In October 2023, questions measuring the Labour Market Indicators were added to the Labour Force Survey as a supplement.

Questionnaire flow within the collection application is controlled dynamically based on responses provided throughout the survey. Therefore, some respondents will not receive all questions, and there is a small chance that some households will not receive any questions at all. This is based on their answers to certain LFS questions.

Labour Market Indicators

ENTRY_Q01 / EQ 1 - From the following list, please select the household member that will be completing this questionnaire on behalf of the entire household.

SAT_Q01 / EQ 2 - Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Very dissatisfied" and 10 means "Very satisfied", in general, how satisfied [are/is] [you/respondent name/this person] with [your/his/her/their] main job or business?

SAT_Q02 / EQ 3 - During the last 12 months, what types of compensation did  [you/respondent name/this person] receive at [your/his/her/their] main job or business?

SAT_Q03 / EQ 4 – [Are/Is] [you/respondent name/this person] currently owed outstanding compensation for any job, contract or task performed in the context of [your/his/her/their] main job or business?

CHS_Q01 / EQ 5 - Over the last month, that is since [previous month] 15 to today, how difficult or easy was it for your household to meet its financial needs in terms of transportation, housing, food, clothing and other necessary expenses?

Monthly Refined Petroleum Products Survey Reporting Instructions

Purpose

This monthly survey collects data on the activities of all Canadian refineries, terminals and upgraders involved in the production and distribution of refined petroleum products. This data is required for integration into the input-output sector of the Canadian System of National Accounts. Data is made available under the authority of the Statistics Act to other federal departments and provincial authorities through data sharing agreements subject to embodied principles of data confidentiality. Data is intended for use by survey respondents, industry associations, industry analysts, the press and the general public to assess trends in the Canadian petroleum sector.

Who must Submit

To be completed by the operators of all petroleum refineries, upgraders and terminals located in Canada.

When to Submit

The survey must be received by Statistics Canada 10 calendar days following the month in review.

How to Submit

An email invitation is sent to respondents to download an Excel spreadsheet based questionnaire for completion and to provide access to a secure portal to upload the data to Statistic Canada.

  • Login to the survey link.
  • Download, complete, and save the questionnaire.
  • Return to the survey link and follow the instructions to attach the completed questionnaire.

General Instructions

Respondent Identification Data

  • Confirm the legal name of the reporting company.
  • Confirm the operating name if appropriate.
  • Confirm the establishment name.
  • Confirm the physical address of the establishment.
  • Confirm the mailing address of the Contact. (Note: If the physical address and mailing address are the same, provide the information only for the physical address.)
  • Confirm the name, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address of the person to contact concerning information shown on the report. The person listed should be the person most knowledgeable of the specific data reported.

Operations

Quantities: Report using the following criteria.

Report all quantities to the nearest whole number in Cubic Metres.

Report for each product, beginning and end-of-month stocks, receipts, inputs, production, shipments, and fuel use and losses and adjustments during the month.

All values should be positive except for Losses and Adjustments, which can be negative.

Products should balance: Stocks Beginning of Month + Receipts + Production = Inputs + Shipments + Fuel Uses + Losses and Adjustments + Stocks End of Month.

Report data for only those lines which are applicable to your operation. If there are no data for a specific line, leave the entire line blank.

Stocks (Beginning and End of Month)

Report beginning stocks on the 1st day of the reporting month (start of day). Report ending stocks on the last day of the reporting month (end of day). All stocks should be corrected to 15oC less basic sediment and water (BS&W).

Report all stocks in the custody of the establishment regardless of ownership. Reported stock quantities should represent actual measured inventories.

Report stocks of mixed liquefied gases (including unfractionated streams) by the individual components (i.e., ethane, propane, normal butane, and isobutane) as determined by chemical analysis.

Report ending stocks of all liquefied gases on their individual product lines as well as totals on the line hydrocarbon gas liquids, Total.

Report all domestic and foreign stocks held at the refinery, terminal and upgrader.

Report end-of-month stocks of unfinished oils by degree Celsius end-point. The following are the degree end-point categories: Naphthas and Lighter, less than 205oC; Kerosene and Light Gas Oils, 205oC to 343oC; Heavy Gas Oils, 344oC to 538oC; and Residuum, greater than 538oC.

Receipts During the Month

Report all receipts at the refinery, terminal and upgrader after the products are actually received at the establishment.

Report receipts of Natural Gas Plant Liquids and Liquefied Refinery Gases (including olefins and derivatives). Include both fuel use and petrochemical feedstock use.

Exclude natural gas used as a feedstock to produce hydrogen from refinery receipts. Also exclude natural gas received at the refinery for use as a fuel.

Inputs During Month

Report the volume of crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas plant liquids, other hydrocarbons, hydrogen, oxygenates, and liquefied refinery gases input to refinery processing units for the purpose of producing finished petroleum products.

Report gross refinery input for each item identified on the survey form.

Note: Gross inputs are typically greater than crude oil inputs since gross inputs include materials other than crude oil as well as any re-runs of the same cubic metres through the atmospheric crude oil distillation unit.

Exclude from input of Crude Oil any oils that have undergone prior refinery processing. Such oils should be reported as inputs of intermediate product (typically, unfinished oils or motor gasoline blending components) or finished product. An "Input" of a finished product, such as a finished motor gasoline or distillate fuel oil, represents a reclassification of a finished product.

Exclude inputs of product used to manufacture finished petrochemicals. Input of natural gas to produce hydrogen should be excluded. Input of feedstock to manufacture oxygenates should be excluded. Inputs of finished petroleum products are explained under "Reclassification of Inventory".

Report as input any finished product, blending component, oxygenate, or other material blended or reclassified to a different product. Examples of quantities to report as input include Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (BOB) and Fuel Ethanol blended to produce finished motor gasoline, and kerosene blended with distillate fuel oil.

Report input whether blending or product reclassification takes place due to transfers of products between tanks, through in-line blending systems, or by splash blending in trucks or rail cars.

Report as input any Distillate Fuel Oil to be reclassified to a different distillate category (i.e. diesel being reclassified as light fuel oil) as well as any Distillate Fuel Oil, Kerosene, or Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel being reclassified to a different product (see Reclassification of Inventory discussed later in these instructions).

Report gross input for each item listed on the survey form.

Report inputs of selected natural gas plant liquids and liquefied refinery gases (i.e. normal butane, butylene, isobutane, isobutylene, and pentanes plus) on their individual product lines as well as totals on the line for Hydrocarbon gas liquids, TOTAL.

Production During the Month

Report gross refinery production during the month for each item identified on the survey.

Report the volume of petroleum products produced from processing of crude oil, unfinished oils, liquefied petroleum gases, other hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and oxygenates.

Report the volume of petroleum products produced from blending operations of motor gasoline and aviation blending components.

Report the production of olefins (Ethylene, propylene, butylene) to include only that portion of liquefied refinery gases that are shipped from the refinery as a finished refinery product (e.g., olefins shipped to petrochemical facilities).

Report the production of aromatics (e.g., benzene, toluene, and xylene) based upon intended use. Aromatics to be used for blending or compounding into finished aviation or motor gasoline should be reported as production of aviation or motor gasoline blending components. If aromatics are used as petrochemical feedstock then report their production as Naphtha less than 205oC.

Coprocessing (Refineries only)

Report receipts and inputs of biogenic feedstocks (plant or animal products) used for co-processing as other renewable fuels and intermediate products.

Report as production any finished product or blending component blended or reclassified from inputs. Examples of production to report include Finished Motor Gasoline blended from input of BOB and Fuel Ethanol, and the increase in distillate fuel oil volume resulting from blending kerosene.

Report gross production for each item listed on the survey form.

Report production whether blending or product reclassification took place due to transfers of products between tanks, through in-line blending systems, or by splash blending in trucks or rail cars.

Report as production any Distillate Fuel Oil, Kerosene, or Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel reclassified from a different product (see Reclassification of Inventory discussed later in these instructions).

Total Input and Total Production

When the report is completed correctly, every input cubic metre should have a corresponding production cubic metre. Therefore, total input should equal total production. Small variances may exist due to rounding, measurement, gains, and losses. These variances are reported using total line, quantities reported for the total line balance total input and total production.

