The protection of sensitive data is of the utmost importance to Statistics Canada; it is a fundamental value that is deeply ingrained within the agency's culture, as is the commitment to providing Canadians with equitable and timely access to data and analysis. This aligns with the mandate to publish statistics about Canada's economy and society, as required by the Statistics Act.

Providing limited access to advance release information is an important part of the agency's practices for a number of reasons, including

• improving the quality of data and analysis
• ensuring the security of data
• keeping senior officials and ministers informed in a timely manner.

This policy is updated regularly to ensure its continued relevance.

• 1. Effective date
• 2. Application
• 3. Policy objectives and expected results
• 4. Policy statement
• 5. Requirements
• 6. Consequences of non-compliance
• 7. References
• 8. Enquiries

1.0 Effective date

1.1 This policy took effect on May 15, 2013. It was updated on May 6, 2021.

2.0 Application

2.1 This policy applies to Statistics Canada employees and authorized external recipients who manage the official release of new datasets, analytical products and information products based on new datasets; it excludes the following:

• tabulations from previously released datasets
• administrative data collected by Statistics Canada
• data linkages created from datasets that have already been officially released
• microdata files of aggregate statistics that have been officially released
• results of tests, pilot surveys, working papers, feasibility studies and analytical reports on methods used, subject to the restrictions of the Statistics Act
• presentations or publication of analysis or preliminary research findings that are based on previously released datasets.

2.2 This policy applies to all new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, created by Statistics Canada. It is consistent with the provisions of the Statistics Act and does not restrict the authority of the Chief Statistician.

2.3 This policy applies the terms and conditions for providing new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, to a third party prior to a public release in one of Statistics Canada's official release vehicles.

2.4 This policy applies to the coordinated release of new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, with other departments, agencies and organizations.

2.5 The Chief Statistician may grant exemptions from this policy, subject to Canadian law and Government of Canada policies.

3.0 Policy objectives and expected results

3.1 The purpose of this policy is to outline the conditions for making statistical products produced by Statistics Canada accessible to Canadians in an equitable and timely manner, in line with the agency's responsibility to publish statistical information, as mandated in the Statistics Act.

3.2 To meet this objective, the policy sets out provisions to:

3.2.1 ensure that all new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, are released through an announcement in one of the agency's official release vehicles, such as The Daily

3.2.2 ensure that all new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, are secure and protected until their official release in one of the official release vehicles

3.2.3 ensure that all new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, are not shared outside Statistics Canada prior to their official release, except under strict terms and conditions.

3.3 The expected results of this policy are as follows:

3.3.1 provide equitable access to all of Statistics Canada's new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets

3.3.2 limit advance access to official releases by third parties, thereby mitigating the risk of inequitable access to information

3.3.3 provide an accountable, secure framework for giving access to official releases.

4.0 Policy statement

4.1 Official Release

4.1.1 Statistics Canada's policy is to release all new datasets as well as analytical products and information products based on newdata sets in its official release vehicles, such as The Daily, before they are shared externally, with limited exceptions.

4.1.2 The Communications Branch provides a calendar for upcoming releases and works with subject-matter areas to ensure the accuracy and accessibility of official releases.

4.2 Advance release of data

4.2.1 Statistics Canada shares some information with external partners prior to its official release for specific considerations, such as validation and briefing, and the advance release of sensitive data.

4.2.2 Advance release for the purpose of data validation: When deemed necessary to ensure that data are of good quality, the agency may ask qualified individuals and organizations to validate the data collected and processed prior to their official release. For example, subject-matter experts outside Statistics Canada can validate the agency's data and contribute to improving their quality and accuracy.

4.2.3 Advance release for the purpose of briefing: Statistics Canada may also share new data, as well as analytical products and information products based on new data, for briefing purposes in advance of a release with the following types of organizations:

• Sponsor organizations: These are organizations that help Statistics Canada produce and publish the data through funding (such as through a letter of agreement or memorandum of understanding), methodological support or shared statistical program governance. These organizations include cost-recovery clients.
• Organizations that provide administrative data: These are organizations that provide administrative data that Statistics Canada uses to produce and publish statistics.
• Organizations that are part of shared governance agreements: The agency may share data with organizations that are part of an official shared governance agreement specifically established for the sharing of these data. These are organizations that have a shared agreement with Statistics Canada approved by the Chief Statistician on the recommendation of the Strategic Management Committee. For example, interdepartmental committees responsible for producing data may be granted access to advance data.

4.2.4 Advance release of sensitive data authorized by the Chief Statistician on the advice of the Clerk of the Privy Council

Sensitive data, as designated and approved by the Strategic Management Committee, include key economic indicators and releases.

The Chief Statistician is responsible for authorizing an organization’s advance access to sensitive data, on the advice of the Clerk of the Privy Council; no more than two individuals within an organization are provided with access to sensitive data, unless authorized by the Chief Statistician.

4.3 Security measures

4.3.1 The agency has established a rigorous formal protocol for the advance sharing of information with third-party organizations to ensure the data's security.

4.3.2 Data are shared only on a "need to know" basis. That is, it is deemed that the intended recipient must have advance access to the dataset to perform their official duties.

4.3.3 The following are key steps in the advance release of sensitive data:

• The deputy head of an organization, department or agency makes a formal request to the Chief Statistician with a justification outlining how advance access to sensitive data is in the interests of Canadians.
• Subject-matter experts within the agency review the request and make a recommendation to their senior management, which includes a justification that describes
  • how the advance release benefits Canadian interests
  • o how the advance release benefits the operations of the federal government or of provincial, territorial or municipal governments
  • how the advance release is essential for briefing purposes.
• The Director General of Communications provides a validation of submissions for advance release.
• The Assistant Chief Statistician of the subject-matter area and the Assistant Chief Statistician of Strategic Engagement make recommendations on the advance release of sensitive data for consideration by the Strategic Management Committee and authorization by the Chief Statistician.
• The Chief Statistician, on the advice of the Clerk of the Privy Council, makes a decision concerning approval. Advance release agreements authorized by the Chief Statistician are valid for a period of 12 months, starting on the date that the Chief Statistician signs the authorization.
• If the advance release request is approved, the receiving organization must undertake to appoint a liaison officer to work with agency representatives to
  • provide signed Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms from all individuals who may have advance access to data
  • ensure that all individuals who may have advance access to data are briefed on the protocols and the need to maintain data security
  • ensure that security provisions are adhered to within their organization.

