Why are we conducting this survey?

The Census of Agriculture provides the only comprehensive and integrated profile of the physical, economic, social and environmental aspects of Canada's agriculture industry. It is conducted every five years. The data are needed to make informed decisions about business management strategies, agricultural policies, programs and services that directly affect farmers and rural communities.

Census data provide a reliable source of information to farm organizations, government departments, agriculture suppliers and service providers, and researchers that help them to understand and respond to changes in agriculture.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Although voluntary, your participation is important so that the information collected is as accurate and complete as possible.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that 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 the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about record linkage:

Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca

Telephone: 1-877-949-9492

Mail:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Census of Agriculture Division
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

Business or organization and contact information

1. Please verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name modifications should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

• Legal name
• Operating name (if applicable)

2. Please verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

Note: 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.

• First name
• Last name
• Title
• Preferred language of communication
  • English
  • French
• Mailing address (number and street)
• City
• Province, territory or state
• Postal code or ZIP code
  Example: A9A 9A9 or 12345-1234
• Country
• Email address
  Example: user@example.gov.ca
• Telephone number (including area code)
  Example: 123-123-1234
• Extension number (if applicable)
• Fax number (including area code)
  Example: 123-123-1234

3. Please verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name in question 1.

• Operational
• Not currently operational, e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership

Agricultural activity

4. Will this operation produce agricultural products in 2024?

Examples of agricultural products include: hay, field crops, field vegetables, fruit, berries, nuts, sod, nursery products, ornamental plants, flowers, Christmas trees, mushrooms, greenhouse products, maple products, honeybees or other pollinating bees, poultry, eggs, livestock, meat, milk, wool, horses.

Definition: Throughout this questionnaire, this operation or this agricultural operation refers to the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name in question 1.

• Yes, this operation will produce agricultural products
  Will this operation be reporting sales or expenses for these agricultural products to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)?
  Include sales and expenses from:
  • agricultural products grown or raised by this operation in 2024
  • other commodities produced using agricultural products grown or raised by this operation in 2024 (e.g., wine, meat products).
    • Yes
    • No
• No, but other agricultural operations will use the land and/or farm buildings to produce agricultural products
• No, this operation will not produce agricultural products

Canada Revenue Agency Business Numbers

1. Does this agricultural operation have a Business Number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)?

A Business Number is a unique 9-digit number assigned to a business by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). It is used to register a business for tax programs such as GST/HST, payroll deduction, corporation income tax, etc.

• Yes
  Enter the Business Number issued by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
  Include only the first 9 digits.
  • Business Number
    Example: 123456789
• No

2. Do you operate or own other agricultural or non-agricultural businesses?

• Yes
  Enter the other legal or operating name of the businesses and their associated Business Number.
  • Legal or operating name 1
  • Associated Business Number 1
    Example: 123456789 (if applicable)
  • Legal or operating name 2
    (if applicable)
  • Associated Business Number 2
    Example: 123456789 (if applicable)
  • Legal or operating name 3
    (if applicable)
  • Associated Business Number 3
    Example: 123456789 (if applicable)
  • If there are more than three other businesses, enter them in the field below.
• No

Agricultural Operators

3. Provide the following information about each person who was responsible for management decisions made for this agricultural operation as of May 14, 2024.

Management decisions are decisions about a variety of important business matters, e.g., agricultural production, hiring employees, investment and finances, marketing of agricultural products.

Exclude professional advisors, e.g., accountants, consultants.

4. If there are more than three operators, enter their full names and telephone numbers in the comments section.

5. In 2023, what was each operator's average weekly time contribution to this agricultural operation?

Include only work done for this operation, such as:

• farm work
• farm office work
• dealing with suppliers and clients
• custom work done for others.

1. Operator 1
   • More than 40 hours per week
   • 30 to 40 hours per week
   • 20 to 29 hours per week
   • Less than 20 hours per week
2. Operator 2
   • More than 40 hours per week
   • 30 to 40 hours per week
   • 20 to 29 hours per week
   • Less than 20 hours per week
3. Operator 3
   • More than 40 hours per week
   • 30 to 40 hours per week
   • 20 to 29 hours per week
   • Less than 20 hours per week

6. In 2023, what was each operator's average weekly time spent doing paid work at another job or operating another business not involved with this agricultural operation?

Include only work done for:

• an off-farm job
• a non-farm business
• other farm operations.

Exclude custom work done for others.

1. Operator 1
   • More than 40 hours per week
   • 30 to 40 hours per week
   • 20 to 29 hours per week
   • Less than 20 hours per week
   • None
2. Operator 2
   • More than 40 hours per week
   • 30 to 40 hours per week
   • 20 to 29 hours per week
   • Less than 20 hours per week
   • None
3. Operator 3
   • More than 40 hours per week
   • 30 to 40 hours per week
   • 20 to 29 hours per week
   • Less than 20 hours per week
   • None

Paid labour

7. For the 2023 tax year, did this agricultural operation issue any T4 slips to agricultural workers?

A T4 slip is a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) form that is used to report a worker's annual salary, wages and taxable benefits.

Include all operators, family workers and employees who were issued a T4 slip and participated in the primary production of agricultural products.

Exclude workers who only do processing or service tasks.

• Yes
• No
  If no T4 slips were issued to agricultural workers, please enter "0" for each category.

8. For the 2023 tax year, report the number of agricultural workers who were issued a T4 slip in the categories below.

Include all operators, family workers and employees who were issued a T4 slip and participated in the primary production of agricultural products.

Exclude workers who only do processing or service tasks.

Note: Report each worker in one category only.

1. Number of year-round full-time workers 30 or more hours per week
2. Number of year-round part-time workers Less than 30 hours per week
3. Number of seasonal or temporary workers

Total number of workers who were issued a T4 slip for the 2023 tax year

9. For the 2023 tax year, did this operation issue any T4 slips to agricultural family workers?

A T4 slip is a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) form that is used to report a worker's annual salary, wages and taxable benefits.

Family includes operators and workers who are related to an operator by blood, marriage (including common-law) or adoption, including those who live in a different household.

Exclude family workers who only do processing or service tasks.

• Yes
  • Enter the number of agricultural family workers who were issued a T4 slip.
  • Number of family workers
• No

Main farm location of this operation

10. Complete the civic address or land description of the main farm location of this agricultural operation.

This is where the main agricultural activities take place. It can be the main farm buildings, the main gate of the farm operation, or the farm headquarters.

Civic address of the main farm location (address that would be provided to emergency services)

• Province or territory
• Address number
• Road or street name
• Street type
• Street direction
• Name of village, town, city or municipality
• Postal code
  Example: A9A 9A9

For the Prairies and parts of British Columbia only: land description of the main farm location

• Province
  • Postal code
    Example: A9A 9A9

• Quarter
• Section
• Township
• Range
• Meridian

Unit of measure

11. What unit of measure will be used to report land areas?

• Acres
• Hectares
• Arpents (Quebec only)

Area of land

12. In 2024, what is this operation's total area of workable and non-workable land for each of the following?

Workable land includes all cropland, nursery, sod, Christmas trees, maple trees tapped, summerfallow and pasture.

Non-workable land includes idle land, woodlots, tree-windbreaks, bush, lawns, ponds, bogs, marshes, sloughs, buffer zones and land where farm buildings are located (e.g., residence, greenhouse, mushroom houses, farmhouse, barns, livestock facilities).

1. Total workable and non-workable land area owned
   Include all land owned even if used by others.
2. Area leased from governments
   e.g., land operated under licence, permit or lease
3. Area rented or leased from others
4. Crop-shared land owned by others but used by this operation
   Note: Crop-sharing is an agreement in which the operator shares investment and risk with the land owner.
5. Other land used by this operation
   e.g., land trading, rent-free
   TOTAL land area owned, leased, rented, crop-shared or used
6. Land area used by others
   e.g., rented, leased or crop-shared to others, land trading, rent-free

Net area of this operation

(Total land area owned, leased, rented, crop-shared or used)

minus (land area used by others)

Report on this area throughout this questionnaire.