Shipments During the Month

Report all shipments, including intracompany shipments to other storage facilities, refineries, chemical plants, or fractionating facilities. Inputs to onsite petrochemical plants should be reported as shipments from your establishment.

Fuel Use During the Month

Report petroleum products used as fuel at your establishment.

Exclude fuel use at petrochemical facilities located at the same site as the refinery.

Losses and Adjustments During Month

Report all non-processing losses (e.g., spills, fire losses, contamination, etc.) by product. Include refinery processing gains and losses and stock discrepancies caused by gauging problems.

Note: Losses and adjustments should represent less than 10% of Stocks Beginning of Month + Receipts + Production + Inputs + Shipments + Fuel Uses + Losses and Adjustments + Stocks End of Month.

Reclassification of Inventory

Report a finished product that is reclassified as a different finished product or as an unfinished oil as follows: the quantity of the original product is reported in the "Input" column and the reclassified product is reported in the "Production" column.

For example, if you produce 10,000 cubic metres of kerosene during January and have it in storage at the end of the month, this quantity is to be reported as "Production" of Kerosene on the January report. If during February the intended use of the 10,000 cubic metres of kerosene is changed to Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel, report this reclassification by reporting the 10,000 cubic metres as "Input" of Kerosene and as "Production" of Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel.

Hydrogen

Report receipts, inputs, and fuel use and loss of hydrogen. Include hydrogen produced from hydrogen plants located at refineries (and upgraders) and hydrogen purchased from third-party suppliers.

Note: Report hydrogen in fuel oil equivalent cubic metres.

Exclude hydrogen produced from catalytic reformers from quantities reported for to avoid double counting inputs. Hydrogen input from reformer units is counted indirectly as input of crude oil and unfinished oils.

Exclude feedstock inputs for hydrogen production.

Report Still gas, Special Naphtha, and Unfinished oils, naphtha, and lighter as shipments to a hydrogen plant when these products are used as hydrogen feedstock. Report any feedstock return streams from a hydrogen plant as receipts from the hydrogen plant and inputs at the establishment. Report receipts of return streams using the same product as were used when reporting feedstock shipments to the hydrogen plant.

Oxygenates

Report oxygenates on an individual basis. All other oxygenates includes other aliphatic alcohols and ethers intended for motor gasoline blending.

Report stocks held at oxygenate production facilities, located within or adjacent to the establishment.

Report gross inputs of oxygenates. Do not "net out" oxygenate inputs by reporting the difference between oxygenate inputs and production.

Exclude oxygenates as motor gasoline blending components unless they have been commingled with motor gasoline blending components.

Liquefied Gases

Report all mixes of natural gas plant liquids (including unfractionated streams) and liquefied refinery gases by individual components as determined by chemical analysis, (e.g., ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, pentanes plus for gas plant liquids, and ethane/ethylene, propane/propylene, normal butane/butylene, and isobutane/isobutylene for liquefied refinery gases).

Report Liquefied Gases extracted from natural gas liquids streams originating at natural gas processing plants (NGPLs), and received by the establishment for processing into finished products.

Report Liquefied Gases that are fractionated from crude oil or produced from downstream processes, such as catalytic cracking, and result in finished liquefied gases.

Report production of polymer grade or chemical grade propylene as propylene. Production volumes reported as propylene will include propylene and up to 8% propane. This is based on a definition of chemical grade propylene made up of at least 92% propylene and up to 8% propane.

Report production of mixed propane and propylene streams that do not meet the specification for polymer grade or chemical grade propylene (including refinery grade propylene) separately as propane and propylene, as determined by chemical analysis, except in cases when you are reasonably certain the mixed propane and propylene stream will be sold as fuel, in which case report the entire mixed stream as propane.

Finished Motor Gasoline

Report finished motor gasoline, blended with fuel ethanol or other finished motor gasoline.

Gasoline Blending Components

Report naphtha-range hydrocarbons as one of the products broadly classified as motor gasoline blending components in cases where the intended end use is for blending or compounding into finished motor gasoline. Products classified as motor gasoline blending components include blendstock for oxygenate blending (BOB), gasoline treated as blendstock (GTAB) and all "other" motor gasoline blending components.

Report naphtha-range hydrocarbons intended for blending or compounding into finished aviation gasoline in product.

Exclude any naphtha-range hydrocarbons from gasoline blending components if the intended end use is other than blending or compounding into finished motor gasoline or finished aviation gasoline (e.g. naphtha intended for use in solvents or as petrochemical feedstocks).

Exclude the following products from motor gasoline blending components.

  • normal butane,
  • butylene
  • isobutane
  • isobutylene
  • pentanes plus
  • fuel ethanol, and
  • ETBE.

While these products may be blended into finished motor gasoline, they are reported under separate product. This applies only to unblended products. After blending, butanes, pentanes plus, fuel ethanol, ETBE, and other materials become part of the volume of gasoline blending components or finished motor gasoline.

Note: Certain gasoline blending components may be received as return streams from chemical plants. In this case, it is very important to maintain consistent classification of product produced and shipped from the refinery and received and input at the refinery. For example, a refinery may ship naphtha-range petrochemical feedstocks to a chemical plant and then receive a return stream from the chemical plant that will be used for motor gasoline blending. In this case, the return stream reported must be classified as receipt and input of petrochemical feedstock and then production of gasoline blending components or finished gasoline.

Distillate Fuel Oil

Report refinery input and production during the month and end-of-month stocks of distillate fuel oil by sulphur content.

Diesel Fuel Oil: ≤ 15ppm sulphur

Light Fuel Oil: > 15ppm sulphur

Distillate fuel oil 15ppm sulphur and under plus distillate fuel oil greater than 15ppm sulphur must sum to the total for Distillate Fuel Oil.

Residual Fuel Oil by Percent of Sulphur Content

Report refinery input and production during the month and end-of-month stocks of residual fuel oil by sulphur content (under 1.00% sulphur and over 1.00% sulphur) must sum to the total for Residual Fuel Oil.

Lubricants

Report only lubricant base oils produced at the refinery. Exclude finished lubricants produced at lube plants. Exclude by-products of lubricating oil refining such as aromatic extracts derived from solvent extraction or tars derived from deasphalting. Reporting categories include:

Paraffinic. Includes all grades of bright stock and neutrals with a Viscosity Index >75.

Naphthenic. Includes all lubricating oil base stocks with a Viscosity Index <75.

Note: The criterion for categorizing lubricants is based solely on the Viscosity Index of the stocks and is independent of crude sources and type of processing used to produce the oils.

Exceptions: Lubricating oil base stocks that have been historically classified as naphthenic or paraffinic by a refiner may continue to be so categorized irrespective of the Viscosity Index criterion (e.g., Unextracted paraffinic oils that would not meet the Viscosity Index test).

Report beginning and ending stocks, receipts and shipments of lubricant base oils. Shipments include lubricant base oils blended to produce finished lubricants as well as lubricant base oils shipped out during the month.

Asphalt

Report beginning and ending stocks, receipts and shipments of base asphalt. Shipments include any base asphalt blended to produce finished asphalt and any base asphalt that is sold or shipped out during the month. Do not report water or emulsifiers that are added to base asphalt to produce finished asphalt.

Petrochemical Feedstocks

Report petrochemical feedstock. Exclude finished petrochemicals.

Report deliveries of feedstock to petrochemical units within your refinery, chemical or rubber manufacturing plants as shipments.

Report return streams of petrochemical feedstocks as a receipt and input of petrochemical feedstocks and as a production in the product category of intended use.

Exclude liquefied gases as petrochemical feedstock. These products are reported by component as ethane, ethylene, propane, propylene, normal butane, butylene, isobutane, isobutylene, and pentanes plus.

Petroleum Coke

Report marketable petroleum coke in cubic metres.

Report catalyst coke in fuel oil equivalent cubic metres.

Still Gas

Report still gas shipped to petrochemical facilities as a shipment, less the amount of such streams returned to the producing refinery. Still gas used as a fuel at the refinery should be reported as a fuel use/loss.

Note: Report still gas in fuel oil equivalent cubic metres.