See Appendix A: List of sensitive datasets.
See Appendix B: Procedures for advance release of sensitive data.
See Appendix C: Procedures for advance release for validation or information purposes.
See Appendix D: Procedures for advance release under a shared governance agreement.

4.4 Need-to-know considerations

4.4.1 Organizations must agree to restrict access to advance information only to those who need to know to perform their duties during the time before release and provide appropriate justification. Furthermore, individuals must have been briefed on data security and have signed an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form.

4.4.2 The Communications Branch is responsible for maintaining the security of all records, including Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms, related to third party access to data before official release.

4.4.3 In the case of sensitive data, the Communications Branch must provide the Chief Statistician with a list of all the agreements with participating organizations and the name and position title of each individual who will have access to sensitive data, as well as update the Chief Statistician with respect to changes to agreements.

4.4.4 In certain situations, microdata files or confidential aggregates from which datasets are obtained may be shared with an external recipient as part of an advance release agreement, as long as one of the following conditions is met:

• • a data sharing agreement under Section 11 or 12 of the Statistics Act is in effect (as per the Directive on Data Sharing)
• a discretionary disclosure order under Subsection 17(2) of the Statistics Act is in effect (as per the Directive on Discretionary Disclosure).

4.4.5 All sharing of advance datasets is through authorized channels approved by the Chief Statistician.

4.4.6 Organizations that access sensitive data prior to official release must also undertake to conduct annual reviews to ensure compliance and maintain up-to-date records (e.g., staffing changes) and to conduct an annual review to ensure compliance. Organizations must also commit to conducting a fulsome investigation in the event of a real or suspected breach of this policy. If founded, receiving organizations commit to implementing appropriate corrective measures in a timely manner, where warranted.

4.4.7 Any breach of the advance release process is considered a breach of this policy, and Statistics Canada senior management, including the Chief Security Officer and the Strategic Management Committee, must be informed of the breach. Senior management will be responsible for determining the appropriate course of action, which could include revoking advance release agreements with individuals or organizations. See Section 6 for more detail.

5.0 Requirements

5.1 The Chief Statistician is responsible for

5.1.1 performing the final step of the institutional review for all content proposed for publication in any of Statistics Canada's official release vehicles

5.1.2 consulting with the Clerk of the Privy Council before deciding upon advance release requests for sensitive data.

5.2 The Office of the Chief Statistician is responsible for

5.2.1 providing the Communications Branch with all documentation related to advance releases for record-keeping.

5.3 The Strategic Management Committee is responsible for

5.3.1 conducting an annual review of advance release agreements and all shared governance agreements

5.3.2 recommending to the Chief Statistician the designation of shared governance (with partner organizations through a recognized governance structure) upon the recommendation of an assistant chief statistician

5.3.3 reviewing and approving the list of economic indicators and releases classified as sensitive

5.3.4 determining appropriate agency actions if an external organization or individual fails to follow the conditions set by the agency for accessing data in advance of official release; these requirements are outlined for internal reference across the agency in the Policy on Official Release.

5.4 Internal Audit Division is responsible for

5.4.1 performing audits, reviews or advisory engagements included in its multi-year Risk-Based Audit and Evaluation Plan, and upon request from senior management when required

5.4.2 reviewing, assessing and advising agency senior management with respect to the results of audits, reviews or compliance assessments undertaken by recipient organizations, related to their compliance with the Policy on Official Release.

5.5 Directors are responsible for

Official release announcements

5.5.1 ensuring that new datasets, as well as analytical products and information products based on new datasets, are published in one of the agency's official release vehicles, such as The Daily

5.5.2 ensuring that official releases with analytical content are approved by the Assistant Chief Statistician of the subject-matter area prior to publication and providing the Communications Branch with a copy of the approval

5.5.3 ensuring that official releases for economic indicators and those of an analytical nature are reviewed by the Chief Statistician prior to publication; official releases of an analytical nature include information that sheds new light on a topic, is relevant to a current issue or informs public policy debate

5.5.4 ensuring that analysts writing major releases have received training in writing for official release

5.5.5 ensuring that a media contact or spokesperson is provided in both official languages for each release and that this person has obtained formal media training, as required under the Directive on Media Relations

5.5.6 ensuring that the media contact is available until 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the day of production, the day of release and the following business day

Advance release for purposes of data validation and briefing

5.5.7 determining where benefits warrant the advance release of data to external organizations for the purposes of data validation

5.5.8 ensuring that protected information is securely transmitted when shared outside the agency

5.5.9 ensuring that all external recipients who access advance information have signed the Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form

5.5.10 incorporating the conditions governing advance release into agreements for cost-recovery surveys and monitoring the compliance of the survey sponsor

5.5.11 establishing a reasonable period of time to carry out analytical and other activities between the provision of data to sponsors of cost-recovery surveys and their official release by Statistics Canada

5.5.12 requesting authorization through the Communications Branch to provide information prior to official release, as per section 4.2 of the Policy on Official Release, by completing the Advance Release Submission form and conducting the advance release in conformity with agency procedures

5.5.13 reviewing the advance releases and their recipients annually to ensure only those with a clear work-related need have access to advance releases

5.5.14 providing all advance release-related documentation to the Communications Branch for record-keeping

5.5.15 conducting advance release of data for the purposes of data validation and briefing according to Appendix C

Shared governance agreements

5.5.16 proposing the recognition of collaborative programs in a shared governance agreement to their director general, who will make a recommendation to the field's assistant chief statistician on the status and membership of collaborative programs

5.5.17 as part of shared governance agreements, conducting advance release of data intended for official release according to Appendix D

Advance release of sensitive data authorized by the Chief Statistician on the advice of the Clerk of the Privy Council

5.5.18 requesting a new authorization through the Office of the Chief Statistician

5.5.19 ensuring that protected information is securely transmitted when provided outside the agency (as described in the Directive on the Transmission of Protected Information)

5.5.20 ensuring that all external recipients who access advance information have signed the Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form

5.5.21 prior to each release, confirming the names of the recipients of advance information with recipient organizations to ensure only those with a clear work-related need to know have access to advance information

5.5.22 providing all advance release-related documentation to the Communications Branch for record-keeping

5.5.23 conducting advance release of sensitive aggregate data according to Appendix B.

