Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics

Information for Respondents

Authority
This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Completion of this questionnaire is a legal requirement under the Statistics Act.

Objective
This survey was designed to produce national statistics on public policing personnel and operating expenditures for Canada. The information collected is widely used by federal and provincial policy makers as well as municipal police service and municipal government personnel. The data are also widely disseminated by the media for the purposes of general public information.

Confidentiality
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from publishing any statistics which would divulge information obtained from this survey that relates to any identifiable respondent/ individual without the previous written consent of that respondent/ individual. The information reported on this questionnaire will be treated in confidence, used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form only. The confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act are not affected by either the Access to Information Act or any other legislation.

Instruction
Please complete pages 2 & 3, and add any explanations on page 4.

Table 1
Actual Personnel as of May 15, by Category and Sex (rounded to the nearest full-time equivalent) (For each of the following categories: Male, Female, Total)

Number

• Police Officers
  • 1. Senior Officers
  • 2. Non-Commissioned Officers
  • 3. Constables
• Total
  • 4. Police Officers (sum of lines 1 to 3)
• Special Constables and Civilian Personnel
  • 5. Native Special Constables
  • 6. Security Officers / Guards (exclude casuals, or those who are called in as needed)
  • 7. By-Law Enforcement / Parking Control Officers
  • 8. Cadets / Trainees
  • 9. Communications / Dispatch
  • 10. Management / Professionals
  • 11. Clerical Support
  • 12. School Crossing Guards (see formula for line 12 in the scoring rules)
  • 13. Other (please specify)
• Total
  • 14. Special Constables and Civilian Personnel (sum of lines 5 to 13)
• Total
  • 15. Personnel (sum of lines 4 and 14)

Table 2
Authorized Strength as of May 15

Number

• Authorized Police Officer Strength
• Other Personnel as of May 15
  • Auxiliary / Reserve Police
  • Casual / Temporary Police Officers
  • Casual / Temporary Civilians

Table 3
This table has been discontinued.

Table 4
Year End Operating Expenditures (For each of the following categories: Calendar Year 2009 OR Fiscal Year 2009/2010)

Actual Amount (Nearest dollar)

• Salaries and Wages
• Benefits
  • Paid from Police Force Budget
  • Paid from Other Government Source
• Other Operating Expenditures
• Total
  • Operating Expenditures (exclude capital expenditures)

Identify which budget the following items are included in by marking an “X” in the appropriate column(s). (See scoring rules.) (For each of the following categories: Police Force Operational Budget, Police Force Capital Budget, Other Government Source)

Item

• Vehicle Purchases
• Vehicle Leasing
• Computer Services
• Accommodations
• Emergency “911” Services

Authorization to release
Authorization: This authorizes the Chief Statistician of Canada to disseminate information reported on this questionnaire to the public.

• Name
• Signature
• Name and Signature of Contact
• Telephone Number
• Date
  • Year
  • Month
  • Day

Comments and/or Explanations

8-1000-4: 2010-05-05
STC/CCJ-140-60000
Statistics Canada

3rd Quarter 2010

Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division

This report covers the period from: month 2010 to month 2010

Confidential when completed

Respondent company

• Legal Name
• Operating Name
• Contact Person
• Job Title
• Street
• City
• Province
• Postal Code
• Telephone
• Fax
• E-mail
• Website

Correct as required

• Legal Name
• Operating or Trade Name (if different from legal name)
• Contact person responsible for this survey (please print clearly)
• Job Title
• Street
• City
• Province
• Postal Code
• Telephone
• Fax
• E-mail
• Website

Information for Respondents

Survey Purpose

This survey collects financial and operating data for the statistical measurement and analysis of the telecommunications industry. These data will be aggregated to produce national estimates of activity by industry. Those estimates are used by government, the private sector, international telecommunications organizations, academics, analysts, and the general public to better understand this sector's role in the social and economic fabric of Canada.

Authority

This quarterly survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada 1985, Chapter S19. Completion of this questionnaire is a legal requirement under this Act.

Confidentiality

The Statistics Act protects the confidentiality of information collected by Statistics Canada. Your answers are confidential. Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. The confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act are not affected by either the Access to Information Act or any other legislation. Therefore, for example, the Canada Revenue Agency cannot access identifiable survey records from Statistics Canada. Information from this survey will be used for statistical purposes only and will be published in aggregate form only.

Data Sharing Agreements

To reduce response burden and to ensure more uniform statistics, Statistics Canada has entered into a data sharing agreement under section 12 of the Statistics Act to share information from all respondents with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Subsection 12(2) of the Statistics Act provides that where a respondent gives notice in writing to the Chief Statistician that the respondent objects to the sharing of the information by Statistics Canada, the information not be shared with the department or corporation unless the department or corporation is authorized by law to require the respondent to provide the information.

The CRTC is authorized by law to require the respondent to provide the information under section 37 of the Telecommunications Act. Information provided to the CRTC will be treated in accordance with the requirements of section 39 of the Telecommunications Act.

Planned Record Linkage

To enhance the data from this survey, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources..

Return Procedures

Please return the completed questionnaire(s) within 30 days of receipt by facsimile to (613) 951-9920. If you anticipate difficulty in making this deadline, please inform Statistics Canada of your expected filing date.

Reporting Instructions

Please complete all questions that pertain to your operations.

To reduce the chances of call-backs to verify data, please record "N/A" for those items that are not relevant to your company.

Detailed instructions and definitions of terms used in the questionnaire are found in the Reporting Guide.

Assistance

If you require assistance, please contact:
Jo Anne Lambert
Telephone: (613) 951-6673
Facsimile: (613) 951-9920
E-mail: joanne.lambert@statcan.gc.ca

Heather Berrea
Telephone: (613) 951-8613
Facsimile: (613) 951-9920
E-mail: heather.berrea@statcan.gc.ca

Thank you for your co-operation

Revenues (in thousands for the quarter)

1. Telecommunications operating revenues

1. Local and access (include basic local service, optional local features, contribution, equipment, and other local and access)
2. Long distance (include settlement)
3. Data
4. Private line
5. Internet
6. Mobile and paging
   • Retail
   • Wholesale
7. Broadcast distribution (basic and non-basic programming)
8. Other operating revenues

• Total operating revenues

Network and subscribers (in thousands at quarter end)

2. Number of fixed network lines by market (Voice-grade equivalents) - Access dependent and independent

1. Residential
2. Business
3. Wholesale
4. Lines for internal use

• Total PSTN lines

3. Number of mobile and paging subscriptions

1. Retail (Residential and business)
2. Wholesale

• Total mobile and paging subscriptions

4. Number of Internet subscriptions

1. Dial-up
2. High speed - Cable modem
3. High speed - Digital subscriber line (DSL)
4. High speed - Other

• Total number of Internet subscriptions

5. Number of multi-channel video services subscriptions

1. By phone line
2. By cable
3. By satellite
4. Other

• Total multi-channel video services subscriptions

Volume (in thousands at quarter end)

6. Long distance minutes - Fixed

1. Retail
   • July
   • August
   • September
   • Total
2. Wholesale
   • July
   • August
   • September
   • Total

• Total long distance minutes
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • Total

Note: Please include Domestic, US, and International long distance minutes.

7. Number of short messaging service (SMS)

1. To mobile devices
2. From mobile devices

• Total number of short messaging service (SMS)

8. Mobile voice minutes 

1. Toll minutes (Long distance)
2. Non-toll minutes (Basic voice)

• Total mobile voice minutes

Capital expenditures (in thousands for the quarter)

9. Capital expenditures

Remarks

Certification

Please print the name of the person responsible for this return:

Signature:

I certify that the information provided in this report is complete and correct to the best of my knowledge.

• Phone no.
• Position
• Date

• Introduction
• Policy
• Scope
• Guidelines for the development and documentation of standards

Introduction

Statistics Canada aims to ensure that the information it produces provides a consistent and coherent picture of the Canadian economy, society and environment, and that its various datasets can be analyzed together and in combination with information from other sources.

