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Table of contents

• Message from the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council
• Executive Summary
• Recommendations
• 1. Engagement and knowledge
  • 1.1 Engage Canadians and policy makers in a modern national statistical system
  • 1.2 Explain the concepts of value proposition and risk management
  • 1.3 Invest in data science and analytical skills
• 2. Data flows
  • 2.1 Innovate to address data gaps
  • 2.2 Develop new data flows across jurisdictions
  • 2.3 Ensure that statistical standards form the basis of data sharing and analysis
• 3. Final word
• Endnotes

Message from the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council

The national statistical system^{Footnote 1} is essential for helping Canadians keep pace with a rapidly changing society. Modernizing statistical methods and technologies makes it possible to produce relevant statistical information, which is critical for enabling Canadians to make informed decisions, lead innovation and address the country's most pressing problems. Canadians need credible and trusted data, especially within the current context of misinformation and disinformation.

Governments must have access to high-quality data to design and deliver effective public services to meet Canada's most critical needs, such as affordable housing and access to health care, as well as respond to rising costs and the environmental and economic effects of climate change.

In difficult times, data become even more crucial for understanding and tackling important issues. The cost of programs and decisions based on poor or incomplete data can be enormous. The country's data ecosystem and statistical programs are essential, core infrastructure that should not be nickel-and-dimed or subject to budget cuts. Rather, there must be greater investment in developing a cohesive national data system that is critical to supporting economic recovery and ensuring Canada's prosperity and well-being.

Developing and using statistical data today require the latest technologies, such as cloud computing, generative artificial intelligence and sensors. A wide range of new data science and analytical skills are also necessary. At the same time, there must be an openness to dialogue on the importance and use of data and a commitment to shared data standards.

This year's report from the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council examines emerging data practices that are shaping the statistical system, as well as the opportunities and barriers associated with new data sources. This focus builds on the Council's previous reports, which looked at the importance of having timely, consistent, and disaggregated data; the need for new types of partnerships and data coordination; and principles for developing a national statistical system to address critical data needs.

Meeting data needs and expectations can be challenging. The Council has been advocating for public and private organizations to work with Statistics Canada in coordinating and standardizing measures and data flows. The private sector has an important role to play as part of Canada's national statistical system, because governments alone cannot meet the growing information needs of Canadians.

We are grateful to Statistics Canada, the Chief Statistician of Canada (who is an ex officio member of the Council) and his excellent team for responding to our requests for information with both written and oral presentations. We offer particular thanks to Sam Ndayishimye and Gaëlle Miollan of the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council Secretariat for their advice and assistance. We are also grateful for the work of Dr. Céline Le Bourdais and her insights as a member of the Council these past few years.

We would like to thank Anil Arora for his exceptional service as Chief Statistician. Over the course of his mandate, Anil has ushered in critical modernization and transformation that have helped ensure the agency's central role in the national statistical system and continue to be a world leader among statistical agencies. It is important that his successor carry on the work of modernization to ensure that Statistics Canada and the national statistical system keep adapting to changing data needs and technologies. This includes working with partners from all sectors, inside and outside of government, in developing critical statistical infrastructure and data flows. The new Chief Statistician will also need to foster meaningful dialogue with Canadians on why good data matter and to maintain the trust that their data will be protected.

Signed:
The Canadian Statistics Advisory Council

Dr. Howard Ramos, Chairperson
Annette Hester
Dr. Benoit Dostie
David Chaundy
Jan Kestle

Executive summary

Engagement and knowledge

People are inundated daily with information. It can be a challenge to distinguish reliable data from all the figures and "facts" they see and hear. This can result in misinformation and misunderstandings about issues of importance to Canadians.

Statistics Canada has a vital role to play in promoting and teaching data literacy and analytical skills. This includes raising awareness of why official statistics matter and how they are being collected, stored and used. It also includes helping Canadians and policy makers understand the implications of new technologies and how they shape statistical information.

The agency has made important investments in cloud technologies, data analytics and real-time remote access to its data holdings. Its methodologists and analysts are expanding their expertise to work with new types of data, such as satellite imagery, scanner data and environment samples. Modern methods and data sources must then be blended with time-tested methods and data in a statistically rigorous fashion. This requires a new way of thinking about how different forms of data relate to each other and how they contribute to a more complete understanding of societal issues.

Statistical organizations have an important role to play in helping Canadians appreciate the groundbreaking implications of artificial intelligence on data. Improper use of artificial intelligence can lead to misunderstandings of issues around data, their need, and their development and an erosion of trust and disengagement of citizens. Canadians benefit from Statistics Canada being a leader in the country and internationally, chairing groups that identify and address common challenges encountered when incorporating machine learning in production processes.

Data flows

Today's society needs new types of data, with greater frequency and granularity, to address issues of top concern. Almost every sector is asking for good, timely data.

Leading-edge methods and technology can transform and integrate digital forms of information into valuable data. New public and private data are already being drawn upon in areas such as prices, transportation, housing, labour, agriculture, the environment, tourism and economic development. When data are shared across jurisdictions, and across sectors, the ability to plan and evaluate the benefits of programs increases dramatically. This is not possible without ongoing investments by the federal government and other sectors to enable and maintain state-of-the-art technology and infrastructure and develop the skills of employees.

Statistics Canada has moved from primarily delivering data to also playing more of a stewardship role for data literacy, standards and methods, data sharing, and the coordination of data flows. The 2023–2026 Data Strategy for the Federal Public Service lays out Statistics Canada's stewardship role in enabling data discovery, integration and reuse; developing an evergreen list of standards; transforming data into insights through data hubs; and promoting training in data literacy and analytical skills. This can only be truly successful if data requirements and funding are explicitly included upfront when planning federal government programs.

A key element of national data strategies is the different perspectives that come from bringing organizations together. This has been exemplified through successful partnerships with government departments and Indigenous communities.

Recommendations

Engagement and knowledge

Recommendation 1:
Engage Canadians and policy makers in a modern national statistical system

Data literacy, new technologies and analytical capacity should be valued and developed among the general data user community, as well as public and private organizations. Sound statistical data are needed for Canadians and businesses to make informed decisions.

The Chief Statistician of Canada should

1. invest further in data literacy to enable Canadians and policy makers to assess and use new types of statistical data
2. promote informed public dialogue about the role of data in a digital economy and their importance for effective decision making.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry should

3. ensure that data literacy and analytic workshops and training that promote upskilling, such as that offered by Statistics Canada, are mandatory for public sector program managers and analysts.

Recommendation 2:
Invest in data science and analytical skills

Developing and using statistical data today require new data science skills, including data visualisation, data coordination, data interpretation and analysis. Definitions of data, metadata and data systems are in flux as new generations of Canadians view and use information differently.

The Chief Statistician of Canada should continue to

1. invest in training Statistics Canada staff to foster data science skills for developing and using new methods and data sources
2. engage with partners in the effective and appropriate use of artificial intelligence for collecting and interpreting data and for monitoring the impact of programs.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry should

3. ensure that data science competencies and job descriptions within federal departments are developed in consultation with Statistics Canada.

Data flows

Recommendation 3:
Develop innovative data flows

There should be greater investment by the federal government and other sectors in implementing and maintaining state-of-the-art platforms, software and communications technologies to enable and coordinate the timely collection of important data across jurisdictions to build a truly national data infrastructure.

The Chief Statistician of Canada should continue to

1. develop state-of-the-art platforms, software and communications technologies to ensure that Statistics Canada remains a leader in modern statistical data development.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry should

2. work with the Treasury Board Secretariat to develop new mechanisms and sources of funding to support modernization that keeps pace with new technologies to ensure that Statistics Canada and other arms of government are not left behind
3. ensure that new Government of Canada programs and federal agreements with partners have a data needs assessment for planning, delivering and evaluating programs that considers costs of data coordination, skills training and sustainable infrastructure
4. ensure that any new data privacy and protection legislation and policies allow for the adoption of emerging data practices, while continuing to recognize the authority of Statistics Canada to collect data and coordinate data flows.

Recommendation 4:
Recognize the role of data stewardship

Statistics Canada has an important role to play in establishing data standards and methodologies, sharing data, and coordinating data flows. Statistical standards and methods are the foundation for coherent, high-quality national statistics.

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry should

1. recognize and support Statistics Canada as a key data steward in establishing and leading partnerships for developing and coordinating statistical data flows at the federal level and in setting data and methodology standards nationwide
2. ensure that new leadership at Statistics Canada continues to have a deep appreciation of the national statistical system, fosters meaningful dialogue with Canadians on why good data matter, maintains the trust that their data will be protected, and develops with partners from all sectors the statistical infrastructure and data flows so critical to addressing Canada's most pressing issues.

1. Engagement and knowledge

1.1 Engage Canadians and policy makers in a modern national statistical system

Canadians are proud of their statistical system. Time and time again, they participate in and use data from Statistics Canada's programs. They fiercely advocated to maintain the census in 2011, and 98% responded to the 2021 Census.^{Footnote 2} People rely on the census to update the socioeconomic portrait of the country and to provide planners with local information needed to build schools, roads and hospitals. In addition, Canadians have embraced the agency's use of modern technology and methods, with 84% of households responding online to the most recent census. Statistics Canada is also giving many Canadians the option to complete the monthly Labour Force Survey online—two-thirds of respondents do so.

Canadians also contribute indirectly to the national statistical system with data they provide through administrative programs. Vital statistics and immigration and taxation data have long been used by Statistics Canada to produce population estimates and replace census and household survey questions.

At the same time, Statistics Canada is wrestling with lower response rates for its voluntary surveys. Its household surveys are becoming less viable as a sole method of collection, partly because of the difficulty of reaching Canadians at home and because of a saturation of requests for other surveys. The agency is not alone—statistical agencies around the world, as well as private research and analytics firms, are facing this challenge. As Statistics Canada looks to data from other sources, including administrative data, it is important that the agency communicate how these data are collected and used.

Business surveys are also experiencing problems, with companies overburdened by completing survey questionnaires. Statistics Canada's modernization efforts have included working with the business community to facilitate transfers of existing company records instead of filling out surveys and to develop alternate sources of data.

Promote informed public dialogue on the role of data

Through A Data Story^{Footnote 3} events held across the country, the Chief Statistician gives data presentations on key social and economic issues including housing, public safety and immigration. Helping people learn about how their government uses data to improve their lives is an important part of engaging Canadians. Statistics Canada has a responsibility to promote this dialogue through social media and its various web portals. Data providers and analytics firms also need to echo the message.

People are inundated daily with information. It can be a challenge to distinguish reliable data from all the figures and "facts" they see and hear. This can result in misinformation and misunderstandings about issues of importance to Canadians. Cases in point are the confusion around the cause and transmission of the COVID-19 virus during its early days and the extent of foreign home ownership.

Conflicting information from multiple sources can lead people to question the integrity of all information. Canadians need to be reassured that the data they provide to Statistics Canada benefit them and society, and that they will remain protected. The measures the agency takes to respect the privacy of Canadians and ensure the confidentiality of their information while implementing new technologies are world-leading.

Enhance data literacy

Data literacy and analytical skills should be valued within the public and private sectors, as well as within the general data user community.

Statistics Canada has a vital role to play in promoting and teaching these skills. The agency has developed a broad data literacy program to meet the diverse needs of data users. The data literacy training program is comprehensive and tailored to different levels of expertise. It also promotes public awareness of why official statistics matter and how they are being collected, stored and used.

The agency actively works with schools, communities and organizations to increase practical data literacy and numeracy skills that can be used in people's daily lives. Specialized workshops provide more technical courses for data scientists and analysts.

Statistics Canada reaches out to policy makers and businesses, to help them understand how technology and modernization are changing opportunities to collect, access and interpret data. The training leads to a better appreciation of the value of analysis when data from different perspectives are brought together. It also helps discern good data from questionable data.

However, many managers and analysts within the government lack knowledge and understanding of the role of data when planning programs, including the statistical infrastructure needed today to collect and house information. These public servants would benefit from data literacy and analytical skills training and workshops, such as those offered by Statistics Canada. The agency is presently expanding its program to meet specific needs of government departments, and many public servants have already participated in pilot courses and workshops. Given the important role of data in federal programs, the Council feels that this training should be mandatory for all federal program managers and analysts. As well, the training should be in person to promote dialogue on data sharing and data flows.

Program managers and analysts could also benefit from courses given in the private sector, such as Readying Infrastructure and Data for a Digital Public Sector, offered by INFONEX,^{Footnote 4} a firm providing conferences and training to professionals in the public and private sectors.

1.2 Explain the concepts of value proposition and risk management

The terms "value proposition" and "risk management" are used to describe the rigorous process to responsibly collect and use statistical information. These are not concepts that come to mind easily for most Canadians, though they may intuitively appreciate their underlying principles.

The value of statistical information generally increases with the level of in-depth and cross-cutting detail captured. Risk management weighs the value of obtaining this level of detail against the privacy incursion and considers the participant, the data collector and the data user.

Value proposition and risk management are the basis of Statistics Canada's programs and are also part of recent regulations in the European Union.^{Footnote 5} While the need to collect personal information for the public good has always existed, the scope has intensified, driven by the societal need to better understand complex issues. For example, assessing quality of life requires considering cross-cutting social, economic and environmental dimensions; each taken in isolation leads to an incomplete picture.

Communicating value proposition and risk management

Statistics Canada's expertise in protecting the privacy of personal information is well recognized and sought internationally. However, if this is not effectively communicated to Canadians, there is a lost opportunity to establish and strengthen bonds of trust between them and Statistics Canada.

The Council (in its 2020 CSAC report) and others have encouraged Statistics Canada to be more transparent on matters of privacy and confidentiality. This is essential to maintaining public trust. The agency must thus communicate the concepts of value proposition and risk management in more user-friendly language, including its methods and practices for collecting, using and storing data.

Statistics Canada's Trust Centre presents much of this information. However, the portal is not accessed much by citizens, who provide the agency with much of its data. The portal needs to be part of a multi-faceted communications program that includes promoting data literacy and engaging the public in dialogue through social media and other venues. The agency's podcast episodes that go behind the data and its Reddit "Ask Me Anything" sessions for the Consumer Price Index are good examples of how this can be achieved, but more needs to be done.

Proposed changes to Canada's data protection laws

In last year's CSAC report, the Council examined the government's proposed changes to Canada's data protection laws. The Council welcomes these proposed revisions which enable responsible data innovation in a digital and global economy. The Council again emphasizes that the legislation must endorse the role of data in securing the country's future. The legislation must also promote the need for the government to consider upfront the value proposition of data collection and use. It cannot erode Statistics Canada's ability to fulfill its mandate and meet the needs of Canadians.

The Council remains concerned about the lack of clarity in the proposed revisions to data protection laws around de-identified and anonymized data. Statistics Canada's contribution to regulations on de-identification is very important.

1.3 Invest in data science and analytical skills

Developing and using new forms of data require different skills and practices. Data scientists are using advanced analytics technologies, including machine learning and predictive modelling, to support the identification of trends, scrape data from unstructured web sources and solve problems. These technologies are employed by consulting firms, information companies, universities, banks, and information technology departments in the public and private sectors.

For statistical institutions like Statistics Canada, this requires a new way of thinking about how different forms of data relate to each other and how they contribute to a more complete understanding of societal issues. Methodologists and analysts need to continue to upskill and be trained to work with new types of data, such as satellite imagery, scanner data and environment samples. These modern methods and data sources must then be blended with time-tested methods and data in a statistically rigorous fashion.

As part of the federal data strategy, data science competencies and job descriptions within federal departments should be developed in consultation with Statistics Canada. This would lead to more coherence as programs develop their data needs assessment.

Statistics Canada has made important investments in cloud technologies, data analytics as a service and real-time remote access to its data holdings by government researchers. Virtual data labs and new approaches, such as crowdsourcing, web panels and flash estimates, are paying dividends in addressing many data gaps. They are also connecting challenging public policy questions with data expertise and analytics.

Opportunities are lost when these skills are not engaged or are underused. For example, Statistics Canada has experts in data visualisation with a focus primarily on communication. Yet data visualisation is a powerful tool for all aspects of data development, including exploration, collection, integration and analysis.