Provisions Regarding Confidentiality of Information and Data Sharing

Confidentiality

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this study for statistical and research purposes.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this study with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Product Definitions

Asphalt. A dark-brown-to-black cement-like material containing bitumens as the predominant constituent obtained by petroleum processing; used primarily for road construction. It includes crude asphalt as well as the following finished products: cements, fluxes, the asphalt content of emulsions (exclusive of water), and petroleum distillates blended with asphalt to make cutback asphalts

Aviation Gasoline (Finished). A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of additives, blended to form a fuel suitable for use in aviation reciprocating engines. Note: Data on blending components are not counted in data on finished aviation gasoline.

Aviation Gasoline Blending Components. Naphthas which will be used for blending or compounding into finished aviation gasoline (e.g., straight-run gasoline, alkylate, reformate, benzene, and xylene).

Biodiesel Fuel (FAME). It is a liquid fuel that is comprised of at least one mono-alkyl ester produced from one or more renewable fuel feedstocks in reaction with an alcohol reactant and is suitable for use in a diesel engine. It is also known as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and is made from renewable fuel feedstocks.

Blended with Fuel Ethanol. See Motor Gasoline (Finished).

Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (BOB). See Motor Gasoline Blending Components.

Butane (C4H10). A normally gaseous straight-chain or branch-chain hydrocarbon extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams. It includes normal butane and isobutane.

Normal Butane (C4H10). A normally gaseous straight-chain hydrocarbon that is a colorless paraffinic gas which boils at a temperature of -0.5 degrees Celsius and is extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams.

Isobutane (C4H10). A normally gaseous branch-chain hydrocarbon. It is a colorless paraffinic gas that boils at a temperature of -12 degrees Celsius. It is extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams.

Butylene (C4H8). An olefinic hydrocarbon recovered from refinery processes.

Conventional crude oil - heavy. See Crude Oil.

Conventional crude oil - light. See Crude Oil.

Crude bitumen. See Crude Oil.

Crude Oil. A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Depending upon the characteristics of the crude stream, it may also include: Small amounts of hydrocarbons that exist in gaseous phase in natural underground reservoirs but are liquid at atmospheric pressure after being recovered from oil well (casinghead) gas in lease separators and are subsequently commingled with the crude stream without being separately measured. Lease condensate recovered as a liquid from natural gas wells in lease or field separation facilities and later mixed into the crude stream is also included; Small amounts of nonhydrocarbons produced from oil, such as sulphur and various metals;

Drip gases, and liquid hydrocarbons produced from oil sands, gilsonite, and oil shale. Liquids produced at natural gas processing plants are excluded. Crude oil is refined to produce a wide array of petroleum products, including heating oils; gasoline, diesel and jet fuels; lubricants; asphalt; ethane, propane, and butane; and many other products used for their energy or chemical content.

Conventional crude oil - light. A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Crude oil is deemed to be "light" if it has a density less than 900 kg/m3.

Conventional crude oil - heavy. A mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in liquid phase in natural underground reservoirs and remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Crude oil is deemed to be "heavy" if it has a density equal to 900 or greater.

Crude bitumen. A naturally occurring viscous mixture, mainly of hydrocarbon heavier than pentane, that may contain sulphur compounds and that, in its naturally occurring viscous state, will not flow to a well.

Lease condensate. A mixture consisting primarily of pentanes and heavier hydrocarbons which is recovered as a liquid from natural gas in lease separation facilities. This category excludes natural gas liquids, such as butane and propane, which are recovered at downstream natural gas processing plants or facilities. See Natural Gas Liquids.

Synthetic crude oil. Synthetic crude oil obtained by the upgrading of crude bitumen or heavy crude oil.

Diesel Fuel. See Distillate Fuel Oil.

Distillate Fuel Oil. A general classification for one of the petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillation operations. It includes diesel fuels and light fuel oils.

Diesel Fuel. Products known as No. 2 and No. 3 diesel fuel are used in on-highway diesel engines, such as those in trucks and automobiles, as well as off- highway engines, such as those in railroad locomotives and agricultural machinery.

Light Fuel Oil. Products known as No. 2 and No. 3 fuel oils are used primarily for space heating.

Ethane (C2H6). A normally gaseous straight-chain hydrocarbon. It is a colorless paraffinic gas that boils at a temperature of – 88.6 degrees Celsius. It is extracted from natural gas and refinery gas streams.

Ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE). See Oxygenates.

Ethylene (C2H4). An olefinic hydrocarbon recovered from refinery processes or petrochemical processes. Ethylene is used as a petrochemical feedstock for numerous chemical applications and the production of consumer goods.

Finished Aviation Gasoline. See Aviation Gasoline (Finished).

Finished Motor Gasoline. See Motor Gasoline (Finished).

Fuel Ethanol An anhydrous alcohol (ethanol with less than 1% water) intended for gasoline blending that is produced from one or more renewable fuel feedstocks.

Gasoline Treated as Blendstock (GTAB). See Motor Gasoline Blending Components.

Heavy Gas Oils. See Unfinished Oils.

Hydrocarbon Gas Liquids. A group of hydrocarbons including ethane, propane, normal butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline and their associated olefins, including ethylene, propylene, butylene, and isobutylene. Excludes liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Hydrogen. The lightest of all gases, occurring chiefly in combination with oxygen in water; exists also in acids, bases, alcohols, petroleum, and other hydrocarbons.

Isobutane. See Butane. See Crude Oil.

Isobutylene (C4H8). An olefinic hydrocarbon recovered from refinery processes or petrochemical processes.

Kerosene. A light petroleum distillate that is used in space heaters, cook stoves, and water heaters and is suitable for use as a light source when burned in wick-fed lamps. Included are other grades of kerosene called range or stove oil, which have properties similar to those of No. 1 fuel oil.

Kerosene and Light Gas Oils. See Unfinished Oils.

Kerosene-Type Jet Fuel. A kerosene-based product having a maximum distillation temperature of 204 degrees Celsius at the 10-percent recovery point and a final maximum boiling point of 300 degrees Celsius. It is used for commercial and military turbojet and turboprop aircraft engines.

Lease Condensate. See Crude Oil.

Light Fuel Oil. See Distillate Fuel Oil.

Lubricants. Substances used to reduce friction between bearing surfaces or as process materials either incorporated into other materials used as processing aids in the manufacture of other products, or used as carriers of other materials. Petroleum lubricants may be produced either from distillates or residues. Lubricants include all grades of lubricating oils from spindle oil to cylinder oil and those used in greases. Lubricants include: Naphthenic. Lubricants that contain cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons; Parafinic. Lubricants that contain alkanes.

Miscellaneous Products. Includes all finished products not classified elsewhere (e.g., petrolatum, lube refining by-products (aromatic extracts and tars), absorption oils, ram-jet fuel, petroleum rocket fuels, synthetic natural gas feedstocks, and specialty oils).

Motor Gasoline (Finished). A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons with or without small quantities of additives, blended to form a fuel suitable for use in spark-ignition engines. Finished motor gasoline is essentially ready for use by the end consumer without any further processing or blending required (with the exception of small quantities of additives). Finished motor gasoline includes:

Blended with Fuel Ethanol. Finished motor gasoline that has been blended with fuel ethanol.

Other Finished Motor Gasoline. Finished motor gasoline that will not be blended with fuel ethanol. Possible reasons that motor gasoline would not be blended with fuel ethanol include gasoline that is exported, used in competition vehicles, used in scientific research, used in military equipment, used in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest territories, Yukon, Nunavut and part of Quebec north of latitude 600N. Motor gasoline that will be blended with fuel ethanol further down the distribution stream should be categorized as Motor Gasoline Blending Components.

Motor Gasoline Blending Components. Naphthas (e.g., straightrun gasoline, alkylate, reformate, benzene, toluene, xylene) used for blending or compounding into finished motor gasoline. Motor gasoline blending components include:

Blendstock for Oxygenate Blending (BOB). Gasoline blendstock intended for blending with oxygenates (fuel ethanol for example) downstream of the refinery where it was produced.

Gasoline Treated as Blendstock (GTAB). Foreign refinery gasoline to be blended with fuel ethanol downstream of the refinery where it was produced.

Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components. Naphthas used for blending or compounding into finished motor gasoline.

Naphthas and Lighter. See Unfinished Oils.

Naphtha Less Than 2050C (4010F) end-point. See Petrochemical Feedstocks.

Naphthenic Lubricants. See Lubricants.

Normal Butane. See Butane.

Other Finished Motor Gasoline. See Motor Gasoline (Finished).

Other Hydrocarbons. Materials received by a refinery and consumed as a raw material. Includes hydrogen, coal tar derivatives and gilsonite. Excludes natural gas used for fuel or hydrogen feedstock.

Other Motor Gasoline Blending Components. See Motor Gasoline Blending Components.

Other Oils Greater Than or equal to 205oC (4010F) end-point. See Petrochemical Feedstocks.

Other Renewable Fuels and Intermediate Products. See Renewable Fuels and Intermediate Products (Other).Oxygenates. Substances which, when added to gasoline, increase the amount of oxygen in that gasoline blend. Fuel Ethanol, Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE), and methanol are common oxygenates.

 

Ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) (CH3) 3COC2H5. An oxygenate blend stock formed by the catalytic etherification of isobutylene with ethanol.

Other Oxygenates. Other aliphatic alcohols and aliphatic ethers intended for motor gasoline blending (e.g., isopropyl ether (IPE) or n-propanol).

Parafinic Lubricants. See Lubricants.

Pentanes Plus. A mixture of hydrocarbons, mostly pentanes and heavier, extracted from natural gas. Includes isopentane, natural gasoline, and plant condensate.

Petrochemical Feedstocks. Chemical feedstocks derived from petroleum principally for the manufacture of chemicals, synthetic rubber, and a variety of plastics. Categories of petrochemical feedstocks include:

Naphtha Less Than 2050C (4010F) end-point. A naphtha with a boiling range of less than 205 degrees Celsius that is intended for use as a petrochemical feedstock.

Other Oils Greater Than or equal to 205oC (4010F) end-point. Oils with a boiling range equal to or greater than 205 degrees Celsius that are intended for use as a petrochemical feedstock.

Petroleum Coke. A residue high in carbon content and low in hydrogen that is the final product of thermal decomposition in the condensation process in cracking. This product is reported as marketable coke or catalyst coke.

Propane (C3H8). A normally gaseous straight-chain hydrocarbon. It is a colorless paraffinic gas that boils at a temperature of -42 degrees Celsius. It is extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams.

Propylene (C3H6). An olefinic hydrocarbon recovered from refinery processes or petrochemical processes.

Renewable Diesel Fuel (HDRD/HVO). Hydrogenation-derived renewable diesel (HDRD) or hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) is a diesel substitute that can be derived from renewable fuel feedstocks. Exclude renewable diesel fuel coprocessed with petroleum feedstocks.

Renewable Fuels and Intermediate Products (Other). Fuels and fuel blending components, except biomass-based diesel fuel, renewable diesel fuel, and fuel ethanol, produced from renewable biomass. Include biogenic feedstocks (plant and animal products) used for co-processing, such as vegetable oil, animal fat and biocrude/bio-oil produced from renewable biomass.

Residual Fuel Oil. A general classification for the heavier oils, known as No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6 fuel oils, that remain after the distillate fuel oils and lighter hydrocarbons are distilled away in refinery operations. NOTE: No. 6 fuel oil includes Bunker C fuel oil.

Residuum. See Unfinished Oils.

Special Naphthas (solvents). All finished products within the naphtha boiling range that are used as paint thinners, cleaners, or solvents. These products are refined to a specified flash point.

Still Gas (Refinery Gas). Any form or mixture of gases produced in refineries by distillation, cracking, reforming, and other processes. The principal constituents are methane, ethane, ethylene, normal butane, butylene, propane, propylene, etc. Still gas is used as a refinery fuel and a petrochemical feedstock.

Synthetic crude oil. See Crude Oil.

Unfinished Oils (excluding synthetic crude oil). All oils requiring further processing. Unfinished oils are produced by partial refining of crude oil and include naphthas and lighter oils, kerosene and light gas oils, heavy gas oils, and residuum.

Heavy Gas Oil. Petroleum distillates with an approximate boiling range from 334 degrees Celsius to 538 degrees Celsius.

Residuum. Residue from crude oil after distilling off all but the heaviest components, with a boiling range greater than 538 degrees Celsius.

Wax. A solid or semi-solid material at 25 degrees Celsius consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained or derived from petroleum fractions, or through a Fischer-Tropsch type process, in which the straight-chained paraffin series predominates. This includes all marketable wax, whether crude or refined, with a congealing point between 27 (or 29) and 121 degrees Celsius and a maximum oil content of 50 weight percent.

For October-December 2023, the following questions measuring the Labour Market and Socioeconomic Indicators were added to the Labour Force Survey as a supplement.

The purpose of this survey is to identify changing dynamics within the Canadian labour market, and measure important socioeconomic indicators by gathering data on topics such as type of employment, quality of employment, support payments and unmet health care needs.

Questionnaire flow within the collection application is controlled dynamically based on responses provided throughout the survey. Therefore, some respondents will not receive all questions, and there is a small chance that some households will not receive any questions at all. This is based on their answers to certain LFS questions.

Labour Market and Socio-economic Indicators

ENTRY_Q01 / EQ 1 - From the following list, please select the household member that will be completing this questionnaire on behalf of the entire household.

LMI_Q01 / EQ 2 - Is [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] main job permanent?

LMI_Q02 / EQ 3 - In what way is [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] main job not permanent?

LMI_Q03 / EQ 4 – In [his/her/their/your] main job, [are/is] [you/Respondent name/this person]paid by a private employment or placement agency that is different from the company or organization [you/he/she/they] work[s]for?

LMI_Q04 / EQ 5 - What is the total duration of [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] contract or agreement in [his/her/their/your] main job?

LMI_Q05 / EQ 6 - In [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] main job, [are/is] [you/he/she/they] guaranteed a minimum number of work hours per pay period?

LMI_Q06 / EQ 7 - What would you say best describes [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] current situation in [his/her/their/your] main job?

LMI_Q07 / EQ 8 – What is the main reason why [you/Respondent name/this person] [are/is] self-employed in [his/her/their/your] [main/other] job?

LMI_Q08 / EQ 9 - [Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] have any partners or co-owners in [his/her/their/your] [main/side] business?

LMI_Q09 / EQ 10 - [Does Respondent name/ Do you or your partners/ Do you or your company/Do you or your partners company/Does your company] own or lease a building or space dedicated to [his/her/their/your] [main/side]business?

LMI_Q10 / EQ 11 - In [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] [main/side] business, [are/is][you/he/she/they] required to belong to a professional association or regulatory college to do [his/her/their/your] job?

LMI_Q11 / EQ 12 - Does [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] [main/side] business operate…?

EMP_Q01 / EQ 13 - How many employees in total work at [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] business?

LMI_Q12 / EQ 14 - What is the current mix of clients in [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] main business?

LMI_Q13 / EQ 15 - Would [you/Respondent name/this person] be able to continue operating [his/her/their/your] main business for the next five years based on returning or existing clients alone?

LMI_Q14 / EQ 16 - To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

In normal times, it is easy for [you/Respondent name/this person] to find new clients in [his/her/their/your] main business.

CLI_Q01 / EQ 17 - What types of clients [do/does] [you/Respondent name/this person] have in [his/her/their/your] main business?

CLI_Q02 / EQ 18 – [Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] currently have contracts with any of those clients?

LMI_Q16 / EQ 19 – Thinking of [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] largest contract, what is the total duration of that contract?

LMI_Q17 / EQ 20 - During the last 12 months, did [you/Respondent name/this person] have any full days with no clients or work in [his/her/their/your] main business even though [you/he/she/they] wanted to work?

LMI_Q18 / EQ 21 - What would you say is [Respondent’s name/your/this person’s] plan with [his/her/their/your] main business over the next 12 months?

LMI_Q19 / EQ 22 - What is the main reason [you/Respondent name/this person] expect[s]to stop working or close [his/her/their/your] main business?