To this end, the Agency pursues three strategic goals:

1. The use of conceptual frameworks, such as the System of National Accounts, that provide a basis for consolidating statistical information about certain sectors or dimensions of the Canadian scene;
2. The use of standard names and definitions for populations, statistical units, concepts, variables and classifications in statistical programs;
3. The use of consistent collection and processing methods for the production of statistical data across surveys.

This Policy deals with the second of these strategic goals. It provides a framework for reviewing, documenting, authorizing, and monitoring the use of standard names and definitions for populations, statistical units, concepts, variables and classifications used in Statistics Canada's programs. Standards for specific subject-matter areas will be issued from time to time under this Policy as required.

Policy

Statistics Canada aims to use consistent names and definitions for populations, statistical units, concepts, variables, and classifications used in its statistical programs. To this end:

1. Statistical products will be accompanied by, or make explicit reference to, readily accessible documentation on the definitions of populations, statistical units, concepts, variables and classifications used.
2. Wherever inconsistencies or ambiguities in name or definition are recognized between related statistical units, concepts, variables or classifications, within or across programs, the Agency will work towards the development of a standard for the statistical units, concepts, variables and classifications that harmonize such differences.
3. Standards and guidelines covering particular subject-matter areas will be issued from time to time and their use will be governed by the provisions of this Policy.
4. Where departmental standards have been issued, program areas must follow them unless a specific exemption has been obtained under the provisions of this Policy.
5. Programs should, to the extent possible, collect and retain information at the fundamental or most detailed level of each standard classification in order to provide maximum flexibility in aggregation and facilitate retrospective reclassification as needs change.
6. When a program uses a population, statistical unit, concept, variable or classification not covered by a departmental standard, or uses a variation of a standard approved as an exemption, it shall use a unique name for the entity to distinguish it from any previously defined standard.
7. Clients of Statistics Canada's consultative services should be made aware of and encouraged to conform to the standards and guidelines issued under this Policy.
8. The Agency will build up a database of names and definitions used in its programs and make this database accessible to users and other players in the statistical system.

Scope

This policy applies to disseminated data however collected, derived or assembled, and irrespective of the medium of dissemination or the source of funding. This policy may also be applied to data at the stage of collection and processing at Statistics Canada.

Guidelines for the development and documentation of standards

A. Introduction

These guidelines describe the requirements and give guidance for the development and documentation of standard names and definitions of populations, statistical units, concepts, variables and classifications. Section B defines the terminology; guidelines follow in Section C.

B. Terminology

For purposes of these guidelines the following terms are used.

Population: The set of statistical units to which a dataset refers.

Concept: A general or abstract idea that expresses the social and/or economic phenomenon to be measured.

Statistical unit: The unit of observation or measurement for which data are collected or derived. The following list provides examples of standard statistical units that have been defined.

Person
Census family
Economic family
Household
Dwelling
Location
Establishment
Company
Enterprise

Variable: A variable consists of two components, a statistical unit and a property. A property is a characteristic or attribute of the statistical unit.

Classification: A classification is a systematic grouping of the values that a variable can take comprising mutually exclusive classes, covering the full set of values, and often providing a hierarchical structure for aggregating data. More than one classification can be used to represent data for a given variable.

Example: The following is an example of the variable: Age of Person.

Concept:  Based on the subjects used by Statistics Canada to organize its statistical products and metadata, the variable Age of Person is listed under the concept of Population and Demography.

Statistical unit and property: The statistical unit and property that define this variable are Person and Age respectively. Person refers to an individual – this is the unit of analysis for most social statistics programmes. Age refers to the age of a person (or subject) of interest at last birthday (or relative to a specified, well-defined reference date).

Classification: Different classifications can be used to represent data for this variable. These classifications include: Age Categories, Five-year Age Groups; and Age Categories, Life Cycle Groupings.

The standard names and definitions of populations, statistical units, concepts, variables and classifications will be stored in the Integrated Metadatabase (IMDB). In the case of variables, the name stored in the IMDB will include a representation type, in addition to the statistical unit and property. In the age example given here, the full name of the variable in the IMDB would be Category of Age of Person. The representation type Category indicates that it is a categorical variable, which will be represented by a classification of age groups.

C. Guidelines

Each standard should have the following characteristics:

• describe the concept that the standard addresses when appropriate;
• identify the statistical unit(s) to which it applies;
• provide a name and definition of each variable included in the standard;
• provide the classification(s) to be used in the compilation and dissemination of data on each variable.

The most detailed level of a classification will always be included in a standard. Recommended and optional aggregation structures may also be present.

Concepts shall be described in relation to a framework when possible.

Every variable shall be given a name, in both official languages, which, once given, cannot be used to denote any other variable. Variables shall be defined with explanatory notes in terms of a property and the statistical unit to which it applies. Additionally, in the IMDB, the representation type will be defined.

Every classification shall be given a name, in both official languages, which, once given, cannot be used to denote any other classification. Classifications shall be defined, with exclusions listed and explanatory notes given, where required.

Every class shall be given a name, in both official languages, which, once given, cannot be used to denote any other grouping for the referenced variable within a given "family" of classifications (i.e. a given classification and all its variants). Classes shall be defined, with exclusions listed and explanatory notes given, where required.

The most frequently used populations shall be given a name, in both official languages, which, once given, cannot be used to denote any other population. These populations shall be defined with explanatory notes.

Every statistical unit shall be given a name, in both official languages, which, once given, cannot be used to denote any other statistical unit. Statistical units shall be defined with explanatory notes.

A standard shall be accompanied by a statement of conformity to relevant internationally recognized standards, or a description of the deviations from such a standard and, where possible, a concordance with the referenced standard.

Where a standard replaces an earlier one, a concordance between the old and the new shall be given.

A standard shall include a statement regarding the degree to which its application is compulsory. The different degrees are, in descending order of compulsion:

• departmental standard: a standard that has been approved by the Policy Committee, and the application of which is therefore compulsory, unless an exemption has been explicitly obtained under the terms of this policy;
• recommended standard: a standard that has been recognized by the Methods and Standards Committee as a recommended standard, with or without a trial period of a specified duration, after which it may be declared as a departmental standard;
• program-specific standard: a standard adopted by a statistical program, and which is registered with Standards Division, to ensure consistency in a series over time periods.

Unified Enterprise Survey - Annual

5-3600-156 STC/UES-375-75376

Retail Trade
Management of Companies and Enterprises
Wholesale Trade
Manufacturing
Other Services (except Public Administration)

Retail Trade

The retail trade sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. The retailing process is the final step in thedistribution of merchandise; retailers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public.