5.6 Communications Branch is responsible for

5.6.1 overseeing the application of this policy, advising subject-matter areas and senior management on the interpretation of the policy, and reporting to the Strategic Management Committee on any emerging questions regarding its application

5.6.2 managing the scheduling of official releases and preparing, in coordination with subject-matter divisions, the annual calendar of release dates for major economic indicators, and weekly announcements of upcoming releases

5.6.3 referring any submissions for advance release that involve special circumstances not covered by the principles in this policy, or that do not conform to policy requirements, to the Strategic Management Committee for a recommendation to the Chief Statistician

5.6.4 maintaining a register of all advance releases, including the approval documentation, and ensuring all signatures are up to date

5.6.5 reporting on the advance release register annually to the Strategic Management Committee after confirming its accuracy with divisional directors

5.6.6 maintaining a register of all external organizations and the names and position titles of individuals within those organizations who are approved for access to advance information, including the justification for their access

5.6.7 reviewing and approving the list of external recipients of advance release agreements, and validating the justification for their access based on the need to know

5.6.8 maintaining a register of all Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms signed by individuals approved for advance access to data and ensuring signatures are up to date

5.6.9 ensuring all advance release-related registers are maintained in a corporate repository

5.6.10 monitoring periodically that subject-matter areas are adhering to the policy

5.6.11 advising the Strategic Management Committee on all aspects of official release

5.6.12 informing the Chief Statistician of the agreements with participating organizations and the name and position title of each individual who will have access to sensitive data, as well as updating the Chief Statistician with respect to changes to agreements

5.6.13 providing media training to media contacts and spokespersons who will be briefing media on the day of release

5.6.14 providing training on writing for official release vehicles.

5.7 The Digital Solutions Field is responsible for

5.7.1 monitoring access by external recipients to protected information on its information technology infrastructure (e.g., electronic transfer file system, Virtual Data Lab) to ensure that only authorized individuals are accessing protected information

5.7.2 providing reports to the Communications Branch and subject-matter areas as needed.

5.8 Organizations receiving advance information from Statistics Canada are responsible for

5.8.1 safeguarding protected information by ensuring that participating individuals are properly briefed and share the information only with those who have signed an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form and who are on the list submitted by the organization

5.8.2 limiting access to as few employees as possible, based on the need-to-know principle, and providing Statistics Canada with a complete list of all recipients who have access, including their name and position title and the justification for their access

5.8.3 confirming compliance with the conditions governing advance release agreements, including acknowledging the consequences of non-compliance

5.8.4 conducting a fulsome investigation into real or suspected breaches of this policy within their organization, and implementing appropriate corrective measures where warranted

5.8.5 informing Statistics Canada of employees who are not in compliance with the requirements of the Policy on Official Release

5.8.6 acknowledging receipt of advance information

5.8.7 destroying any protected information within their possession once the review or briefing is complete, prior to official release, and confirming the destruction to Statistics Canada.

5.9 Individuals receiving advance release information from Statistics Canada are responsible for

5.9.1 signing an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form

5.9.2 confirming compliance with the conditions governing advance release agreements, including acknowledging the consequences of non-compliance

5.9.3 acknowledging receipt of advance information

5.9.4 sharing the information only with those who have signed an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form and who are on the list submitted by the organization

5.9.5 destroying the protected information once the review or briefing is completed, prior to official release, and confirming destruction with Statistics Canada

5.9.6 complying with Statistics Canada requirements for transmitting protected information, as outlined in the agency's Directive on the Transmission of Protected Information, when sharing information with authorized people.

6.0 Consequences of non-compliance

6.1 The Chief Statistician

6.1.1 The Chief Statistician is responsible for determining the appropriate consequence in cases of non-compliance.

6.2 Statistics Canada employees

6.2.1 Consequences of non-compliance with this policy for Statistics Canada employees may include disciplinary measures and may include prosecution as described in sections 30 and 34 of the Statistics Act.

6.3 External organizations and individuals

6.3.1 Consequences of non-compliance with this policy for individuals and organizations receiving protected information prior to official release may include up to the termination of all active advance release agreements for a given individual or organization.

7.0 References

7.1 Relevant legislation

Statistics Act
Access to Information Act

7.2 Related policies

Policy on Government Security
IT Security Policy
Policy on Communications and Federal Identity
Policy on Highlights of Publications
Policy on Information Management
Policy on Microdata Access
Policy on Microdata Release
Policy on Peer and Institutional Review

7.3 Related directives

Directive on the Security of Sensitive Statistical Information
Directive on Corrections to Daily Releases and Statistical Products
Directive on Data Sharing
Directive on Discretionary Disclosure
Directive on the Management of Aggregate Statistics
Directive on the Management of Statistical Microdata Files
Directive on the Transmission of Protected Information
Directive on Obtaining Administrative Data under the Statistics Act
Directive on Media Relations

8.0 Enquiries

Please direct enquiries about this policy to the Director General of the Communications Branch.

Appendices

• Appendix A: List of sensitive datasets
• Appendix B: Procedures for advance release of sensitive data
• Appendix C: Procedures for advance release for validation or information purposes
• Appendix D: Procedures for advance release under shared governance agreement
• Appendix E: Definitions

Appendix A: List of sensitive datasets

For the purposes of the Policy on Official Release, the following data have been identified as sensitive data:

• Canada's balance of international payments
• Canadian international merchandise trade
• the Consumer Price Index
• gross domestic product by industry
• the Monthly Survey of Manufacturing
• gross domestic product, income and expenditures
• the Labour Force Survey
• labour productivity, hourly compensation and unit labour cost
• national balance sheet and financial flow accounts
• retail trade.

At the discretion of the Chief Statistician, new datasets may be added or exceptions made to this list.

Appendix B: Procedures for advance release of sensitive data

Subject-matter areas must

1. obtain a comprehensive list of all employees within the receiving organizations who will access advance data, prior to the sharing of these data, every time advance information is shared; this list must contain
   • the name of all employees
   • the position title of all employees
   • the justification for advance access for all employees
2. submit the list of all employees accessing advance information within the receiving organization to the Communications Branch, which will use the need-to-know basis to validate the list
3. ensure that all recipients within the receiving organizations each have a valid Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form; forms must be up to date (forms are valid for a period of 12 months) and must be signed by
   • the external recipient
   • a subject-matter representative from Statistics Canada.
4. submit copies of all signed Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms to the Communications Branch for record-keeping
5. use the information technology system approved by the Chief Statistician to share advance information
6. ensure that all advance information shared with external clients bears the "protected" watermark
7. communicate the conditions governing the advance release of information, including consequences of non-compliance, to every individual accessing advance information every time advance information is shared
8. obtain an acknowledgement from all receiving individuals that they are aware of the conditions governing the advance release information and understand the consequences of non-compliance
9. track access to advance information by external recipients and keep this tracking documentation for a period of 12 months
10. meet with organization, department or agency liaison officers to review documentation needs and usage annually
11. share the information with the receiving organization no earlier than 6:30 a.m. Eastern standard time on the day of official release, unless authorized by the Chief Statistician (this condition does not apply to cost-recovery clients).