Exchanges between organizations can be a good way to share knowledge and experiences. For example, Statistics Canada initiated the Data Science Fellowship Program to build a strong data science capacity in the federal government by placing qualified data science experts in various government departments. Cross-sectoral and interdepartmental partnerships are also being created by sharing leading-edge best practices in data analytics platforms, business intelligence, data management and big data. Statistics Canada has also established a partnership on machine learning with Mila, a Montréal-based academic research centre, with a community of over 1,000 researchers

Artificial intelligence

Statistical organizations need to consider the groundbreaking implications of artificial intelligence (AI) on the data they produce and on their operations. Improper use of AI can lead to an erosion of trust and disengagement of citizens.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) has recognized that machine learning holds great potential for statistical organizations.^{Footnote 6} Its High-Level Group for the Modernisation of Official Statistics (HLG-MOS) has explored how statistics can be produced more efficiently by automating certain processes or helping staff to carry them out. AI also allows statistical organizations to use new types of data, such as data from social media and imagery.

On the international front, Statistics Canada does not take a back seat. It plays leadership roles in the HLG-MOS and the big data and data science expert groups that are identifying and addressing common challenges encountered when incorporating machine learning into the production processes of organizations. The UNECE framework on the responsible use of AI for statistical purposes draws upon the experience of Statistics Canada.

Within Canada, the agency leads the AI and Data Governance Standardization Collaborative, an initiative created by the Standards Council of Canada that brings together industry, government, Indigenous organizations, civil society, academic and research bodies, pan-Canadian organizations, and standards development organizations.

Machine learning and AI have been used at Statistics Canada for classifying products based on scanned descriptions, interpreting satellite images used in predicting crop yields, and identifying and estimating the size of greenhouses. This has reduced response burden for farmers and eliminated some agriculture surveys.

AI has also allowed Statistics Canada to improve the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation, by incorporating retail scanner data and real-time website information. Point-of-sale data, or transaction data, are the highest-quality price data available, as they track actual prices paid by Canadians at the checkout counter.

The agency should consider other untapped applications of AI. For example, AI could offer more timely and consistent data vetting practices in Research Data Centres, allowing staff in the centres to focus on reviewing the more complex results.

2. Data flows

2.1 Innovate to address data gaps

Today's society needs new types of data with greater frequency and granularity to address issues of top concern. For example, there is a lack of timely data to assess the devastating impacts of climate change on small and rural communities and to support sustainable adaptation options. This requires linking satellite data, temperature sensor data, trends in weather and sociodemographic data. Accessing privately held data, such as sensor data, can be particularly challenging.

Almost every sector is asking for high-quality, timely data. Canadians are concerned with increases in the cost of food, housing and energy. Governments and businesses need information to deal with changes in consumer and work habits. Of particular concern are important data gaps within the environment, cross-border trade, competitiveness, intellectual property and banking sectors. This includes data from financial institutions and data from commercial entities that are held by governments. The utility of these data diminishes significantly if they cannot be accessed.
There is a demand by public and non-government researchers for access to more detailed industry and commercial data. As Statistics Canada continues to modernize, it should look to methods and practices that would permit greater granularity of these data.

There is also a strong demand for data to support the development of healthy ecosystems; preserve natural capital; and support policies and legislation in key economic sectors, including industry and agriculture. In response, Statistics Canada recently developed the Census of Environment. The Council feels that this new program, with its complex data system, is ambitious and would benefit from further examination of how the agency can best contribute to the national environment data ecosystem. This includes building relationships with new types of partners that will provide different perspectives on what is needed. This also entails building on existing foundational datasets to address important data gaps that would benefit from consistent funding.

The research community, echoed by the Council in its CSAC 2020 report, has long advocated for remote access to Statistics Canada microdata. The successful pilot project providing remote access to government researchers is a step in the right direction. Progress on developing a virtual Research Data Centre accessible to all Canadian researchers is much slower. Creating a sustainable, secure non-government network requires new partnerships, funding and cloud computing approaches and should be pursued in a timely manner.

2.2 Develop new data flows across jurisdictions

Data stewardship

A vast amount of data within the national statistical system are developed and maintained by various governments and Indigenous, local and private organizations.

The federal government should further recognize and support Statistics Canada as a key national data steward in establishing and leading partnerships for developing and coordinating statistical data flows at the federal level and in setting data and methodology standards nationwide.

Statistics Canada has moved from primarily delivering data to also providing more services on data literacy, standards and methods, data sharing, and the coordination of data flows. Statistics Canada is well placed to do so, as it has in-depth knowledge of social, economic and environmental issues and can advise on data development in support of community and policy decisions.

New public and private data are being analysed in areas such as prices, transportation, housing, labour, agriculture, the environment, tourism and economic development. This includes the creation of data hubs that facilitate data access and sharing of data and ideas, and that foster communities of engagement. While these initiatives show great promise, many are in preliminary stages. It is important that these partnerships continue to be supported, as much more work remains to be done.

The Council feels that as the agency experiences a leadership transition, it is paramount that the new Chief Statistician have the skills and commitment to keep pace with innovation and change in the data ecosystem and promote the dialogue and relationships that are essential to fostering collaboration.

Federal data flows

In its Budget 2022, the federal government recognized the benefits of departments collaborating on data methods and skills training. It followed up with the 2023–2026 Data Strategy for the Federal Public Service, which lays out the stewardship role of Statistics Canada. This includes enabling data discovery, integration and reuse; developing an evergreen list of standards; transforming data into insights through data hubs; and promoting training in data literacy and analytical skills.

This is most welcome, as many groups within departments have traditionally worked in silos, resulting in inefficiencies, higher costs and lost opportunities. Their projects with Statistics Canada are often too narrow in scope and rely on funding that is subject to departmental budget cuts. In these circumstances, it becomes very difficult to plan and implement holistic national statistical programs. For example, inconsistent and siloed federal funding has affected the agency's ability to create time series for detailed energy production and consumption by province that match national statistics published by the International Energy Agency.

Through implementation of their Disaggregated Data Action Plan, Statistics Canada continues to make progress in addressing certain information gaps. More detailed data are now available on the lived experiences of diverse populations which support decision-making to address racism, inequalities, and other systemic barriers.

In a fiscally constrained environment, there is a need to prioritize data needs. The Council has previously advocated (see CSAC 2022 report) that holistic statistical data requirements and funding be explicitly included in the planning for all federal government programs. While departments are responsible for developing the data they need, they should do so in concert with other departments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

There should be greater investment by the federal government and other sectors in providing data science skills training and in implementing and maintaining state-of-the-art platforms, software and communications technologies. Done appropriately, this will lead to program efficiencies and reduced costs. At the same time, this modernization comes with ongoing costs of unstructured data processing, data storage and systems maintenance that must be planned and resourced.

Promising practices

The Housing Statistics Portal, for example, is key to addressing the country's housing and affordability crises. Developed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in partnership with Statistics Canada, this data hub relies exclusively on administrative data collected from private and public data sources. In particular, it is filling in data gaps related to residential property ownership in Canada.

The new BERDI tool by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) is transforming access to information collected for environmental and socioeconomic assessments of pipelines and powerlines Much of the information had not been easily accessible to the public, journalists and researchers. BERDI makes data for 20 years of assessments easy to find, understand and study. In a separate project on Indigenous data sovereignty, the CER digitized and identified 50 years of oral participation from First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations and communities, including testimonies from Elders and Knowledge Keepers. This was done with each of the groups to increase access, control and ownership of transcripts and audio files.

Other good initiatives include Statistics Canada's Linkable Open Data Environment, a set of open databases providing metadata on buildings, health care facilities, educational facilities, recreational and sport facilities, cultural and art facilities, and greenhouses; the Quality of Life Hub, where the agency brings together information for key indicators on the well-being of people in Canada; data on temporary foreign workers employed in the agriculture and food processing sectors, based on tax data and other alternative data sources, addressing a long-standing data gap;^{Footnote 7} and the agency's AgZero initiative, using alternative data and advanced technologies to reduce response burden on farmers.

Provincial and territorial data flows

Canadians increasingly live and work across jurisdictions, calling for a truly national system that allows for comparisons from coast to coast to coast. In its previous CSAC reports, the Council highlighted barriers to collecting data across jurisdictions, such as a lack of timely, nationally consistent and disaggregated data.

With significant demands for new types of data on biodiversity, clean technology, sustainable agriculture and reduction in plastic waste, there needs to be more sharing and integration of energy and environmental data from provincial and territorial governments, environmental NGOs, academic researchers, and the private sector.

When data are shared across jurisdictions, the ability to plan and evaluate the benefits of programs increases dramatically. Integrating data at the provincial and territorial level has added complexity when jurisdictions become siloed, and legislation and policies create barriers to data sharing. As detailed in previous reports, it has been next to impossible to develop national comparative data for some critical areas.

Promising practices

The Council was encouraged by the 2023 Canada Health Transfer agreements, which included support for improving data flows and developing national indicators on health care and health care workers. Canadians demand a health care system that addresses issues such as availability of health practitioners and wait times. This can only be assessed through coordinated data across jurisdictions. Provinces and territories are also developing online applications to help health practitioners and patients more easily navigate the health care system and access medical information. The Council sees this as a promising set of initiatives with huge potential if this information can be coordinated across jurisdictions.

The geospatial Community Fire Risk Reduction Dashboard is a pilot project between Statistics Canada and the Office of the Fire Commissioner for the province of British Columbia. It visually shows the level of neighbourhood fire risk using data from the census and the National Fire Information Database. Many users have recognized the value of this dashboard. Statistics Canada is now working with the Office of the Fire Marshal in Ontario to create a similar dashboard.

Municipal and private sector data flows

Statistics Canada is a world leader in partnering with municipalities and the private sector to expand and enrich the quality of their combined information.

The Council has observed more collaboration among government and the data and analytics industry. Private sector firms are mining data from a wide variety of passive sources, such as data from device sensors connected with systems over the Internet. This work can add rich insight to data gaps identified by the government.

Mining phone movement data is an area of significant investment by private sector data firms all over the world. Statistics Canada's innovation teams are partnering with reliable researchers in the private sector to ensure that this innovative work involves methods that ensure privacy, accuracy, governance and transparency.

Despite some irresponsible companies that give data producers in the private sector a bad name, many companies not only comply with data governance rules but also make high-quality statistical information available.

Promising practices

Statistics Canada works with consumer credit reporting agencies—for example, Equifax and TransUnion—that offer services such as credit monitoring and fraud prevention based on data they obtain from financial institutions. When the data are integrated with demographic data and other sources of payment history they become important for the public good. These companies offer data that could help small businesses access capital and provide credit records for groups with limited financial tracking, such as immigrants, Indigenous people and youth.

As part of an ongoing partnership with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Statistics Canada has created the Centre for Municipal and Local Data. This portal integrates municipal census data with statistics on housing, health and crime, and an experimental dashboard containing municipal financial and socioeconomic data.

Canada's business landscape is at a critical juncture, with the economy adjusting to higher interest rates and an economic slowdown or possible recession. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce's collaborative initiative to harness existing data and build the Business Data Lab represents a good practice. Working with Statistics Canada and benefiting from federal funding, it brings together data from a variety of sources to track evolving market conditions. This provides governments, business associations and entrepreneurs with critical information to help them make better decisions, improve their performance and capitalize on business growth opportunities.

Statistics Canada has benefited from sharing innovative research and development with private sector analytics firms such as Environics Analytics. Regular exchanges between these two organizations have identified data gaps from the business community and paths for collaboration between Statistics Canada and businesses. Their work together includes assessing the feasibility of using phone movement data and other administrative data to produce more timely estimates of tourism patterns. Exploring these movement data has also led to a better understanding of back-to-work patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic and of retail or main street recovery in different markets.

Indigenous data flows

A key element of national data strategies is the different perspectives that come from bringing together data users and potential data providers. This has been exemplified through successful partnerships with government departments and Indigenous communities.

These programs are successful with in-person meetings and an engagement based on a culture of awareness and respect that embraces the traditional wisdom of Indigenous councils and community members. They are models of mutual and ongoing respect that should be considered and adopted by other sectors.

The challenges encountered reflect those of other such initiatives: the government's ownership of the intellectual property co-developed with Indigenous peoples and the lack of resources to conduct these studies on location. There is also a lack of ongoing resources from many partners to build and maintain dynamic data portals.

Promising practices

A notable collaborative project was recently undertaken in the Northwest Territories to better understand climate change and its effects on communities. Co-led by the Geological Survey of Canada (Natural Resources Canada) and Carleton University, the project brought together First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations; industry; national and international universities; the Government of Northwest Territories; and federal departments. The work entailed developing new geoscience tools for assessing environmental impacts in the Slave Geological Province, with a focus on areas around Yellowknife and Courageous Lake. Over the course of the project, there was a meeting of traditional and Western knowledges. The components based on traditional knowledge were led by Indigenous partners.

Canada is at risk from major earthquakes, particularly in British Columbia, but also in Ontario and Quebec. Natural Resources Canada's Earthquake Early Warning program is another model project to be officially launched next year. In British Columbia, many of the people at risk are on Indigenous territory. From the start of the project, there has been mutual engagement between Natural Resources Canada, the British Columbia government, Coastal First Nations (CFN) and the Council of the Haida Nation on the project's purpose, scope and benefit to communities. This includes funding through a grants and contributions program and installation of "extended network" stations in CFN communities, along with the development of technical capacity in those communities.

2.3 Ensure that statistical standards form the basis of data sharing and analysis

Statistical standards and methods are the foundation for coherent, high-quality national statistics, which need to continually adapt to the changing technical landscape. The role of national standards needs to be resonated widely and loudly, particularly in an era of misinformation and disinformation.

Statistics Canada has been working with the federal government to ensure that standards reflect a modern statistical environment. The agency is working closely with the Standards Council of Canada on the AI and Data Governance Standardization Collaborative. Statistics Canada is also co-leading, with the Treasury Board Secretariat, the renewed federal public service data strategy.

The standards Statistics Canada uses to produce information on major facets of Canadian society and the economy are also available to users to organize and classify their own data holdings. This facilitates the access, sharing and linking of data. A lack of statistical standards has data quality implications, including for the ability to adequately measure emerging trends and to compare data nationally and across regions.

Dealing with variations in concepts and definitions has long challenged survey data analysts. For example, studies of newcomers to Canada can be based on the concepts of landed immigrant status, foreign-born, non-permanent residency, visitor status, temporary visa holder status, place of birth, population group (visible minority), and ethnic or ancestral origin. Each can lead to different interpretations of ethnocultural diversity, affecting analysis and comparisons of results from different sources.

As the racialized population in Canada grows and as the country welcomes an unprecedented number of newcomers, the term "visible minority" used in Employment Equity legislation needs to be modernized to reflect how Canadians understand race.

3. Final word

Canada's national statistical system is built on mutual relations and the sharing of information and expertise. It must be a key component of public and private sector data strategies to support economic recovery and to ensure Canada's prosperity and well-being. Modernization efforts over the last few years need to continue and even expand to tackle new data needs. To achieve this, future leaders of Statistics Canada must continue to have strong data science and analytical skills, as well as stewardship, to build relations and promote data flows. The cost of programs based on poor or incomplete data can be enormous. Even in fiscally difficult times, priority has to be given to developing critical statistical infrastructure and data flows with partners from all sectors.

• Introduction
• Background
• Responsibilities
• Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities
  • Economic and Environmental Statistics
  • Socio-economic Statistics
  • Censuses
  • Centres of Expertise
  • Cost-Recovered Statistical Services
  • Internal Services
• Classes of Personal Information
• Manuals
• Additional Information
• Reading Room

Introduction

Information about Programs and Information Holdings provides information about the functions, programs, activities and related information holdings of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act. It provides individuals and employees of the government (current and former) with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

The Introduction and an index of institutions subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act are available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

The origins of Statistics Canada date from 1918 with the creation of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. With the passing of a new Statistics Act in 1971, it became Statistics Canada, the name by which it is still known. Therefore it has been over 90 years that the department has served as the national statistical bureau of the country.

Statistics Canada reports to a Minister designated by the Governor in Council as the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada. For most of the years since its establishment, the Agency has reported to a minister with a broad economic mandate. Statistics Canada reports to Parliament through the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development.