Retail Trade

NAICS	Description
441110	New Car Dealers
441120	Used Car Dealers
441210	Recreational Vehicle Dealers
441220	Motorcycle, Boat and Other Motor Vehicle Dealers
441310	Automotive Parts and Accessories Stores
441320	Tire Dealers
442110	Furniture Stores
442210	Floor Covering Stores
442291	Window Treatment Stores
442292	Print and Picture Frame Stores
442298	All Other Home Furnishings Stores
443110	Appliance, Television and Other Electronics Stores
443120	Computer and Software Stores
443130	Camera and Photographic Supplies Stores
444110	Home Centres
444120	Paint and Wallpaper Stores
444130	Hardware Stores
444190	Other Building Material Dealers
444210	Outdoor Power Equipment Stores
444220	Nursery Stores and Garden Centres
445110	Supermarkets and Other Grocery (except Convenience) Stores
445120	Convenience Stores
445210	Meat Markets
445220	Fish and Seafood Markets
445230	Fruit and Vegetable Markets
445291	Baked Goods Stores
445292	Confectionery and Nut Stores
445299	All Other Specialty Food Stores
445310	Beer, Wine and Liquor Stores
446110	Pharmacies and Drug Stores
446120	Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies and Perfume Stores
446130	Optical Goods Stores
446191	Food (Health) Supplement Stores
446199	All Other Health and Personal Care Stores
447110	Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores
447190	Other Gasoline Stations
448110	Men's Clothing Stores
448120	Women's Clothing Stores
448130	Children's and Infants' Clothing Stores
448140	Family Clothing Stores
448150	Clothing Accessories Stores
448191	Fur Stores
448199	All Other Clothing Stores
448210	Shoe Stores
448310	Jewellery Stores
448320	Luggage and Leather Goods Stores
451110	Sporting Goods Stores
451120	Hobby, Toy and Game Stores
451130	Sewing, Needlework and Piece Goods Stores
451140	Musical Instrument and Supplies Stores
451210	Book Stores and News Dealers
451220	Pre-Recorded Tape, Compact Disc and Record Stores
452110	Department Stores
452910	Warehouse Clubs and Superstores
452991	Home and Auto Supplies Stores
452999	All Other Miscellaneous General Merchandise Stores
453110	Florists
453210	Office Supplies and Stationery Stores
453220	Gift, Novelty and Souvenir Stores
453310	Used Merchandise Stores
453910	Pet and Pet Supplies Stores
453920	Art Dealers
453930	Mobile Home Dealers
453992	Beer and Wine-Making Supplies Stores
453999	All Other Miscellaneous Store Retailers (except Beer and Wine-Making Supplies Stores)
454111	Internet Shopping
454112	Electronic Auctions
454113	Mail-Order Houses
454210	Vending Machine Operators
454311	Heating Oil Dealers
454312	Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Bottled Gas) Dealers
454319	Other Fuel Dealers
454390	Other Direct Selling Establishments

Management of Companies and Enterprises

NAICS	Description
551114	Head Offices

Wholesale Trade

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling merchandise and providing related logistics, marketing and support services. The wholesaling process is generally an intermediate step in the distribution of merchandise; many wholesalers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in large quantities to retailers, and business and institutional clients. However, some wholesalers, in particular those that supply non-consumer capital goods, sell merchandise in single units to final users.

This sector recognizes two main types of wholesalers: wholesale merchants and wholesale agents and brokers.

Wholesale Trade

NAICS	Description
411110	Live Animal Wholesaler-Distributors
411120	Oilseed and Grain Wholesaler-Distributors
411130	Nursery Stock and Plant Wholesaler-Distributors
411190	Other Farm Product Wholesaler-Distributors
412110	Petroleum Product Wholesaler-Distributors
413110	General-Line Food Wholesaler-Distributors
413120	Dairy and Milk Products Wholesaler-Distributors
413130	Poultry and Egg Wholesaler-Distributors
413140	Fish and Seafood Products Wholesaler-Distributors
413150	Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Wholesaler-Distributors
413160	Red Meat and Meat Products Wholesaler-Distributors
413190	Other Specialty-Line Food Wholesaler-Distributors
413210	Non-Alcoholic Beverage Wholesaler-Distributors
413220	Alcoholic Beverage Wholesaler-Distributors
413310	Cigarette and Tobacco Products Wholesaler-Distributors
414110	Clothing and Clothing Accessories Wholesaler-Distributors
414120	Footwear Wholesaler-Distributors
414130	Piece Goods, Notions and Other Dry Goods Wholesaler-Distributors
414210	Home Entertainment Equipment Wholesaler-Distributors
414220	Household Appliance Wholesaler-Distributors
414310	China, Glassware, Crockery and Pottery Wholesaler-Distributors
414320	Floor Covering Wholesaler-Distributors
414330	Linen, Drapery and Other Textile Furnishings Wholesaler-Distributors
414390	Other Home Furnishings Wholesaler-Distributors
414410	Jewellery and Watch Wholesaler-Distributors
414420	Book, Periodical and Newspaper Wholesaler-Distributors
414430	Photographic Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
414440	Sound Recording Wholesalers
414450	Video Cassette Wholesalers
414460	Toy and Hobby Goods Wholesaler-Distributors
414470	Amusement and Sporting Goods Wholesaler-Distributors
414510	Pharmaceuticals and Pharmacy Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
414520	Toiletries, Cosmetics and Sundries Wholesaler-Distributors
415110	New and Used Automobile and Light-Duty Truck Wholesaler-Distributors
415120	Truck, Truck Tractor and Bus Wholesaler-Distributors
415190	Recreational and Other Motor Vehicles Wholesaler-Distributors
415210	Tire Wholesaler-Distributors
415290	Other New Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Wholesaler-Distributors
415310	Used Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Wholesaler-Distributors
416110	Electrical Wiring and Construction Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
416120	Plumbing, Heating and Air-Conditioning Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
416210	Metal Service Centres
416310	General-Line Building Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
416320	Lumber, Plywood and Millwork Wholesaler-Distributors
416330	Hardware Wholesaler-Distributors
416340	Paint, Glass and Wallpaper Wholesaler-Distributors
416390	Other Specialty-Line Building Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417110	Farm, Lawn and Garden Machinery and Equipment Wholesaler-Distributors
417210	Construction and Forestry Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417220	Mining and Oil and Gas Well Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417230	Industrial Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417310	Computer, Computer Peripheral and Pre-Packaged Software Wholesaler-Distributors
417320	Electronic Components, Navigational and Communications Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417910	Office and Store Machinery and EquipmentWholesaler-Distributors
417920	Service Establishment Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417930	Professional Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
417990	All Other Machinery, Equipment and Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
418110	Recyclable Metal Wholesaler-Distributors
418120	Recyclable Paper and Paperboard Wholesaler-Distributors
418190	Other Recyclable Material Wholesaler-Distributors
418210	Stationery and Office SuppliesWholesaler-Distributors
418220	Other Paper and Disposable Plastic Product Wholesaler-Distributors
418310	Agricultural Feed Wholesaler-Distributors
418320	Seed Wholesaler-Distributors
418390	Agricultural Chemical and Other Farm Supplies Wholesaler-Distributors
418410	Chemical (except Agricultural) and Allied Product Wholesaler-Distributors
418910	Log and Wood Chip Wholesaler-Distributors
418920	Mineral, Ore and Precious Metal Wholesaler-Distributors
418930	Second-Hand Goods (except Machinery and Automotive) Wholesaler-Distributors
418990	All Other Wholesaler-Distributors
419110	Business-to-Business Electronic Markets
419120	Wholesale Trade Agents and Brokers

Manufacturing

This sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in the physical or chemical transformation of materials or substances into new products. Manufacturing establishments may own the materials which they transform or they may transform materials owned by other establishments. Manufacturing may take place in factories or in workers' homes, using either machinery or hand tools.

Manufacturing establishments are known by a variety of trade designations, such as plants, factories or mills.

Manufacturing

NAICS	Description
311811	Retail Bakeries This Canadian industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing bakery products, for retail sale, but not for immediate consumption.
315222	Men's and Boys' Cut and Sew Suit, Coat and Overcoat Manufacturing (including establishments known as tailors, primarily engaged in producing clothing for retail sale).
315233	Women's and Girls' Cut and Sew Dress Manufacturing

Other Services (except Public Administration)

This sector comprises establishments not classified to any other sector.

Other Services (except Public Administration)

NAICS	Description
811111	General Automotive Repair
811112	Automotive Exhaust System Repair
811119	Other Automotive Mechanical and Electrical Repair and Maintenance
811121	Automotive Body, Paint and Interior Repair and Maintenance
811122	Automotive Glass Replacement Shops
811192	Car Washes
811199	All Other Automotive Repair and Maintenance
811210	Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
811412	Appliance Repair and Maintenance
811420	Reupholstery and Furniture Repair
811490	Other Personal and Household Goods Repair and Maintenance
812922	One-Hour Photo Finishing

Thank you!