Receiving organizations must

1. agree to restrict access to the advance information to only those people who have been approved and who have signed an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form
2. use the electronic information technology system approved by Statistics Canada for sharing advance information
3. provide Statistics Canada with copies of the signed Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms
4. provide the comprehensive list of authorized employees to Statistics Canada before every advance release, including the name and position title of all participants, their contact information, and the justification for their access, for validation by the agency; access may be refused to some employees on a case-by-case basis
5. have the deputy head name a liaison officer responsible for:
   • providing monthly updates and confirmations of the list of authorized employees to Statistics Canada for validation and ensuring that all employees on the list have a need to know
   • overseeing the overall dissemination process and communicating with Statistics Canada any observed vulnerabilities or instances of non-compliance
   • coordinating the department's annual assessment of compliance with the policy
   • ensuring that all employees who access advance information have been briefed by a designated official from Statistics Canada on the conditions for accessing that information and consequences of non-compliance with the policy
6. prior to the first advance release, establish a formal security briefing process to ensure that all employees who access advance information are briefed on the conditions of the policy
   • hold annual briefings in collaboration with Statistics Canada and ensure that all new employees who sign an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form also receive a briefing.
   • provide Statistics Canada with records of the briefing and attendance
7. prior to the first advance release, establish an annual internal assessment of compliance with policy requirements, based on criteria provided by Statistics Canada, to be managed by the organization's liaison officers, as follows:
   • use the criteria for this assessment provided by Statistics Canada
   • have the deputy head be responsible for validating and submitting the assessment results to Statistics Canada
   • report annually to Statistics Canada on the results and implementation of corrective measures related to the internal assessment
8. implement measures to ensure compliance with Statistics Canada's terms and conditions for advance access to data.

Reporting non-compliance

Any cases of sensitive advance information being shared with external participants in a way that does not comply with the policy will be considered a breach of this policy and must be reported to the Assistant Chief Statistician in the relevant subject-matter area.

In cases where the external organization or individual does not comply with the conditions of the Policy on Official Release, the breach must be reported to the Chief Statistician.

Individuals or organizations that do not comply with the conditions set above will be subject to the consequences outlined in Section 6 of this policy.

Appendix C: Procedures for advance release for validation or information purposes

Subject-matter areas must

1. obtain a comprehensive list of all employees within the receiving organizations who will access advance data, prior to the sharing of these data, every time advance information is shared; this list must contain
   • the name of all employees
   • the position title of all employees
   • the justification for advance access for all employees
2. submit the list of all employees accessing advance information within the receiving organization to the Communications Branch, which will use a need-to-know basis to validate the list
3. ensure that all recipients within the receiving organizations have a valid Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form; forms must be up to date (forms are valid for a period of 12 months) and must be signed by
   • the external recipient
   • a subject-matter representative from Statistics Canada
4. submit copies of all signed Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms to Communications Branch for record-keeping
5. use the information technology system approved by the Chief Statistician to share advance information
6. ensure that all advance information shared with external clients bears the "protected" watermark
7. communicate the conditions governing the advance release of information, including consequences of non-compliance, to every individual accessing advance information every time advance information is shared
8. obtain an acknowledgement from all receiving individuals that they are aware of the conditions governing the advance release information and understand the consequences of non-compliance
9. track access to advance information by external recipients and keep this tracking documentation for a period of 12 months
10. meet with organization or department to review documentation needs and usage annually.

Receiving organizations must

1. agree to restrict access to the advance information to only those people who have been approved and who have signed an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form
2. use the electronic information technology system approved by Statistics Canada for sharing advance information
3. provide Statistics Canada with copies of the signed Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms
4. provide the comprehensive list of authorized employees to Statistics Canada before every advance release, including the name and position of all participants, their contact information, as well as the justification for their access, for validation by the agency; access may be refused to some employees on a case-by-case basis
5. prior to the first advance release, establish a formal security briefing process to ensure that all employees who access advance information are briefed on the conditions of the policy
   • hold annual briefings in collaboration with Statistics Canada and ensure that all new employees who sign an Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form also receive a briefing
   • provide Statistics Canada with records of the briefing and attendance
6. prior to the first advance release, establish an annual internal assessment of compliance with policy requirements, based on criteria provided by Statistics Canada, to be managed by the organization's liaison officers, as follows:
   • use the criteria for this assessment provided by Statistics Canada
   • have the deputy head be responsible for validating and submitting the assessment results to Statistics Canada
   • report annually to Statistics Canada on the results and implementation of corrective measures related to the internal assessment
7. implement measures to ensure compliance with Statistics Canada's terms and conditions for advance access to data.

Reporting non-compliance

Any cases of advance information being shared with external participants in a way that does not comply with the policy will be considered a breach of this policy and must be reported to the Assistant Chief Statistician in the relevant subject-matter area.

In cases where the external organization or individual does not comply with the conditions of the Policy on Official Release, the breach must be reported to the Chief Statistician.

Individuals or organizations that do not comply with the conditions set above will be subject to the consequences outlined in Section 6 of this policy.

Appendix D: Procedures for advance release under shared governance agreement

1. A Shared Governance Structure Recognition Submission form must be prepared for a formal collaborative program that has been designated by the Strategic Management Committee as a recognized shared governance structure with partner organizations.
2. When a collaborative program with a shared governance structure is recognized and approved, the program, the approval date and other information are posted on Statistics Canada's Internal Communications Network.
3. When a shared governance agreement exists, and when protected information is shared before official release with the partner organization, it is not necessary to complete an Advance Release Submission form if the following conditions are met:
   • The list of data or products shared has been detailed in the shared governance agreement (in the form or in an appendix).
     • The external members of the shared governance agreement each have a signed and valid Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information form.
4. When a shared governance agreement exists, and when protected information is shared before official release with the partner organization, but the conditions above are not met, an Advance Release Submission form must be completed.
5. Although a Shared Governance Structure Recognition Submission has no expiry date, the signed Acknowledgement of Security Requirements for Protected Information forms for shared governance agreements are valid for a period of 12 months from the date of the recipient's signature. They must be forwarded to the Director General of the Communications Branch.