Agricultural production

The Census of Agriculture covers various agricultural activities in Canada. Therefore, some questions in this survey may apply to this operation, while others may not. The following questions will help identify the sections of this survey that should be answered by this operation.

Each agricultural product should be reported in only one category.

Do not report products grown solely for home or personal use.

13. On May 14, 2024, are any mushrooms grown on this operation for sale?

Exclude wild mushrooms.

• Yes
  • Types of mushrooms
    Select all that apply.
    • Agaricus mushrooms. Include white and brown varieties.
    • Specialty mushrooms, e.g., shiitake, oyster
• No

14. In 2024, were any maple trees tapped on this operation?

Include only taps made on maple trees.

Exclude maple production for home or personal use.

• Yes
• No

15. In 2024, are sod, nursery products or Christmas trees grown on this operation for sale?

Include ornamental tree seedlings not grown in a greenhouse.

Exclude:

• products grown in a greenhouse (report in greenhouse section)
• tree seedlings grown solely for reforestation
• sod, nursery products and Christmas trees grown for home or personal use.

• Yes
• No

16. In 2024, are any agricultural products grown in a greenhouse on this operation for sale?

Include environments where temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO₂) or light are controlled, such as:

• greenhouses (of glass, plastic or poly-film materials)
• enclosed structures such as a warehouse, box car, shipping container or building.

Exclude:

• mushrooms
• unheated cold frames or tunnels (report in field vegetables, fruits, berries and nuts, or sod, nursery products and Christmas trees sections)
• tree seedlings grown solely for reforestation
• areas and structures used for storage.

• Yes
• No

17. In 2024, are any fruits, berries or nuts grown on this operation for sale?

Include:

• all producing and non-producing vines, bushes and trees
• fruits and berries used to produce wine, cider and any other fruit-based beverages
• areas under unheated cold frames or tunnels.

• Yes
• No

18. In 2024, are any field vegetables grown on this operation for sale?

Include: 

• all field vegetables planted or to be planted in 2024
• areas under unheated cold frames or tunnels.

Exclude potatoes, dry field peas, all dry beans, corn for grain or silage and herbs for essential oil industries (report in hay and field crops section).

• Yes
• No

19. In 2024, are any hay or field crops grown on this operation?

Include:

• grains, oilseeds, corn for grain or silage, potatoes, sugar beets, ginseng, mustard seed, dry field peas, all dry beans, alfalfa and tame hay, field grown cut flowers, etc.
• all field crops and hay to be harvested, even if they were sown or planted in an earlier year
• all land to be seeded, even if not yet seeded
• field crops used as green manure and cover crops in 2024.

Exclude:

• sweet corn, vegetable beets, mustard leaf and fresh lima beans (report in field vegetables section)
• pasture (report in land use section).

• Yes
• No

20. On May 14, 2024, does this operation own any honeybees or other pollinating bees (e.g., leafcutter, blue orchard, bumble)?

Include bees owned, regardless of location.

Exclude honey production for home or personal use.

• Yes
  • Types of bees
    Select all that apply.
    • Honeybees (used for honey production or pollination)
    • Other pollinating bees
      e.g., leafcutter, blue orchard, bumble
• No

21. In 2024, are there any poultry (chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks or other poultry) on this operation?

Include:

• all poultry on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those raised under contract
• poultry for sale and poultry for personal use.

Exclude poultry owned by this operation but kept on an operation operated by someone else.

• Yes
• No

22. In 2023, were any chickens or turkeys raised for production of meat or produced on this operation for sale?

Exclude chickens and turkeys produced for personal use.

• Yes
  • Types of poultry raised for production
    Select all that apply.
    • Broilers, roasters and Cornish
    • Turkeys
• No

23. In 2023, were any eggs produced on this operation for sale?

Exclude eggs for personal use.

• Yes
  • Types of eggs
    Select all that apply.
    • Table eggs
    • Hatching eggs
• No

24. In 2023, was there a commercial poultry hatchery located on this operation?
Include:

• only hatcheries registered with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• all types of poultry hatched in 2023, e.g., chickens, turkeys, geese, pheasants, quail.

• Yes
• No

25. In 2024, are there any livestock (cattle or calves, pigs, sheep or lambs, horses, or other livestock) on this operation?

Include:

• all animals on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those that are boarded, custom fed or fed under contract
• all animals kept by this operation, regardless of ownership, that are pastured on a community pasture, grazing co-op or public land.

Exclude animals owned by this operation but kept on a farm, ranch, or feedlot operated by someone else.

• Yes
  • Types of livestock
    Select all that apply.
    • Dairy cattle and calves
    • Beef cattle and calves
    • Pigs
    • Sheep and lambs
    • Other livestock
      e.g., horses, donkeys, goats, llamas and alpacas, bison, elk, deer, rabbits, mink
• No

26. In 2024, does this operation produce any organic products for sale?

• Yes
  What is the certification status of the organic products?
  Select all that apply.
  • Certified by an accredited organic certification body
    Name of certification body
  • Transitional (in the process of becoming certified)
    Name of certification body during the transition
  • Not certified, but marketed as organic (if allowed within your province)
• No

Hay and field crops

28. In 2024, what is the area on this operation of each of the following hay or field crops?

For two or more crops that will be harvested from the same land in 2024, report each crop and split the area evenly between each crop.

Include:

• all field crops and hay to be harvested, even if sown or planted in an earlier year
• all land to be seeded, even if not yet seeded
• field crops used as green manure and cover crops in 2024.

Exclude summerfallow, pasture, woodlands and other land (report in land use section).

For smaller areas decimals are permitted.

e.g., an operation grows 7 1/3 acres of spring wheat, this area would be reported as 7.33

1. Wheat — spring
   Exclude durum wheat.
2. Wheat — durum
3. Wheat — winter (to be harvested in 2024)
4. Oats
5. Barley
6. Mixed grains
   Two or more grains sown together on the same field or plot.
7. Corn for grain
   Exclude sweet corn (report in field vegetables section).
8. Corn for silage
9. Rye — fall (to be harvested in 2024)
10. Rye — spring
11. Canola (rapeseed)
12. Soybeans
13. Flaxseed
14. Dry field peas
    Exclude fresh green peas (report in field vegetables section).
15. Chick peas
    Include garbanzo beans, desi and kabuli.
16. Lentils
17. Faba beans
18. Dry white beans (navy and pea beans)
19. Other dry beans
    e.g., great northern, pinto, kidney, cranberry beans, lima

    Exclude fresh lima beans (report in field vegetable section).

20. Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures for hay, silage, green feed, dehydrated alfalfa
    Exclude pasture (report in land use section).
21. All other tame hay and fodder crops for hay or silage
    e.g., clover, sorghum, millet, timothy, ryegrass, orchard grass
    Exclude pasture (report in land use section).
22. Forage seed to be harvested in 2024 for seed
    Include turf grass seed.
    Exclude sod (report in sod, nursery products and Christmas trees section).
23. Potatoes
24. Mustard seed
25. Sunflower seed
    Include sunola and dwarf varieties.
26. Canary seed
    Include hairless (canario).
27. Ginseng (total seeded and harvested area)
28. Buckwheat
29. Sugar beets
30. Triticale

31. Hemp

    Other field crops
    e.g., spelt, tobacco, hops, quinoa, coriander, herbs for essential oil industries and field grown cut flowers

    Exclude bulbs (report in sod, nursery products and Christmas trees section).

32. Other field crop 1
    Specify other field crop 1
    Begin entering the name of the other field crop by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.
33. Other field crop 2
    Specify other field crop 2
    Begin entering the name of the other field crop by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.
34. Other field crop 3
    Specify other field crop 3
    Begin entering the name of the other field crop by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

Total area of hay and field crops

Field vegetables

29. In 2024, what is the area of each of the following field vegetables on this operation for sale?

Report the areas only once, even if more than one field vegetable will be grown in the same area. For double-cropping or inter-cropping, report each vegetable and split the area evenly between each vegetable.