Unified Enterprise Survey

5-3600-143.3 STC/UES-380-75374

Reporting Guide

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2009 Annual Non-Store Retail Survey. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

Statistics Canada Help Line: 1-888-881-3666

Table of contents

A - Introduction
Reporting instructions
Main business activity
Revenue,cost of goods sold and expenses
B - Revenue
C - Cost of goods sold
D - Expenses
E - Distribution of operating revenue by location and type of customer
F - Events that may have affected your business unit
G - Key variables by province/territory of operation
H - Province/country of origin and destination of goods sold
I - Comments

This guide is designed to provide additional information to assist you in completing the questionnaire. The Annual Wholesale Trade Survey is divided into nine sections identified with capital letters A to I. Each of the sections is further subdivided into headings and question numbers. Guideline items in this guide correspond to sections and question numbers that are on the survey questionnaire.

B - Revenue

All revenue reported should be net of returns, discounts, sales allowances, sales taxes (GST/HST, PST and TVQ). Do not deduct the value of trade-ins.

1. Sales of all goods purchased for resale, net of returns and discounts or rebates provided to your clients

Include:

• sales of all goods purchased for resale; please report gross sales of new and used goods less returns, discounts and rebates;
• parts used in generating repair and maintenance revenue; report the labour portion of repair and maintenance at question 4 below;
• any sales made to any member company of your enterprise.

Do not deduct the value of trade-ins.

2. a) Commission revenue and fees earned selling merchandise on behalf of others

Please report the gross amount of commission and fees earned by this business unit while acting as an agent or broker selling goods owned by other businesses.

2. b) Value of goods where commission and fees were earned by you acting as an agent or broker

As supplementary information to the reported commission revenue, please report the sale value of those goods upon which you have reported earning a commission or fee.

3. Sales of goods manufactured as a secondary activity by this wholesaling business unit

Please report revenue from sales of goods of own manufacture.

4. Labour revenue from repair and maintenance

Include:

• labour revenue from installation, repair and maintenance work.

Parts used in generating installation, repair and maintenance revenue are to be included at question 1 above.

5. Revenue from rental and leasing of office space, other real estate, goods and equipment

Include:

• rental and leasing of office space, other real estate, goods and equipment, whether or not they have been produced by your business unit.

6. All other operating revenue

Report all other operating revenue not reported above.

Include:

• revenue from shipping, and handling and storing goods for others that has not been included in the price of the goods.

Exclude:

• interest and dividend income.

Please report these amounts at question 8 below.

7. Total operating revenue

The sum of questions 1 to 6 above, excluding 2b.

8. Non-operating revenue

Non-production-related revenue of this business unit.

Include:

• interest and dividend income.

9. Total revenue

The sum of questions 7 and 8 below.

C - Cost of goods sold

1. Opening inventory and 3. Closing inventory

Report inventories at book value (i.e., the value maintained in your accounting records).

Include opening and closing inventories of all types such as:

• raw materials;
• goods in process;
• finished products;
• parts used in generating repair and maintenance revenue;
• goods purchased for resale;
• inventory owned by this business unit within or outside Canada (including inventory at any warehouse, selling outlet, in transit, or out on consignment).

Closing inventory should reflect all inventory adjustments.

Exclude:

• inventory held on consignment for others.

2. Purchases of goods

Please report the purchases of new and used goods for resale and, if applicable, raw materials.

Please report the laid-down cost to this business unit (including shipping and handling, if applicable).

Include:

• transfer of goods received from within your own company.

If your accounting records do not permit you to make the distinction between goods purchased from outside the firm and goods manufactured by business units of your own firm, please provide your best estimate.

4. Cost of goods sold

The sum of questions 1 and 2 minus question 3.

D - Expenses

1. Salaries and wages of employees

Please report all salaries and wages (including taxable allowances and employment commissions as defined on the T4 - Statement of Remuneration Paid) before deductions.

Include:

• vacation pay;
• bonuses (including profit sharing);
• commissions;
• taxable allowances (e.g., room and board, vehicle allowances, gifts such as air tickets for holidays);
• retroactive wage payments.

Exclude all payments and expenses associated with outside contract workers and casual labour for whom a T4 – Statement of Remuneration Paid was not issued such as:

• a receptionist or a filing clerk under direct contract to you;
• pay for temporary workers paid through an agency;
• charges for personnel search services under direct contract to you.

Please report these amounts at question 8, next page.

2. Employer portion of employee benefits

Please report the employer portion of employee benefits.

Include:

• employee life and extended health care insurance plans (e.g., medical, dental, drug and vision care plans);
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) contributions;
• employer pension contributions;
• workers’ compensation (provincial or territorial plan applicable to this business unit);
• employment insurance premiums (EI);
• retiring allowances or lump sum payments to employees at time of termination or retirement;
• all other employee benefits and supplementary unemployment benefit (SUB) plans;
• contributions to provincial and territorial health and education payroll taxes.

3. Total labour remuneration

The sum of questions 1 and 2 or the total if you cannot provide the breakdown for Salaries and wages of employees and the Employer portion of employee benefits

4. Rental and leasing expenses

Include:

• rent of office space or other real estate;
• motor vehicles (without driver);
• computers and peripherals (without operator);
• other machinery and equipment (without operator);
• rental or leasing services concerning other goods (videotapes, televisions, furniture, etc.).

Exclude:

• rental and leasing of vehicles, machinery and equipment with driver or operator; report those costs with the associated function (e.g., the rental of a transportation company truck and driver to deliver a product to a customer at your business unit’s expense would be charged to other operating expenses).

Please report this amount at question 8 next page.

5. Advertising and promotion

Include:

• planning, creating and placement services of advertising;
• purchase of advertising space or time;
• other advertising services;
• trade fair and exhibition services (e.g., booth space, tables, temporary telephone, fax or computing services and equipment).

6. Amortization and depreciation expenses

Include the amortization and depreciation expenses on this business unit’s:

• capital assets;
• intangible assets;
• capital lease obligations.

7. Management fees and other service fees charged by head office and other business support units

Include:

• any management or service fees paid to head office.

8. All other operating expenses

Please report all other operating expenses not specified and reported above.

Include:

• legal and audit expenses;
• bad debt expenses;
• donations;
• office supplies;
• rental and leasing of vehicles, machinery and equipment with driver or operator.

Exclude:

• interest expenses.

Please report these amounts at question 10 below.

9. Total operating expenses

The sum of questions 3 to 8 of this section.

10. Other expenses

Include:

• interest expenses on capital lease obligations;
• interest on loans;
• the interest portion of mortgage payments.

11. Total expenses

The sum of questions 9 and 10 above.

E - Distribution of total operating revenue by location and type of customer

1. You are asked to indicate the percentage distribution of total operating revenue by the location of your customers within or outside Canada. For example, 70% of total operating revenue is from customers in Canada and 30% is from customers outside of Canada.

2. For your Canadian customers, you are asked to report the percentage distribution of total operating revenue by the type of customer.

F - Events that may have affected your business unit

In the space provided, please make note of any factors (e.g., strike, layoffs, weather) that affected your business unit as compared to last year. Your response reduces the likelihood of further inquiries seeking to understand significant changes, from one year to the next, in reported values.

G - Key variables by province/territory of operation

Section G applies only if you are reporting for more than one wholesale operation and the wholesale operations are located in more than one province/territory.

For example, if you are reporting for wholesale operations located in Nova Scotia and Ontario, you would report for the province/territory where your wholesale operations are located.

Please indicate whether you are reporting in either Canadian dollars ($) or in percentages (%) by ticking the appropriate box.

If you report in Canadian dollars, the Canada Totals should equal the totals reported in Sections B, C and D, at the indicated questions. If you report in percentages, the Canada Totals should equal 100%.

H - Province/country of origin and destination of goods sold

Why is Section H so important?

• to apportion harmonized sales tax revenues and to distribute various other federal funds like equalization payments, for example. The information you provide us with has an impact on the sources of provincial/territorial government revenues which contribute to the financing of various provincial/territorial activities such as building roads and running schools and hospitals.
• to measure the provincial/territorial gross domestic product - an indicator of the performance of provincial/territorial economies. Businesses depend on such indicators to make a number of important decisions such as where to expand their operations and to identify new markets for their goods and services.
• to assess regional disparities, the resolution of which may result in various government programs such as providing business assistance and initiating investment such as construction of wharves or airports.
• to assess the movement of goods and services among provinces/territories and the impact of any trade barriers.