Reporting non-compliance

Any cases of advance information being shared with external participants in a way that does not comply with the policy will be considered a breach of this policy and must be reported to the Assistant Chief Statistician in the relevant subject-matter area.

In cases where the external organization or individual does not comply with the conditions of the Policy on Official Release, the breach must be reported to the Chief Statistician.

Individuals or organizations that do not comply with the conditions set above will be subject to the consequences outlined in Section 6 of this policy.

Appendix E: Definitions

Administrative data refer to information that is collected by other organizations and departments for their own purposes, and is sought, at the micro or aggregate level, by Statistics Canada in respect of objects of the Statistics Act.

Analytical products for release include a wide range of texts (and associated graphics, tables and other quantitative results), such as those that are intended to be accessible to a broad audience, those focusing on a single dataset or data series, and those intended for a scholarly audience and include more complex methods and reasoning and make extensive reference to the broader research literature.

Briefing includes the sharing of information with an external partner to allow that partner to

• brief its senior management, including the deputy minister and the minister (in the case of government departments)
• prepare communication materials, such as questions and answers, media lines, ministerial statements, press releases, social media campaigns, and letters to stakeholders
• publish Statistics Canada's data (either in a publication or on a website) at the same time as the agency.

Business day means any day from Monday to Friday, with the exception of statutory holidays. The Daily is not published from December 25 to January 2.

Confidential aggregates mean information that could directly or indirectly identify a person, business or organization.

Data validation is the review of data to ensure their accuracy and quality. Individuals who are not employees (or who are not deemed employees) of Statistics Canada and who can help Statistics Canada validate data can have access to those data prior to official release, according to procedures outlined in the policy. In such cases, subject-matter divisions are responsible for proving that the individuals in question are qualified and in a position to validate the data, and that their feedback will help Statistics Canada improve the accuracy and quality of the data.

Dataset means non-confidential aggregated data or microdata, or statistical aggregates obtained from microdata, an administrative file or a combination of both. A dataset is new if it is from a newly instituted statistical program, or if it is from a previously unreleased iteration of an existing statistical program. New datasets exclude the following:

• tabulations from previously released datasets
• administrative data collected by Statistics Canada
• data linkages created from datasets that have already been officially released
• microdata files of aggregate statistics that have been officially released
• results of tests, pilot surveys, working papers, feasibility studies and analytical reports on methods used, subject to the restrictions of the Statistics Act
• presentations or publication of analysis or preliminary research findings that are based on previously released datasets.

Daily text refers to the summary intended for publication in The Daily to communicate significant findings of potential interest to Canadians.

Final dataset means that the dataset is considered ready for official release.

In confidence is to be interpreted as prohibiting communication to a third party of any information related to the statistical findings.

Information products are the compilation of results from Statistics Canada activities, including non-confidential data files, databases, public use microdata files, tables (including Common Output Data Repository tables), graphs and maps. Information products usually require a catalogue number and can be made available in either print or electronic media. There are two categories of information products: those based on new, not-yet-released data, and those based on previously released data.

Sensitive data, as designated and approved by the Chief Statistician, include key economic indicators and releases. The Strategic Management Committee recommends the list of releases classified as sensitive to the Chief Statistician.

Media contacts are professional staff delegated by senior management and identified to the Communications Branch, to provide explanations and interpretations of statistics.

Microdata file means a structured file containing confidential information for individual people, businesses or organizations.

Need to know, according to the Standard on Security Screening, is a criterion used by the custodian(s) of sensitive information, assets or facilities to establish, prior to disclosure or providing access, that the intended recipient must have access to perform their official duties.

Official release vehicles are dissemination channels that have been approved by the Chief Statistician as official for the purposes of communicating new data products to Canadians. These channels are easily accessible and visible and ensure equitable access to the agency's statistical products. The Daily is one of Statistics Canada's official release vehicles.

Real-time data are statistics that are made ready for publication almost as soon as they are collected. Crowdsourcing is an example of such data.

Secure transmission means ensuring that the protected information is transmitted in a format that can be accessed only by the designated individuals of the selected organization.

A shared governance agreement is a formal agreement that establishes the terms and conditions of a collaboration between Statistics Canada and other organizations for the collection and production of statistics.

Spokespersons are individuals designated by the Chief Statistician to respond on behalf of the agency to media enquiries on cross-cutting or program issues.

The Daily is one of Statistics Canada's official release vehicles. It comprises one or more announcements called releases, which can be major or minor. Major releases usually contain important information for the Canadian public and provide a national, regional or industrial perspective. They generally include tables and charts to support the information described in the text. Minor releases usually focus on a particular industry or subject and provide a brief overview of the data. They may include tables and charts to support the information described in the text.

Validation dataset means that the dataset is not yet final and, as such, is not considered ready for release. Data verification is still ongoing.

The food statistics program relies on supply-disposition analysis. The stocks at the beginning of a period are combined with the flows in during that period to estimate total supplies. Total disposition is computed as flows out during the period, while ending stocks represent the total supply minus the total disposition. Consequently, the total supply for a given commodity in a given time period must equal the total disposition plus ending stocks for the same period, and the ending stocks of one period must equal the beginning stocks of the next period. In reality, it is unusual for all stocks and flows to be measured directly. However, using the basic principles, a missing component can be derived residually.

On the disposition side, exports, manufacturing and waste are displayed followed by ending stocks. Domestic disappearance or food available for consumption is derived by subtracting the flows out plus ending stocks from the total supply. The domestic disappearance is viewed as the total amount of food available at the retail level.

Domestic disappearance is divided by the Canadian population as of July 1st of the year depicted to calculate the food available per person, per year, at the retail level. It is normally expressed on a weight basis in kilograms unless that is inappropriate, as is the case with beverages.

The data are sometimes displayed on a different basis depending on the commodity. For example, processed fruits and vegetables are displayed on a retail basis and fresh equivalent basis. The different basis for the retail weight is displayed simply to provide additional information for analytical purposes.