LFI_CHECK1 / EQ 23 - Last week, did [you/he/she/this person] work at a job or business?

LFI_CHECK2 / EQ 24 - Last week, did [you/he/she/this person] have a job or business from which [you/he/she/this person] [were/was] absent?

LFI_CHECK3 / EQ 25- Did [you/he/she/this person] have more than one job or business last week?

LFI_CHECK4 / EQ 26- Was this because [you/he/she/this person] changed employers?

LFI_CHECK5 / EQ 27- [Have/Has] [you/Respondent name/this person] ever worked at a job or business?

LFI_CHECK6 / EQ 28- When did [you/Respondent name/this person] last work?

LMI_Q20 / EQ 29- [Excluding your main job or business, have/Have/Has] [you/Respondent name/this person] earned any money by freelancing, doing a paid gig, or completing a short-term job or task during the last 12 months?

LMI_Q21 / EQ 30- Was this freelancing, paid gig, or short-term task or job one of the jobs [you/Respondent name/this person] had last week, or something else entirely?

EMP_Q02 / EQ 31- [Was/Were] [you/Respondent name/this person] paid as an employee when [you/he/she/this person] freelanced, did a paid gig, or got paid to do a short-term task or job in the last 12 months?

LMI_Q24 / EQ 32- When was the last time [you/Respondent name/this person] freelanced, did a paid gig, or got paid to do a short-term task or job?

SCC1_Q05 / EQ 33 - In the last 12 months, did (respondent’s name/you) receive support payments from a former spouse or partner?

SCC1_Q10 / EQ 34 - What is your best estimate of the amount of support payments (he/she/this person/you) received in the last 12 months?

SCC2_Q05 / EQ 35 - In the last 12 months, did [respondent’s name/you] make support payments to a former spouse or partner?

SCC2_Q10 / EQ 36 - What is your best estimate of the total amount [he/she/this person/you] paid in support payments in the last 12 months?

SCC3_Q05 / EQ 37 - In the last 12 months, did (respondent’s name/you) pay for child care, so that (he/she/they/you) could work at a paid job?

SCC3_Q10 / EQ 38 – What is your best estimate, of the total amount [he/she/this person/you] paid for child care in the last 12 months?

DSQ_Q01 / EQ 39 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have any difficulty seeing?

DSQ_Q02 / EQ 40 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] wear glasses or contact lenses to improve [your/respondent name’s/this person’s] vision?

DSQ_Q03 / EQ 41 - [Which/With [your/respondent name’s/this person’s] glasses or contact lenses, which] of the following best describes [your/respondent’s name] ability to see?

DSQ_Q04 / EQ 42 - How often does this [difficulty seeing/seeing condition] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q05 / EQ 43 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have any difficulty hearing?

DSQ_Q06 / EQ 44 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] use a hearing aid or cochlear implant?

DSQ_Q07 / EQ 45 - With [your/respondent name’s/this person’s] hearing aid or cochlear implant which] of the following best describes [your/respondent’s name] ability to hear?

DSQ_Q08 / EQ 46 - How often does this [difficulty hearing/hearing condition] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q09 / EQ 47 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have any difficulty walking, using stairs, using [your/his/her/their] hands or fingers or doing other physical activities?

DSQ_Q10 / EQ 48 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/this person] have walking on a flat surface for 15 minutes without resting?

DSQ_Q11 / EQ 49 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/this person] have walking up or down a flight of stairs, about 12 steps without resting?

DSQ_Q12 / EQ 50 - How often [does this difficulty walking/does this difficulty using stairs/do these difficulties] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q13 / EQ 51 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent’s name] have bending down and picking up an object from the floor?

DSQ_Q14 / EQ 52 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/this person] have reaching in any direction, for example, above [your/his/her/their] head?

DSQ_Q15 / EQ 53 - How often [does this difficulty bending down and picking up an object/does this difficulty reaching/do these difficulties] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q16 / EQ 54 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent’s name] have using [your/his/her/their] fingers to grasp small objects like a pencil or scissors?

DSQ_Q17 / EQ 55 - How often does this difficulty using [your/his/her/their] fingers limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q18 / EQ 56 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have pain that is always present?

DSQ_Q19 / EQ 57 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] [also] have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time?

DSQ_Q20 / EQ 58 - How often does this pain limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q21 / EQ 59 - When [you/respondent’s name] [are/is] experiencing this pain, how much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q22 / EQ 60 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have any difficulty learning, remembering or concentrating?

DSQ_Q23 / EQ 61 - Do you think [you/respondent’s name] [have/has] a condition that makes it difficult in general for [you/him/her/them] to learn? This may include learning disabilities such as dyslexia, hyperactivity, attention problems, etc.

DSQ_Q24 / EQ 62 - Has a teacher, doctor or other health care professional ever said that [you/respondent’s name] had a learning disability?

DSQ_Q25 / EQ 63 - How often are [your/his/her/their] daily activities limited by this condition?

DSQ_Q26 / EQ 64 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent’s name] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities because of this condition?

DSQ_Q27 / EQ 65 - Has a doctor, psychologist or other health care professional ever said that [you/respondent’s name] had a developmental disability or disorder? This may include Down syndrome, autism, Asperger syndrome, mental impairment due to lack of oxygen at birth, etc.

DSQ_Q28 / EQ 66 - How often are [your/respondent’s name] daily activities limited by this condition?

DSQ_Q29 / EQ 67 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent’s name] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities because of this condition?

DSQ_Q30 / EQ 68 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] have any ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion?

DSQ_Q31 / EQ 69 - How often are [your/his/her/their] daily activities limited by this problem?

DSQ_Q32 / EQ 70 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent’s name] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities because of this problem?

DSQ_Q33 / EQ 71 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have any emotional, psychological or mental health conditions?

DSQ_Q34 / EQ 72 - How often are [your/his/her/their] daily activities limited by this condition?

DSQ_Q35 / EQ 73 - When [you/respondent’s name] [are/is] experiencing this condition, how much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q36 / EQ 74 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have any other health problem or long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more?

DSQ_Q37 / EQ 75 - How often does this health problem or long-term condition limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q38 / EQ 76 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent’s name] have pain that is always present?

DSQ_Q39 / EQ 77 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] [also] have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time?

DSQ_Q40 / EQ 78 - How often does this pain limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

DSQ_Q41 / EQ 79 - When [you/respondent’s name] [are/is] experiencing this pain, how much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

UNC_Q005 / EQ 80 - During the past 12 months, was there ever a time when [you/respondent’s name] felt that [you/he/she/they] needed health care, other than homecare services, but [you/he/she/they] did not receive it?

UNC_Q010 / EQ 81 - Thinking of the most recent time [you/respondent’s name] felt this way, why didn’t [you/he/she/they] get care?

UNC_Q015 / EQ 82 - Again, thinking of the most recent time, what was the type of care that was needed?

UNC_Q020 / EQ 83 - Did [you/he/she/this person] actively try to obtain the health care that was needed?

UNC_Q025 / EQ 84 - Where did [you/he/she/this person] try to get the service [you/he/she/they] [were/was] seeking?

Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events (SMHSE), Cycle 2

Addendum to the Supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment related to the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events, Cycle 2

Date: August 2023

Program manager: Director, Centre for Population Health Data
Director General, Health Statistics

Original Supplement to the Generic Privacy Impact Assessment:
Supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment related to the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events (SMHSE) (statcan.gc.ca)

Reference to Personal Information Bank (PIB):

No modifications to original SPIA.

Description of changes to the statistical activity:

Statistics Canada is conducting the second cycle of the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events, under the authority of the Statistics ActFootnote 1, on behalf of the Public Health Agency of Canada. The first cycle collected information to better understand how stressful events can impact the mental health of Canadians, and covered mental health status and well-being, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social support and healthy behaviours, and access to and use of mental health services and supports. In addition, sociodemographic information such as age, gender, occupation, marital status, postal code, Indigenous identity, population group, immigration and citizenship, education and income were included. Email addresses were also collected from respondents who expressed interest in participating in follow-up surveys.