How to complete this section

In this section you are asked to provide – for your

total goods and for each province/territory in which you have wholesale business operations – the province/territory/country where your supplier is located (origin) and the province/territory/country where your customer is located (destination).

Please note that your best estimates are acceptable.

For costs of goods sold and sales of goods:

In dollars or percentages, report for each product the proportion of total cost of goods sold and sales of goods in each province/territory.

For origin:

Please provide the percentages that the cost of goods sold represented in each province/territory or foreign country where your supplier(s) is/are located. The supplier is the last business from whom you purchased your goods, that is, the wholesaler’s point of purchase.

For destination:

Please provide the percentages of total sales in each province/territory or foreign country where your customer(s) is/are located.

Please note:

• Intermediate shipping points do not affect the origin and destination of a product.
• “Total sales” is equal to question 1 + question 3 in Section B - Revenue.
• If the supplier(s) and/or customer(s) have/has a shipping address different from the invoicing address, use the shipping address to determine origin and destination.

Table of origin and destination

Origin	Destination
If your business operation(s) that is/are situated in Ontario bought goods from a supplier in the U.S.A. then the origin would be 100% U.S.A.	If your business operation(s) that is/are located in Ontario, sold goods to customers in Ontario and Nova Scotia, and of the total sales by the business operation(s) in Ontario, 15% were in Ontario, and 85% in Nova Scotia, these would be the destination percentages of your sales.
If your business operation(s) that is/are situated in Alberta purchased goods from both Saskatchewan and Ontario and this represented 10% and 90% respectively of the total purchases, the origin would be 10% for Saskatchewan and 90% for Ontario.	If your business operation(s) in Alberta shipped the goods directly to your customer in Alberta (the “ship to address) then, the destination would be “Alberta.
If your supplier for machinery is in California, but the machinery was shipped from a warehouse in Toronto, Ontario, to your address in Alberta, via Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., the Origin you would report would be “Ontario - the “ship from address of your supplier.

Example of a company that has business units with wholesale operations in two provinces:

Figure 1

You would complete Section H as follows:

I - Comments

Statistics Canada invites you to comment on any aspect of the survey. All comments are appreciated and reviewed.

Objectives, uses and users
Concepts, variables and classifications
Coverage and frames
Sampling
Questionnaire design
Response and nonresponse
Data collection and capture operations
Editing
Imputation
Estimation
Revisions and seasonal adjustment
Data quality evaluation
Disclosure control

1. Objectives, uses and users

1.1. Objective

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) provides information on the performance of the retail trade sector on a monthly basis, and when combined with other statistics, represents an important indicator of the state of the Canadian economy.

1.2. Uses

The estimates provide a measure of the health and performance of the retail trade sector. Information collected is used to estimate level and monthly trend for retail sales. At the end of each year, the estimates provide a preliminary look at annual retail sales and performance.

1.3. Users

A variety of organizations, sector associations, and levels of government make use of the information. Retailers rely on the survey results to compare their performance against similar types of businesses, as well as for marketing purposes. Retail associations are able to monitor industry performance and promote their retail industries. Investors can monitor industry growth, which can result in better access to investment capital by retailers. Governments are able to understand the role of retailers in the economy, which aids in the development of policies and tax incentives. As an important industry in the Canadian economy, governments are able to better determine the overall health of the economy through the use of the estimates in the calculation of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

2. Concepts, variables and classifications

2.1. Concepts

The retail trade sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise.

The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise; retailers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public. This sector comprises two main types of retailers, that is, store and non-store retailers. The MRTS covers only store retailers. Their main characteristics are described below. Store retailers operate fixed point-of-sale locations, located and designed to attract a high volume of walk-in customers. In general, retail stores have extensive displays of merchandise and use mass-media advertising to attract customers. They typically sell merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption, but some also serve business and institutional clients. These include establishments such as office supplies stores, computer and software stores, gasoline stations, building material dealers, plumbing supplies stores and electrical supplies stores.

In addition to selling merchandise, some types of store retailers are also engaged in the provision of after-sales services, such as repair and installation. For example, new automobile dealers, electronic and appliance stores and musical instrument and supplies stores often provide repair services, while floor covering stores and window treatment stores often provide installation services. As a general rule, establishments engaged in retailing merchandise and providing after sales services are classified in this sector. Catalogue sales showrooms, gasoline service stations, and mobile home dealers are treated as store retailers.

2.2. Variables

Sales are defined as the sales of all goods purchased for resale, net of returns and discounts. This includes commission revenue and fees earned from selling goods and services on account of others, such as selling lottery tickets, bus tickets, and phone cards. It also includes parts and labour revenue from repair and maintenance; revenue from rental and leasing of goods and equipment; revenues from services, including food services; sales of goods manufactured as a secondary activity; and the proprietor’s withdrawals, at retail, of goods for personal use. Other revenue from rental of real estate, placement fees, operating subsidies, grants, royalties and franchise fees are excluded.

Trading Location is the physical location(s) in which business activity is conducted in each province and territory, and for which sales are credited or recognized in the financial records of the company. For retailers, this would normally be a store.

Constant Dollars: The value of retail trade is measured in two ways; including the effects of price change on sales and net of the effects of price change. The first measure is referred to as retail trade in current dollars and the latter as retail trade in constant dollars. The method of calculating the current dollar estimate is to aggregate the weighted value of sales for all retail outlets. The method of calculating the constant dollar estimate is to first adjust the sales values to a base year, using the Consumer Price Index, and then sum up the resulting values.

2.3. Classification

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey is based on the definition of retail trade under the NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). NAICS is the agreed upon common framework for the production of comparable statistics by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. The agreement defines the boundaries of twenty sectors. NAICS is based on a production-oriented, or supply based conceptual framework in that establishments are groups into industries according to similarity in production processes used to produce goods and services.

Estimates appear for 21 industries based on special aggregations of the 2007 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries. The 21 industries are further aggregated to 11 sub-sectors.

Geographically, sales estimates are produced for Canada and each province and territory.

3. Coverage and frames

Statistics Canada’s Business Register ( BR) provides the frame for the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. The BR is a structured list of businesses engaged in the production of goods and services in Canada. It is a centrally maintained database containing detailed descriptions of most business entities operating within Canada. The BR includes all incorporated businesses, with or without employees. For unincorporated businesses, the BR includes all employers with businesses, and businesses with no employees with annual sales that have a Goods and Services Tax (GST) or annual revenue that declares individual taxes.  annual sales greater than $30,000 that have a Goods and Services Tax (GST) account (the BR does not include unincorporated businesses with no employees and with annual sales less than $30,000).

The businesses on the BR are represented by a hierarchical structure with four levels, with the statistical enterprise at the top, followed by the statistical company, the statistical establishment and the statistical location. An enterprise can be linked to one or more statistical companies, a statistical company can be linked to one or more statistical establishments, and a statistical establishment to one or more statistical locations.

The target population for the MRTS consists of all statistical establishments on the BR that are classified to the retail sector using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) (approximately 200,000 establishments). The NAICS code range for the retail sector is 441100 to 453999. A statistical establishment is the production entity or the smallest grouping of production entities which: produces a homogeneous set of goods or services; does not cross provincial boundaries; and provides data on the value of output, together with the cost of principal intermediate inputs used, along with the cost and quantity of labour used to produce the output. The production entity is the physical unit where the business operations are carried out. It must have a civic address and dedicated labour.