Include: 

• all field vegetables planted or to be planted in 2024
• areas under unheated cold frames or tunnels.

For smaller areas decimals are permitted.

e.g., an operation grows a 1/4 acre of sweet corn for sale, this area would be reported as: 0.25

1. Sweet corn
   Exclude corn for silage and corn for grain (report in hay and field crops section).
2. Tomatoes
3. Cucumbers (all varieties)
4. Green peas
   Exclude dry field peas (report in hay and field crops section).
5. Green and wax beans
6. Cabbage — regular
7. Cabbage — Chinese
   Include bok choy and napa.
8. Cauliflower
9. Broccoli
10. Brussels sprouts
11. Carrots
    Include baby carrots.
12. Rutabagas and turnips
13. Beets
14. Radishes
15. Onions — green, shallots
16. Onions — dry
    Include yellow, Spanish and cooking.
17. Garlic
18. Celery
19. Lettuce (all head and leaf varieties)
    Include mixed greens.
20. Kale
21. Rhubarb
22. Spinach
23. Peppers
24. Pumpkins
25. Squash and zucchini
26. Asparagus - producing

27. Asparagus - non-producing

    Other field vegetables
    e.g., melons, sweet potatoes, eggplant, lima beans (fresh-processing), herbs (exclude herbs for essential oil industries - report in hay and field crops section)

28. Other field vegetable 1
    Specify other field vegetable 1
    Begin entering the name of the other field vegetable by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.
29. Other field vegetable 2
    Specify other field vegetable 2
    Begin entering the name of the other field vegetable by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.
30. Other field vegetable 3
    Specify other field vegetable 3
    Begin entering the name of the other field vegetable by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

Total area of field vegetables

Fruits, berries and nuts

30. In 2024, what is the total area of each of the following fruits, berries or nuts on this operation for sale?

Include:

• all producing and non-producing vines, bushes and trees
• fruits and berries used to produce wine, cider and any other fruit-based beverages
• areas under unheated cold frames or tunnels.

For smaller areas decimals are permitted.

e.g., an operation grows a 1/4 acre of apples for sale, this area would be reported as: 0.25

1. Apples
2. Pears
3. Plums and prunes
4. Cherries - sour
   Include bush-grown varieties.
5. Cherries - sweet
   Exclude bush-grown varieties.
6. Peaches
   Include fresh and clingstone.
7. Apricots
8. Grapes
9. Strawberries
10. Raspberries
11. Cranberries
12. Blueberries - highbush (cultivated)
13. Blueberries - lowbush (wild)
    Include wild blueberries grown on managed land.
14. Saskatoon berries
15. Blackcurrants, redcurrants and whitecurrants
    Exclude gooseberries (report in other fruits, berries and nuts).
16. Haskaps
17. Nectarines

18. Hazelnuts

    Other fruits, berries and nuts
    e.g., blackberries, sea buckthorn, walnuts, gooseberries

19. Other fruits, berries and nuts 1
    Specify other fruits, berries and nuts 1
    Begin entering the name of the other fruits, berries and nuts by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.
20. Other fruits, berries and nuts 2
    Specify other fruits, berries and nuts 2
    Begin entering the name of the other fruits, berries and nuts by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.
21. Other fruits, berries and nuts 3
    Specify other fruits, berries and nuts 3
    Begin entering the name of the other fruits, berries and nuts by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

Total area of fruits, berries and nuts

Sod, nursery products and Christmas trees

31. In 2024, what is the area of sod, nursery products or Christmas trees grown on this operation for sale?

Include ornamental tree seedlings not grown in a greenhouse.
Exclude:

• products grown in a greenhouse (report in greenhouse section)
• tree seedlings grown solely for reforestation
• sod, nursery products and Christmas trees grown for home or personal use.

1. Sod under cultivation intended for sale
   Include:
   • all area of land used for growing and maintaining sod
   • all sod regardless of intended sale date.
2. Nursery products grown for sale
   e.g., shrubs, trees, vines, ornamentals, bulbs, grown outdoors, or in cold frames or tunnels

   Exclude field grown cut flowers (report under other field crops in the hay and field crops section).

3. Christmas trees grown for sale
   Include naturally established or planted areas, regardless of stage of growth, that are pruned or managed with the use of fertilizer or pesticides.

Land use

32. For the workable and non-workable land reported in question 12, what is the net area used for each of the following?

Exclude land used by others.

1. Total area of hay and field crops, field vegetables, fruits, berries and nuts, sod, nursery products and Christmas trees previously reported
2. Summerfallow
   Include cropland on which no crops will be grown during the year but that will have weeds controlled by tillage or chemical application.
3. Tame or seeded pasture
   Exclude areas to be harvested for hay, silage or seed.
4. Natural land for pasture
   Include woodland used as pasture, and shared land where livestock graze based on a permit, lease or licence.
5. Woodland, sugarbush and wetlands
   e.g., woodlots, tree windbreaks, bush, ponds, bogs, marshes, sloughs
6. All other land and buildings
   e.g., idle land, land on which farm buildings, residences, barnyards, lanes, lawns, livestock facilities, greenhouses or mushroom houses are located

Total net area

This total should equal the net area reported in question 12.

Summerfallow

33. For the summerfallow, what is the area on which each of the following forms of weed control will be used in 2024?

1. Chemfallow only
2. Summerfallow, tilled only
3. Chemical and tillage weed control on the same land
   Exclude area already reported as "Chemfallow only" or "Summerfallow, tilled only".

Tillage and seeding practices

34. In 2024, what is the area on which the following tillage and seeding practices will be used on land seeded or to be seeded?

Include the area that was prepared last fall or this spring.

Exclude land in summerfallow this year.

1. No-till seeding or zero-till seeding
   Include direct seeding into undisturbed stubble or sod.
2. Tillage that retains most of the crop residue on the surface (conservation)
   Include minimum tillage.
3. Tillage that incorporates most of the crop residue into the soil (conventional)

Land practices and features

35. In 2023, did this operation use the following land practices?

1. In-field winter grazing or feeding
   • Yes
     Provide the area for in-field winter grazing or feeding
   • No
2. Rotational grazing
   • Yes
     Provide the area for rotational grazing
   • No
3. Turning in green crops
   • Yes
     Provide the area for turning in green crops
   • No
4. Planting fall or winter cover crops

   Include fall seeded crops that are grazed, harvested for forage, or left to dry on the field in the spring prior to reseeding, e.g., red clover.

   Exclude fall seeded crops that are harvested for grain, e.g., winter wheat.

   • Yes
     Provide the area for planting fall or winter cover crops
   • No

36. Does this operation have any shelterbelts or windbreaks (natural or planted)?

Include shelterbelts and windbreaks around any workable land, as well as around lanes, farm buildings and yards.

• Yes
• No

Crop residue

37. In 2023, what was the area of this operation from which crop residue (straw, stover, stalks) was baled for bedding or sale?

Include residue from small grains, oilseeds and corn stalks.

Exclude hay, corn silage and other forages.

• Area in 2023

OR

• No crop residue baled in 2023

Inputs or manure

38. In 2023, did this agricultural operation use any treated seeds, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, commercial fertilizers, lime, trace minerals and nutrients, or manure?

Exclude:

• mushroom areas and greenhouse areas
• manure spread by grazing livestock.

• Yes
• No

39. In 2023, what was the area on which each of the following inputs or manure were used on this operation?

The same area can be reported for more than one input, but for each input, report land areas only once, even if there was more than one application in 2023.

Exclude mushroom areas and greenhouse areas.