Under the direction of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development, the Chief Statistician is charged with the administration of the Statistics Act and the Corporations Returns Act, the provision of advice on statistical matters within the federal government, and the general management of Statistics Canada. The Chief Statistician must report to the Minister on Statistics Canada's activities and that report is to be included in the Minister's annual report to Parliament.

More information: About us

Responsibilities

Statistics Canada's mandate derives primarily from the Statistics Act. The Act requires the agency to collect, compile, analyse and publish statistical information on the economic, social and general activities and conditions of Canada and its people; to collaborate with departments of government in the collection and publication of statistical information; to take the census of population of Canada and the census of agriculture of Canada every five years; to promote the avoidance of duplication in the information collected by departments of government; to promote and develop integrated statistics pertaining to the whole of Canada and to each of the provinces thereof; and to protect the confidentiality of the information with which it is entrusted.

Institutional Functions, Programs and Activities

1) Economic and Environmental Statistics

Statistics Canada produces a wide range of economic indicators that allow policy makers, businesspeople and ordinary Canadians to make informed, evidence-based decisions on almost every aspect of living in society, including their standard of living, their financial security, their investment decisions, and how well they are governed. Several of these indicators are used directly to set fiscal and monetary policy. One of these indicators is the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The CPI affects the standard of living and the financial security of virtually all Canadians. Anyone who has ever paid taxes, paid rent, had a cost-of-living wage increase or taken out a loan has been affected by the CPI. Public and private sector organizations use the CPI to escalate a wide variety of salaries, pensions, transfer payments and expenditures to ensure that purchasing power is maintained over time. The CPI also influences the rate of interest Canadians pay on their mortgages and consumer loans. The Bank of Canada uses other key economic indicators as inputs to our country's monetary policy to ensure that interest rates remain low, stable and predictable. This allows Canadians to make spending and investment decisions with more confidence, encourages longer-term investment in Canada's economy, and contributes to sustained job creation and greater productivity. Statistics Canada also produces environmental statistics that can be linked to economic data. This includes tracking the water, energy and greenhouse gas emission intensities produced by different industries within the Canadian economy, and by governments and households. The agency also produces energy statistics that are crucial feeders to Environment and Climate Change Canada's National Inventory Report on greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, it produces data related to the generation of renewable energy.

Agriculture Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on the activities of the agriculture sector and people employed in it by means of various agriculture surveys.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, satellite imagery, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan AGR 450

Building, Construction and Property Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and publication of statistics relating to construction activity (building permits and residential, commercial, industrial and institutional investment), property values and housing (residential property) stocks and flows and associated characteristics. 
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative data, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SCT 475

Capital Expenditures and Public Infrastructure Statistics 

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and publication of statistics relating to capital spending (non-residential building related assets and machinery and equipment) and public infrastructure, which are used to derive measures of stocks of fixed capital assets, useful life and capital investment intentions.
Document Types: Questionnaires, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SCT 470

Digital Economy Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on broadcasting, telecommunications, the digital economy, Internet use and cybersecurity in either the public or private sectors in Canada.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan BST 432

Economic and Environmental Analysis

Description: Includes records relating to the analysis and interpretation of economic and environmental data.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SES 298

Energy Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of national and provincial statistics on the energy sector and on energy consumption. Statistics on the financial, industrial, operational and location characteristics of this sector are obtained through a series of annual and monthly surveys of businesses operating in Canada, and from administrative sources.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan MED 310

Environment Accounts and Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection of statistics used for the analysis of relationships between human activity and the environment in Canada. The primary outputs for this program are time series estimates of various components of Canada's environmental wealth (water, ecosystems, sub-soil minerals), physical flows including water and energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions. Estimates on environmental protection expenditures, revenues from environmental goods and services, and clean technologies and household behaviours affecting the environment are also produced.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan ESP 291

Industrial Organization and Finance Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of the size, financial structure and ownership characteristics of the corporate sector in Canada. Also includes records related to collection and analysis of data reported under the Corporations Returns Act, and tax records from Canada Revenue Agency.
Document Types: Questionnaires, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan IOF 435

Industry Accounts

Description: Includes records related to the production of measures of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by industry for Canada, the provinces and territories records related to total GDP by Census Metropolitan Area, and records related to the production of annual provincial and territorial supply, use and input-output tables and structural macroeconomic models of the Canadian, provincial and territorial economies.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan IMA 240

Integrated Business Statistics Program

Description: Records related to the management of Statistics Canada business surveys and data collection from large businesses through the Enterprise Portfolio Manager Program.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan UES 307

International Accounts

Description: Includes records related to the collection, processing and dissemination of statistics on economic transactions between both Canadian residents and the rest of the world (the balance of international payments and related products) on Canada's assets and liabilities with the rest of the world (the international investment position and related products), on the characteristics of firms involved in international trade (trade by exporter and importer characteristics) and on activities of multinational enterprises.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan IFE 260

International Trade Statistics

Description: Includes records on the compilation, analysis and dissemination of Canada's merchandise export and import statistics and related price and volume indices (Customs and Balance of Payments basis). These are administrative data drawn from trade documents filed with the Canadian and American custom agencies.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan INT 410

Investment Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and publication of statistics relating to investment activities, which are used to derive measures of stocks of fixed capital assets.
Document Types: Questionnaires, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SCT 470

Manufacturing Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of national and provincial statistics on the manufacturing and forestry sectors. Statistics on the financial, industrial, operational and location characteristics of these sectors are obtained through a series of annual and monthly surveys of Canadian businesses and from administrative sources.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan MWT 380

Mining and Quarrying Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of national and provincial statistics on the mining and quarrying sector. Statistics on the financial, industrial, operational and location characteristics of this sector are obtained through a series of annual and monthly surveys of Canadian businesses and from administrative sources.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan MWT 385

National Economic Accounts

Description: Includes records related to the production of national and provincial time series estimates of final expenditures (consumer spending, government spending, business investment, exports and imports) and income (wages, surplus, interest, rents, etc.). Records also relate to key economic processes of production, income generation, productivity, capacity utilization, labour, consumption, capital formation, financial transactions and wealth (saving, net lending and wealth), debt service ratio and the conceptual and statistical integration of statistics within the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan NAD 235

Prices Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection and analysis of consumer and industrial products prices, raw materials prices, farm input prices and construction price indexes, as well as a number of indexes relating to capital expenditures and services. These price indexes are required for numerous acts and the adjustment of income tax basic deductions and benefits.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan PRI 415

Public Sector Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the production of financial statistics for the Canadian public sector (revenues, expenditures, assets, liabilities and debt statistics for the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government and government business enterprises).
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan PUI 220

Retail Trade Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on retail trade and new motor vehicle sales that are obtained through a series of annual and monthly surveys of Canadian businesses and from administrative sources.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan RTS 420

Science, Technology and Innovation Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on science, research and development, technology and innovation, used in the public and private sectors in Canada. 
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan BST 431

Service Industries Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on service industries by means of annual and monthly surveys. The range of services covered includes accounting, real estate, publishing and food and accommodation services, to name just a few.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SER 425

Small Business Statistics and Entrepreneurship Indicators

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on small businesses and entrepreneurship indicators in Canada. The information is gathered through special surveys of businesses, data linkage of micro records or data integration of existing data.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan BST 524

Transportation Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on all modes of transport in Canada (air, marine (up to 2011), bus, for-hire and private trucking, rail, and urban transit). Statistics from the program are used by Transport Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency, other federal government departments, provincial governments, international organizations and industry associations.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan TRA 400

Wholesale Trade Statistics

Description: Includes records on the collection, analysis and dissemination of wholesale trade statistics that are obtained through a series of annual and monthly surveys of Canadian businesses and from administrative sources.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan MWT 375

2) Socio-economic Statistics

Through the Socioeconomic Statistics program, Statistics Canada provides integrated information and relevant analysis on the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of individuals, families and households, as well as on the major factors that affect their well-being. This information is used to support critical government priorities, social policy development, implementation and evaluation; to inform discussion on demographic and socioeconomic issues; and to guide evidence-based decision making. These statistics help fulfill the requirements specified by legislation or regulations in areas such as labour, immigration, official languages and employment equity.

Outputs include data derived from administrative and survey sources as well as through data integration, and inform a range of topics such as labour, income, health, education, justice, tourism, immigration, Aboriginal peoples, diversity and inclusion, population dynamics and social well-being. The information is used extensively by provincial and territorial governments, by non-governmental organizations, and by federal departments and agencies. The program also provides information, analysis and measures on publicly funded facilities, agencies and systems designed to meet the socioeconomic and physical needs of Canadians; and on the outcomes of the services they provide, such as justice, health and education.

Education Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on education. The Canadian Centre for Education Statistics manages a comprehensive program of pan-Canadian education statistics and analysis at the elementary, secondary and postsecondary levels as well as from a number of household surveys.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and letters of agreement.
Record Number: StatCan ECT 170

Health Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistical information on health of Canadians by means of health surveys and administrative files. Also includes records on the management of the analytical research program that uses health data.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan HLT 080

Income Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics that provide a picture of the financial well-being of Canadian families and individuals, including income, expenditures, wealth , pensions and housing. Information on low-income trends, income inequality, shelter costs and the health of pension funds is drawn from these statistics.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports.
Record Number: StatCan HLD 038

Justice Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the compilation, analysis and dissemination of statistics on criminal and civil justice in Canada by means of various crime-related surveys and administrative data. Also includes records related to statistics on victimization and related support services.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan CCJ 135

Labour Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis of dissemination of monthly labour market estimates from household and business surveys and administrative records. The information supports economic, social and monetary policy and is used by governments, financial institutions and researchers to better understand how work and work time are distributed, to identify groups at risk, and to monitor the impact of labour market policies and programs.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements.
Record Number: StatCan LAB 035

Population Estimates

Description: Includes records related to the production of post-censal and inter-censal population estimates. Population estimates are produced at various geographic levels: Canada, province and territory,  census division, census metropolitan area  economic region and municipality. Data also include estimates of components of population growth: births, deaths, immigration, emigration, returning emigrants, change in non-permanent residents, and interprovincial and intraprovincial migration.
Document Types: Administrative records, Operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports.
Record Number: StatCan DEM 030

Small Area and Administrative Data

Description: Includes records related to the use of T1 income tax data for statistical and analytical purposes. Also includes records related to the Small Area Database that contains annual socio-economic and demographic data for sub-provincial areas. Data come from sources within and external to Statistics Canada. Also includes records related to the Longitudinal Administrative Databank which contains individual and family information on approximately five million people based on tax records from the Canada Revenue Agency.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SAD 555

Tourism Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on tourism and travel within and outside of Canada.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, letters of agreement and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan ECT 180

Social Analysis

Description: Includes records relating to the analysis of socio-economic phenomena focusing on labour markets, income, pensions, health, education and the family.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SES 297

Social Characteristics

Description: Includes data related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of statistics on key social issues, including immigration, population groups, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, religion, ethnicity, language, social identity, giving and volunteering, victimization, youth, families, gender, seniors, time use, care giving and receiving, and social well-being through surveys such as the General Social Survey.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan HFS 722

3) Censuses

Through the Censuses program, Statistics Canada provides statistical information and analyses that measure changes in the Canadian population and its demographic characteristics, and in the agricultural sector. This information is used to support government priorities and charters and serves as a basis for public and private decision making, and research and analysis in areas of concern to Canadians. The program includes the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture. It meets constitutionally specified statistical requirements, statutory requirements and the requirements of regulatory instruments. Both the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture are mandated by the Statistics Act; the Census of Population is also mandated in the Constitution Act. The Census of Population provides detailed information on population subgroups for small geographic areas, which is required to assess the effects of specifically targeted policy initiatives, and serves as a foundation for other statistical surveys. The Census of Agriculture produces a comprehensive picture of the agriculture sector at the national, provincial and subprovincial levels. These data are used to benchmark the Agriculture Statistics Program, which feeds the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts to form the agriculture component of the gross domestic product.

1940 National Registration Records

Description: Includes records related to the 1940 National Registration Records which includes information from a compulsory registration of all persons 16 years of age or older in the period 1940-1946.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, correspondence, statistical databases.
Record Number: StatCan COP 020

Census of Agriculture Statistics, Agriculture-Population Linkage and Content Test Process

Description: Includes records related to the planning, collection, processing, dissemination and evaluation of the Census of Agriculture which is conducted every five years and the linkage of Census of Agriculture data with data from the Census of Population and the National Household Survey. The Census test process begins with the content consultation, which obtains data needs and data gaps from key stakeholders and there is the census test which is sent out to a subset of the agricultural population to complete the entire questionnaire, including new content.
Document Types: Questionnaires, operation and planning documents, decision records, enumerator, interviewer and help-line operator manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan AGR 445

Census of Population Program Management and Operations

Description: Includes records related to the collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of statistics from the Census of Population and the National Household Survey as well as testing and consultations and post-censal evaluation studies. The program also manages Statistics Canada's role in the prosecution of individuals who fail to complete a census questionnaire as required under the Statistics Act.
Document Types: Questionnaires, administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, enumerator, interviewer and help-line operator manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan COP 015

4) Centres of Expertise

The Centres of Expertise support all other Statistics Canada programs to ensure that Canadian citizens, businesses, governments, universities and other institutions have access to the most detailed, timely and accurate information at the lowest cost possible—both in terms of dollars and response burden—while protecting the privacy of their information. The centres facilitate trade and exchanges with other countries by promoting similar statistical systems around the world through standardized concepts, methods and classification systems and through international co-operation. Through their innovative research, analysis and data development activities, the centres continually seek new data sources, leading edge methods and systems, cost effective operations and new statistical products to address the current and future information needs of Canadians.

Administrative Data

Description: Records related to the management, processing and use of data from taxation records of individuals and businesses or from other administrative records, and the incorporation of this information in multiple statistical programs throughout Statistics Canada.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan ADD 530

Client Service Activities

Description: Records related to the coordination of client service activities including the development of strategic communications plans, surveys and focus groups to assess client satisfaction and identify client needs, coordination of outreach activities, management of the Client Relationship Management System and the management of client information for the fulfillment of inquiries, purchase of products and services and support.
Document Types: Communications and outreach plans, outreach activities and evaluation, decision records, databases, invoices, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan MAR 572

Corporate Business Architecture

Description: Records related to all activities covered under the mandate of the Corporate Business Architecture Initiative.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, communications material and correspondence, evaluation reports.
Record Number: StatCan SOP 602

Spatial Data Infrastructure 

Description: the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) contains the national road network (including road names and address ranges) from the National Geographic Database (NGD), a shared database between Statistics Canada and Elections Canada. The SDI supports a wide range of Census of population and Census of agriculture operations, such as the maintenance and delineation of the boundaries of standard geographic areas and custom area creation.  SDI supports several social and business statistical programs, and administrative sources; and geocoding activities.  The SDI is also the source for generating and disseminating many geography products such as cartographic and digital boundary files and road network files, combining geospatial information with statistical data to support analytical activities and create mapping tools.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, maps, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan GEO 520

Standards

Description: Records related to statistical units, variables, and classifications such as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS), the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC), Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) and the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and related products for coding and concordances. Also includes data sources and methods for Statistics Canada's surveys and statistical programs and an inventory of questionnaires.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, statistical metadatabases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan STD 535

Statistical Address Register

Description: Records related to the maintenance of a central register of residential dwelling addresses and its related telephone frame for statistical purposes.  The register is used by statistical programs to determine the in-scope population, select samples for socioeconomic programs, support collection activities and support the Census of Population and social surveys.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, maps, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan ADR 520

Statistical Business Register

Description: Records related to the development and maintenance of a central register of enterprises and associated establishments for statistical purposes, including individuals who have declared business income as well as sole proprietorships. The register is used by statistical programs to determine the in-scope population, select samples for economic programs, support collection activities, monitor respondent burden and support/perform business demographics analysis.
Document Types: Administrative records, operation and planning documents, decision records, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan BUS 525