The exclusions to the target population are ancillary establishments (producers of services in support of the activity of producing goods and services for the market of more than one establishment within the enterprise, and serves as a cost centre or a discretionary expense centre for which data on all its costs including labour and depreciation can be reported by the business), future establishments, establishments with a missing or a zero gross business income (GBI) value on the BR and establishments in the following non-covered NAICS:

• 4541 (electronic shopping and mail-order houses)
• 4542 (vending machine operators)
• 45431 (fuel dealers)
• 45439 (other direct selling establishments)

4. Sampling

The MRTS sample consists of 10,000 groups of establishments (clusters) classified to the Retail Trade sector selected from the Statistics Canada Business Register. A cluster of establishments is defined as all establishments belonging to a statistical enterprise that are in the same industrial group and geographical region. The MRTS uses a stratified design with simple random sample selection in each stratum. The stratification is done by industry groups (the mainly, but not only four digit level NAICS), and the geographical regions consisting of the provinces and territories, as well as three provincial sub-regions. We further stratify the population by size.

The size measure is created using a combination of independent survey data and three administrative variables: the annual profiled revenue, the GST sales expressed on an annual basis, and the declared tax revenue (T1 or T2). The size strata consist of one take-all (census), at most, two take-some (partially sampled) strata, and one take-none (non-sampled) stratum. Take-none strata serve to reduce respondent burden by excluding the smaller businesses from the surveyed population. These businesses should represent at most ten percent of total sales. Instead of sending questionnaires to these businesses, the estimates are produced through the use of administrative data.

The sample was allocated optimally in order to reach target coefficients of variation at the national, provincial/territorial, industrial, and industrial groups by province/territory levels. The sample was also inflated to compensate for dead, non-responding, and misclassified units.

MRTS is a repeated survey with maximisation of monthly sample overlap. The sample is kept month after month, and every month new units are added (births) to the sample.  MRTS births, i.e., new clusters of establishment(s), are identified every month via the BR’s latest universe. They are stratified according to the same criteria as the initial population. A sample of these births is selected according to the sampling fraction of the stratum to which they belong and is added to the monthly sample. Deaths occur on a monthly basis. A death can be a cluster of establishment(s) that have ceased their activities (out-of-business) or whose major activities are no longer in retail trade (out-of-scope). The status of these businesses is updated on the BR using administrative sources and survey feedback, including feedback from the MRTS. Methods to treat dead units and misclassified units are part of the sample and population update procedures.

5. Questionnaire design

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey incorporates the following sub-surveys:

Monthly Retail Trade Survey - R8

Monthly Retail Trade Survey (with inventories) – R8

Survey of Sales and Inventories of Alcoholic Beverages

The questionnaires collect monthly data on retail sales and the number of trading locations by province or territory and inventories of goods owned and intended for resale from a sample of retailers. The items on the questionnaires have remained unchanged for several years. For the 2004 redesign, the general questionnaires were subject to cosmetic changes only. The questionnaire for Sales and Inventories of Alcoholic Beverages underwent more extensive changes. The modifications were discussed with stakeholders and the respondents were given an opportunity to comment before the new questionnaire was finalized. If further changes are needed to any of the questionnaires, proposed changes would go through a review committee and a field test with respondents and data users to ensure its relevancy.

6. Response and nonresponse

6.1. Response and non-response

Despite the best efforts of survey managers and operations staff to maximize response in the MRTS, some non-response will occur. For statistical establishments to be classified as responding, the degree of partial response (where an accurate response is obtained for only some of the questions asked a respondent) must meet a minimum threshold level below which the response would be rejected and considered a unit nonresponse.  In such an instance, the business is classified as not having responded at all.

Non-response has two effects on data: first it introduces bias in estimates when nonrespondents differ from respondents in the characteristics measured; and second, it contributes to an increase in the sampling variance of estimates because the effective sample size is reduced from that originally sought.

The degree to which efforts are made to get a response from a non-respondent is based on budget and time constraints, its impact on the overall quality and the risk of nonresponse bias.

The main method to reduce the impact of non-response at sampling is to inflate the sample size through the use of over-sampling rates that have been determined from similar surveys.

Besides the methods to reduce the impact of non-response at sampling and collection, the non-responses to the survey that do occur are treated through imputation. In order to measure the amount of non-response that occurs each month, various response rates are calculated. For a given reference month, the estimation process is run at least twice (a preliminary and a revised run). Between each run, respondent data can be identified as unusable and imputed values can be corrected through respondent data. As a consequence, response rates are computed following each run of the estimation process.

For the MRTS, two types of rates are calculated (un-weighted and weighted). In order to assess the efficiency of the collection process, un-weighted response rates are calculated. Weighted rates, using the estimation weight and the value for the variable of interest, assess the quality of estimation. Within each of these types of rates, there are distinct rates for units that are surveyed and for units that are only modeled from administrative data that has been extracted from GST files.

To get a better picture of the success of the collection process, two un-weighted rates called the ‘collection results rate’ and the ‘extraction results rate’ are computed. They are computed by dividing the number of respondents by the number of units that we tried to contact or tried to receive extracted data for them. Non-monthly reporters (respondents with special reporting arrangements where they do not report every month but for whom actual data is available in subsequent revisions) are excluded from both the numerator and denominator for the months where no contact is performed.

In summary, the various response rates are calculated as follows:

Weighted rates:

Survey Response rate (estimation) =
Sum of weighted sales of units with response status i / Sum of survey weighted sales

where i = units that have either reported data that will be used in estimation or are converted refusals, or have reported data that has not yet been resolved for estimation.

Admin Response rate (estimation) =
Sum of weighted sales of units with response status ii / Sum of administrative weighted sales

where ii = units that have data that was extracted from administrative files and are usable for estimation.

Total Response rate (estimation) =
Sum of weighted sales of units with response status i or response status ii / Sum of all weighted sales

Un-weighted rates:

Survey Response rate (collection) =
Number of questionnaires with response status iii/ Number of questionnaires with response status iv

where iii = units that have either reported data (unresolved, used or not used for estimation) or are converted refusals.

where iv = all of the above plus units that have refused to respond, units that were not contacted and other types of non-respondent units.

Admin Response rate (extraction) =
Number of questionnaires with response status vi/ Number of questionnaires with response status vii

where vi = in-scope units that have data (either usable or non-usable) that was extracted from administrative files

where vii = all of the above plus units that have refused to report to the administrative data source, units that were not contacted and other types of non-respondent units.

(% of questionnaire collected over all in-scope questionnaires)

Collection Results Rate =
Number of questionnaires with response status iii / Number of questionnaires with response status viii

where iii = same as iii defined above

where viii = same as iv except for the exclusion of units that were contacted because their response is unavailable for a particular month since they are non-monthly reporters.

Extraction Results Rate =
Number of questionnaires with response status ix / Number of questionnaires with response status vii

where ix = same as vi with the addition of extracted units that have been imputed or were out of scope

where vii = same as vii defined above

(% of questionnaires collected over all questionnaire in-scope we tried to collect)

All the above weighted and un-weighted rates are provided at the industrial group, geography and size group level or for any combination of these levels.

Use of Administrative Data

Managing response burden is an ongoing challenge for Statistics Canada. In an attempt to alleviate response burden and survey costs, especially for smaller businesses, the MRTS has reduced the number of simple establishments in the sample that are surveyed directly and instead derives sales data for these establishments from Goods and Service Tax (GST) files using a statistical model. The model accounts for differences between sales and revenue (reported for GST purposes) as well as for the time lag between the survey reference period and the reference period of the GST file.

For more information on the methodology used for modeling sales from administrative data sources, refer to ‘Monthly Retail Trade Survey: Use of Administrative Data’ under ‘Documentation’ of the IMDB.

Table 1 contains the weighted response rates for all industry groups as well as for total retail trade for each province and territory. For more detailed weighted response rates, please contact the Marketing and Dissemination Section at (613) 951-3549, toll free: 1-877-421-3067 or by e-mail at retailinfo@statcan.

6.2. Methods used to reduce non-response at collection

Significant effort is spent trying to minimize non-response during collection. Methods used, among others, are interviewer techniques such as probing and persuasion, repeated re-scheduling and call-backs to obtain the information, and procedures dealing with how to handle non-compliant (refusal) respondents.