1. Treated seed, prior to planting
2. Herbicides, applied in-field
3. Insecticides, applied in-field
4. Fungicides, applied in-field
5. Commercial fertilizer, applied in-field
6. Lime
7. Trace minerals and nutrients
   e.g., copper, manganese, zinc
8. Manure
   Exclude manure spread by grazing livestock.
   • h1. Solid or composted manure, incorporated into soil
   • h2. Solid or composted manure, not incorporated into soil
   • h3. Liquid manure, injected or incorporated into soil
   • h4. Liquid manure, not incorporated into soil

Irrigation

40. In 2023, was an irrigation system used on this operation to apply water on land?

Include all methods of irrigation (e.g., pivot, sprinklers, surface, side rolls, wheel rolls, drip).

Exclude mushroom areas and greenhouse areas.

• Yes
  • What was the irrigated area in 2023?
• No

Mushrooms

41. On May 14, 2024, what is the total growing area for Agaricus mushrooms?

Include Agaricus mushrooms grown for sale using beds, shelves, trays or other types of production systems.

Unit of measure

• square feet
• square metres

Total area on May 14, 2024

42. On May 14, 2024, what types of production systems does this operation use for specialty mushroom production?

Select all that apply.

• Bags
• Natural wood logs
• Other
  (e.g., beds, shelves, trays)

43. On May 14, 2024, what are the number and dimensions of the bags and natural wood logs for specialty mushrooms?

Exclude: 

• beds, shelves, trays, and other types of production systems
• specialty mushrooms grown for personal consumption.

If sizes vary, estimate the average dimensions.

For smaller dimensions decimals are permitted.

44. On May 14, 2024, what is the total growing area of other production systems used for specialty mushrooms?

Include beds, trays, forest floor (exclude wild forest floor mushrooms).

Exclude:

• bags and natural wood logs
• specialty mushrooms grown for personal consumption.

Unit of measure

• square feet
• square metres
• acres
• hectares

Total area on May 14, 2024

Greenhouses

45. In 2024, what is the total greenhouses area in which agricultural products are grown for sale?

Include environments where temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO₂) or light are controlled, such as:

• greenhouses (of glass, plastic or poly-film materials)
• enclosed structures used for agricultural production such as a warehouse, box car, shipping container or building.

Exclude:

• mushrooms
• areas and structures used for storage
• areas under unheated cold frames or tunnels (report in field vegetables, fruits, berries and nuts, or sod, nursery products and Christmas trees sections)
• tree seedlings grown solely for reforestation.

Unit of measure

• acres
• arpents
• hectares
• square feet
• square metres

Total area in 2024

46. On May 14, 2024, what is the greenhouse area on this operation for each of the following agricultural products?

Report using the same unit of measure as reported in question 45 (above).

1. Greenhouse fruits and vegetables
   • a1. Greenhouse tomatoes
   • a2. Greenhouse cucumbers
   • a3. Greenhouse peppers
   • a4. Greenhouse lettuces
   • a5. Greenhouse herbs
   • a6. Other greenhouse fruits and vegetables
     e.g., strawberries, sprouts, microgreens, shoots, eggplants

   Total area of greenhouse fruits and vegetables

2. Greenhouse cut flowers
   Exclude field-grown flowers (fresh and dried) - report under hay and field crops section.
3. Greenhouse potted plants – indoor or outdoor
   Include any prefinished or finished plants grown and sold in a pot (e.g., potted flowers, potted herbs, potted vegetable plants).

4. Other products grown in a greenhouse
   e.g., ornamental tree seedlings, cuttings, bedding plants, transplants or plugs (ornamental or vegetable)

   Specify other products

   Begin entering the name of the other products by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

Maple tree taps

47. In the spring of 2024, what was the total number of taps made on maple trees?

Include only taps made on maple trees.

Exclude maple production for home or personal use.

Number of taps in 2024

Bees

48. On May 14, 2024, how many live colonies of honeybees (used for honey production or pollination) are owned by this operation?

Include bees owned, regardless of location.

Exclude honey production for home or personal use.

Number of colonies on May 14, 2024

49. On May 14, 2024, how many other pollinating bees (e.g., leafcutter, blue orchard, bumble) are owned by this operation?

Unit of measure

• gallons
• number of bees
• colonies

Number on May 14, 2024

Poultry

You have indicated that there is poultry on this operation.

Throughout the questions on poultry, report only the poultry on this operation. If you own poultry that is kept on someone else's operation, do not report it on this questionnaire.

If this operation is undergoing a rest period between two flocks on May 14, 2024, please enter "0" for each type of poultry.

50. On May 14, 2024, how many of the following poultry are on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those raised under contract?

Include poultry for sale and poultry for personal use.

Exclude poultry owned by this operation but kept on an operation operated by someone else.

1. Chickens for table eggs
   • a1. Pullets intended for laying table eggs, under 19 weeks
   • a2. Laying hens that produce table eggs, 19 weeks and over
2. Chickens for meat
   • b1. Broilers, roasters and Cornish
3. Chickens for hatching eggs (pullets and hens)
   Exclude roosters (report under other poultry)
   • c1. Breeders for laying hens
   • c2. Breeders for Broiler, roaster and Cornish chickens

   Total hens and chickens on May 14, 2024

4. Turkeys
5. Ducks
6. Geese
7. Other poultry
   e.g., roosters, guinea fowl, peacocks, pheasants, quail, pigeons, emus, partridge, ostriches, silkies, Taiwanese chickens
   • g1. Other poultry 1

     Specify other poultry 1
     Begin entering the name of the other poultry by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

   • g2. Other poultry 2

     Specify other poultry 2
     Begin entering the name of the other poultry by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

   • g3. Other poultry 3

     Specify other poultry 3
     Begin entering the name of the other poultry by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

Chicken or turkey production

51. In 2023, what was the total production of chicken on a live weight basis?

Include only chickens produced for sale.

Exclude: 

• chickens for personal use
• production of specialty chickens (silkies and Taiwanese chickens) and spent fowl.

Unit of measure

• kilograms
• pounds

Production of broilers, roasters and Cornish in 2023 (total live weight)

52. In 2023, what was the total production of turkey on a live weight basis?

Include only turkeys produced for sale.

Exclude turkeys for personal use.

Unit of measure

• kilograms
• pounds

Production of turkeys in 2023 (total live weight)

Table and hatching eggs

53. In 2023, how many dozens of table eggs were produced on this operation for sale?

Exclude eggs for personal use.

Dozens of table eggs in 2023

54. In 2023, how many dozens of hatching eggs were produced on this operation for sale?

Exclude eggs for personal use.

Dozens of hatching eggs in 2023

Commercial poultry hatcheries

55. In 2023, how many chicks or other poultry were hatched?

Include:

• only hatcheries registered with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• all types of poultry hatched in 2023, e.g., chickens, turkeys, geese, pheasants, quail.

Number of birds hatched in 2023

Livestock

You have indicated that there is livestock on this operation.

Throughout the questions on livestock (cattle or calves, pigs, sheep or lamb, or other livestock), report only the livestock on this operation. If you own livestock that is kept on someone else's operation, do not report it on this questionnaire.

If this operation has zero head of a type of livestock on May 14, 2024, please enter "0" for that type of livestock.

56. On May 14, 2024, how many of the following cattle and calves are on this operation, regardless of ownership?

Include:

• all animals on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those that are boarded, custom fed or fed under contract
• all animals kept by this operation, regardless of ownership, that are pastured on a community pasture, grazing co-op or public land.

Exclude animals owned by this operation but kept on a farm, ranch, or feedlot operated by someone else.

1. Calves, under 1 year
2. Steers, 1 year and over
3. Heifers, 1 year and over
   • c1. for slaughter or feeding
   • c2. for beef herd replacement
   • c3. for dairy herd replacement
4. Cows
   • d1. mainly for beef purposes
   • d2. mainly for dairy purposes
5. Bulls, 1 year and over

Total cattle and calves on May 14, 2024

57. On May 14, 2024, how many of the following pigs are on this operation, regardless of ownership?

Include all pigs on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those that are boarded, custom fed or fed under contract.