The information required to produce the food statistics is extensive and varied. The sources of data often reach deeply into the agricultural statistics program relying on surveys conducted by the Agriculture Division (AD). A few other divisions in Statistics Canada such as the International Accounts and Trade Division (IATD) or the Public Sector Statistics Division (PSSD) contribute crucial components of the data set. Trade statistics used are those produced on a customs basis which is derived from the administrative records of the Canada Border Services Agency and the United States Customs Border Protection. These trade statistics cover the physical movement of goods. Considerable administrative data from organizations such as Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Canadian Egg Marketing Agency, Canadian Sugar Institute, provincial departments and industry groups are also invaluable.

Beginning stocks represent the physical inventory of fresh and frozen products held in storage of a particular commodity at the beginning of the year. They equal the previous year's ending stocks. This item has a fairly small impact on domestic disappearance because the magnitude of changes in inventories is typically small. There are numerous commodities for which inventory data are not available; however, given the small impact of these data, the effect of this type of data gap is considered minor. Due to confidentiality, some inventory data are not displayed but they are used in the calculation.

Production represents the amount of a particular commodity that is produced during the reference year. The data are often based on independent surveys of farms and food processors. Many of the surveys are conducted by AD.

Imports include all goods which have crossed Canada's territorial boundary, whether for immediate consumption in Canada or stored in bonded custom warehouses.

Total supply is the sum of beginning stocks plus production plus imports. This number represents the total supply of a particular commodity that is available for any use.

Exports include goods grown, extracted or manufactured in Canada, including goods of foreign origin which have been materially transformed in Canada. Re‑exports are exports of goods of foreign origin which have not been materially transformed in Canada, including foreign goods withdrawn for export from bonded customs warehouses. Total exports are the sum of domestic exports and re‑exports.

Manufacturing data include requirements for processing, seed, animal feed and industrial use. If data are available at a more detailed level, then an important component of manufacturing is the amount used for processing. At the same time, the processed commodities need to be accounted for. For instance, apples contain an amount for processing and processed apples, be they canned, dried, frozen, made into apple sauce or pie filling, are accounted for as individual commodities. If detailed data are not available for processed products, then the commodity is accounted for at a less processed level even though it might often be used as an input into further processing. For instance, wheat flour is accounted for but the wheat flour products from breads to cookies are not accounted for. Consequently, there is no deduction from wheat flour to account for further processing.

Waste factors attempt to account for quantities removed during processing or that are lost in storage. They do not allow for losses at the retail level, in households, restaurants or institutions during storage and preparation, or for unconsumed food.

Ending stocks represent the physical inventory of fresh and frozen products held in storage of a particular commodity at the end of the year. They equal the following beginning stocks. This item has a fairly small impact on net supply because it is truly the change in inventories that has any impact. There are numerous commodities for which inventory data are not available; however, given the small impact of these data, the effect of this type of data gap is considered minor. Due to confidentiality, some inventory data are not displayed but they are used in the calculation.

Domestic disappearance is derived by subtracting other uses and ending stocks from the total supply. The other uses include exports, manufacturing and waste. Domestic disappearance represents the total food available for human consumption from the Canadian food supply chain.

Total Supply = Beginning stocks + Production + Imports

Total Disposition = Exports + Manufacturing + Waste + Domestic disappearance

Domestic Disappearance = Total supply – Exports – Manufacturing - Waste - Ending stocks

Food available per person is calculated by dividing the domestic disappearance by the Canadian population as of July 1st of the reference year. The food available per person is presented in a number of ways.

Retail weight – This is the volume of food available per person, for consumption, at the retail level. It is viewed as the most important number as it displays levels and trends for individual foods. It allows for easy comparisons of one type of food to another and within or between food groups. Furthermore, it is the number on which all other calculations are based including different ways of displaying the data and estimates of loss-adjusted food available. Processed fruits and vegetables or selected beverages are displayed on a fresh equivalent basis. Dairy products are depicted on a milk solids basis. Estimates based on the sugar content are provided for sugar products such as refined sugar, honey or maple syrup, while estimates for oils and fats include those based on the fat content. Red meats are displayed on a boneless and carcass basis, while poultry is provided on an eviscerated and boneless basis. Fish data are provided on an edible weight basis. In the case of alcoholic beverages, the data are estimated for two population groups. One estimate is based on the total Canadian population. The other represents the population of Canadians who are 15 years of age and older.

Adjusted for losses – Losses occur in the storage, preparation and cooking of the food, as well as the food that makes it to the plate but not consumed, or plate loss. These losses can occur in the retail store, home, restaurants or institutions. The losses are deducted from the food available for consumption at retail weight to derive food available for consumption adjusted for losses. The objective is to provide a proxy of fork-level consumption based on food supply data. Factors used to adjust the food available data are estimates themselves and caution should be used when working with the data, as they are based on a static model. The factors are taken from the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

The waste factors that account for quantities removed during processing or lost in storage at the industrial level are removed before domestic disappearance is calculated and therefore do not appear in the retail weight available per person.

Perspective by food group

Cereal products

The food available for consumption value on a per capita or per person basis for cereal products describes what is available after the products leave the mills and therefore, further processing is not included under the manufacturing category. For wheat flour, rye flour, oatmeal and rolled oats, production and stocks data are derived from a monthly survey of Canadian millers, conducted by the Crops Section of the Agriculture Division. Data for imports and exports of these products are obtained from IATD. Included in wheat production are Canada western red spring wheat, red winter wheat, soft white spring wheat, and amber durum wheat; and Ontario and Quebec winter and spring wheat.

Per capita food available figures are provided for pot and pearl barley, corn flour and meal; however, some calculation components are hidden because of confidentiality restrictions.

Nearly all of the domestic supply of rice is imported. Production data represent Canadian wild rice production, as provided by the Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario departments of agriculture. Import data includes that for wild rice. Stocks data are not available for rice.

For breakfast foods, the data include prepared, ready‑to‑serve breakfast foods, unprepared oatmeal and rolled oats and other unprepared cereals. The volume of oatmeal and rolled oats is removed from the production and trade data to avoid double counting. Historically, the production of breakfast foods was based on shipments data provided by the Manufacturing and Energy Division (MED).

Sugars and syrups

The per capita availability of refined sugar includes all sugar destined for domestic and commercial uses (baking, confectionery). It is provided in retail weight (the weight of the product itself) and on a sugar content (the quantity of sugar in a product) basis.

In the past, MED collected information on the production and stocks of refined sugar through surveys of all known Canadian refiners of raw sugar. Manufacturing inputs in refineries include cane or beet sugar, chemically pure sucrose in solid form and liquid sucrose. Imported sugar products include granulated, cubed, brown and confectioner's sugar. Exports consist of refined cane and beet sugar. Stocks and production data are now provided by the Canadian Sugar Institute.