Statistics Act Advice and Documentation

Description: Records related to the provision of services for the interpretation and administration of the Statistics Act, and compliance with all legal requirements concerning data collection, use and disclosure. Includes documents that outline specific conditions for access to confidential information obtained pursuant to the Statistics Act, such as standard data-sharing agreements under Sections 11 or 12 of the Act, agreements for obtaining records pursuant to Section 13 and authorized disclosures under Section 17(2). Also comprises records related to privacy impact assessments, record linkage and prescription of survey collection activities.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, directives and guidelines, communications material and correspondence, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders and agreements, survey prescription request forms and orders, record linkage and project proposals, privacy impact assessments, threat risk assessments, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SAD 700

Survey Management and Operations

Description: Records related to survey development and management of collection operations for multiple household and business surveys. Also includes records relating to data entry and coding services, and processing of information obtained from survey respondents or from other organizations.
Document Types: Questionnaires, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, statistical databases, evaluation reports.
Record Number: StatCan SOP 601

Survey Methods

Description: Records related to survey design, methodology, data science, data quality and data analysis for programs that conduct surveys and use administrative records.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, evaluation reports, technical and scientific papers, algorithms and user guides.
Record Number: StatCan MET 545

5) Cost-Recovered Statistical Services

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

Aboriginal Peoples Surveys

Description: Records related to various surveys which collect extensive data on the living conditions of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.
Document Types: Questionnaires, reporting guides, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, publications, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan HFS 716

Census Cost-recovered Services

Description: Includes records on the analysis, tabulation and dissemination of statistics related to the Censuses. These services are offered, on a cost-recovery basis, to meet the needs of external clients such as other federal government departments.
Document Types: Analytical articles and studies, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan COP 025

Data Access Services

Description: Includes records related to data access services offered mostly on a cost-recovery basis, such as the Data Liberation Initiative, Research Data Centres, the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research, and the Real Time Remote Access program, to support the statistical needs of external clients, such as federal government departments and academic institutions.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, communications material and correspondence, evaluation reports, research proposals, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan RDC 505

Deemed Employees

Description: Includes records related to persons who are temporarily engaged by Statistics Canada to conduct research or to provide another service to a statistical program.
Document Types: Contracts, memoranda of understanding, résumés, research proposals.
Record Number: StatCan RDC 501

Demography

Description: Includes records on the analysis, tabulation and dissemination of statistics related to the Censuses. These services are offered, on a cost-recovery basis, to meet the needs of external clients such as other federal government departments.
Document Types: Administrative records, decision records, analytical articles and studies, special tabulations, statistical databases, evaluation reports, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan DEM 031

Economic and Environmental Statistics

Description: Includes records related to the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of economic and environmental statistics from various ad hoc and recurring surveys, on a cost-recovery basis, for external clients such as other federal government departments. Also includes records relating to the dissemination of micro-simulation models of individuals, families or firms that are used to draw conclusions at higher levels of aggregation such as an entire country.
Document Types: Questionnaires, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SES 292

Socio-economic Statistics and Special Surveys

Description: Includes records related to the collection, analysis and dissemination of socio-economic statistics from various ad hoc and recurring household surveys, mostly on a cost-recovery basis, for external clients such as other federal government departments.
Document Types: Questionnaires, operation and planning documents, decision records, interviewer manuals, respondent relations material and correspondence, analytical articles and studies, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, evaluation reports, data-sharing agreements, discretionary disclosure orders, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SSD 040

Statistical Infrastructure Services

Description: Includes records related to statistical infrastructure services (e.g., development of concepts, support for data collection and dissemination activities, provision of advice and technical assistance) offered on a cost-recovery basis to meet the needs of external clients such as other federal government departments.
Document Types: Operation and planning documents, decision records, communications material and correspondence, evaluation reports, maps, special tabulations, microdata files, statistical databases, project proposals, contracts and memoranda of understanding.
Record Number: StatCan SOP 610

6) Internal Services

Internal services constitute groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are management and oversight services, communications services, legal services, human resources management services, financial management services, information management services, information technology services, real property services, material services, acquisition services, and travel and other administrative services. Internal services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisition Services

Acquisition services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfill a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

• Procurement and Contracting Class of Record
  • Professional Services Contracts Personal Information Bank

Communications Services

Communications services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well-coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public—internal or external—receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

• Communications Class of Record
  • Internal Communications Personal Information Bank
  • Public Communications Personal Information Bank

Financial Management Services

Financial management services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

• Financial Management Class of Record
  • Accounts Payable Personal Information Bank
  • Accounts Receivable Personal Information Bank
  • Acquisition Cards Personal Information Bank

Human Resources Management Services

Human resources management services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies and plans.

• Awards (Pride and Recognition) Class of Record
  • Recognition Program Personal Information Bank
• Classification of Positions Class of Record
  • Staffing Personal Information Bank
• Compensation and Benefits Class of Record
  • Attendance and Leave Personal Information Bank
  • Pay and Benefits Personal Information Bank
• Employment Equity and Diversity Class of Record
  • Employment Equity and Diversity Personal Information Bank
• Hospitality Class of Record
  • Hospitality Personal Information Bank
• Human Resources Planning Class of Record
  • Human Resources Planning Personal Information Bank
• Labour Relations Class of Record
  • Canadian Human Rights Act – Complaints Personal Information Bank
  • Discipline Personal Information Bank
  • Grievances Personal Information Bank
  • Harassment Personal Information Bank
  • Disclosure of Wrongdoing in the Workplace Personal Information Bank
  • Values and Ethics Codes for the Public Sector and Organizational Code(s) of Conduct Personal Information Bank
• Occupational Health and Safety Class of Record
  • Employee Assistance Personal Information Bank
  • Harassment Personal Information Bank
  • Occupational Health and Safety Personal Information Bank
  • Vehicle, Ship, Boat and Aircraft Accidents Personal Information Bank
• Official Languages Class of Record
  • Official Languages Personal Information Bank
• Performance Management Reviews Class of Record
  • Discipline Personal Information Bank
  • Employee Performance Management Program Personal Information Bank
• Recruitment and Staffing Class of Record
  • Applications for Employment Personal Information Bank
  • Employee Personnel Record Personal Information Bank
  • EX Talent Management Personal Information Bank
  • Personnel Security Screening Personal Information Bank
  • Staffing Personal Information Bank
  • Values and Ethics Codes for the Public Sector and Organizational Code(s) of Conduct Personal Information Bank
• Relocation Class of Record
  • Relocation Personal Information Bank
• Training and Development Class of Record
  • Training and Development Personal Information Bank

Information Management Services

Information management services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

• Access to Information and Privacy Class of Record
  • Access to Information Act and Privacy Act Requests Personal Information Bank
• Information Management Class of Record
  • Library Services Personal Information Bank

Information Technology Services

Information technology services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

• Information Technology Class of Record
  • Electronic Network Monitoring Personal Information Bank

Legal services

Legal services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

• Legal Services Class of Record

Management and Oversight Services

Management and oversight services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies or plans.

• Cooperation and Liaison Class of Record
  • Lobbying Act Requirements Personal Information Bank
  • Outreach Activities Personal Information Bank
• Executive Services Class of Record
  • Executive Correspondence Personal Information Bank
• Internal Audit and Evaluation Class of Record
  • Evaluation Personal Information Bank
  • Internal Audit Personal Information Bank
• Planning and Reporting Class of Record

Material Services

Material services involve activities undertaken to ensure that material can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

• Material Management Class of Record
  • Vehicle, Ship, Boat and Aircraft Accidents Personal Information Bank

Real Property Services

Real property services involve activities undertaken to ensure that real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

• Real Property Management Class of Record

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and other administrative services include Government of Canada travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

• Administrative Services Class of Record
  • Parking Personal Information Bank
• Boards, Committees and Council Class of Record
  • Governor in Council Appointments Personal Information Bank
  • Members of Boards, Committees and Councils Personal Information Bank
• Business Continuity Planning Class of Record
  • Business Continuity Planning Personal Information Bank
• Disclosure to Investigative Bodies Class of Record
  • Disclosure to Investigative Bodies Personal Information Bank
• Proactive Disclosure Class of Record
  • Hospitality Personal Information Bank
  • Travel Personal Information Bank
• Security Class of Record
  • Identification Cards and Access Badges Personal Information Bank
  • Disclosure of Wrongdoing in the Workplace Personal Information Bank
  • Personnel Security Screening Personal Information Bank
  • Security Incidents and Privacy Breaches Personal Information Bank
  • Security Video Surveillance and Temporary Visitor Access Control Logs and Building Passes Personal Information Bank
• Travel Class of Record
  • Travel Personal Information Bank

Classes of Personal Information

Business surveys

This class describes personal information used in support of Statistics Canada surveys that are intended for industrial and service sectors of the economy. The personal information collected and used relates to contact persons for the organizations, language, views and opinions of individuals, and, in the case of unincorporated businesses, financial and operational information. The personal information collected is not used for any administrative purposes that affect these individuals and is not organized or intended to be retrieved by name or other personal identifier. Retention of this personal information is one year after its last operational use and then it is destroyed.

Household surveys

This class describes personal information collected by Statistics Canada in support of various household surveys, in cases where no names or other personal identifiers are retained. The personal information collected is not used for any administrative purposes that affect these individuals and is not organized or intended to be retrieved by name or other personal identifier.

Manuals

• Companion Guide to the Statistics Act
• Interviewer Training Manuals
• Public Use Microdata Files Documentation for Surveys
• Security Practices Manual
• Statistics Canada Policy Suite
• Statistics Canada Quality Guidelines

Additional Information

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through informal requests. You may wish to consult Statistics Canada's completed Access to Information (ATI) summaries. To make an informal request, contact infostats@statcan.gc.ca or phone 1-800-263-1136 or 613-951-8116 (TTY: 1-800-363-7629).

To make a formal request, mail your letter or Access to Information Request Form (Access to Information Act) or Personal Information Request Form (Privacy Act), along with any necessary documents (such as consent or the $5.00 application fee for a request under the Access to Information Act) to the following address:

Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Statistics Canada
100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0T6

Please note: Each request made to Statistics Canada under the Access to Information Act must be accompanied by an application fee of $5.00, cheque or money order made payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

Statistics Canada conducts Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) to ensure that privacy implications will be appropriately identified, assessed and resolved before a new or substantially modified program or activity involving personal information is implemented. Summaries of completed PIAs are available online.
For additional information about the programs and activities of Statistics Canada, please visit Surveys and statistical programs by subject or contact infostats@statcan.gc.ca. For Statistics Canada data available through the Government of Canada Open Data Portal, please consult the Open Government website.

Reading Room

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, the applicant may wish to review material in person. The address is:

R.H. Coats Building, 2nd Floor
100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0T6

Data element manual for survey respondents

Canadian centre for education statistics division, Statistics Canada.

Table of Contents

• Authority to Collect Data
• Coverage
• Reporting Options
• Reporting Date
• Further Information
• Table 1: Record layout
• Survey Elements
  • Element 01: Reporting Institution
    • Table 2: List of institutions
  • Element 02: Permanent Identification Number
  • Element 03: Gender
  • Element 04: Year of Birth
  • Element 05: Department
    • Table 3: List of Department codes
  • Element 06: Salary Status
  • Element 07: Actual Salary
  • Element 08: Annual Rate of Salary
  • Element 09: Administrative Stipends
  • Element 10: Senior Administrative Responsibilities, Researchers and Visitors
  • Element 11: Number of Months on Sabbatical Leave During the Current Academic Year
  • Element 12: Number of Months on Unpaid Leave During the Current Academic Year
  • Element 13: Reduced Load
  • Element 14: Previous Employment
  • Element 15: Province or Country of Previous Employment
    • Table 4: Alphabetical Listing of Province and Country Codes
  • Element 16: Year of First Degree
  • Element 17: Province or Country of First Degree
  • Element 18: Level of Highest Earned Degree
  • Element 19: Year of Highest Earned Degree
  • Element 20: Province or Country of Highest Degree
  • Element 21: Country of Citizenship at Time of Appointment
  • Element 22: Rank
  • Element 23: Year of Appointment to Present Rank at Current Institution
  • Element 24: Type of Appointment
  • Element 25: Medical or Dental Appointment Category
  • Element 26: Year of Appointment to Current Institution
  • Element 27: Principal Subject Taught
    • Table 5: Numerical and Alphabetical Listing of CIP Codes

Authority to Collect Data

The information requested in this survey is collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S19. This survey is mandatory in accordance with the Statistics Act.

This data collection is the only source of national level information on full-time teaching staff in Canadian public degree granting institutions, and is used by a variety of federal, provincial, and international organizations and governments, postsecondary institutions and individual researchers.

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from publishing any statistics which would divulge information obtained from this data collection that relates to any identifiable individual. Furthermore, the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act are not affected by either the Access to Information Act or any other legislation. Additionally, institution level data from this data collection will only be published and made available to the public, if written permission is provided to Statistics Canada in the form of a signed authorization form from the participating institution.

Coverage

Data should be submitted for all full-time teaching staff employed in public degree granting institutions that receive funding from a provincial or territorial ministry of education and/or are a member of the CAUBO (Canadian Association of University Business Officers) survey as of October 1 of the reporting year. The affiliates and other related colleges of these institutions may be reported by the parent institution or independently. As well, please include full-time research staff who have an academic rank and a salary scale similar to teaching staff.

This data collection includes full-time teaching staff that spend the majority of their teaching time on credit courses leading to degree programs (as opposed to continuing education courses, special interest courses or courses in a program that do not lead to a degree).

Full-time include:

1. Staff appointed on a full-time basis whose term of appointment is not less than twelve months (include any staff member on leave).
2. New appointees hired on a full-time basis whose term of contract is twelve months but for the first year he/she can only be at the institution for less than twelve months.
3. Staff who were appointed to teach full-time (12 months or more) and at a later date have entered into a formal agreement with the institution to work on a reduced load basis. This situation usually arises with staff members who are approaching retirement. 

Teaching staff included in the survey:

1. All academic staff within faculties (colleges, schools, etc.) who are full-time teachers, researchers (meeting the above criteria), and/or senior academic staff, i.e., deans, chairperson, directors etc.
2. All full-time teachers within faculties, whether or not they hold an academic rank.
3. Full-time academic staff in teaching hospitals (see element 25 for details).
4. Visiting full-time academic staff in faculties.
5. Full-time research staff that have an academic rank and a salary scale similar to teaching staff.

Staff excluded from this survey:

1. Administrators solely responsible for university administration, i.e., president, vice-president, registrar, comptroller, etc.
2. Administrative assistants within faculties (colleges, schools, etc.).
3. Librarians.
4. Non-academic support staff both in faculties (college, school, etc.) and other university departments
5. Markers, demonstrators, lab assistants, etc.
6. Graduate teaching assistants.
7. Postdoctoral fellows.
8. Academic staff within faculties (colleges, schools, etc.) who have been hired as researchers without academic rank and/or whose salary scales are different from teaching staff. 

Reporting Options

Statistics Canada provides the institutions with an “Edit Checker” (tool) that includes their previous year’s data for each teaching staff member, for updating. The data elements will be arranged in the same order as the record layout. Once the current year’s data has been loaded in this tool, it runs a number of preliminary edits on the data that will prompt the institution to address common reporting issues.

Updating Instructions:

Returning teaching staff: any data elements that changed since the last survey are to be updated. Elements that typically change from year to year are: actual salary, annual rate of salary, administrative stipends, senior administrative responsibilities, researchers and visitors’ code, reduced load, number of months on sabbatical leave, and number of months on unpaid leave during the current academic year. Elements that change less frequently include: level of highest earned degree, year of highest earned degree, province/country of highest degree, rank, year of appointment to present rank at current institution and principal subject taught.

New teaching staff: Institutions are required to provide all data elements for each new teaching staff reported.

Non–returning staff: Please delete the record.

While it is preferred that the edit checker tool is used, institutions can also send Statistics Canada the individual data for each full-time teaching staff member in an EXCEL format. Please use the codes provided in this Data Element Manual, and list the data elements in the order they appear in the record layout on page 6.

In order to ensure the confidentiality of data during transmission, Statistics Canada requires that all information is sent through their “Electronic File Transfer System”. Information on sending and receiving files through this secure internet based service is included in the annual request for information or can be obtained by contacting the UCASS team.

Reporting Date

Most data elements in this survey are to be reported as of October 1 (a “snap shot” of the survey). However, the following data elements are not conceptually a snapshot and are reported on a 12 months basis: Number of months on sabbatical leave, Number of months on unpaid leave, Reduced load, and Actual salary.