Exclude pigs under contract and kept on a farm or ranch operated by someone else.

1. Sows and gilts kept for breeding
2. Boars kept for breeding
3. Nursing pigs, less than 15 lb (7 kg)
4. Weanling, nursery or starter pigs, 15 to 49 lb (7 to 22 kg)
5. Market pigs, 50 lb (23 kg) and over

Total pigs on May 14, 2024

58. On May 14, 2024, how many of the following sheep or lambs are on this operation, regardless of ownership?

Include:

• all sheep and lambs on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those that are boarded, custom fed or fed under contract
• all sheep and lambs kept by this operation, regardless of ownership, that are pastured on a community pasture, grazing co-op or public land.

Exclude sheep and lambs under contract and kept on a farm or ranch operated by someone else.

1. Rams, 1 year and over
2. Ewes
3. Replacement lambs
4. Market lambs

Total sheep and lambs on May 14, 2024

59. On May 14, 2024, how many of the following other livestock are on this operation, regardless of ownership?

Include:

• all animals on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those that are boarded, custom fed or fed under contract
• all animals kept by this operation, regardless of ownership, that are pastured on a community pasture, grazing co-op or public land.

Exclude animals owned by this operation but kept on a farm, ranch, or feedlot operated by someone else.

1. Horses and ponies
2. Donkeys and mules
3. Goats
4. Llamas and alpacas
5. Bison (buffalo)
6. Elk (wapiti)
7. Deer
   Exclude wild deer.
8. Rabbits
9. Mink
   Include breeding stock only.

   Other livestock
   e.g., wild boars, fox, chinchillas

10. Other livestock 1

    Specify other livestock 1
    Begin entering the name of the other livestock by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

11. Other livestock 2

    Specify other livestock 2
    Begin entering the name of the other livestock by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

12. Other livestock 3

    Specify other livestock 3
    Begin entering the name of the other livestock by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

Technologies

60. In 2023, were the following technologies used on this operation?

       Include work done by others on this operation.

Renewable energy

61. In 2024, which of the following types of renewable energy are produced on this operation, regardless of ownership?

Renewable energy is energy obtained from natural resources that can be naturally replenished or renewed within a human lifespan, that is, the resource is a sustainable source of energy.

Include renewable energy produced for use on this operation or for sale to others.

Exclude petroleum (gas or diesel) and coal products.
Select all that apply.

• Wind
• Solar
  e.g., solar panels, solar heating equipment, solar fencing system, solar water pump
• Biomass combustion
  e.g., straw, wood, wood pellets, perennial grasses
• Biofuel and biogas
  e.g., biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane, other biogas
• Geothermal
  e.g., heat pumps, other equipment used in geothermal energy systems
• Other renewable energy
  Specify other renewable energy
  OR
• No renewable energy produced in 2024

62. In 2024, for which of the following purposes is renewable energy produced on this operation?

Include all renewable energy produced on this operation, regardless of ownership.

Select all that apply.

• For use on this operation
  e.g., using solar energy to heat livestock buildings or biomass heating for greenhouses
• For sale
  e.g., selling electricity onto the grid

Market value

63. What is the estimated present market value of land, buildings, and fixed equipment on this operation?

Include:

• the value of all land and all structures such as houses, farm buildings and silos that are part of this operation
• the value of all fixed (i.e., immobile) equipment such as bulk tanks and farrowing pens.

Exclude:

• the value of any land and buildings rented or leased to others
• the value of farm vehicles, mobile machinery and non-fixed equipment (report in the farm vehicles, machinery and equipment section).

Present market value

Rounded to the nearest CAN$

1. Land, buildings and fixed equipment owned
2. Land, buildings and fixed equipment rented or leased from others or governments

Farm vehicles, machinery and equipment

64. On May 14, 2024, what is the number and present market value of the following farm vehicles, machinery and equipment that are owned or leased by this operation?

Include all farm vehicles, machinery and equipment that are owned or leased by this operation or jointly with a different operation.

Exclude:

• machinery that is rented on a short-term basis (hourly or daily rentals)
• fixed (i.e., immobile) equipment (the value of which was reported in the previous question).

Example: An operation owns one combine, valued at $100,000, and shares ownership of another combine, valued at $60,000, equally with another operation. These two combines would be reported as follows:

• Number of farm vehicles, machinery and equipment owned or leased: 1.50 (this includes the owned combine plus one-half of the shared combine)
• Present market value: $130,000 (this includes the $100,000 plus one-half of the $60,000).

Direct sales

65. In 2023, did this operation sell any edible agricultural products directly to consumers for human consumption?

Include sales directly at a market or on farm.

Exclude:

• sales of any goods purchased for resale (to intermediaries such as marketers and wholesalers)
• sales directly to a store (to intermediaries such as retail and grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries).

• Yes
• No

66. In 2023, which of the following edible products were sold directly to consumers for human consumption?

Select all that apply.

• Unprocessed agricultural products
  e.g., fruits, vegetables, meat cuts, poultry, eggs, maple syrup, honey
• Value added products
  e.g., jellies, sausages, wine, cheese, cider, pies, maple sugar or butter, pickles

67. In 2023, which of the following methods were used to sell edible agricultural products directly to consumers for human consumption?

Include sales directly at a market or on farm.

Exclude:

• sales of any goods purchased for resale (to intermediaries such as marketers and wholesalers)
• sales directly to a store (to intermediaries such as retail and grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries).

Select all that apply.

• On-site farm stores, stands, kiosks, U-pick or farm gate sales
• Off-site farm stores or stands
• Farmers' markets
• Direct deliveries to consumers
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) or food baskets
• Other methods

  Specify other methods
  Begin entering the name of the other methods by typing the first few letters to narrow down the choices or enter your own answer.

68. In 2023, what percentage of the total operating revenues was from the sale of edible agricultural products directly to consumers for human consumption?

Exclude:

• sales of any goods purchased for resale (to intermediaries such as marketers and wholesalers)
• sales directly to a store (to intermediaries such as retail and grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries).

Percentage

 _______ (%)

Succession plan

69. On May 14, 2024, does this operation have a written succession plan?

A written succession plan, also referred to as a transition plan, is a formalized plan and agreement that details the orderly transfer of the farm business from the current owners and operators to the future owners and operators. A written succession plan contains three main elements:

• transfer of the assets and ownership
• transfer of management and decision-making
• transfer of labour.

A will is not a written succession plan, unless it includes the three main elements noted above.

• Yes, a written succession plan is in place

  Types of successors
  Select all that apply.

  • The successors are family members
  • The successors are non-family members
• No, a written succession plan is not in place
  • A succession plan has been discussed but has not been formalized in a written agreement
  • No succession plan has been discussed as of May 14, 2024

Contact person

70. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.

Is the contact person provided in question 2 the best person to contact?

• Yes
• No

  Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Email address
    Example: user@example.gov.ca
  • Telephone number (including area code)
    Example: 123-123-1234
  • Extension number (if applicable)
  • Fax number (including area code)
    Example: 123-123-1234

Comments

71. We invite your comments about this questionnaire.

To begin a project with the B-LFE, you can either initiate a cost-recovery project with the B-LFE team at Statistics Canada or submit a research proposal through the Data Access Division.

Option 1: Cost Recovery

The B-LFE team provides support to stakeholders and external clients by working with them to define the variables based on their topic of interest. Once defined, the variables from the appropriate linkable files are extracted as datasets that can be used for research purposes, impact studies or the production of customized tables.

For more information on these services, contact us by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca or statcan.elfe-eefc.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

Option 2: Data Access Division access to the Business - Linkable File Environment

For more details related to access, please see Access to microdata.