If data are unavailable at the time of collection, a respondent's best estimates are also accepted, and are subsequently revised once the actual data become available.

To minimize total non-response for all variables, partial responses are accepted. In addition, questionnaires are customized for the collection of certain variables, such as inventory, so that collection is timed for those months when the data are available.

Finally, to build trust and rapport between the interviewers and respondents, cases are generally assigned to the same interviewer each month. This action establishes a personal relationship between interviewer and respondent, and builds respondent trust.

7. Data collection and capture operations

Collection of the data is performed by Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices.

 

Table 1
Weighted response rates by NAICS, for all provinces/territories: September 2010

	Weighted Response Rates
	Total	Survey	Administrative
NAICS - Canada
Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers	94	94.8	57.3
Automobile Dealers	96.6	97	51.9
New Car Dealers	97.7	97.7
Used Car Dealers	80.6	85.3	51.9
Other Motor Vehicle Dealers	68.7	67.6	77
Automotive Parts, Accessories and Tire Stores	81.3	86.2	41.9
Furniture and Home Furnishings Stores	85.7	91.5	29.5
Furniture Stores	92.4	94.6	29.3
Home Furnishings Stores	72	83.6	29.5
Electronics and Appliance Stores	90.1	91.3	60.9
Building Material and Garden Equipment Dealers	83.2	86.6	46
Food and Beverage Stores	83.1	89.7	11.3
Grocery Stores	82.3	89.4	9.4
Grocery (except Convenience) Stores	84.4	91.1	8.1
Convenience Stores	58.2	67.1	16.3
Specialty Food Stores	67.2	77.9	26.3
Beer, Wine and Liquor Stores	90.7	93.2	9.3
Health and Personal Care Stores	90.2	92.5	70.3
Gasoline Stations	83.8	86.7	44.3
Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores	88.3	90.5	32
Clothing Stores	88.5	90.7	31.5
Shoe Stores	90	91.4	37.2
Jewellery, Luggage and Leather Goods Stores	82.6	86.1	31.5
Sporting Goods, Hobby, Book and Music Stores	82.2	87.5	34.4
General Merchandise Stores	98.3	98.9	13.5
Miscellaneous Store Retailers	83.7	89	25.1
Total	88.7	91.9	34.8
Regions
Newfoundland and Labrador	88.6	89.9	37.1
Prince Edward Island	88.5	89.8	13.8
Nova Scotia	92.1	94.3	45.6
New Brunswick	86.1	90.5	31.2
Québec	86.9	91.6	20.2
Ontario	90.2	93.3	40.5
Manitoba	89.2	90.7	32.4
Saskatchewan	86.1	88.9	21.2
Alberta	86.5	88.8	44.4
British Columbia	89.9	92.9	40.9
Yukon Territory	91.9	91.9
Northwest Territories	89.4	89.4
Nunavut	94.5	94.5
... not applicable 1. There are no administrative records used in new car dealers.

Weighted Response Rates

Respondents are sent a questionnaire or are contacted by telephone to obtain their sales and inventory values, as well as to confirm the opening or closing of business trading locations. Collection of the data begins approximately 7 working days after the end of the reference month and continues for the duration of that month.

New entrants to the survey are introduced to the survey via an introductory letter that informs the respondent that a representative of Statistics Canada will be calling. This call is to introduce the respondent to the survey, confirm the respondent's business activity, establish and begin data collection, as well as to answer any questions that the respondent may have.

8. Editing

Data editing is the application of checks to detect missing, invalid or inconsistent entries or to point to data records that are potentially in error. In the survey process for the MRTS, data editing is done at two different time periods.

First of all, editing is done during data collection. Once data are collected via the telephone, or via the receipt of completed mail-in questionnaires, the data are captured using customized data capture applications. All data are subjected to data editing. Edits during data collection are referred to as field edits and generally consist of validity and some simple consistency edits. They are used to detect mistakes made during the interview by the respondent or the interviewer and to identify missing information during collection in order to reduce the need for follow-up later on. Another purpose of the field edits is to clean up responses. In the MRTS, the current month’s responses are edited against the respondent’s previous month’s responses and/or the previous year’s responses for the current month. Field edits are also used to identify problems with data collection procedures and the design of the questionnaire, as well as the need for more interviewer training.

Follow-up with respondents occurs to validate potential erroneous data following any failed preliminary edit check of the data. Once validated, the collected data is regularly transmitted to the head office in Ottawa.

Secondly, editing known as statistical editing is also done after data collection and this is more empirical in nature. Statistical editing is run prior to imputation in order to identify the data that will be used as a basis to impute non-respondents. Large outliers that could disrupt a monthly trend are excluded from trend calculations by the statistical edits. It should be noted that adjustments are not made at this stage to correct the reported outliers.

The first step in the statistical editing is to identify which responses will be subjected to the statistical edit rules. Reported data for the current reference month will go through various edit checks.

The first set of edit checks is based on the Hidiriglou-Berthelot method whereby a ratio of the respondent’s current month data over historical (last month, same month last year) or auxiliary data is analyzed. When the respondent’s ratio differs significantly from ratios of respondents who are similar in terms of industry and/or geography group, the response is deemed an outlier.

The second set of edits consists of an edit known as the share of market edit. With this method, one is able to edit all respondents, even those where historical and auxiliary data is unavailable. The method relies on current month data only. Therefore, within a group of respondents, that are similar in terms of industrial group and/or geography, if the weighted contribution of a respondent to the group’s total is too large, it will be flagged as an outlier.

For edit checks based on the Hidiriglou-Berthelot method, data that are flagged as an outlier will not be included in the imputation models (those based on ratios). Also, data that are flagged as outliers in the share of market edit will not be included in the imputation models where means and medians are calculated to impute for responses that have no historical responses.

In conjunction with the statistical editing after data collection of reported data, there is also error detection done on the extracted GST data. Modeled data based on the GST are also subject to an extensive series of processing steps which thoroughly verify each record that is the basis for the model as well as the record being modeled. Edits are performed at a more aggregate level (industry by geography level) to detect records which deviate from the expected range, either by exhibiting large month-to-month change, or differing significantly from the remaining units. All data which fail these edits are subject to manual inspection and possible corrective action.

9. Imputation

Imputation in the MRTS is the process used to assign replacement values for missing data. This is done by assigning values when they are missing on the record being edited to ensure that estimates are of high quality and that a plausible, internal consistency is created. Due to concerns of response burden, cost and timeliness, it is generally impossible to do all follow-ups with the respondents in order to resolve missing responses. Since it is desirable to produce a complete and consistent microdata file, imputation is used to handle the remaining missing cases.

In the MRTS, imputation is based on historical data or administrative data (GST sales). The appropriate method is selected according to a strategy that is based on whether historical data is available, auxiliary data is available and/or which reference month is being processed.

There are three types of historical imputation methods. The first type is a general trend that uses one historical data source (previous month, data from next month or data from same month previous year). The second type is a regression model where data from previous month and same month previous year are used simultaneously. The third type uses the historical data as a direct replacement value for a non-respondent. Depending upon the particular reference month, there is an order of preference that exists so that top quality imputation can result. The historical imputation method that was labelled as the third type above is always the last option in the order for each reference month.

The imputation methods using administrative data are automatically selected when historical information is unavailable for a non-respondent. The administrative data source (annual GST sales) is the basis of these methods. The annual GST sales are used for two types of methods. One is a general trend that will be used for simple structure, e.g. enterprises with only one establishment, and a second type is called median-average that is used for units with a more complex structure.

10. Estimation

Estimation is a process that approximates unknown population parameters using only part of the population that is included in a sample. Inferences about these unknown parameters are then made, using the sample data and associated survey design. This stage uses Statistics Canada's Generalized Estimation System (GES).