In 2005, following consultations with the Canadian Sugar Institute, the food supply‑disposition for refined sugar was modified to include imports and exports of sugar containing products. Canada increasingly exports more sugar containing products than it imports.

Production data of maple products for Ontario, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are collected by AD through a producer survey while production and stocks data for the province of Quebec are provided by the Institut de la Statistique du Québec. Production is recorded in units of maple syrup, but all maple products (taffy, butter, syrup) are converted to a maple sugar equivalent. Artificially produced maple items are not counted, only farm produced maple sugar. All trade data are converted to a maple sugar equivalent in order to maintain consistent units throughout the supply‑disposition tables. These tables are reported on a crop year basis (April‑March).

Estimates of honey production are derived from a survey of beekeepers. Beginning stocks (if there are any) and imports are added to production to obtain total supply. Ending stocks (where applicable) and exports are deducted to produce a domestic disappearance figure. The food available data for honey is reported in retail weight and on a sugar content basis.

Meats

The procedure used to calculate the food available for beef, veal, pork, mutton and lamb is basically the same. Animals slaughtered include federally inspected slaughtering provided by Agriculture and Agri‑Food Canada (AAFC) and estimates for those slaughtered in commercial establishments not under federal inspection as well as on‑farm slaughtering. The total warm dressed carcass weight is obtained from information collected by AAFC on animals slaughtered under federal inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

To convert to a cold dressed basis, beef is reduced by 1.5% to allow for shrinkage and 2.04 kg per carcass are added to account for head meat recovery. Veal is reduced by 1.5% to allow for shrinkage and removal of the hide, 0.23 kg per carcass is subtracted to account for kidney which is weighted in the carcass and 0.36 kg per carcass is added to account for head meat recovery.

Mutton and lamb are reduced by 3% for shrinkage, 0.09 kg per carcass is subtracted for kidney and 0.18 kg per carcass is added to account for head meat recovery.

In 1988, a new methodology was developed for estimating pork available on a carcass basis in order to reflect the trend towards leaner hogs. Warm carcass weight is reduced by 3% for shrinkage to arrive at a cold carcass weight. A further 0.68 kg per carcass is deducted for kidney and tongue which is left in the carcass. The result is pork carcass production. Previously, 17% of cold carcass weight had been subtracted to account for larding fat. This however, is no longer done.

The retail conversion factor for pork is similar to that developed for beef. It is calculated on the portion of the carcass that is available for consumption after removing the skin, bone and trimmed fat. The average cold dressed carcass weight is obtained by dividing the cold dressed weight for federally inspected slaughter by the number of animals slaughtered under federal inspection. This average cold dressed carcass weight is then multiplied by the total number of animals slaughtered to obtain a total cold dressed carcass weight. From the total supply, exports and ending stocks are subtracted to arrive at the domestic disappearance. For pork, manufacturing and waste are removed from the supply to arrive at domestic disappearance.

Exports of meats are collected and published by IATD. Conversion factors are applied to these exports to bring them to a cold dressed carcass basis.

Offal includes variety meats such as liver, heart, kidney, tongue, sweetbreads, oxtail and edible tripe and is calculated on a specific weight per carcass basis. The procedure for calculating the per capita availability of offal is basically the same as described for other meats.

Poultry

Production and beginning stocks are added to imports to derive total supply. From total supply, exports and ending stocks are deducted to produce domestic disappearance. Live imports and exports are converted to an eviscerated basis (dressed, ready for sale). Since the supply‑disposition is calculated on an eviscerated weight basis, no further manufacturing or waste factor calculation is applicable. The available data are expressed in terms of eviscerated weight.

Fish

Data are available for four categories: fresh and frozen seafish, processed seafish, total shellfish and freshwater fish. Production data are provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the commercial fishery and aquaculture survey data are obtained from AD. Information on stocks is not available. Imports and exports data are obtained from IATD. Initially all the data are converted to an edible weight basis due to the variety of species, products, sources and conversion factors. Therefore, the food available information is provided only on an edible weight basis.

Eggs

Total egg production includes all eggs sold for consumption, consumed by producers, sold for hatching, and leakers and rejects. Production from registered, non‑registered and hatchery supply flocks are included in these estimates. Egg production is derived using average layer numbers and their estimated rates of lay. Administrative data from AAFC and the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency and information from surveys conducted by AD are used when compiling these estimates. Data on beginning and ending stocks are obtained from a monthly survey conducted by AD in conjunction with AAFC, while information on imports and exports is provided by IATD. The manufacturing figure represents domestically produced eggs used for hatching and is therefore not included in the amount available for human consumption.

Processed eggs are not included in manufacturing but are converted to shell egg equivalent and are incorporated into the supply‑disposition. The waste figure contains the leakers and rejects, those eggs which did not meet quality control standards.

Pulses

Agriculture Division reports production on pulses such as peas, lentils, mustard seed, canary seed, sunflower seed and chickpeas on a field‑run basis through a producer survey. The product is removed from the field and the total weight harvested is reported as production with no allowances made for spoilage. Import and export data are provided by IATD. Imports are added to production to obtain total supply; stock data is only available for dry peas. All imports and exports are converted to a whole pea equivalent to allow trade data, which includes split peas, to be incorporated. Data for dry peas and dry beans are presented on a crop year basis (August ‑ July). The manufacturing figure includes seed requirements and quantity used by manufacturers. Approximately 2% of production is removed to account for waste. Dry peas used for manufacturing include feed and seed requirements as well as processing.

Nuts

The bulk of Canada's supply of nuts is imported. There is some limited production of filberts and hazelnuts in British Columbia. The British Columbia Department of Agriculture provides information on this production. Imports and exports are reported by IATD and most trade data are reported on a shelled weight basis. Where appropriate, commodities are converted to shelled weight. The supply of tree nuts is comprised of imports such as almonds, Brazil nuts, cashew nuts and walnuts, and does not include oil‑producing nuts (such as beechnuts).