For the second cycle of the survey, content from cycle 1 will be repeated with new questions added to assess a wider range of potential risk factors for experiencing stressful events and to better characterize potential consequences of stressful events on mental health and participation in the labour force. This includes additional questions about disability, sex at birth, sexual orientation, long-term health conditions, suicide, characteristics of stressful events, and labour market activities. The series of questions about occupation used for the first cycle was modified to better capture current and past history with specific high-risk occupations. Email addresses will no longer be collected as part of the questionnaire for cycle 2 as no follow-up surveys are planned.

This voluntary household survey collects information from individuals aged 18 years and older who live in Canadian provinces. The same sample size and methodology used for cycle 1 of the survey (35,000 respondents) will be used for cycle 2.

Reason for addendum:

While the Supplement to the Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events addresses the privacy and security risks for cycle 1, this addendum addresses the new collection of sensitive personal information for cycle 2.

Necessity and Proportionality

The collection and use of personal information for cycle 2 of the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events can be justified against Statistics Canada's Necessity and Proportionality Framework:

  1. Necessity: As with the first cycle, a quick and timely assessment of the mental health and well‐being of Canadians, including vulnerable groups, will help inform government decision‐making in order to support Canadians and their families dealing with mental health issues. In addition, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the survey sponsor, has a reporting requirement under the Federal Framework on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act, and will use the information to assess the prevalence and impacts of PTSD and other mental health conditions, as well as to inform and develop policies and programs to support the planning of mental health resources.

    The new questions in cycle 2 will be used to characterize social costsFootnote 2 associated with PTSD and vulnerable groups in which exposure to stressful life events and prevalence of PTSD may be elevated. Specifically,

    • Social costs related to labour force participation. Many people with PTSD report that their symptoms affect their ability to work or attend school, but the extent of these impacts is largely unknown; the new survey content about impacts of chronic health conditions on labour market activities aims to fill this data gap.
    • Mental health outcomes. The survey will also fill gaps in data on suicide planning and attempts; whereas the first cycle only asked questions about having seriously contemplated suicide, the second cycle will ask additional questions about having made a plan to attempt suicide and about having attempted suicide.
    • Characterizing vulnerable groups. The additional sociodemographic data collected (sex at birth, sexual orientation, disability status, long-term health conditions, occupational history) is needed for disaggregated analysis of subgroups of the affected population. Treatment of PTSD tends to be highly individualized, and many factors need to be taken into consideration for treatments to be effective. Understanding which groups or subgroups are at higher risk for PTSD will help guide decisions about where awareness and treatment programs are most needed.
    • Improved assessment of PTSD. Additional questions about the nature of specific experiences with stressful events were added to enhance the assessment of the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
  2. Effectiveness - Working assumptions: Some groups or subgroups are more likely to experience PTSD and its mental health and social impacts than others. Disaggregating results by sex at birth and gender, sexual orientation, long-term health conditions and disability to highlight the experiences of specific subgroups can yield new insights and provide more nuanced information on vulnerable population groups for policymakers to use.

    Data on mental health and its impacts, in particular PTSD, and data on other aspects related to the access and use of mental-health resources are highly sensitive. Additional questions used to identify vulnerable groups, for example, disability status and sexual identity, are also sensitive. For these reasons, experts at Statistics Canada and PHAC have been consulted on the most effective scope and methodology of the survey; wherever possible, questions from existing surveys have been used (e.g., questions about suicide were adapted from those used on Statistics Canada's Canadian Community Health Survey Footnote 3)Footnote 4. Other questions added about stressful events, occupation and impacts on labour market activities have been carefully reviewed by experts at Statistics Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and have gone through qualitative testing.

  3. Proportionality: As with the first cycle, and all surveys at Statistics Canada, all directives and policies with respect to data collection and publication will be followed to ensure the confidentiality of the data. Individual responses will be grouped with those of others when reporting results. As with all Statistics Canada statistical programs, strict disclosure controls will apply, ensuring that individual responses and results for small groups will not be published. This approach reduces any potential impact on vulnerable populations or subsets of populations, as the grouping of results will protect the confidentiality of individuals within a particular subset of the population. As permitted by the Statistics Act, with consent of individual respondents, survey responses may be shared with PHAC, Health Canada, and provincial or territorial ministries of health, and the Institut de la statistique du Québec (for Quebec residents only) strictly for statistical and research purposes, for example, to aid in future policy decisions. The findings will similarly support decision-making at all levels of government and improve knowledge and understanding of the mental health and well‐being of Canadians and will help inform government policymaking in order to support vulnerable Canadians and their families dealing with mental health issues.

    While the new questions about disability, sex at birth, sexual orientation, long-term health conditions, and occupation are sensitive, research suggests that members of these groups are more likely to experience certain types of stressful events and can also be at increased risk for mental health impacts of stressful events. These questions will be used to determine which groups have the highest needs for support and may guide program decisions related to mental illness prevention and treatment.  New questions about impacts on labour market activities and suicide are also sensitive but will provide greater insights into the effects of stressful events among those affected, potentially leading to more successful mitigations and interventions through resulting policy changes. There are no recent studies with the comprehensive combination of indicators that will be included on the second cycle questionnaire to validate or expand upon. Furthermore, the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health present a need for timely data on this topic. Therefore, this new collection of cross-sectional data on these combined indicators is needed for experts and policymakers to better understand the underlying trends and dynamics with the aim of better supporting affected individuals and communities. All new questions and response categories were also carefully considered with input from experts at Statistics Canada and PHAC to ensure they accurately capture the data needed to help inform and develop policies and programs related to mental health (including PTSD) and its impacts.

  4. Alternatives: Measures of sexual orientation, disability status, suicide planning and attempts, and work productivity are or have been included on other Statistics Canada surveys (e.g., the Canadian Community Health Survey, the Survey on COVID-19 and Mental Health). However, these surveys do not include comprehensive measures of PTSD and the associated mental health and social impacts.

    Administrative data sources for the new required information were considered, but Statistics Canada's existing and potential options do not provide the ability to identify people with diagnosed or undiagnosed PTSD.

    The possibility of using crowdsourcing or web‐panel survey methodologies was also explored. However, based on discussions between health and methodology experts within Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, it was determined that a cross-sectional survey with at least 35,000 units was again necessary to produce reliable and accurate results by province that meet Statistics Canada's Quality Guidelines.

    As a result, it was determined that a new survey cycle to collect this information was required.

Mitigation factors:

As with the first cycle, some questions contained in the second cycle of the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events are considered sensitive as they relate to an individual's mental health and well-being. The overall risk of harm to the survey respondents is deemed manageable with existing Statistics Canada safeguards that are described in Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment and in the Supplement for the Survey on Mental Health and Stressful Events, including the following measures:

  • Mental-Health Resources
    As with other mental health surveys conducted by Statistics Canada, mental-health resources and contact information will be mailed to respondents along with the survey invitation and will be provided to respondents at the beginning of the survey and as a help button within the electronic questionnaire. In addition, in the case of telephone follow-up for non-response, interviewers will be trained and equipped to offer mental health resources and contact information to survey respondents.
  • Transparency
    Prior to collection, individuals selected to participate in the survey will again be clearly informed that the survey is voluntary. They will also be informed of the survey's purpose and topics, so that they can make an informed decision about whether they want to participate. This notification to all potential participants will be done in writing on the questionnaire, or verbally by the interviewer before any questions are asked. Respondents will be informed that the survey will include behaviours and symptoms associated with depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); suicide risk; substance use; social impacts of PTSD; general mental health; and access to and use of mental health care services and supports. This information will be provided through invitation and reminder letters and will be repeated at the beginning of the questionnaire. Information about the survey, as well as the survey questionnaire, will also be available on Statistics Canada's website.
  • Confidentiality
    Individual responses will be grouped with those of others when reporting results. Individual responses and results for very small groups will never be published. Following careful analysis of the data, consideration will be given prior to the release of aggregate data to ensure that marginalized and vulnerable communities are not disproportionally impacted. As permitted by the Statistics Act, and only with the consent of the respondent, survey responses may be shared with PHAC, Health Canada and provincial and territorial ministries of health, strictly for statistical and research purposes, and in accordance with Statistics Canada's security and confidentiality requirements.