On this page

Examples of programs using the Business - Linkable File Environment
Examples of products and applications of the Business - Linkable File Environment

Examples of programs using the Business - Linkable File Environment

• Business Innovation and Growth Support program 
  The purpose of the Business Innovation and Growth Support (BIGS) statistical program is to contribute to improving the performance evaluation of innovation and growth-related programs delivered by federal departments and agencies. The BIGS database covers government activities that support business innovation and growth, such as funding and consulting services for enterprises, provided directly or in partnership, for industry-facing research and development, technology development and commercialization, and exports.

• Entrepreneurship Indicators Database program
  The Entrepreneurship Indicators Database program provides data describing the dynamics of a subset of Canadian enterprises, such as the number of active enterprises with one or more employees, the number of births and deaths of active enterprises with one or more employees, the number of jobs associated with enterprise births and deaths, the survival of newly created enterprises, and the number of high-growth enterprises and gazelles. These integrated entrepreneurship data facilitate analysis for government researchers and academics who have a strategic interest in promoting the growth of enterprises. The data can also be used to encourage and promote entrepreneurship.

Examples of products and applications of the Business - Linkable File Environment

• Econometric analyses, including impact studies and research papers
  • Analysis on Federal Business Innovation and Growth Support to Clean Technology, 2016 to 2020
  • The Impact of Business Innovation and Growth Support on Employment and Revenue of Manufacturing Enterprises, 1 to 3 Years After Receipt of Support
  • A portrait of official language minority owned businesses that received federal business innovation and growth support, 2020
• Infographics
  • Federal business innovation and growth support to official language minority owned businesses, 2020
  • Federal business innovation and growth support for clean technology, 2020
  • Black-owned businesses in Canada, 2020
  • Federal business innovation and growth support to Canadian exporters, 2021
• Other examples of publications using the B-LFE framework in the following catalogues: Reports on Special Business Projects and Analysis in Brief.
• Special linkages (using deterministic or heuristic-based matching) and data extractions
• Microdata sets tailored to meet researchers’ specific needs
• Customized tabulations

On this page

Advantages
How it works: The power of microdata linkage
Data sources
Confidentiality
Cost-recovery services

Advantages

Data integration for better insights: The ongoing development of the B-LFE is focused on supporting research and analysis concerning the financial and economic situation of Canadian businesses, as well as overcoming data fragmentation by linking existing microdata resources, including the characteristics of business owners and employees.

Alleviating response burden: Using record linkages allows the B-LFE to harness existing data holdings at Statistics Canada to bring together administrative and survey data and therefore reduce the need for surveys, reducing in turn response burden and costs.

Effective linkage processes: Processing systems are set up to effectively match businesses to their individual records in administrative and survey sources to provide accuracy and consistency.

How it works: The power of microdata linkage

Statistics Canada recognizes the power of microdata linkages for a multitude of statistical purposes, as well as to provide statistical information in aggregate or anonymous format in support of research studies.

The B-LFE makes full use of this powerful statistical method by combining a multitude of business data sources for longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis. The B-LFE can also be used to connect external microdata, such as a list of businesses receiving support for a federal program, to a vast collection of business surveys and administrative data. In this way, the B-LFE can be used by agencies and departments to produce their own evaluation and departmental analytical frameworks.

Through a linkage process, the B-LFE leverages the single-subject ability of existing surveys and administrative data to illuminate business and economic issues. It positions these surveys and administrative data to support longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis and offers the opportunity to use additional variables to assess entrepreneurship, productivity and competitiveness.

The B-LFE is part of a broader system of linkage environments, which include the Social Data Linkage Environment, for social data, as well as the Linkable Open Data Environment, which brings together open microdata.

Data sources

For a list of all B-LFE data sources, see Data sources and methodology.

Confidentiality

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

Analytical and research results and custom tables generated from the B-LFE are carefully reviewed before release to ensure all confidentiality and disclosure rules are respected.

Access to the entirety of the B-LFE is restricted to authorized Statistics Canada employees who are either maintaining the B-LFE, constructing research datasets or producing tables.

Cost-recovery services

Custom statistical services using the B-LFE are offered on a cost-recovery basis to Canadian organizations. Custom statistical services are implemented through cost-recovery projects intended to produce specific outputs, such as custom tabulations, feasibility studies, econometric analysis or data linkages. For more information on these services, contact us by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca or statcan.elfe-eefc.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

PDF Version (PDF, 354.53 KB)

Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative

Introduction

The 2021 Canadian federal budget recognized the need for nationally representative data on sexual and reproductive health to better inform and support programs and policies. There are currently no existing comprehensive data on a wide range of sexual and reproductive health indicators in Canada. The budget designated $7.6 million in funding over five years to Statistics Canada to develop and implement a national survey on sexual and reproductive health, with a focus on supporting women's health. Better information will help government and non-governmental organizations monitor, plan, implement and evaluate programs to improve the sexual and reproductive health of women and the efficiency of health services.

To ensure that the information collected remains relevant for the people and organizations that use it, Statistics Canada embarked on a broad engagement process with stakeholders and data users.

Consultative engagement objectives

A program with an emphasis on sexual and reproductive health was a new area of focus for Statistics Canada. To ensure the relevancy of the initiative, Statistics Canada conducted extensive engagement activities with diverse data users, stakeholders and interested parties across Canada to understand the type of information that should be available through the initiative and how the data could be used.

The objectives of the engagement activities were to

• understand specific sexual and reproductive health information needs
• ensure the relevancy of products and analyses
• enhance information sharing with stakeholders
• manage stakeholder expectations with respect to the scope of the initiative
• align with key government priorities, such as Statistics Canada's Disaggregated Data Action Plan and the federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan.

Consultative engagement methods

Engagement activities with partners and stakeholders—which included federal, provincial and territorial governments; advocacy and civil society organizations; clinicians; administrators; medical and service delivery organizations; and academic researchers—took place between December 2021 and June 2022. Feedback was collected in three phases: virtual meetings with federal partners and non-governmental stakeholders; email submissions from partners, stakeholders, and data users and providers; and small-group virtual discussions with data users.

PHASE 1: Virtual meetings with partners and stakeholders

Statistics Canada began by engaging with federal partners and non-governmental stakeholders to inform them about the Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative and to learn about their information needs for sexual and reproductive health. Virtual meetings were held in December 2021 to inform these stakeholders of broader engagement activities. These partners and stakeholders also helped identify additional people and groups, both governmental and non-governmental, for the second phase of engagement activities.

PHASE 2: Email submissions from partners, stakeholders, and data users and providers

The email submission phase was conducted between December 2021 and January 2022 to understand the information needs in relation to sexual and reproductive health from a broad perspective.

An open-ended engagement document was sent to partners and stakeholders. Partners and stakeholders were encouraged to forward the email to their networks and partners. Statistics Canada received feedback from about 40 different organizations. To gain an understanding of specific information needs and existing sources of information, participants were asked:

• which topics related to sexual and reproductive health they or their organization were interested in
• the population and geographies of interest
• why the information was relevant to their organization
• what existing sources of information their organization uses in their work on sexual and reproductive health.

PHASE 3: Virtual group discussions with data users

Email participants, their networks and partners were invited to participate in small-group discussions to identify priority topics for the Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative. The discussions were held between March 2022 and June 2022.

The types of feedback sought from the discussions included:

• sexual and reproductive health information needs in relation to policy and research questions
• the policies and programs that the data and analyses could be used to inform
• the most important sexual and reproductive health information to capture for decision making
• barriers and challenges in regard to sexual and reproductive health equity.

Discussions were organized around the broad topics that came out of the virtual meetings and email submissions. The seven broad topics were:

• access to sexual and reproductive health resources and services
• reproductive decision making, contraception and abortion
• sexual behaviour
• sexual and reproductive health literacy
• sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs)
• female reproductive health over the life course, with a focus on menstruation, perimenopause and menopause
• sexual and reproductive health equity.

Statistics Canada also reached out to stakeholders to participate in sessions with a specific focus on Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, racialized groups, 2SLGBTQI+ people, youth and seniors.