Further Information

Please direct inquiries to:

Table 1: Record layout

Size	Position	Type	Title
8	1 to 8	N	Reporting institution
9	9 to 17	AN	Permanent identification number
1	18	N	Gender
4	19 to 22	N	Year of birth
2	23 to 24	N	Department
1	25	N	Salary status
7	26 to 32	N	Actual salary
7	33 to 39	N	Annual rate of salary
6	40 to 45	N	Administrative stipends
1	46	N	Senior administrative responsibilities, reseachers and visitors
2	47 to 48	N	Number of months on sabbatical leave during the current academic year
2	49 to 50	N	Number of months of unpaid leave during the current academic year
2	51 to 52	N	Reduced load
2	53 to 54	N	Previous employment
5	55 to 59	N	Province or country of previous employment
4	60 to 63	N	Year of first degree
5	64 to 68	N	Province or country of first degree
1	69	N	Level of highest earned degree
4	70 to 73	N	Year of highest earned degree
5	74 to 78	N	Province or country of highest degree
5	79 to 83	N	Country of citizenship at time of appointment
1	84	N	Rank
4	85 to 88	N	Year of appointment to present rank at current institution
1	89	N	Type of appointment
1	90	N	Medical or dental appointment category
4	91 to 94	N	Year of appointment to institution
4	95 to 98	N	Principal subject taught

Survey Elements

Element 01: Reporting Institution

Description:

An 8 digit code assigned by Statistics Canada to identify the reporting institution.

Notes:

These codes are structured as follows:

• Digits 1-2: Province in which the institution is located
• Digits 3-5: Institution
• Digits 6-8: Campus (if applicable)

Codes:

Please see the following pages for a list of institution codes.

Table 2: List of institutions

Code	Institution Name
Newfoundland and Labrador
10001000	Memorial University of Newfoundland
Prince Edward Island
11001000	University of Prince Edward Island
Nova Scotia
12001000	Acadia University
12001002	Acadia Divinity College
12002000	Atlantic School of Theology
12003000	Cape Breton University
12004000	Dalhousie University
12005000	University of King's College
12006000	Mount Saint Vincent University
12008000	Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University (NSCAD)
12010000	Université Sainte-Anne
12011000	St. Francis Xavier University
12012000	Saint Mary's University
New Brunswick
13002000	Mount Allison University
13003000	University of New Brunswick
13004000	Université de Moncton (parent)
13005000	St. Thomas University
Quebec
24001000	Bishop's University
24002000	McGill University
24003000	Université de Montréal
24003002	Polytechnique Montréal
24003003	École des hautes études commerciales
24005000	Université Laval
24006000	Université de Sherbrooke
24007000	Concordia University
24008000	Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
24009000	Université du Québec à Montréal
24010000	Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue
24011000	Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
24012000	Université du Québec en Outaouais
24013000	Université du Québec, École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP)
24014000	Université du Québec, Institut national de la recherche scientifique
24015000	Université du Québec à Rimouski
24016000	Université du Québec, École de technologie supérieure
24017000	Université du Québec, Télé-université du Québec (TÉLUQ)
Ontario
35001000	Brock University
35001003	Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary
35002000	Carleton University
35003000	Dominican University College/Collège Universitaire Dominicain
35004000	University of Guelph
35005000	Lakehead University
35006000	Laurentian University of Sudbury/Université Laurentienne de Sudbury
35007000	McMaster University
35008000	Nipissing University
35010000	University of Ottawa/Université d'Ottawa
35010002	Saint-Paul University/Université Saint-Paul
35011000	Queen's University
35014000	Ryerson University
35015000	University of Toronto
35015004	St. Augustine's Seminary
35015005	University of St. Michael's College
35015006	University of Trinity College
35015007	Victoria University
35015008	Knox College
35015009	Wycliffe College
35015011	Regis College
35016000	Trent University
35017000	University of Waterloo
35017002	St. Jerome's University
35017003	Renison University College
35017004	Conrad Grebel University College
35018000	University of Western Ontario
35018002	Brescia University College
35018003	Huron University College
35018004	King's College
.35019000	Wilfred Laurier University
.35020000	University of Windsor
35021000	York University
35022000	Ontario College of Art
35023000	University of Ontario Institute of Technology
35024000	Algoma University College
35026000	University of Sudbury
35027000	Université de Hearst
35028000	Huntington University
35029000	Thorneloe University
Manitoba
46001000	Brandon University
46002000	Canadian Mennonite University
46005000	University of Manitoba
46005002	Université de Saint-Boniface
46005003	St. Andrew's College – University of Manitoba
46006000	University of Winnipeg
Saskatchewan
47004000	University of Regina
47004002	Campion College
47004003	Luther College
47005000	University of Saskatchewan
47005002	College of Emmanuel and St. Chad
47005003	Lutheran Theological Seminary
47005004	St. Andrew's College
47005005	St. Thomas More College
47005008	Horizon College & Seminary
Alberta
48001000	University of Alberta
48002000	Athabasca University
48005000	University of Calgary
48007000	Burman University
48008000	Concordia University of Edmonton
48009000	University of Lethbridge
48011000	The King's University College
48014000	Ambrose University
48015000	Grant MacEwan University
48029000	Mount Royal University
British Columbia
59001000	University of British Columbia
59002000	University of Northern British Columbia
59005000	Royal Roads University
59007000	Simon Fraser University
59009000	University of Victoria
59048000	Thompson Rivers University
59049000	Capilano University
59051000	Vancouver Island University
59052000	Emily Carr University of Art and Design
59053000	Kwantlen Polytechnic University
59054000	University of the Fraser Valley
Yukon
60002000	Yukon University

Element 02: Permanent Identification Number

Description:

A nine - digit code chosen by the institution which identifies each staff member.

Notes:

This code should be unique, never be re-assigned and remain the same from year to year for each individual staff member. Examples of codes used by institutions are social insurance number, payroll number etc.

Alpha-numeric codes may be used.

Please ensure that there are no duplicate permanent identification numbers.

This element must not be blank.

Codes:

As assigned by the institution.

Element 03: Gender

Description:

A one - digit element to report the gender of the staff member.

Notes:

Gender refers to an individual's personal and social identity as a man, woman or non-binary person (a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman).

Gender includes the following concepts:

• gender identity, which refers to the gender that a person feels internally and individually;
• gender expression, which refers to the way a person presents their gender, regardless of their gender identity, through body language, aesthetic choices or accessories (e.g., clothes, hairstyle and makeup), which may have traditionally been associated with a specific gender.

A person's gender may differ from their sex at birth, and from what is indicated on their current identification or legal documents such as their birth certificate, passport or driver's license. A person's gender may change over time. Some people may not identify with a specific gender.

Man includes persons whose reported gender is male. This includes cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) men.

Woman includes persons whose reported gender is female. This includes cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women.

Non-binary person includes persons whose reported gender is not exclusively male or female. It includes persons whose reported gender is, for example, agender, pangender, genderqueer, genderfluid, or gender-nonconforming. It also includes persons whose reported gender is Two-Spirit, a term specific to some Indigenous peoples of North America. It includes persons whose reported gender is both male and female, neither male nor female, or either male or female in addition to another gender. It may also include those who reported or were reported by proxy as questioning or in the process of deciding.

Unknown includes persons whose gender was not reported by the staff member and is not known to the institution.

Codes:

1. Man

2. Woman

3. Non-binary person

9. Unknown

Source: This standard was approved as a departmental-recommended standard on October 1, 2021. For more information, please consult Classification of gender and Gender of person.

Element 04: Year of Birth

Description:

A four - digit element to report the staff member's year of birth.

Codes:

Four digits of the year of birth.

Element 05: Department

Description:

A two - digit code to report the department to which the staff member is appointed.

Notes:

Please note that previously, reporting this data element was optional but is now mandatory.

Please report the department using the 2 - digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2016 codes listed on the following pages. For further assistance on determining the correct codes, please consult the full version of the CIP coding manual or for a more detailed description contact the UCASS team.

For cross appointments, please report the department in which the staff member spends the majority of their time.

Codes:

The list of 2 - digit CIP codes is given on the following pages.

Table 3: List of Department codes

Code	Title	Description
01	Agriculture, Agriculture Operations and Related Sciences (except cannabis)	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on agriculture and related sciences (except cannabis) and that prepare individuals to apply specific knowledge, methods, and techniques to the management and performance of agricultural operations.
03	Natural Resources and Conservation	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the various natural resources and conservation fields and prepare individuals for related occupations.
04	Architecture and Related Services	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals for professional practice in the various architecture-related fields and focus on the study of related aesthetic and socioeconomic aspects of the built environment.
05	Area, Ethnic, Cultural, Gender and Group Studies	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on defined areas, regions, and countries of the world; defined minority groups within and across societies; and issues relevant to collective gender and group experience.
09	Communication, Journalism and Related Programs	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on how messages in various media are produced, used, and interpreted within and across different contexts, channels, and cultures, and that prepare individuals to apply communication knowledge and skills professionally.
11	Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the computer and information sciences and prepare individuals for various occupations in information technology and computer operations fields.
13	Education	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the theory and practice of learning and teaching, and related research, administrative and support services.
14	Engineering	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals to apply mathematical and scientific principles to the solution of practical problems.
15	Engineering Technologies and Engineering-Related Fields	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals to apply basic engineering principles and technical skills in support of engineering and related projects.
16	Aboriginal and Foreign Languages, Literatures and Linguistics	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on Aboriginal and foreign languages and literatures, the humanistic and scientific study of linguistics, and the provision of professional interpretation and translation services.
19	Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the human interface with the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual environments and the developmental stages and needs of individuals in the interrelated spheres of family, workplace, and community.
22	Legal Professions and Studies	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals for the legal profession, for related support professions and professional legal research, and focus on the study of legal issues in non-professional programs.
23	English Language and Literature/Letters	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the structure and use of the English language and dialects, speech, writing, and various aspects of the literatures and cultures of the English-speaking peoples.
24	Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities	This series comprises general instructional programs and independent or individualized studies in the liberal arts subjects, the humanities disciplines and the general curriculum.
25	Library Science	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the knowledge and skills required for managing and/or maintaining libraries and related information and record systems, collections and facilities for research and general use.
26	Biological and Biomedical Sciences	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the biological sciences and the non-clinical biomedical sciences, and that prepare individuals for research and professional careers as biologists and biomedical scientists.
27	Mathematics and Statistics	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the systematic study of logical symbolic language and its applications.
28	Military Science, Leadership and Operational Art	This series comprises instructional programs that provide professional education and training of military officers in leadership, military science and operational studies, security policy and strategy, military economics and management, and pre-officer training.
29	Military Technologies and Applied Sciences	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals in specialized and advanced subject matter for the Armed forces and national security organizations, including intelligence operations, military applied sciences, and military technologies.
30	Multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary Studies	This series comprises instructional programs that derive from two or more distinct programs to provide a cross-cutting focus on a subject concentration that is not subsumed under a single discipline or occupational field.
31	Parks, Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the principles and practices of managing parks and other recreational and fitness facilities; providing recreational, leisure and fitness services; and the study of human fitness.
38	Philosophy and Religious Studies	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on logical inquiry, philosophical analysis, and the academic study of organized systems of belief and religious practices.
39	Theology and Religious Vocations	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the intramural study of theology and that prepare individuals for the professional practice of religious vocations.
40	Physical Sciences	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the scientific study of inanimate objects, processes of matter and energy, and associated phenomena.
42	Psychology	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the scientific study of the behaviour of individuals, independently or collectively, and the physical and environmental bases of mental, emotional, and neurological activity.
43	Security and Protective Services	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the principles and procedures for providing police, fire, specialized security and protective services, other safety services and managing penal institutions.
44	Public Administration and Social Service Professions (except cannabis)	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals to analyze, manage, and deliver public programs and services (except cannabis).
45	Social Sciences	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the systematic study of social systems, social institutions, and social behaviour.
50	Visual and Performing Arts	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the creation and interpretation of works and performances that use auditory, kinesthetic, and visual phenomena to express ideas and emotions in various forms, subject to aesthetic criteria.
51	Health Professions and Related Programs (except cannabis)	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals to practice as licensed professionals and assistants in the health care professions and related clinical sciences and administrative and support services (except cannabis).
52	Business, Management, Marketing and Related Support Services (except cannabis)	This series comprises instructional programs that prepare individuals to perform managerial, technical support, and applied research functions related to the operation of commercial and non-profit enterprises and the buying and selling of goods and services (except cannabis).
54	History	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the study and interpretation of past events, institutions, issues, and cultures.
55	French Language and Literature/Letters	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on the structure and use of the French language and dialects, speech, writing, and various aspects of the literatures and cultures of the French-speaking peoples.
60	Dental, Medical and Veterinary Residency Programs	This series comprises residency programs in various dental, medical, and veterinary specializations offered in teaching hospitals and similar locations that may lead to advanced professional certification. Residency programs that also result in an academic degree completion, such as an MSc or a PhD, should be reported in series 26. Biological and biomedical sciences or in series 51. Health Professions and Related Programs.
71	Cannabis-Related Instructional Programs	This series comprises instructional programs that focus on cannabis.

Element 06: Salary Status

Description:

A one - digit element to identify the salary status of the staff members.

Codes:

1. Staff members who are paid according to regular salary scales. This can include lay or religious staff.

2. All staff members paid according to salary scales that are lower than regular salary scales. This can include religious, military or other staff.

Element 07: Actual Salary

Description:

A seven - digit element to report the actual gross salary (including vacation pay) that the staff member is expected to receive during the salary year.

Please exclude stipends or other honoraria for administrative duties. Any extra payments such as those received for summer employment, extension work, or others are also to be excluded.

Notes:

Please note that every staff member should have an actual salary reported.

The reported actual salary should reflect all newly negotiated settlements applicable as of October 1 and should not include expected increases or adjustments which may become effective at a later date. If salaries are not negotiated by that date, please report the newly negotiated settlement applicable as of October 1, when they become known.

For medical/dental staff, it is understood that, in most cases, the institution itself, provincial medical care institutions (e.g. hospitals) and/or medical care plan contribute to the staff member's salary at an agreed upon ratio. In some institutions, staff receive all their remuneration directly from the university and the university bills the hospital (or medical care plan) for the latter's share. In other cases, the staff member receives remuneration from the university, the hospitals and/or medical care plan. In order to keep the actual salary reported as comparable as possible among institutions, please include, for medical/dental staff, both the university contribution and the contribution by hospitals and/or medical care plans (excluding special grants, fees for services to patients, guarantees, etc.).

The following elements will affect the actual salary:

1. Element 11: "Number of months on sabbatical leave during the current academic year": For example, if the staff member had a non 100% reimbursed sabbatical leave, it is expected that the actual salary reported would be reduced.
2. Element 12: "Number of months on unpaid leave during the current academic year". For example, if the staff member took 6 months of unpaid leave, it is expected that the actual salary would be reduced by about 50%.
3. Element 13: "Reduced load". For example, if a staff member had a 75% load reduction, it is expected that the actual salary would be reduced to 75% of the annual rate of salary.

Exclusions:

Administrative stipends and other honorarium for administrative duties.

Research grants.

Extra payments such as those for overload, extension and summer employment.

Codes:

Seven - digit numeric value (without decimals)

0000000. Only those staff who are on leave without pay for the whole salary year or staff who do not receive an allowance or salary.

Element 08: Annual Rate of Salary

Description:

A seven - digit element to report the annual gross salary (including vacation pay) the staff member is expected to receive during the salary year.

Please exclude stipends or other honoraria for administrative duties. Any extra payments such as those received for summer employment, extension work, or others are also to be excluded.

Notes:

The reported annual rate of salary should reflect all newly negotiated settlement applicable as of October 1 and should not include expected increases or adjustment which may become effective at a later date. If salaries are not negotiated by that date, please report the newly negotiated settlement applicable as of October 1, when they become known.

For those staff on sabbatical leave, unpaid leave and reduced load please report the annual gross salary that would have been paid had the staff member not gone on leave or had a reduced load.