Conclusion:

This assessment concludes that, with the existing Statistics Canada safeguards and additional mitigation strategies developed for this survey, any remaining risks are such that Statistics Canada is prepared to accept and manage the risk.

Annual Greenhouse, Sod and Nursery Survey - 2023

Why are we conducting this survey?

This survey collects up-to-date information on the production and value of greenhouse plants and vegetables, and on the production of nursery stock and sod in Canada.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, producer associations, and provincial agriculture departments use the data to perform market trend analysis and to study domestic production and imports. The data are also used to calculate farm cash receipts.

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

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

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

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

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

Data sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Actprovides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations.

Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

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

You may also contact us by email at statcan.esd-helpdesk-dse-bureaudedepannage.statcan@statcan.gc.ca or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the Prince Edward Island Statistical Agency as well as with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as well as with the Manitoba Department of Agriculture.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Business or organization and contact information

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

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

Legal Name

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

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

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

Operating Name

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

  • Legal name
  • Operating name (if applicable)

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

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Preferred language of communication
    • English
    • French
  • Mailing address (number and street)
  • City
  • Province, territory or state
  • Postal code or ZIP code
  • Country
    • Canada
    • United States
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
    The maximum number of characters is 10.
  • Fax number (including area code)

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

  • Operational
  • Not currently operational
    Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
    • Seasonal operations
      • When did this business or organization close for the season?
        Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        Date
    • Ceased operations
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Bankruptcy
        • Liquidation
        • Dissolution
        • Other
          Specify the other reasons why the operations ceased
    • Sold operations
      • When was this business or organization sold?
        Date
      • What is the legal name of the buyer?
    • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
      • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
        Date
      • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
      • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
    • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
      • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
        Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        Date
      • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
    • No longer operating due to other reasons
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

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

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

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

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

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

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

  • This is the current main activity
  • This is not the current main activity

Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity
e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that is not the current main activity.
Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as: ?

  • Yes
    When did the main activity change?
    Date
  • No

6. Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

  • Farming or logging operation
  • Construction company or general contractor
  • Manufacturer
  • Wholesaler
  • Retailer
  • Provider of passenger or freight transportation
  • Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
  • Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
  • Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
  • Provider of health care or social services
  • Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
  • Other sector

7. You have indicated that the current main activity of this business or organization is: Main activity. Are there any other activities that contribute significantly (at least 10%) to this business or organization's revenue?

  • Yes, there are other activities
    • Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's secondary activity
      e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
  • No, that is the only significant activity

8. Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?

When precise figures are not available, provide your best estimates.

Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities
  Percentage of revenue
Main activity  
Secondary activity  
All other activities  
Total percentage  

Type of production

1. Which of the following products did you grow for sale in 2023?

Please report Canadian production only.

Select all that apply.

Greenhouse products

Seedlings, potted plants, bedding plants, cuttings and other propagating material, vegetables and fruit grown for sale in a permanent, artificially heated enclosed structure made of plastic, plexiglass, poly-film or glass.

Any plants that you start cultivating in a greenhouse but are finished before sales in a nursery should be considered a nursery product.

Nursery products

A diverse range of non-edible, living plant material grown 'in field' or in containers outdoors and sold with their root system intact. Plants range from tree seedlings to full-grown trees.

Include annual and perennial plants.

Exclude field-grown cut flowers from this category.

Field-grown cut flowers should be reported in its own category only, not in the 'nursery products' category. Cut flowers produced in, and sold from, a greenhouse should be reported in the 'greenhouse products' category.

Christmas trees

Include only the Christmas trees that were cut during the year.

Exclude Christmas trees that were grown in a container with their root systems intact.

Sod

Grass or turf, which has its roots intact. Sod is grown 'in field' and sold as a single product.

Greenhouse products

Include vegetables, fruits, flowers and plants grown in heated structures.

Exclude:

  • vegetables and fruit grown outdoors or in non-heated covering tunnels or cold frames
  • all cannabis production.

Christmas trees

Field-grown cut flowers

Nursery products
e.g.,, trees, shrubs and plants

Sod

Did not grow any products for sale in 2023.

Greenhouse area - unit of measure

2. What unit of measure will be used to report your greenhouse area?

  • Square feet
  • Square metres
  • Acres
  • Hectares

Greenhouse area

3. What was your greenhouse area under the following materials in 2023?

Exclude non-heated covering tunnels, cold frames or any area surrounding a greenhouse.

What was your greenhouse area under the following materials in 2023?
  Unit of measure
Under glass  
Poly-film  
Rigid plastic, fibreglass or other enclosed area  
Total greenhouse area  

Greenhouse products - number of months in operation

4. How many months was your greenhouse in operation in 2023?

Report the number of months this operation was growing plants in a greenhouse.

Months

Greenhouse products

5. Which of the following greenhouse products were grown for sale in 2023?

Select all that apply.

For this survey, we are only interested in flowers, plants, vegetables, fruits, tree seedlings and bedding plants grown in, and sold from, the greenhouse. Production of vegetables and fruits covered by cold frames or covering tunnels should not be included in the greenhouse section of the survey.

Potted herbs

Plants that will be maintained in a pot by the consumer after purchase should be reported inside the 'potted plants' section. Herb plants sold in a package ready to be consumed should be reported inside the vegetable section.

Cut flowers

Include only cut flowers produced in, and sold from, a greenhouse.

Exclude field-grown cut flowers and dried cut flowers.

Fruit and Vegetables

Include products grown to completion in a greenhouse and sold from the greenhouse.

Exclude greenhouse vegetables and/or fruit that are transplanted for field crops. Bedding plants (transplants) grown in a greenhouse that will be planted in your own fields so that they can be sold as fully grown harvested vegetables at a later date should be excluded; they are reported in Statistics Canada's annual Fruit and Vegetable Survey.

Potted Plants - indoor and outdoor

Any plants grown and sold in a pot from the greenhouse.

Exclude Christmas trees sold in pots. Pots take many forms and sizes, such as baskets (wicker), peat pots, moss pots and plastic pots or ceramic pots.

Cuttings and tree seedlings

Plants (or sections of a plant) capable of developing into a greater number of plants or spreading out and affecting a greater area. Examples include Chrysanthemums, Poinsettias, Begonias, Petunias and shrubs.

Exclude tree seedlings for reforestation.

Bedding plants, also known as transplants

Young plants that are bought and then transplanted into a garden, field, container or basket by the purchaser. These include ornamental bedding plants and vegetable bedding plants. For this survey, the term "ornamental" refers to flowers or plants cultivated for their beauty rather than use.

Fruits and vegetables

Potted plants — indoor or outdoor

Include any prefinished or finished plants grown and sold in a pot.

Cuttings and tree seedlings

Exclude tree seedlings for reforestation.

Bedding plants, transplants or plugs

Include plants sold in cell packs or trays that are ready for transplanting by the purchaser.

Cut flowers

Exclude dried cut flowers.

Greenhouse products

7. What area of your greenhouse was used to produce the following fruits and vegetables in 2023?

For any multiple plantings of the same fruit or vegetable, count the area only once.

Greenhouse vegetables and fruits are edible and ready to eat at the time of sale. They were grown into sellable products in a greenhouse, not in a field; and sold from the greenhouse by the producer. Field vegetable and fruit farmers should report their production in the Fruit and Vegetable Survey.

Exclude tobacco, ginseng, asparagus, mushrooms, ornamental and vegetable bedding plants (young plants that are bought and transplanted into a garden, field, container or basket by the purchaser; also known as transplants).

A number of greenhouses are expanding to the United States. For this survey, report Canadian production only.

If you produced a multiple crop of the same greenhouse vegetable or fruit in the same greenhouse space, report the area only once. For example, if 1,000 square feet were used for the first tomato crop planting and then the same space was later used for the second tomato crop planting, you would report 1,000 square feet (not 2,000 square feet).

If you produced two or more different types of vegetables or fruit in the same greenhouse space, you would count that area for each type of crop produced.

For example, if you used 2,000 square feet to grow tomatoes for your first crop planting, and then switched to growing cucumbers in that same space half-way through the summer, you would report a total area of 4,000 square feet (2,000 square feet for growing tomatoes, plus 2,000 square feet for growing cucumbers).