Findings of the consultative engagements

Overall, the engagement activities generated close to 400 information needs. The engagement activities were not meant to prioritize information needs but rather identify key information needs from a wide range of stakeholders and data users. The following key information needs, in no particular order, were identified.

Equity

Equity was a recurring theme across all engagement activities. As one participant stated, "Equity is a spectrum—what serves the majority of the population is not enough. Sexual and reproductive health is subjective to each person, community and culture." Partners and stakeholders indicated a need for information about sexual and reproductive health, including gender, age, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, education, Indigenous groups, racialized groups, immigrant status and geographical location, to better understand differences between and among groups.

Sexual and reproductive health awareness and literacy

There was agreement across the engagement activities that knowledge about sexual and reproductive health would help in the development of healthy attitudes and practices towards sexual and reproductive health and facilitate conversations with health care professionals, sexual partners and families about sexuality, gender identity, and other sexual and reproductive health needs.

Feedback indicated a need for information about access to comprehensive sexuality education. This included information on the breadth of sexual and reproductive health topics taught in schools (for example, the treatment, management and prevention of STBBIs; pregnancy prevention; and healthy sexuality). Participants also noted that culturally relevant sexuality education can help provide diverse perspectives and non-judgmental information. Participants raised concerns about misinformation around sexual and reproductive health and the sources people use to obtain information.

Menstruation, perimenopause and menopause

Participants stated that information is needed about physical, mental, social and economic experiences related to menstruation, perimenopause and menopause. It is important to understand the different reproductive stages and the impact on the daily lives of girls and women.

Information needs around menstruation included the age of menarche, as it marks the start of reproductive years. Participants stated that young women need better information before the start of menarche. This includes what is happening to their bodies, the types of products they can use, options for the management of menstrual pain, knowledge about pregnancy prevention and contraception, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, and healthy sexuality.

Period poverty was seen as a contributing factor to reduced physical and social well-being of girls and women. Access to quality menstrual products was thought to be key to participating in school, work, home and leisure activities.

In relation to menopause, participants identified a need for information about the symptoms of perimenopause, the age of onset of menopause and whether the onset of menopause was natural or surgical. Menopause marks the end of the reproductive years and may be accompanied by physical, emotional and sexual changes. Understanding how perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms are experienced will help to understand the physical, mental, social and financial impact that menopause can have on women.

Menstruation to menopause: Symptoms and treatment

Participants mentioned that to identify health challenges related to sexual and reproductive health, women and health care providers need to be informed about what is normal and what is not normal in relation to symptoms of menstruation, perimenopause and menopause. Participants highlighted that too often women's symptoms of poor health are attributed to menstruation, perimenopause or menopause, and underlying conditions are not diagnosed. It was pointed out that women suffer through symptoms such as pain, excess bleeding, night sweats, memory loss and vaginal dryness rather than find a way to manage the symptoms or seek help from a health care provider.

Many participants stated that pain has been normalized across the lifespan for women and often prevents treatment. Women's experiences of both physical and emotional pain need to be validated and better treatment options offered.

Access to medical treatment rather than surgical intervention was another area of concern that participants pointed out. For example, many perimenopausal women may have hysterectomies rather than medical treatment such as the use of hormonal intrauterine devices because of costs. Surgical interventions are often pursued because of lack of coverage for medical treatment.

Maternal health, pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes

Participants spoke about the importance of data on maternal health, in particular maternal mortality and morbidity, pregnancy and childbirth, and access and barriers to receiving care during pregnancy. To track progress towards a more equitable health care system, it is important to have data available by Indigenous and racialized identity, care provider, geography, sexual orientation, and gender.

It was noted that data on alcohol and drug use during pregnancy were needed to understand what type of support and programs are required to help prevent negative maternal and fetal health outcomes, preterm birth, and fetal loss.

Nutrition during pregnancy was also of interest, in particular, to examine food insecurity. Knowing the prevalence and severity of food insecurity during pregnancy can help to inform policies and identify resources required for women who are pregnant. Participants also emphasized the importance of access to traditional foods for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, as lack of access to these foods adds to Indigenous people's experiences of food insecurity and may negatively impact their spiritual, emotional, physical and mental well-being.

Participants also emphasized that services such as fertility treatments and in vitro fertilization can help same-sex couples, couples dealing with infertility and people wishing to have a child without a partner. Cost can be a barrier to accessing these services. Information on the need for, use of and accessibility of these services can help when making program and policy decisions.

Participants mentioned that people should be given the means to time their pregnancies and space their children to avoid unintended pregnancy and childbirth. Data are needed to determine rates of unintended pregnancy to help inform policy, program development and monitoring. Better information about unintended pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes will help to inform understanding of the relationship of these experiences to social, ecological and behavioural determinants of health. Information about the use and accessibility of care, medications and procedures for abortions, miscarriages, stillbirths and ectopic or tubal pregnancies will help to better understand issues related to accessing services, such as cost, wait times and distance travelled.

Contraception

Access and barriers to, and knowledge and use of, birth control were frequently mentioned by participants. Participants stated that access to contraception should be an informed choice. Women should be able to choose the type of contraception that is best suited to their needs rather than choosing no method or cheaper methods. Participants felt that there is a lack of information and knowledge about different types of contraception and the correct use of contraception. Some participants asserted that most policies focus on women's ability to breed the next generation rather than women having the choice of when and how to become pregnant.

Information needs around awareness, use and accessibility of emergency contraception were also identified.

Sexual behaviours

There were numerous information needs related to sexual behaviours. Sexual behaviours were regarded as a key indicator of sexual and reproductive health.

Participants noted that the age at first sexual experience and whether the experience was wanted or not can impact long-term sexual behaviour and well-being, as they can be associated with engaging in unprotected sex or being a victim of sexual abuse and can potentially lead to pregnancy. Participants discussed that information is needed on diverse sexual behaviours to better understand the prevalence of various sexual behaviours and the impact they have on sexual health outcomes.

Several participants expressed that while people with disabilities are sexual beings, their sexual and reproductive health needs have been disregarded. More information is needed to understand sexual and reproductive health care needs and barriers among people with disabilities to help support education, training, policies and programs.

Stress and anxiety around sexual performance were considered an important topic to many participants as they relate to sexual behaviour and sexual well-being. Additionally, information is needed to understand the impact of changes in sexual and reproductive health on mental health over the life cycle and the impact they may have on overall quality of life.

Participants emphasized that understanding healthy sexual functioning can reduce societal stigma and shame about sexual difficulties and empower people to seek treatment. It was further mentioned that data are needed on sexual satisfaction and pleasure, the ability to communicate about sexual needs and desires, and erectile dysfunction and other sexual difficulties. Additionally, information on the use of substances or medications for engaging in sexual activity can help to understand the impact they have on sexual behaviour and the enjoyment of sexual activity.

Participants explained that there is very little Canadian data on the prevalence of transactional sex (exchange of sex for money, favours or goods), the use of sexual assistive technology like vibrators for sexual activity, and the use of and increased access to pornography.

Participants highlighted that new trends may be emerging in the digital era. It is important to understand the impact of digital technology on sexual behaviours and relationships. Participants discussed the growth in using digital technology to find new sexual and romantic partners and initiate sexual experiences. Participants highlighted the need for more information about digital technologies in relation to sexual isolation, sexual satisfaction and sexual identity.

Aging and sexual and reproductive well-being

Participants expressed that aging should not be seen as a barrier to having a healthy sex life. Feedback included that there are many social stigmas attached to women as they age and are no longer fertile. However, this is a stage in life where there are fewer barriers for women; for example, there is no longer a need to worry about pregnancy.

Participants noted the need for information to help educate women as they age about the risks of sexually transmitted infections despite no longer requiring birth control to prevent pregnancies. Education should also include understanding symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes, sleep disturbances and changes to cognitive functioning and options for available treatments. Participants indicated that healthy sexual activity is still important as women age, and information is needed to promote their overall physical and emotional well-being.

Sexual violence

Experiences of sexual violence were an important issue for many participants. They stated that sexual violence can impact physical, mental and sexual health.