The "Annual Rate of Salary" will be the same as the "Actual Salary" (Element 07) where the staff member is employed for the full 12 months of the year and is not on an unpaid leave, reduced load or 100% non-reimbursed sabbatical leave.

For medical/dental staff, please report (on an annual rate basis), the staff member's income from all sources including operating and trust funds from the university, hospitals and/or medical care plans, and special grants from health or research agencies but excluding fees for service to patients and guarantees. The reported income should relate to the university appointment only and not to outside activities unrelated to this appointment.

Exclusions:

Administrative stipends and other honorarium for administrative duties.

Research grants.

Extra payments such as those for overload, extension and summer employment.

Codes:

Seven - digit numeric value (without decimals).

Please report the salary even if it is the same as what was reported in element 07.

0000000. Only those staff who do not receive an allowance or salary.

Element 09: Administrative Stipends

Description:

A six - digit element to report annual stipends or other honorarium paid to the staff member for administrative duties.

Notes:

Please include only those annual stipends and other honorarium that are received for administrative duties. Payments given to the staff member for non-administrative duties are not to be included.

This element is related to "Element 10: Senior Administrative Responsibilities, Researchers and Visitors". If a staff member is coded as having senior administrative responsibilities (i.e. codes 1-5 and 9), then it is expected that they will receive an administrative stipend. The exception is where other arrangements are made for re-imbursement, in which case this element should be coded as "999999".

Examples of where the stipend should be reported as "999999":

• It is included in their salary,
• They are given course relief,
• The payment is made to their research fund etc.

Exclusions:

• Funds received for research grants such as Canada Research Chairs and others.
• Stipends received for non-administrative duties.

Codes:

Six - digit numeric value (without decimals)

000000. If the staff member does not have administrative duties.

999999. If the staff member has administrative duties but does not receive a separate stipend.

Element 10: Senior Administrative Responsibilities, Researchers and Visitors

Description:

A one - digit code to report researchers, visitors and those staff members with senior administrative responsibilities.

Notes:

Please report all staff members holding senior administrative positions, including those in an acting capacity.

All visiting staff are to be coded either 6 or 8 regardless of their responsibilities. Please note that they should be coded 4 in element 24: "Type of Appointment".

All research staff who have an academic rank and are paid according to regular salary scales, should be coded either 7 or 8.

It is expected that an administrative stipend would be reported (in element 09) for those staff who are coded as 1 to 5, and in some cases coded as 9.

Codes:

0. Teacher with no senior administrative duties

1. Dean

2. Assistant dean, associate dean, vice-dean

3. Director whose responsibilities and salary are equivalent to those of a dean. Those directors not equivalent to deans would be coded as 4.

4. Director, department head, coordinator

5. Chairperson

6. Visitor with teaching responsibilities e.g., staff with a permanent affiliation to another university or organization

7. Researchers - non-visitors. Researchers are defined as full-time research staff who have an academic rank and a salary scale similar to teaching staff. Please note that their principal subject taught (element 27) should be coded as 9998.

8. Researchers – visitors. Researchers are defined as full-time research staff who have an academic rank and a salary scale similar to teaching staff. Please note that their principal subject taught (element 27) should be coded as 9998.

9. Other - Assistant and associate director, assistant or associate department head, assistant or associate coordinator, assistant or associate chairperson and any other.

Element 11: Number of Months on Sabbatical Leave* During the Current Academic Year

Description:

A 2 - digit element to report the number of months on sabbatical leave.

Notes:

This element requests information on leave that relates to the full academic year.

Codes: 01 to 12: two digits indicating the Number of months on sabbatical leave during the academic year

* As approved by the time institution reports to Statistics Canada.

Element 12: Number of Months on Unpaid Leave * During the Current Academic Year

Description:

A 2 digit element, to report the number of months on unpaid leave.

Notes:

This element requests information on leave that relates to the full academic year and as approved by the time the institution reports to Statistics Canada.

Codes:

01 to 12: two digits indicating the number of months on unpaid leave during the academic year.

* As approved by the time institution reports to Statistics Canada.

Element 13: Reduced Load

Description:

A two - digit element to report the percentage of a full load worked by a full-time academic staff.

Notes:

This applies to full-time staff members who have entered into a formal agreement with the institution to carry his/her duties on a reduced load, for the whole year or that part of the year not on leave.

Please report the percentage of a full load carried by the full-time academic staff member.

For staff members on reduced load, the actual salary (element 07) must be lower than the annual rate of salary (element 08). For example, if the reduced load is 75% (of a full load) for 12 months, we would expect the actual salary to be around 75% of the annual rate of salary.

For staff members not on a reduced load, please use code 00.

Codes:

10 to 95. Possible range reported of workload values.

00. Staff members not on a reduced load.

Example: If, according to contract terms, a staff member is on a 75% workload, please indicate 75 for this element.

Element 14: Previous Employment

Description:

A two - digit element, to report the staff member's employment/occupation that they held immediately prior to their appointment (or reappointment) to the institution.

Notes:

The employment/occupation that the staff member held immediately prior to the Year of appointment to institution specified in Element 26.

Codes:

01. University: Teaching or non-teaching position at a university or affiliated college, or other educational institution where teaching is defined as set out in the introduction to this manual (page 2: "Coverage").

02. Non-university: Teaching or non-teaching position at other educational institutions (including community colleges).

03. Student (including postdoctoral fellows).

04. Public sector: Employment in a government department or agency. This includes hospitals and other publicly funded clinics or other organized health care agency and the military.

05. Private sector: Employment in the private sector (including those that are self-employed).

06. Other

99. Unknown

Element 15: Province or Country of Previous Employment

Description:

Please report the province in which the staff member held the position of their employment (occupation) immediately prior to being appointed (reappointed) to the institution. If outside of Canada, please report the country.

Notes:

An alphabetical listing of province and country codes is presented on the following pages. A listing of country codes in numerical order is also available, by contacting the survey subject matter analyst (co-ordinates on page 5).

If a country code does not appear on the list, please contact the UCASS team (co-ordinates on page 5).

Codes:

Please refer to the following pages for a list of the Province and Country codes.

99999. Unknown

Table 4: Alphabetical Listing of Country Codes

Country Name	Code
Afghanistan	41004
Åland Islands	23248
Albania	24008
Algeria	33012
American Samoa	51016
Andorra	24020
Angola	34024
Anguilla	13660
Antarctica	61010
Antigua and Barbuda	13028
Argentina	14032
Armenia	41051
Aruba	13533
Australia	51036
Austria	21040
Azerbaijan	41031
Bahamas	13044
Bahrain	41048
Bangladesh	44050
Barbados	13052
Belarus	22112
Belgium	21056
Belize	12084
Benin	31204
Bermuda	13060
Bhutan	44064
Bolivia	14068
Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba	13535
Bosnia and Herzegovina	24070
Botswana	35072
Bouvet Island	61074
Brazil	14076
British Indian Ocean Territory	44086
Brunei Darussalam	43096
Bulgaria	22100
Burkina Faso	31854
Burma (Myanmar)	43104
Burundi	32108
Cambodia	43116
Cameroon	34120
Cabo Verde	31132
Cayman Islands	13136
Central African Republic	34140
Chad	34148
Chile	14152
China	42156
Christmas Island	51162
Cocos (Keeling) Islands	51166
Colombia	14170
Comoros	32174
Congo, Republic of the	34178
Congo Democratic Republic of the	34180
Cook Islands	51184
Costa Rica	12188
Côte d'Ivoire	31384
Croatia	24191
Cuba	13192
Curaçao	13531
Cyprus	41196
Czechoslovakia	16652
Czech Republic	22203
Denmark	23208
Djibouti	32262
Dominica	13212
Dominican Republic	13214
Ecuador	14218
Egypt	33818
El Salvador	12222
Equatorial Guinea	34226
Eritrea	32232
Estonia	22233
Ethiopia	32231
Faroe Islands	23234
Falkland Islands (Malvinas)	14238
Fiji	51242
Finland	23246
France	21250
French Guiana	14254
French Polynesia	51258
French Southern Territories	61260
Gabon	34266
Gambia	31270
Georgia	41268
Germany	21276
Germany, Dem. Rep. (East)	23252
Ghana	31288
Gibraltar	24292
Greece	24300
Greenland	11304
Grenada	13308
Guadeloupe	13312
Guam	51316
Guatemala	12320
Guernsey	23831
Guinea	31324
Guinea-Bissau	31624
Guyana	14328
Haiti	13332
Heard Island and McDonald Islands	61334
Holy See (Vatican City State)	24336
Honduras	12340
Hong Kong	42344
Hungary	22348
Iceland	23352
India	44356
Indonesia	43360
Iran	41364
Iraq	41368
Ireland	23372
Isle of Man	23833
Israel	41376
Italy	24380
Jamaica	13388
Japan	42392
Jersey	23832
Jordan	41400
Kazakhstan	41398
Kenya	32404
Kiribati	51296
Korea, North	42408
Korea, South	42410
Kosovo	24983
Kuwait	41414
Kyrgyzstan	41417
Laos	43418
Latvia	22428
Lebanon	41422
Lesotho	35426
Liberia	31430
Libya	33434
Liechtenstein	21438
Lithuania	22440
Luxembourg	21442
Macao	42446
Macedonia, Republic of	24807
Madagascar	32450
Malawi	32454
Malaysia	43458
Maldives	44462
Mali	31466
Malta	24470
Marshall Islands	51584
Martinique	13474
Mauritania	31478
Mauritius	32480
Mayotte	32175
Mexico	12484
Micronesia, Federated States of	51583
Moldova	22498
Monaco	21492
Mongolia	42496
Montenegro	24499
Montserrat	13500
Morocco	33504
Mozambique	32508
Namibia	35516
Nauru	51520
Nepal	44524
Netherlands	21528
New Caledonia	51540
New Zealand	51554
Nicaragua	12558
Niger	31562
Nigeria	31566
Niue	51570
Norfolk Island	51574
Northern Mariana Islands	51580
Norway	23578
Oman	41512
Pakistan	44586
Palau	51585
Panama	12591
Papua New Guinea	51598
Paraguay	14600
Peru	14604
Philippines	43608
Pitcairn	51612
Poland	22616
Portugal	24620
Puerto Rico	13630
Qatar	41634
Réunion	32638
Romania	22642
Russian Federation	22643
Rwanda	32646
Saint Barthélemy	13652
Saint Helena	31654
Saint Kitts and Nevis	13659
Saint Lucia	13662
Saint Martin	68923
Saint Martin (French part)	13663
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	11666
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	13670
Samoa	51882
San Marino	24674
Sao Tome and Principe	34678
Sark	23680
Saudi Arabia	41682
Senegal	31686
Serbia	24688
Seychelles	32690
Sierra Leone	31694
Singapore	43702
Sint Maarten (Dutch part)	13534
Slovakia	22703
Slovenia	24705
Solomon Islands	51090
Somalia	32706
South Africa, Republic of	35710
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	14239
South Sudan	32728
Spain	24724
Sri Lanka	44144
Sudan	33729
Suriname	14740
Svalbard and Jan Mayen	23744
Swaziland	35748
Sweden	23752
Switzerland	21756
Syria	41760
Taiwan	42158
Tajikistan	41762
Tanzania	32834
Thailand	43764
Timor-Leste	43626
Togo	31768
Tokelau	51772
Tonga	51776
Trinidad and Tobago	13780
Tunisia	33788
Turkey	41792
Turkmenistan	41795
Turks and Caicos Islands	13796
Tuvalu	51798
Uganda	32800
Ukraine	22804
United Arab Emirates	41784
United Kingdom	23826
United States	11840
United States Minor Outlying Islands	51581
Uruguay	14858
U.S.S.R.	64971
Uzbekistan	41860
Vanuatu	51548
Venezuela	14862
Viet Nam	43704
Virgin Islands, British	13092
Virgin Islands, United States	13850
Wallis and Futuna	51876
West Bank and Gaza Strip (Palestine)	41275
Western Sahara	33732
Yemen	41887
Yugoslavia	70353
Zambia	32894
Zimbabwe	32716
Not applicable	99899
Not reported	99999
Canada	11124
Newfoundland and Labrador	81021
Prince Edward Island	81121
Nova Scotia	81221
New Brunswick	81321
Quebec	82421
Ontario	83521
Manitoba	84621
Saskatchewan	84721
Alberta	84821
British Columbia	85921
Yukon Territory	86021
Northwest Territories	86121
Nunavut	86221

Element 16: Year of First Degree

Description:

A four - digit element to report the year in which the staff member obtained their first university degree, postsecondary diploma or professional designation.

Codes:

Four digits of the year in which the first university degree, postsecondary diploma or professional designation was obtained.

9998. No degree, diploma or professional designation.

9999. Unknown

Element 17: Province or Country of First Degree

Description:

A five - digit code to report the province in which the staff member's first university degree, postsecondary diploma or professional designation was obtained. If outside of Canada, please report the country code. If a country is not identified in the list of Country Codes, please contact the subject matter analyst (co-ordinates on page 5).

Codes:

The list of province and country codes is given in element 15 (see Table 4).

99899. If code 9998 was used in element 16, then please code 99899 for this element.

99999. Unknown.

Element 18: Level of Highest Earned Degree

Description:

A one - digit code to report the level of the staff member's highest earned degree, diploma or professional designation.

Notes:

Please note that it is the highest degree, and not the most recent, which is required. The following codes list the degrees in order of highest to lowest. Please exclude all anticipated and all honorary degrees.

Codes:

1. PhD. or any other equivalent doctoral degree (i.e. Ed.D, D.Sc, D.S.W)

2. Professional degree - This code refers to medical and paramedical degrees only. For example, the following degrees would be included in this category: M.D. (Medical Doctor), D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery), D.D.M. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine).
Please do not include the Masters of Social Work (code 3) or the LLB: Bachelors of Laws and Letters (code 4) degrees in this category.

3. Masters degree and equivalent (e.g., M.A., M.Sc., M.S.W., M.B.A., etc).

4. Bachelors degree (e.g., LL.B., B.A., B.Sc., B.Ed., etc).

5. All other credentials. This includes undergraduate and graduate diplomas, professional designations other than a degree (e.g., C.A., C.G.A., C.M.A., C.P.A., teaching certificate but no degree, etc.) and any others.

8. No degree, diploma or professional designation.

9. Unknown

Element 19: Year of Highest Earned Degree

Description:

A four - digit element to report the year in which the highest earned degree as specified in element 18, was obtained.

Notes:

If the staff member has two or more degrees at the same level, please report the year of the most recent degree. For example, if the staff member has two doctorate degrees, one obtained in 1960 and the other in 1965, please report 1965 for this element.

Similarly, if the staff member has two degrees, the most recent of which is at a lower level than the first, e.g., M.D. obtained in 1965, and M.Sc. in 1972, please report the year of the higher degree, in this case 1965 (M.D.).

If a staff member has a degree which is higher than a bachelor's degree, it is expected that the year of highest earned degree will be later (e.g. M.A. in 2010) than the element 16: "Year of First Degree" (e.g. B.A. in 2005).

Codes:

A four - digit code indicating the year when the highest earned degree was obtained.

9998. If code 8 was used in element 18, then please code 9998 for this element.

9999. Unknown.

Element 20: Province or Country of Highest Degree

Description:

A five - digit code to report the province or country of the highest earned degree (as reported in element 18).

Notes:

Please report the province in which the highest earned degree that was specified in element 18 was obtained. If outside of Canada, please report the country.

Codes:

The list of province and country codes is given in element 15 (see Table 4).

99899. If code 8 was used in element 18, please report code as 99899 for this element.

99999. Unknown.

Element 21: Country of Citizenship at Time of Appointment

Description:

A five - digit code to report the staff member's country of citizenship for the year that they were appointed to the institution (as reported in element 26).

Codes:

The list of province and country codes is given in element 15 (see Table 4).

99999. Unknown

Element 22: Rank

Description:

A one - digit code to report the staff member's current rank.

Codes:

1. Full professor

2. Associate professor

3. Assistant professor

4. Ranks/level below assistant professor: includes lecturers, instructors, and other teaching staff

5. Other: includes staff that do not fit in the categories described above (ungraded).

Element 23: Year of Appointment to Present Rank at Current Institution

Description:

A four - digit element, to report the year in which the staff member attained their current rank (as reported in element 22) at their current institution.