For retail sales, the population is divided into a survey portion (take-all and take-some strata) and a non-survey portion (take-none stratum). From the sample that is drawn from the survey portion, an estimate for the population is determined through the use of a Horvitz-Thompson estimator where responses for sales are weighted by using the inverses of the inclusion probabilities of the sampled units. Such weights (called sampling weights) can be interpreted as the number of times that each sampled unit should be replicated to represent the entire population. The calculated weighted sales values are summed by domain, to produce the total sales estimates by each industrial group / geographic area combination. A domain is defined as the most recent classification values available from the BR for the unit and the survey reference period. These domains may differ from the original sampling strata because units may have changed size, industry or location. Changes in classification are reflected immediately in the estimates and do not accumulate over time. For the non-survey portion, the sales are estimated with statistical models using monthly GST sales.

For more information on the methodology for modeling sales from administrative data sources which also contributes to the estimates of the survey portion, refer to ‘Monthly Retail Survey: Use of Administrative Data’ under ‘Documentation’ of the IMDB.

The measure of precision used for the MRTS to evaluate the quality of a population parameter estimate and to obtain valid inferences is the variance. The variance from the survey portion is derived directly from a stratified simple random sample without replacement.

Sample estimates may differ from the expected value of the estimates. However, since the estimate is based on a probability sample, the variability of the sample estimate with respect to its expected value can be measured. The variance of an estimate is a measure of the precision of the sample estimate and is defined as the average, over all possible samples, of the squared difference of the estimate from its expected value.

11. Revisions and seasonal adjustment

Revisions in the raw data are required to correct known non-sampling errors. These normally include replacing imputed data with reported data, corrections to previously reported data, and estimates for new births that were not known at the time of the original estimates. Raw data are revised, on a monthly basis, for the month immediately prior to the current reference month being published. That is, when data for December are being published for the first time, there will also be revisions, if necessary, to the raw data for November. In addition, revisions are made once a year, with the initial release of the February data, for all months in the previous year. The purpose is to correct any significant problems that have been found that apply for an extended period. The actual period of revision depends on the nature of the problem identified, but rarely exceeds three years. Time series contain the elements essential to the description, explanation and forecasting of the behaviour of an economic phenomenon: "They are statistical records of the evolution of economic processes through time."¹ Economic time series such as the Monthly Retail Trade Survey can be broken down into five main components: the trend-cycle, seasonality, the trading-day effect, the Easter holiday effect and the irregular component.

The trend represents the long-term change in the series, whereas the cycle represents a smooth, quasi-periodical movement about the trend, showing a succession of growth and decline phases (e.g., the business cycle). These two components—the trend and the cycle—are estimated together, and the trend-cycle reflects the fundamental evolution of the series. The other components reflect short-term transient movements.

The seasonal component represents sub-annual, monthly or quarterly fluctuations that recur more or less regularly from one year to the next. Seasonal variations are caused by the direct and indirect effects of the climatic seasons and institutional factors (attributable to social conventions or administrative rules; e.g., Christmas).

The trading-day component originates from the fact that the relative importance of the days varies systematically within the week and that the number of each day of the week in a given month varies from year to year. This effect is present when activity varies with the day of the week. For instance, Sunday is typically less active than the other days, and the number of Sundays, Mondays, etc., in a given month changes from year to year.

The Easter holiday effect is the variation due to the shift of part of April’s activity to March when Easter falls in March rather than April.

Lastly, the irregular component includes all other more or less erratic fluctuations not taken into account in the preceding components. It is a residual that includes errors of measurement on the 1. A Note on the Seasonal adjustment of Economic Time Series», Canadian Statistical Review, August 1974.  A variable itself as well as unusual events (e.g., strikes, drought, floods, major power blackout or other unexpected events causing variations in respondents’ activities).

Thus, the latter four components—seasonal, irregular, trading-day and Easter holiday effect—all conceal the fundamental trend-cycle component of the series. Seasonal adjustment (correction of seasonal variation) consists in removing the seasonal, trading-day and Easter holiday effect components from the series, and it thus helps reveal the trend-cycle. While seasonal adjustment permits a better understanding of the underlying trend-cycle of a series, the seasonally adjusted series still contains an irregular component. Slight month-to-month variations in the seasonally adjusted series may be simple irregular movements. To get a better idea of the underlying trend, users should examine several months of the seasonally adjusted series.

Since April 2008, Monthly Retail Trade Survey data are seasonally adjusted using the X-12- ARIMA2 software. The technique that is used essentially consists of first correcting the initial series for all sorts of undesirable effects, such as the trading-day and the Easter holiday effects, by a module called regARIMA. These effects are estimated using regression models with ARIMA errors (auto-regressive integrated moving average models). The series can also be extrapolated for at least one year by using the model. Subsequently, the raw series—pre-adjusted and extrapolated if applicable— is seasonally adjusted by the X-11 method.

The X-11 method is used for analysing monthly and quarterly series. It is based on an iterative principle applied in estimating the different components, with estimation being done at each stage using adequate moving averages3. The moving averages used to estimate the main components—the trend and seasonality—are primarily smoothing tools designed to eliminate an undesirable component from the series. Since moving averages react poorly to the presence of atypical values, the X-11 method includes a tool for detecting and correcting atypical points. This tool is used to clean up the series during the seasonal adjustment. Outlying data points can also be detected and corrected in advance, within the regARIMA module.

Lastly, the annual totals of the seasonally adjusted series are forced to the annual totals of the original series.

Unfortunately, seasonal adjustment removes the sub-annual additivity of a system of series; small discrepancies can be observed between the sum of seasonally adjusted series and the direct seasonal adjustment of their total. To insure or restore additivity in a system of series, a reconciliation process is applied or indirect seasonal adjustment is used, i.e. the seasonal adjustment of a total is derived by the summation of the individually seasonally adjusted series.

12. Data quality evaluation

The methodology of this survey has been designed to control errors and to reduce their potential effects on estimates. However, the survey results remain subject to errors, of which sampling error is only one component of the total survey error. Sampling error results when observations are made only on a sample and not on the entire population. All other errors arising from the various phases of a survey are referred to as nonsampling errors. For example, these types of errors can occur when a respondent provides incorrect information or does not answer certain questions; when a unit in the target population is omitted or covered more than once; when GST data for records being modeled for a particular month are not representative of the actual record for various reasons; when a unit that is out of scope for the survey is included by mistake or when errors occur in data processing, such as coding or capture errors.

Prior to publication, combined survey results are analyzed for comparability; in general, this includes a detailed review of individual responses (especially for large businesses), general economic conditions and historical trends.

A common measure of data quality for surveys is the coefficient of variation (CV). The coefficient of variation, defined as the standard error divided by the sample estimate, is a measure of precision in relative terms. Since the coefficient of variation is calculated from responses of individual units, it also measures some non-sampling errors.

The formula used to calculate coefficients of variation (CV) as percentages is:

CV (X) = S(X) * 100% / X
where X denotes the estimate and S(X) denotes the standard error of X.

Confidence intervals can be constructed around the estimates using the estimate and the CV. Thus, for our sample, it is possible to state with a given level of confidence that the expected value will fall within the confidence interval constructed around the estimate. For example, if an estimate of $12,000,000 has a CV of 2%, the standard error will be $240,000 (the estimate multiplied by the CV). It can be stated with 68% confidence that the expected values will fall within the interval whose length equals the standard deviation about the estimate, i.e. between $11,760,000 and $12,240,000.

Alternatively, it can be stated with 95% confidence that the expected value will fall within the interval whose length equals two standard deviations about the estimate, i.e. between $11,520,000 and $12,480,000.

Finally, due to the small contribution of the non-survey portion to the total estimates, bias in the non-survey portion has a negligible impact on the CVs. Therefore, the CV from the survey portion is used for the total estimate that is the summation of estimates from the surveyed and non-surveyed portions.

13. Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Confidentiality analysis includes the detection of possible "direct disclosure", which occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of a few respondents or when the cell is dominated by a few companies.