, extending emergency supports for workers and businesses, establishing a $15 per hour federal minimum wage, and investments in a green recovery and infrastructure. The Government projects a $154.7 billion deficit in 2021-2022 and real GDP growth of 5.8% in 2021.
• The Bank of Canada announced it held its target for the overnight rate at the effective lower bound of 0.25%. The target for the overnight rate was reduced by 150 basis points during March 2020. The Bank also said that effective the week of April 26th, weekly net purchases of Government of Canada bonds would be adjusted to a target of $3 billion, reflecting the progress made in the economic recovery.
• Prince Edward Island's minimum wage increased from $12.85 per hour to $13.00 per hour on April 1st.
• Nova Scotia's minimum wage increased from $12.55 to $12.95 per hour on April 1st.
• Newfoundland and Labrador's minimum wage increased from $12.15 to $12.50 per hour on April 1st.
• New Brunswick's minimum wage increased from $11.70 per hour to $11.75 per hour on April 1st.
• The Government of Saskatchewan released Budget 2021 on April 6th, which included investments in health care, education, infrastructure, and COVID-19 supports. The Government projects a $2.61 billion deficit in 2021-2022 and real GDP growth of 3.4% in 2021.
• The Government of Manitoba released Budget 2021 on April 7th, which included investments in health care, education, social services, and action on climate change as well as tax relief for small businesses. The Government projects a $1.597 billion deficit in 2021-2022 and real GDP growth of 4.1% in 2021.
• The Government of British Columbia released Budget 2021 on April 20th, which included new investments in health and mental health services, business supports, affordable housing, childcare, and community infrastructure. The Government projects a $9.7 billion deficit in 2021-2022 and real GDP growth of 4.4% in 2021.
• Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Brookfield Property Partners L.P. (BPY) of Bermuda announced they had reached an agreement for Brookfield to acquire all of the limited partnership units of BPY for a total consideration of USD $6.5 billion. Brookfield said the arrangement is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021, subject to approval by a majority of the public unitholders of BPY, in addition to other customary closing conditions including the approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.
• The Syndicat des débardeurs du port de Montréal announced it would begin a general unlimited strike effective April 26th.

United States and other international news

• The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) maintained the target range for the federal funds rate at 0.00% to 0.25%. The last change in the target range was a 100 basis points decrease announced in March 2020. The FOMC also said the Federal Reserve would continue to increase its holdings of Treasury securities by at least $80 billion per month and of agency mortgage-backed securities by at least $40 billion per month until substantial further progress has been made toward the Committee's maximum employment and price stability goals.
• The European Central Bank (ECB) announced (i) the interest rates on the main refinancing operations, the marginal lending facility, and the deposit facility will remain unchanged at 0.00%, 0.25% and -0.50%, respectively; (ii) the net asset purchases under the pandemic emergency purchase programme (PEPP) will continue with a total envelope of €1,850 billion until at least the end of March 2022; and (iii) net purchases under the asset purchase programme (APP) will continue at a monthly pace of €20 billion. The ECB Governing Council said it expects purchases under the PEPP over the current quarter to continue to be conducted at a significantly higher pace than during the first months of this year.
• The Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced it will apply a negative interest rate of -0.1% to the Policy-Rate Balances in current accounts held by financial institutions at the BoJ and that it will purchase a necessary amount of Japanese government bonds (JGBs) without setting an upper limit so that 10-year JGB yields will remain at around zero percent.
• The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) maintained the targets for the cash rate and the yield on 3-year Australian Government bonds at 0.10%. The last change in the target for the cash rate was a 15 basis points reduction in November 2020. The RBA also maintained the parameters of the Term Funding Facility and the government bond purchase program.
• The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) kept the Official Cash Rate (OCR), its main policy rate, unchanged at 0.25%. The last change in the OCR was a 75 basis points reduction in March 2020. The RBNZ also kept the Large Scale Asset Purchase and the Funding for Lending programmes unchanged.
• The Executive Board of Sweden's Riksbank left the repo rate unchanged at 0.00% and said the rate is expected to remain at this level during the forecast period. The Board also decided to continue to purchase assets within the envelope of SEK 700 billion and to offer liquidity within all the programmes launched.
• On April 1st, OPEC and non-OPEC members announced they had approved the adjustment of the production levels for May, June, and July 2021, agreed upon in the 12th OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting (December 2020), with every adjustment being no more than 0.5 mb/d.
• Washington State-based Microsoft Corp and Nuance Communications, Inc. of Massachusetts announced they had entered into a definitive agreement under which Microsoft will acquire Nuance in an all-cash transaction valued at USD $19.7 billion, inclusive of Nuance's net debt. The companies said the deal is intended to close by the end of the year, subject to approval by Nuance's shareholders, the satisfaction of certain regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
• Massachusetts-based Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. and PPD, Inc. of North Carolina announced that their boards of directors had approved a definitive agreement under which Thermo Fisher will acquire PPD for a total cash purchase price of USD $17.4 billion, including net debt. The companies said the transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, subject to shareholder and customary closing conditions, including the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals.