Notes:

Please note the following when deciding what year to report:

1. The year should only change when a staff member has been promoted from one rank to the next. The year does not change when the administrative responsibilities change.
2. The service between the year of appointment to the current rank (as indicated in this element) and the present year must be both uninterrupted and full-time. It is recognized that leave can be granted without interrupting the continuous service.
3. If the period of employment at the current rank has been interrupted (i.e., the staff member has severed their connection with the institution), the year of reappointment should be reported.
4. It is quite possible that the year reported in this element will be the same as that reported in element 26 ("Year of Appointment to Institution"). This would occur when the staff member has not had a change in rank since their appointment (or reappointment) to the institution.

Codes:

Four - digits of the year in which the staff member attained their present rank.

9999. Unknown

Element 24: Type of Appointment

Description:

A one - digit element to report the type of appointment held by the staff member at the institution.

Notes:

Those teachers who have been granted tenure should be coded as 1.

Teachers for whom, in the normal course of events, e.g., after a certain period of time and, in some cases, upon completion of their doctorate, a tenure review is required by university policy are to be coded as 2.

Staff for whom no tenure review is required should be coded as 3. This category includes teachers hired for one year or more, with no formal commitment on the part of the university to renew their contract, although the contract may in fact be renewed (or has been renewed).

Those reported as code 4 (visiting staff), should also have been reported as code 6 or 8 in Element 10 "Senior Administrative Responsibilities, Researchers and Visitors".

Codes:

1. Tenured

2. Leading to tenure, probationary

3. Non – tenured staff. This could include annual, sessional or other definite term contracts. Other terms used to describe staff in this category are "full-time term employees", "limited term positions", and other contractual staff whose contracts are greater than 12 months.

4. Visiting staff, i.e., staff with a permanent affiliation to another university or organization.

5. Other staff: Continuing staff (i.e. staff neither on tenure stream nor on definite term contract).

Element 25: Medical or Dental Appointment Category

Description:

A one - digit element, to report the appointment category of the staff in the faculties of medicine (including veterinary medicine) and/or dentistry.

Notes:

Medical/dental teaching staff is defined as those who are teaching in department/programs which typically award/train students for either an MD or DDS degree (or post MD/DDS degrees). These staff should be coded as "0", "1" or "2". Please do not report other teaching staff who may be in the Faculty of Medicine or Dentistry who do not focus on the training of students in these fields (i.e. Nursing, Occupational Therapy etc.). All other teaching staff should be coded as "9" (non-medical /dental).

Code 0: Regular full-time (12 months) academic staff
This is a regular academic appointment similar to that in any other faculty. The appointee receives his full salary from the institution. This category usually applies to all basic medical science departments and to other medical or dental staff who are not engaged in private practice. It also includes those staff who are supported by research grants but whose income is administered by the university. These staff are expected to hold some teaching responsibilities.

Code 1: Geographic full-time (12 months) academic staff
This category applies to all medical and dental staff who are engaged in the practice of medicine as well as teaching (i.e. clinicians). Geographic full-time staff members usually receive an established percentage of their regular salary from the university and the remaining portion from provincial medical care institutions (e.g., hospitals) and/or medical care plans. In addition, they are entitled to earn an income (limited by a ceiling) for service to patients. The staff members are usually assigned to a specific hospital. Although they may receive only a percentage of their income from the university, they are counted as full-time members of the institution. Please include all clinicians in this category.

Code 2: Full-time (12 months) joint appointments
This category includes medical and dental staff who have received a letter of appointment from both the university and one of the teaching hospitals. Salaries are paid by both institutions at an agreed upon ratio.

Exclusions:

The following categories of medical staff are to be excluded from the survey:

1. Major part-time
   These staff members spend approximately 50% of their time in a teaching hospital. Their offices are not located in the hospital and there is no ceiling on the income they earn from outside patients although there is a ceiling on the earnings made through the clinical teaching units.
2. Part-time
   These staff members are usually community practitioners who do not receive a formal letter of appointment from the institution but rather are engaged by department heads as demonstrators or teaching assistants. These casual staff members may teach both graduate and undergraduate students, on an average of several hours per week, and also may be involved in clinical research.

Codes:

0. Regular full-time academic staff member

1. Geographic full-time academic staff member

2. Full-time joint appointment

9. Not applicable (staff member is not in a faculty of medicine or dentistry)

Element 26: Year of Appointment to Current Institution

Description:

A four - digit element to report the year of appointment (or reappointment) to a full-time position in a current institution.

Notes:

Please note that the service between the year reported in this element and the present year must be both full-time and uninterrupted (i.e., the staff member has not severed their connection with the institution during this period). Leave (sabbatical, leave of absence, etc.) should not be interpreted as interrupting the continuous service, i.e., when a staff member goes on leave, it does not change their year of appointment to the institution. Similarly, if a staff member assumes a non-academic position in the university for a period of time and then returns to teaching, the period spent in that position should not be interpreted as interrupting continuous service. However, during the time the person holds such a position they should not be reported as a full-time teacher.

It does not matter whether the staff member's appointment was originally temporary, probationary or permanent or has been a series of one-year contracts. As long as the employment has been continuous from year to year and full- time in each year, the year of appointment should be reported as the earliest year in which the staff member joined the institution on a full-time basis. For example, in year 1, a staff member held a full-time probationary appointment which was made permanent in year 2. Year 1 would be reported as the year of appointment.

For the staff member who was employed full-time (12 months) during the past, then, (1) severed his or her connection with the institution, or (2) they obtained a teaching position which is other than full-time (12 months), and was later re-hired to a full-time (12 months) position, the year of reappointment is the one that should be reported in this element.

Please note that the year of appointment to the institution (as reported in this element) cannot be later than the year of appointment to the present rank at current institution (element 23).

Codes:

Four - digits of the year the staff member was appointed (or reappointed) to the institution.

Element 27: Principal Subject Taught

Description:

A four - digit element describing the principal subject taught of the staff member.

Notes:

Please report using the CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code at the 4 - digit level. A numerical and alphabetical listing of programs is provided on the following pages. Please code this element according to the subject in which the staff member spends the largest portion of their teaching time.

For further assistance on determining the correct codes, please consult the full version of the CIP coding manual for a more detailed description or contact the UCASS team. Please note that the 2016 CIP codes are currently being used.

For staff members, who are on leave, please report the subject that they would have taught had the staff member been teaching.

Codes:

The list of 4 - digit CIP codes is given on the following pages.

9998. Not applicable (researchers).

Table 5: CIP Codes

CIP Code	Name
0100	Agriculture, general
0101	Agricultural business and management
0102	Agricultural mechanization
0103	Agricultural production operations
0104	Agricultural and food products processing (except cannabis)
0105	Agricultural and domestic animal services
0106	Applied horticulture/horticultural business services (except cannabis)
0107	International agriculture
0108	Agricultural public services
0109	Animal sciences
0110	Food science and technology
0111	Plant sciences (except cannabis)
0112	Soil sciences
0199	Agriculture, agriculture operations and related sciences, other
0301	Natural resources conservation and research
0302	Natural resources management and policy
0303	Fishing and fisheries sciences and management
0305	Forestry
0306	Wildlife and wildlands science and management
0399	Natural resources and conservation, other
0402	Architecture (BArch, BA, BS, BSc, MArch, MA, MS, MSc, PhD)
0403	City/urban, community and regional planning
0404	Environmental design/architecture
0405	Interior architecture
0406	Landscape architecture (BS, BSc, BSLA, BLA, MSLA, MLA, PhD)
0408	Architectural history and criticism
0409	Architectural sciences and technology
0410	Real estate development
0499	Architecture and related services, other
0501	Area studies
0502	Ethnic, cultural minority, gender, and group studies
0599	Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies, other
0901	Communication and media studies
0904	Journalism
0907	Radio, television and digital communication
0909	Public relations, advertising and applied communication
0910	Publishing
0999	Communication, journalism and related programs, other
1003	Graphic communications
1101	Computer and information sciences and support services, general
1102	Computer programming
1104	Information science/studies
1105	Computer systems analysis/analyst
1107	Computer science
1108	Computer software and media applications
1109	Computer systems networking and telecommunications
1110	Computer/information technology administration and management
1199	Computer and information sciences and support services, other
1301	Education, general
1302	Bilingual, multilingual and multicultural education
1303	Curriculum and instruction
1304	Educational administration and supervision
1305	Educational/instructional media design
1306	Educational assessment, evaluation and research
1307	International and comparative education
1309	Social and philosophical foundations of education
1310	Special education and teaching
1311	Student counselling and personnel services
1312	Teacher education and professional development, specific levels and methods
1313	Teacher education and professional development, specific subject areas
1314	Teaching English or French as a second or foreign language
1315	Teaching assistants/aides
1401	Engineering, general
1402	Aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical/space engineering
1403	Agricultural engineering
1404	Architectural engineering
1405	Bioengineering and biomedical engineering
1406	Ceramic sciences and engineering
1407	Chemical engineering
1408	Civil engineering
1409	Computer engineering
1410	Electrical, electronics and communications engineering
1411	Engineering mechanics
1412	Engineering physics/applied physics
1413	Engineering science
1414	Environmental/environmental health engineering
1418	Materials engineering
1419	Mechanical engineering
1420	Metallurgical engineering
1421	Mining and mineral engineering
1422	Naval architecture and marine engineering
1423	Nuclear engineering
1424	Ocean engineering
1425	Petroleum engineering
1427	Systems engineering
1428	Textile sciences and engineering
1432	Polymer/plastics engineering
1433	Construction engineering
1434	Forest engineering
1435	Industrial engineering
1436	Manufacturing engineering
1437	Operations research
1438	Surveying engineering
1439	Geological/geophysical engineering
1440	Paper science and engineering
1441	Electromechanical engineering
1442	Mechatronics, robotics, and automation engineering
1443	Biochemical engineering
1444	Engineering chemistry
1445	Biological/Biosystems engineering
1499	Engineering, other
1515	Engineering-related fields
1516	Nanotechnology
1599	Engineering Technologies and engineering-related fields, other
1601	Linguistic, comparative and related language studies and services
1602	African languages, literatures and linguistics
1603	East Asian languages, literatures and linguistics
1604	Slavic, Baltic and Albanian languages, literatures and linguistics
1605	Germanic languages, literatures and linguistics
1606	Modern Greek language and literature
1607	South Asian languages, literatures and linguistics
1608	Iranian languages, literatures and linguistics
1609	Romance languages, literatures and linguistics
1610	Aboriginal languages, literatures and linguistics
1611	Middle/Near Eastern and Semitic languages, literatures and linguistics
1612	Classics and classical languages, literatures and linguistics
1613	Celtic languages, literatures and linguistics
1614	Southeast Asian and Australasian/Pacific languages, literatures and linguistics
1615	Turkic, Uralic-Altaic, Caucasian and Central Asian languages, literatures and linguistics
1616	Sign language
1617	Second language learning
1699	Aboriginal and foreign languages, literatures and linguistics, other
1900	Work and family studies
1901	Family and consumer sciences/human sciences, general
1902	Family and consumer sciences/human sciences business services
1904	Family and consumer economics and related services
1905	Foods, nutrition and related services
1906	Housing and human environments
1907	Human development, family studies and related services
1909	Apparel and textiles
1999	Family and consumer sciences/human sciences, other
2200	Non-professional general legal studies (undergraduate)
2201	Law (LLB, JD, BCL)
2202	Legal research and advanced professional studies (post-LLB/JD)
2299	Legal professions and studies, other
2301	English language and literature, general
2313	English rhetoric and composition/writing studies
2314	English literature
2399	English language and literature/letters, other
2401	Liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities
2501	Library science and administration
2599	Library science, other
2601	Biology, general
2602	Biochemistry/biophysics and molecular biology
2603	Botany/plant biology
2604	Cell/cellular biology and anatomical sciences
2605	Microbiological sciences and immunology
2607	Zoology/animal biology
2608	Genetics
2609	Physiology, pathology and related sciences
2610	Pharmacology and toxicology
2611	Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology
2612	Biotechnology
2613	Ecology, evolution, systematics and population biology
2614	Molecular medicine
2615	Neurobiology and neurosciences
2699	Biological and biomedical sciences, other
2701	Mathematics
2703	Applied mathematics
2705	Statistics
2799	Mathematics and statistics, other
2808	Military science, leadership and operational art
2905	Military technologies and applied sciences
3001	Biological and physical sciences
3005	Peace studies and conflict resolution
3006	Systems science and theory
3008	Mathematics and computer science
3010	Biopsychology
3011	Gerontology
3012	Historic preservation and conservation
3013	Medieval and renaissance studies
3014	Museology/museum studies
3015	Science, technology and society
3016	Accounting and computer science
3017	Behavioural sciences
3018	Natural sciences
3019	Nutrition sciences
3020	International/global studies
3021	Holocaust and related studies
3022	Classical and ancient studies
3023	Intercultural/multicultural and diversity studies
3025	Cognitive science
3026	Cultural studies/critical theory and analysis
3027	Human biology
3028	Dispute resolution
3029	Maritime studies
3030	Computational science
3031	Human computer interaction
3032	Marine sciences
3033	Sustainability studies
3099	Multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary studies, other
3101	Parks, recreation and leisure studies
3103	Parks, recreation and leisure facilities management
3105	Health and physical education/fitness
3106	Outdoor education
3199	Parks, recreation, leisure and fitness studies, other
3800	Philosophy and religious studies, general
3801	Philosophy, logic and ethics
3802	Religion/religious studies
3899	Philosophy and religious studies, other
3902	Bible/biblical studies
3903	Missions/missionary studies and missiology
3904	Religious education
3905	Religious/sacred music
3906	Theological and ministerial studies
3907	Pastoral counselling and specialized ministries
3999	Theology and religious vocations, other
4001	Physical sciences, general
4002	Astronomy and astrophysics
4004	Atmospheric sciences and meteorology
4005	Chemistry
4006	Geological and earth sciences/geosciences
4008	Physics
4010	Materials sciences
4099	Physical sciences, other
4201	Psychology, general
4227	Research and experimental psychology
4228	Clinical, counselling and applied psychology
4299	Psychology, other
4301	Criminal justice and corrections
4302	Fire protection
4303	Security and protective services, specialized programs
4399	Security and protective services, other
4400	Human services, general
4402	Community organization and advocacy
4404	Public administration
4405	Public policy analysis (except cannabis)
4407	Social work
4499	Public administration and social service professions, other
4501	Social sciences, general
4502	Anthropology
4503	Archeology
4504	Criminology
4505	Demography and population studies
4506	Economics
4507	Geography and cartography
4509	International relations and national security studies
4510	Political science and government
4511	Sociology
4512	Urban studies/affairs
4513	Sociology and anthropology
4514	Rural sociology
4599	Social sciences, other
5001	Visual, digital and performing arts, general
5002	Crafts/craft design, folk art and artisanry
5003	Dance
5004	Design and applied arts
5005	Drama/theatre arts and stagecraft
5006	Film/video and photographic arts
5007	Fine arts and art studies
5009	Music
5010	Arts, entertainment, and media management
5099	Visual and performing arts, other
5100	General Health services/allied health/health sciences
5101	Chiropractic (DC)
5102	Communication disorders sciences and services
5104	Dentistry (DDS, DMD)
5105	Advanced/graduate dentistry and oral sciences (Cert., MS, MSc, PhD)
5106	Dental support services and allied professions
5107	Health and medical administrative services
5109	Allied health diagnostic, intervention and treatment professions
5110	Clinical/medical laboratory science/research and allied professions
5111	Health/medical preparatory programs
5112	Medicine (MD)
5114	Medical scientist (MS, MSc, PhD)
5115	Mental and social health services and allied professions (except cannabis)
5117	Optometry (OD)
5118	Ophthalmic and optometric support services and allied professions
5119	Osteopathic medicine/osteopathy (DO)
5120	Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences and administration
5121	Podiatric medicine/podiatry (DPM)
5122	Public health (except cannabis)
5123	Rehabilitation and therapeutic professions
5124	Veterinary medicine (DVM)
5125	Veterinary biomedical and clinical sciences (Cert., MS, MSc, PhD)
5127	Medical illustration and informatics
5131	Dietetics and clinical nutrition services
5132	Bioethics/medical ethics
5133	Alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems
5134	Alternative and complementary medical support services
5135	Somatic bodywork and related therapeutic services
5136	Movement and mind-body therapies
5137	Energy-based and biologically-based therapies
5138	Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing
5139	Practical nursing, vocational nursing and nursing assistants
5199	Health professions and related clinical sciences, other (except cannabis)
5201	Business/commerce, general
5202	Business administration, management and operations
5203	Accounting and related services
5204	Business operations support and assistant services
5205	Business/corporate communications
5206	Business/managerial economics
5207	Entrepreneurial and small business operations
5208	Finance and financial management services
5209	Hospitality administration/management
5210	Human resources management and services
5211	International business/trade/commerce
5212	Management information systems and services
5213	Management sciences and quantitative methods
5214	Marketing
5215	Real estate
5216	Taxation
5217	Insurance
5218	General sales, merchandising and related marketing operations (except cannabis)
5219	Specialized sales, merchandising and marketing operations (except cannabis)
5220	Construction management
5299	Business, management, marketing and related support services, other
5401	History
5501	French language and literature, general
5513	French rhetoric and composition/writing studies
5514	French literature
5599	French language and literature/letters, other
6001	Dental residency programs
6003	Veterinary residency programs
6004	Medical residency programs – general certificates
6005	Medical residency programs – subspecialty certificates
6006	Podiatric medicine residency programs
6099	Dental, medical and veterinary residency programs, other
7101	Cannabis-related instructional programs
9998	Not applicable - Researchers

Why are we conducting this survey?