Participants expressed the need for information on unreported sexual assaults and on the availability of support services for sexual and reproductive health healing after experiencing sexual violence.

Participants also discussed the need for information about forced and coerced sterilization. Data are needed on the scope, severity and health outcomes among marginalized and vulnerable groups, for example, Indigenous women, people with disabilities and racialized groups.

Participants also identified a need for information on the health outcomes of women and girls who have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C). It was noted that this practice is recognized internationally as having physical and obstetric health complications, as well as psychological consequences. Determining whether the health outcomes of immigrant women and girls from FGM/C-practising countries differ from those of their counterparts from other countries can help inform health care providers of the unique health care needs of this group.

Chronic conditions and reproductive surgeries

Participants stated that information is needed to examine rates and determinants of health conditions affecting female sexual and reproductive health (e.g., pelvic organ prolapse, fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome) and male sexual and reproductive health (e.g., ejaculation disorders, infertility). Other information needs included the prevalence of gynecological cancer; cancer treatments; and reproductive surgeries such as hysterectomy, removal of ovaries and vasectomy. Participants indicated that better information is needed on the impact these conditions and surgeries can have on overall sexual and reproductive health.

Infections

Participants indicated that STBBIs and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impact overall health, and the stigma and judgment of diagnoses can also impact one's social life. Data on STBBIs can support guidelines and can help to detect emerging trends of infections in the population. Participants further explained that information about access to testing, treatment and support for STBBIs, including preferred treatment and services such as self-test kits, can help identify and assess potential barriers and opportunities for new testing, treatment and prevention methods. A need for additional information on the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention was also mentioned.

Information about urinary tract infections and yeast infections was also important to participants in understanding how these infections affect female reproductive health.

Access to and experiences with sexual and reproductive health services

Access to a family doctor whom patients are comfortable with was one of the most important information needs mentioned. People seeking services can be influenced by having access to care that is safe; tailored to their culture, religion and personal needs; and free from language barriers. Participants also mentioned the importance of having good experiences of health care, as high quality of care can help prevent negative health outcomes and increase the likelihood of seeking care in the future.

Participants indicated that there is very limited information about differences in access to sexual and reproductive health services. It is important to have information about who is accessing sexual and reproductive health services, the type of services being accessed, and the experiences of those accessing these services. For example, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals are considered underserved and require equitable sexual and reproductive health services that reflect their needs.

Information about experiences of discrimination in a health care setting was also of interest to participants, as they mentioned that this information can help to examine systemic and intersecting barriers and racism. Whether people have access to health care providers via alternate methods such as virtual clinics was also mentioned, as some participants pointed out that it may help to alleviate some barriers to sexual and reproductive health services.

Conclusion

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative received support across all engagement activities. Participants agreed that data on sexual and reproductive health are important to support policies and programs at all levels of government, including across ministries, such as health and education ministries, and across advocacy organizations and support services. There are a number of existing and emerging data gaps related to sexual and reproductive health. While understanding health disparities is highly relevant to decision makers, the required data are often not available to support and implement evidence-based policies and programs.

Statistics Canada would like to thank all participants for their involvement in the engagement activities. Their valuable insights have helped guide the development of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Initiative, including the development of the questionnaire for the first pan-Canadian sexual and reproductive health survey conducted by Statistics Canada. This survey is scheduled to begin data collection in fall 2024.

Here is a learning path that you can use as a guide to help you navigate your data literacy journey. The learning paths are organized by the step on the data journey and the level of proficiency.

Confidentiality

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 the information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Table of contents

• A – Reporting Instructions
• B – Electricity Generation Method
• C – Combustible Fuels
• D – Receipts of Electricity from the U.S.A.
• E – Receipts of Electricity from Within Canada
• F – Total Supply
• G – Deliveries of Electricity to the U.S.A.
• H – Deliveries of Electricity Within Province
• I – Transmission, Distribution and Other Losses

A – Reporting Instructions

Please report information for the period of January to December, 2023.

Please complete all sections as applicable.

If the information requested is unknown, please provide your best estimate.

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2023 Annual Electricity Supply and Disposition Survey. If you need more information, please call 1-877-604-7828.

B – Electricity Generation Method

Nuclear: Electricity generated at an electric power plant whose turbines are driven by steam generated in a reactor by heat from the fission of nuclear fuel.

Hydro: Electric power generated from a plant in which the turbine generators are driven by flowing water.

Tidal: Electric power generated from a plant in which turbine generators are driven from tidal movements.

Wind: A power plant in which the prime mover is a wind turbine. Electric power is generated by the conversion of wind power into mechanical energy.

Solar: Electricity created using Photovoltaic (PV) technology which converts sunlight into electricity OR electricity created using solar thermal technology where sunlight heats a liquid or gas to drive a turbine or engine.

Wave: Electricity generated from mechanical energy derived from wave motion.

Geothermal: Electricity generated from heat emitted from within the earth's crust, usually in the form of hot water or steam.

Other non-combustible sources: This includes fuels such as waste heat, steam, and steam purchased from another company. Specify in the space provided.

C – Combustible fuels

Coal: A readily combustible, black or brownish-black rock-like substance, whose composition, including inherent moisture, consists of more than 50% by weight and 70% by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered and metamorphosed by heat and pressure over geologic time without access to air.

Natural gas: A mixture of hydrocarbons (principally methane) and small quantities of various hydrocarbons existing in the gaseous phase or in solution with crude oil in underground reservoirs.

Petroleum: This covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude oil and petroleum products that are made up of refined crude oil and used as a fuel source (i.e., crude oil, synthetic crude oil, natural gas liquids, naphtha, kerosene, jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil; excludes Petroleum coke, bitumen and other oil products not specified).

Other combustible sources - Thermal: This includes fuels such as propane, orimulsion, petroleum coke, coke oven gas, ethanol and any other type of thermal combustible fuel source not otherwise identified on the questionnaire. Specify in the space provided.

Wood (Report for "Dry" method): Wood and wood energy used as fuel, including round wood (cord wood), lignin, wood scraps from furniture and window frame manufacturing, wood chips, bark, sawdust, forest residues, charcoal and pulp waste.

Spent pulping liquor: A by-product in the paper making process, containing carbohydrate and lignin decomposition products.

Methane (Landfill gas): A biogas composed principally of methane and carbon dioxide produced by anaerobic digestion of landfill waste.

Municipal and other waste: Wastes (liquids or solids) produced by households, industry, hospitals and others (examples: paper, cardboard, rubber, leather, natural textiles, wood, brush, grass clippings, kitchen waste and sewage sludge).

Other combustible sources – Biomass: This includes fuels such as food waste, used diapers, and biogases – example, gas produced from animal water digesters. Specify in the space provided.

D – Receipts of electricity from the U.S.A.

If applicable, please report the total amount of electricity (MWh) and Canadian dollar value (thousands of dollars) this business imported/purchased from the United States.

E – Receipts of electricity from within Canada

If applicable, please report the total quantities of electricity (MWh) and total dollar value (thousands of dollars) purchased or received from within and/or other provinces (e.g., other utilities/producers, transmitters, distributors).

F – Total Supply

This is the sum of Total Generation, Total Receipts from United States, Total Receipts from Other Provinces and Total Receipts from Within Province. The Total Supply number must equal the Total Disposal number.

G – Deliveries of electricity to the U.S.A.

If applicable, please report the amount of electricity (MWh) and Canadian dollar value (thousands of dollars) this business sold/exported to the United States.

H – Deliveries of electricity within Canada

If applicable, please report the amount of electricity (MWh) and total dollar value (thousands of dollars) your company sold to other domestic companies, by province or territory.

I – Transmission, distribution and other losses

Include

• transmission losses
• adjustments
• "unaccounted for" amounts which are subject to variation because of cyclical billing

Exclude

• generating station use output as measured at the generating station gate.

Thank you for your participation.