Financial market news

• West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed at USD $63.58 per barrel on April 30th, up from a closing value of USD $59.16 at the end of March. Western Canadian Select crude oil traded in the USD $48 to $53 per barrel range throughout April. The Canadian dollar closed at 81.40 cents U.S. on April 30th, up from 79.52 cents U.S. at the end of March. The S&P/TSX composite index closed at 19,108.33 on April 30th, up from 18,700.67 at the end of March.

May 3, 2021, Ottawa, Ontario

Statistics Canada is pleased to announce that collection for the 2021 Census of Population and 2021 Census of Agriculture begins today!

Canadians will be receiving their census letter in the mail with instructions on how to conveniently complete their questionnaire online, on paper or over the phone. Completing an online questionnaire is easy. Once you receive your letter or a paper questionnaire with your 16-digit secure access code, please visit the 2021 Census website and select the Start questionnaire button.

"Now more than ever, it's crucial that all of us complete the census. The 2021 Census will help us to better understand the impacts of the pandemic for different population groups and communities across the country and ensure we have good data for planning for a post-pandemic recovery and beyond.

We have taken all necessary measures to conduct a safe census that will enable Canadians to tell their story, and provide vital information that contributes to the strength of our country and our communities. It is important that everyone is included in the changing portrait of our nation."

The Census of Population

Census questionnaires are assigned by household, and the Census of Population enumerates the entire Canadian population. This includes Canadian citizens (by birth or naturalization), landed immigrants, refugee claimants (e.g., asylum seekers), Canadian Foreign Service officers, Canadian Armed Forces members stationed abroad, and people who hold a work or study permit.

Canadians have relied on census data to tell us about how our country is changing and what matters to us. We all depend on key socioeconomic trends and analysis from the census to make important decisions that affect our families, our neighbourhoods and our businesses.

Data from the 2016 Census have played a key role in understanding the impacts of COVID-19 and responding to them. Federal and provincial governments use local-level population, age, income and housing data to determine who is most vulnerable to the current health and economic crisis. Furthermore, vaccine allocations have been conducted on a per capita basis based on census data.

Statistics Canada has adapted the collection process to ensure that all Canadians and our employees remain safe while participating in this vital national exercise. Data collected in the 2021 Census will inform many of the economic and health-related policy decisions that must be made by all levels of government in the coming months and years, as the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect the lives of Canadians.

Statistics Canada will do everything it can to get Canadians to respond to the census without an in-person visit from a census employee. Completing the census questionnaire online is the best and easiest way to fulfill the census obligation. We anticipate that the great majority of Canadians will complete the questionnaire through our efficient, secure and user-friendly online application. Respondents without reliable access to the Internet can also call the Census Help Line at 1-855-340-2021, to complete their census questionnaire over the phone or request a paper questionnaire.

"Digital technology is continually changing the way we live and work. The Government is progressing in providing Canadians with secure digital platforms to interact with and obtain services from the Government of Canada. Giving all Canadians access to the online questionnaire for the 2021 Census demonstrates our focus on modernizing digital platforms and ensuring the protection of Canadians' data and information. Completing the 2021 Census is more crucial than ever, as this data will help all levels of government to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and better plan for the future."

The Census of Agriculture

Canadian farm operators will be asked to complete the 2021 Census of Agriculture questionnaire to help update Canada's agricultural profile. Farm operators will receive their letter with easy-to-follow instructions on how to complete the Census of Agriculture questionnaire online. Completing the questionnaire online is the best way to stay safe and tell your story as part of Canada's farming community. All follow-up contact will be performed by mail, email or phone. The Census Help Line (1-855-859-6273) will be available to farm operators from May until end of July to answer any questions and help with completing the questionnaire.

In the current context of COVID-19, Census of Agriculture data is vital to understanding the impacts of the crisis on the agricultural community, including supply chain and trade disruptions, and food security.

Census of Agriculture data provides Canadians with critical and accurate statistical information to manage federal and provincial government expenditures in support of the agriculture sector, including natural disaster and disease outbreak programming and compensation, establishing program payment caps, performance reporting and food safety issues.

Statistics Canada is still hiring!

Individuals are being hired to be part of this large-scale national project in communities both big and small to collect crucial data that will be used to plan for the future. Supervisory and non-supervisory opportunities are still available in a number of communities.

For more information on the census and to apply for census jobs, visit the 2021 Census website.