Recently, the Government of Canada launched the third comprehensive review of the Market Basket Measure (MBM), which is Canada's Official Poverty Line. As part of this review, Statistics Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) are conducting engagement activities to gather input from all Canadians on how to improve poverty measurement in Canada.

The MBM is a measure of low income, based on the cost of a basket of goods and services that individuals and families require to meet their basic needs and achieve a modest standard of living. Individuals and families living across the country who cannot afford the cost of this basket of goods and services are considered to be living below Canada's Official Poverty Line. This survey will ask about the costs of this basket of goods and services (for example, food, shelter, transportation).

Your participation in this crowdsourcing survey will help Statistics Canada accurately measure poverty, and provide feedback on how we can improve poverty measurement in Canada.

Authorization and confidentiality

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with other survey or administrative data 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, Centre for Income and Socio-Economic Well-being Statistics
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

Find out how much a family would need to live above the poverty line

Canada's Official Poverty Line reflects the combined costs of a basket of goods and services that individuals and families require to meet their basic needs and achieve a modest standard of living. The basket includes items such as healthy food, appropriate shelter and home maintenance, clothing, and transportation. It also includes the costs of other goods and services that allows for a level of social inclusion in one's community, particularly for children, youth, parents and seniors.

The cost of each item in the basket is directly linked to the prices of these items in communities across Canada. If an individual or family cannot afford the cost of this basket for their particular community and for their family size, they are considered to be living below Canada's Official Poverty Line—that is, living in poverty.

By selecting your province or territory, city, family size and housing tenure information, you can find out how much money a family would need in order to live above the poverty line in your community. You will also be able to interact with these amounts to see how they relate to your family.

Q1 - Select the province or territory where you live.

Province or territory

1. Newfoundland and Labrador
2. Prince Edward Island
3. Nova Scotia
4. New Brunswick
5. Quebec
6. Ontario
7. Manitoba
8. Saskatchewan
9. Alberta
10. British Columbia
11. Yukon
12. Northwest Territories
13. Nunavut

Find out how much a family would need to live above the poverty line

Q2 - Select the city or town where you live.

If your city is not listed, select the city closest to yours. If there is still no appropriate city listed, please select the "rural" option.

City or Town

Province selected	City list provided
Newfoundland and Labrador	Bay Roberts Corner Brook Gander Grand Falls - Windsor Rural, Newfoundland and Labrador St. John's
Prince Edward Island	Charlottetown Rural, Prince Edward Island Summerside
Nova Scotia	Cape Breton Halifax Kentville New Glasgow Rural, Nova Scotia Truro
New Brunswick	Bathurst Campbellton (New Brunswick part) Edmundston Fredericton Miramichi Moncton Rural, New Brunswick Saint John
Quebec	Alma Baie-Comeau Campbellton (Quebec part) Cowansville Dolbeau-Mistassini Drummondville Gatineau Granby Hawkesbury (Quebec part) Joliette Matane Montréal Québec Rimouski Rivière-du-Loup Rouyn-Noranda Rural, Quebec Saguenay Sainte-Marie Saint-Georges Saint-Hyacinthe Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Sept-Îles Shawinigan Sherbrooke Sorel-Tracy Thetford Mines Trois-Rivières Val-d'Or Victoriaville Lachute
Ontario	Arnprior Barrie Belleville Brantford Brockville Carleton Place Centre Wellington Chatham - Kent Cobourg Collingwood Cornwall Elliot Lake Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury Guelph Hamilton Hawkesbury (Ontario part) Ingersoll Kawartha Lakes Kenora Kingston Kitchener - Cambridge - Waterloo Leamington London Midland Norfolk North Bay Orillia Oshawa Ottawa Owen Sound Pembroke Petawawa Peterborough Rural, Ontario Sarnia Sault Ste. Marie St. Catharines - Niagara Stratford Thunder Bay Tillsonburg Timmins Toronto Wasaga Beach Windsor Woodstock Port Hope
Manitoba	Brandon Portage la Prairie Rural, Manitoba Steinbach Thompson Winkler Winnipeg
Saskatchewan	Estevan Lloydminster (Saskatchewan part) Moose Jaw North Battleford Prince Albert Regina Rural, Saskatchewan Saskatoon Swift Current Weyburn Yorkton
Alberta	Brooks Calgary Camrose Canmore Cold Lake Edmonton Grande Prairie High River Lacombe Lethbridge Lloydminster (Alberta part) Medicine Hat Okotoks Red Deer Rural, Alberta Strathmore Sylvan Lake Wood Buffalo Wetaskiwin
British Columbia	Abbotsford - Mission Campbell River Chilliwack Courtenay Cranbrook Dawson Creek Duncan Fort St. John Kamloops Kelowna Nanaimo Nelson Parksville Penticton Port Alberni Powell River Prince George Prince Rupert Quesnel Rural, British Columbia Salmon Arm Squamish Terrace Vancouver Vernon Victoria Williams Lake
Yukon	Whitehorse Outside of Whitehorse
Northwest Territories	Yellowknife Outside of Yellowknife
Nunavut	Iqaluit Outside of Iqaluit

If the rural option is selected for a province.

Do you consider your community to be more remote than rural?
The concept of remote communities can be a little subjective. Your answer will help us determine if we are conceptualizing them correctly.

1. Yes, more remote than rural
   Please do not enter any personal information in your response. If any personal information is entered, it will be disposed of and not used.

   Specify your municipality's name

   Long Answer Length = 72

2. No, more rural than remote

Q3 - How many family members currently live in your household?

Include those related to you by blood, marriage, common law, adoption or a foster relationship, and living with you full-time.

Number of family members

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7
8. 8 or more

Q4 - What is the age of the highest income earner in your family?

Age

Min = 0; Max = 999

Q5 - Is the dwelling you live in owned by a member of your family?

A dwelling is defined as a set of living quarters and refers to a separate set of living quarters with a private entrance either from outside the building or from a common hall, lobby, vestibule or stairway inside the building. The entrance to the dwelling must be one that can be used without passing through the living quarters of some other person or group of persons.

A member of your family is defined as those related to you by blood, marriage, common law, adoption or a foster relationship, and living with you full-time.

1. Yes
   Is there a mortgage on this dwelling?
   1. Yes
   2. No
2. No
   Is the rent for your dwelling subsidized by the government, an employer, or a relative?
   1. Yes
   2. No

Your thoughts on living costs in your community

The information you provide in this section will help us evaluate expenses used to determine if an individual, or a family lives in poverty according to Canada's Official Poverty Line.

Q6 - Based on your family size and region, a monthly amount of about $[the respondent's poverty threshold] would be required to cover a family's basic needs. Is this amount enough?

This amount is intended to cover expenses related to shelter, food, clothing and footwear, transportation, and other necessities (e.g., toilet paper, hygiene products, etc.).

1. This value is more than enough to cover a family's basic needs

   What do you consider as the monthly amount needed?

   Monthly amount

   Min = 0; Max = 99999

   i.e., we would like to know an amount below which a family would not be able to meet its financial needs in terms of transportation, housing, food, clothing and other necessary expenses.

2. This value is just enough to cover a family's basic needs
3. This value is not enough to cover a family's basic needs

   What do you consider as the monthly amount needed?

   Monthly amount

   Min = 0; Max = 99999

   i.e., we would like to know an amount below which a family would not be able to meet its financial needs in terms of transportation, housing, food, clothing and other necessary expenses.

Q7 - According to you, thinking of a family with monthly expenses of $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6] what percentage of a family's budget should be spent on the following categories in order to achieve a modest, basic standard of living?

Shelter:

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 100

For homeowners, this amount should include mortgage payments, utilities, property taxes, and a basic homeowner insurance. For renters, this amount should include rent, utilities, and a basic renter insurance.

Food:

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 100

Food purchased from stores. Exclude food purchased online or in-person from restaurants. Exclude alcoholic beverages.

Clothing and footwear:

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 100

Include replacement of clothing and footwear only.

Transportation:

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 100

Includes both private and public transportation.

Other necessary typical expenditures:

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 100

e.g., household items, personal care, reading materials, telecommunication services and equipment, etc.

Exclude: medical expenses, debt repayments or child care.

Total:

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 999

How your percentages are reflected in monthly expenditures

Q8 - Using your previously provided percentages, it would mean that the monthly amount of $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6] that you feel reflects poverty for a family of your size in your community would be divided in the following way:

Shelter $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6, multiplied by the shelter percentage in Q7]

For homeowners, include mortgage payments, utilities, property taxes and basic insurances. For renters, include rent, utilities, and basic insurances.

1. This value is more than what a family would need to spend
2. This value is around what a family would need to spend
3. This value is less than what a family would need to spend

Food $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6, multiplied by the food percentage in Q7]

Food purchased from stores. Exclude alcoholic beverages and meals purchased in restaurant.

1. This value is more than what a family would need to spend
2. This value is around what a family would need to spend
3. This value is less than what a family would need to spend

Clothing and footwear $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6, multiplied by the clothing and footwear percentage in Q7]

Include replacement of clothing and footwear only.

1. This value is more than what a family would need to spend
2. This value is around what a family would need to spend
3. This value is less than what a family would need to spend

Transportation $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6, multiplied by the transportation percentage in Q7]

Includes both private and public transportation.

1. This value is more than what a family would need to spend
2. This value is around what a family would need to spend
3. This value is less than what a family would need to spend

Other necessary typical expenditures $[the respondent's poverty threshold or amount entered in Q6, multiplied by the other necessary typical expenditures percentage in Q7]

e.g., household items, personal care, reading materials, telecommunication services and equipment, etc.

Exclude: medical expenses, debt repayments or child care.

1. This value is more than what a family would need to spend
2. This value is around what a family would need to spend
3. This value is less than what a family would need to spend

Where your family is in the income distribution

Q9 - What is your best estimate of your total annual family income, before taxes and deductions, from all sources during the year ending December 31, 2022?

Income can come from various sources such as from work, investments, pensions or government. Examples include Employment Insurance, social assistance, child benefits and other income such as child support, spousal support (alimony) and rental income. Capital gains should not be included in the personal income.

Less than $[provincial-level 1st decile]

$[provincial-level 1st decile] to less than $[provincial-level 2nd decile]

$[provincial-level 2nd decile] to less than $[provincial-level 3rd decile]

$[provincial-level 3rd decile] to less than $[provincial-level 4th decile]

$[provincial-level 4th decile] to less than $[provincial-level 5th decile]

$[provincial-level 5th decile] to less than $[provincial-level 6th decile]

$[provincial-level 6th decile] to less than $[provincial-level 7th decile]

$[provincial-level 7th decile] to less than $[provincial-level 8th decile]

$[provincial-level 8th decile] to less than $[provincial-level 9th decile]

$[provincial-level 9th decile] and over

Unavoidable deductions

Q10 - The following expenses are considered to be unavoidable and are thus subtracted from after-tax income before determining if a person or family is above or below the poverty line:

• Employment Insurance (EI) contributions
• Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Quebec Pension Plan (QPP) contributions
• Registered pension plan contributions
• Union dues and professional membership dues
• Child care expenses incurred in order to hold a paid job
• Support payments paid
• Public health insurance premiums
• Direct medical expenses, including private insurance premiums.

Are there other unavoidable deductions that should also be subtracted from your after-tax income?

1. Yes

   Please do not enter any personal information in your response. If any personal information is entered, it will be disposed of and not used.

   Specify any other unavoidable deductions

   Long Answer Length = 72

2. No

Subjective poverty

In 2018, the Government of Canada released Opportunity for All – Canada's First Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Strategy set poverty reduction targets based on Canada's Official Poverty Line: a 20 percent reduction in poverty by 2020 and a 50 percent reduction in poverty by 2030, relative to 2015 levels.

Q11 - In the past 12 months, how difficult or easy was it for your family to meet its financial needs in terms of transportation, housing, food, clothing and other necessary expenses?

Would you say

1. Very difficult
2. Difficult
3. Neither difficult nor easy
4. Easy
5. Very easy

Q12 - In your opinion, in [the respondent's selected city], what proportion of the total population is currently living in poverty?

Percentage

Min = 0; Max = 100

Subjective poverty

According to Canada's Official Poverty Line, in 2020, the poverty rate in [the respondent's selected city] was [the respondent's selected city's poverty rate]%.

Q13 - In your opinion, what kind of assistance is most needed for people living in poverty in your community?

Please do not enter any personal information in your response. If any personal information is entered, it will be disposed of and not used.

Kind of assistance

Long Answer Length = 72

Demographic questions

The following questions are about sex at birth and gender.

Q14 - What was your sex at birth?

Sex refers to sex assigned at birth.

1. Male
2. Female

Q15 - What is your gender?

Gender refers to current gender which may be different from sex assigned at birth and may be different from what is indicated on legal documents.

Is it:

1. Male
2. Female
3. Or please specify

Long Answer Length = 72

Q16 - Please verify that all of the information is correct.

If all the information is correct, press the Next button.

To make changes, press the Previous button.

Your information

Sex assigned at birth:

Gender:

Q17 - Are any family members currently living in your household members of a racialized group?

Racialized group is derived directly from the concept of visible minority. A visible minority refers to whether a person is a visible minority or not, as defined by the Employment Equity Act. This act defines visible minorities as "persons, other than Indigenous peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour." The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

1. Yes
2. No

Q18 - Do any family members currently living in your household have a disability?

Only difficulties or long-term conditions that have lasted or are expected to last for six months or more should be considered.

1. Yes
2. No

Q19 - Are any family members currently living in your household First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit)?

First Nations (North American Indian) includes Status and Non-Status Indians. If "Yes", select the responses that best describes this person now.

1. No
   Or
2. Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)
3. Yes, Métis
4. Yes, Inuk (Inuit)

Feedback questions

Q20 - Before answering this survey, had you heard of Canada's Official Poverty Line (or, Market Basket Measure)?

The Market Basket Measure was adopted as Canada's Official Poverty Line in June 2019.

1. Yes
   Was it:

   1. Through work or volunteering

      Please do not enter any personal information in your response. If any personal information is entered, it will be disposed of and not used.

      Specify where you work or volunteer

      Long Answer Length = 72

   2. Some other way

      Please do not enter any personal information in your response. If any personal information is entered, it will be disposed of and not used.

      Specify how you heard of Canada's Official Poverty Line (or, Market Basket Measure)

      Long Answer Length = 72

2. No

Q21 - Thank you for taking the time to participate in our crowdsourcing survey. If you have any feedback on this survey or on how the Government of Canada can improve poverty measurement, please use the comment box below:

Please do not enter any personal information in your response. If any personal information is entered, it will be disposed of and not used.

Enter your comments

Long Answer Length = 300