Dairy products

Information on dairy products is obtained from several sources. Fluid milk and cream production data are derived mainly from administrative data supplied by the milk marketing boards in each province, based on the sales by dairies. The waste figure, which accounts for milk lost in transfer and shrinkage, is incorporated into the sales data. Since there are no stocks, imports, exports or other waste deductions for fluid milk and cream, production constitutes the domestic disappearance for these items. Information for other dairy products and by‑products such as cheddar, processed and variety cheese, condensed and powdered milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, sherbet, milkshake, ice milk, yogurt and sour cream, originates from provincial marketing boards and departments of agriculture and is compiled by AD. Production and stocks data are released on a monthly basis and import and export information is obtained from IATD. Most of these products are considered as final products not requiring further processing and therefore manufacturing data are not reported. A waste figure is incorporated into the production data. This value is also expressed in terms of milk solids (i.e., the portion of the product which comprises butterfat and non‑fat solids such as protein and calcium, etc). The milk solid values are calculated on a weight basis rather than a volume basis.

Oils and Fats

There are four categories of oils and fats. They include: butter, margarine, salad (or vegetable) oils, along with shortening and shortening oils. The data depicting the amounts available for consumption are presented on a retail weight and fat content basis.

Butter is estimated independently with information that originates from provincial marketing boards and departments of agriculture and is compiled by AD. Trade data for butter are obtained from the IATD.

To backtrack a little, prior to 1994, production data on margarine, salad oils, shortening and shortening oils were based on sales to retail and commercial outlets, therefore no stock information was required. Trade data for these products were obtained from the IATD. They were considered as final products not requiring further processing and therefore, manufacturing data were not reported. A waste figure had already been accounted for in the production data, so no additional waste factor was applied.

In July 1995, the survey of oils and fats, conducted by MED, underwent some revisions in co‑operation with the Canadian Oilseed Processors Association.

In 1995, the degree of estimation for non‑response was 1.8%. By 2001, the last year for this survey, estimation for non‑response had grown to 37.3%. After 2001, it necessary to find an alternative source and trend analysis was used as a substitute.

Fresh fruits

Production of fresh fruits is provided by AD. Information is gathered through producer surveys or directly from the representatives of various provincial departments of agriculture. Stocks data for apples are obtained from AFFC. The import and export data, based on a calendar year basis, originate from IATD. For several commodities the total supply is imported (avocados, bananas, coconuts, dates, figs, guavas and mangoes, muskmelons and cantaloupes, winter melons, papayas, prunes, plums and sloes, pineapples, quinces). The quantity of each commodity acquired by processors or used as manufacturing inputs is reported under manufacturing. This may be the amount reported by processors. Manufacturing inputs are removed from the domestic disappearance of fresh items to avoid double counting. The information is obtained from AD.

Citrus fruits

Information on citrus fruits is obtained from the import and export data available from IATD. Since there are no stocks or domestic production of these commodities, imports constitute domestic disappearance for these items. In 1988, the data for mandarins became available and have been added to this table. However, they continue to be included with fresh oranges in order to maintain a consistent historical time series.

Processed fruits

Because the processed fruit products are not available, the data related to the sales of processed fruits are used to estimate the per capita consumption data from the Canadian food supply. Import and export data based on a calendar year basis originate from IATD. Processed products are considered as end products so there is no further manufacturing component.

Fresh vegetables

Production of fresh vegetables is reported by AD. Information is gathered through producer surveys or directly from the representatives of various provincial departments of agriculture. Stocks of fresh vegetables are reported by AAFC. These commodities include cabbage, carrots, onions and shallots, white potatoes, rutabagas and turnips. The import and export data originate from IATD. For several commodities the total supply is imported (artichokes, other edible root vegetables, manioc, okra, olives, other leguminous vegetables and rapini).

Agriculture Division produces six estimates including: potatoes, white; potatoes, fresh; potatoes, processed; potatoes, frozen; potatoes, chips; and potatoes, processed, other. Potatoes, white are a sum of fresh and processed potatoes while potatoes, processed are a sum of the three categories of processed potatoes.

The calculation to estimate the volume of fresh potatoes available for consumption starts with the January 1 stocks of fresh potatoes provided by AAFC, plus that year's estimate of production from AD and the imports of fresh potatoes as reported by IATD, minus the volume of fresh potatoes that is diverted to processing, cattle feed, exported or used for seed. We also subtract the fresh stocks at the end of the year to estimate domestic disappearance.

Processed vegetables

The production numbers of processed vegetable products are also not available and the data related to the sales of processed vegetables are used to estimate the per capita consumption data from the Canadian food supply. Import and export data on a calendar year basis originate from IATD. As processed products are considered as end products, there is no further manufacturing component.

Juices

The information on grapefruit, grape, lemon, orange and pineapple juices is obtained from the import and export data available from IATD. Since there are no stocks or data on domestic production of these commodities, imports and exports constitute domestic disappearance for these items. Fruit juices are measured in terms of weight not volume. Once converted to kilograms, frozen and unfrozen concentrates are converted to a single strength basis. Then all juice products can be referenced as single strength juice which can be converted to a fresh equivalent weight. Two available figures are published - one in kilograms and one in litres.

Beverages, non-alcoholic

Tea, coffee and cocoa

All components of the supply-disposition reported for tea are in tea leaf equivalent and litres. Coffee is reported in bean equivalent and litres. Cocoa is expressed in bean equivalent. There is no domestic production of these commodities; imports represent the total supply. The per capita disappearance of coffee is based on adjusted domestic retail sales data. These commodities are converted to weight for comparability purposes.

Soft drinks

Domestic disappearance was based on total domestic sales, as provided by the Canadian Soft Drink Association, but because the data is not available any more, trend analysis was used as a substitute. Included in the imports and exports are data for mineral and aerated waters, which contain added sugars, other sweeteners, or flavours. The data on imports and exports are provided for information only and are not used in the calculation for domestic disappearance.

Bottled water

Bottled water data were calculated using the domestic sales information provided by the Canadian Bottled Water Association. These data represent sales of bottled water, which includes spring water, mineral water, well water, artesian water, purified water and carbonated bottled water. Bottled water cannot contain sweeteners or chemical additives and must be calorie free and sugar free. Soda water, seltzer water and tonic water are not considered bottled water. Currently, there is no source of data for this commodity.

Alcoholic beverages

Domestic disposition along with trade data are the only components of the supply-disposition tables that are provided. The data are based on the volume of sales of alcohol beverages from the provincial and territorial government liquor authorities and other retail outlets.

However, these data do not contain information on sales generated by those establishments which offer either "brew on premises" services or sell products for "at home" production of beer and wine. These tables are reported for the April to March fiscal year.

There are two estimates published for alcoholic beverage consumption. One estimate is based on the total Canadian population. The other represents the population of Canadians who are 15 years of age and older.