What area of your greenhouse was used to produce the following fruits and vegetables in 2023?
  Unit of measure
Greenhouse tomatoes  
Beefsteak tomatoes  
Large tomatoes on the vine  
Cherry and grape tomatoes  
Other tomatoes  
Specify other tomatoes  
Total greenhouse tomatoes  
Greenhouse cucumbers  
English cucumbers  
Mini cucumbers  
Other cucumbers  
Specify other cucumbers  
Total greenhouse cucumbers  
Other greenhouse fruits and vegetables  
Greenhouse eggplants  
Greenhouse Chinese vegetables  
Greenhouse herbs
Exclude sprouts and microgreens.
 
Sprouts grown in a controlled environment
Include vegetables, legumes, pulse and herb sprouts.
 
Greenhouse microgreens and shoots
Include all microgreens, vegetables and herbs.
 
Greenhouse peppers  
Greenhouse lettuce  
Greenhouse beans (green and wax)  
Greenhouse strawberry  
Other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 1  
Specify other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 1  
Other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 2  
Specify other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 2  
Other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 3  
Specify other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 3  
Total area of fruits and vegetables  

8. For the following fruits and vegetables, what were the quantity sold (i.e., marketed production) and sales in 2023?

For the following fruits and vegetables, what were the quantity sold (i.e., marketed production) and sales in 2023?
  Quantity sold Unit of measure Total Sales
Greenhouse tomatoes      
Beefsteak tomatoes      
Large tomatoes on the vine      
Cherry and grape tomatoes      
Total greenhouse tomatoes      
Greenhouse cucumbers      
English cucumbers      
Mini cucumbers      
Total greenhouse cucumbers      
Other greenhouse fruits and vegetables      
Greenhouse eggplants      
Greenhouse Chinese vegetables      
Greenhouse herbs
Exclude sprouts and microgreens.
     
Sprouts grown in a controlled environment
Include vegetables, legumes, pulse and herb sprouts.
     
Greenhouse microgreens and shoots
Include all microgreens, vegetables and herbs.
     
Greenhouse peppers      
Greenhouse lettuce      
Greenhouse beans (green and wax)      
Greenhouse strawberry      
Other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 1      
Specify other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 1      
Other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 2      
Specify other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 2      
Other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 3      
Specify other greenhouse fruit or vegetable 3      
Total area of fruits and vegetables      
Total gross sales of fruits and vegetables      

9. Of the total gross sales reported at question 8, please provide the percentage breakdown of your greenhouse fruits and vegetables sales across the following distribution channels.

Sales distribution of greenhouse vegetables and fruit (total gross sales)

The sales of greenhouse vegetables and fruit that the operation produced and sold.

Please report the value of greenhouse fruit and vegetable sales in a percentage (%). The sum of different markets should be equal to 100% of the value reported in in question 8.

Wholesaler

The organization primarily engaged as the intermediary in the distribution of merchandise. Meaning that a wholesaler is a reseller of manufactured goods in whole (without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise).

A wholesaler provides the warehousing and trade abilities the manufacturer does not want to provide. It also prefers to sell batches, truckloads, pallets, etc. of goods. Often offers discounts as quantity increases. As a result, many wholesalers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in large quantities to retailers, and business and institutional clients.

In addition, wholesalers may frequently perform one of the following related functions; breaking bulk, providing delivery services to customers, or operating warehouse facilities for storage of goods they sell, or marketing and support services such as packaging and labelling, inventory management, shipping, handling of warranty claims, in-store or co-op promotions and training.

Of the total gross sales reported at question 8, please provide the percentage breakdown of your greenhouse fruits and vegetables sales across the following distribution channels.
  Percentage of total sales
Sales to domestic wholesalers  
Sales to mass market chain stores  
Sales to other greenhouses  
Sales of exports directly from your operation  
Sales to the public from your greenhouse, roadside stand or other outlets  
Sales through all other distribution channels
e.g., restaurants, food chains, co-operatives
 
Total sales of fruits and vegetables  

Greenhouse products - indoor and outdoor potted plants

10. For the following indoor and outdoor potted plants, how many pots did this greenhouse produce and sell in 2023?

Include only prefinished and finished potted plants grown and sold by this greenhouse operation.

Exclude:

  • bedding plants or plugs sold in cell packs, flats or trays for transplanting
  • nursery-grown stock, such as potted shrubs or fall mums
  • Christmas trees sold in pots
  • plants purchased or imported by this operation for immediate resale.

Include all ornamental potted plants (annuals, biennials and perennials) and all potted vegetable, fruit and herb plants that were produced and sold from your greenhouse in Canada.

Plants grown in containers outdoors should be reported in the 'nursery products' category.

Exclude anything produced outside Canada.

Exclude Christmas trees sold in pots; bedding plants or plugs sold in cell packs, flats or trays; and other nursery stock (non-edible, living plant material grown outdoors 'in field' or in containers outdoors and sold with their root system intact).

Any plant grown in a pot from the greenhouse with the intention of selling to the final consumer can be classified as a finished potted plant (including hanging potted plants, such as baskets (wicker), peat pots, moss pots and plastic pots or ceramic pots). Any plant sold in a pot before it has fully matured or is intended to be grown to maturity at another facility can be classified as a prefinished potted plant.

For the following indoor and outdoor potted plants, how many pots did this greenhouse produce and sell in 2023?
Indoor Potted Plants Number of pots produced and sold
Azaleas  
Lilies  
Poinsettias  
African Violets  
Tropical foilage and green plants
Include ferns.
Exclude hanging pots.
 
Gerberas  
Miniature Roses  
Orchids  
Kalanchoes  
Chrysanthemums or Potted Mums  
Primulas  
Cyclamens  
Tulips  
Indoor hanging pots  
Other indoor potted plants  
Outdoor potted plants  
Begonias  
Chrysanthemums, garden  
Geraniums, in pots only  
New Guinea Impatiens / Hawkeri  
Petunias  
Herbaceous perennials  
Argyranthemums  
Outdoor hanging pots  
Calibrachoas  
Dahlias  
Pansies  
Rudbeckias  
Heliopsis  
Verbenas  
Zinnias  
Potted herb plants  
Potted vegetable plants  
Other outdoor potted plants
e.g., daisies, gardenias.
 
Total number of pots, indoor and outdoor, produced and sold  

11. What were the total gross sales of prefinished and finished potted plants in 2023?

Total gross sales

Greenhouse products - cuttings and tree seedlings

12. For the following cuttings, what was the total number of cuttings produced and sold in 2023?

Include only cuttings produced by this greenhouse operation.

Cuttings are sections of a plant stem capable of developing into a whole plant. Examples of species that may be sold as cuttings include murrayas, grevilleas, fuchsias, and gardenias.

Exclude ornamental and vegetable bedding plants, also known as transplants, which are young plants that are bought and then transplanted into a garden, field, container or basket by the purchaser.

For the following cuttings, what was the total number of cuttings produced and sold in 2023?
  Total number of cuttings produced and sold
Chrysanthemum  
Poinsettia  
Geranium  
Impatien
Include only double and New Guinea.
 
Other cuttings not listed  
Total number of cuttings produced and sold  

13. What were the total gross sales of cuttings in 2023?

Total gross sales

14. What was the total number of tree seedlings produced and sold in 2023?

Include only tree seedlings produced by this greenhouse operation.

Exclude:

  • nursery products grown in a cold-frame or non-heated tunnel
  • tree seedlings for reforestation.

A tree seedling is a young tree grown from a seed in a nursery or greenhouse for transplanting typically at one or two years of age.

Include tree seedlings produced only inside a greenhouse. Do not report tree seedlings produced in cold frames or covering tunnels.

Number of seedlings

15. What were the total gross sales of tree seedlings in 2023?

Total gross sales

Greenhouse products - bedding plants/transplants - vegetable and/or ornamental

16. What were the number and total gross sales of bedding plants, transplants or plugs produced and sold in 2023?

Include plants ready for transplanting by the purchaser into gardens, fields, containers and baskets.

Report the number of individual plants. If the number is unknown, please estimate it by multiplying the number of trays by the average number of plants per tray.

Bedding plants, also known as transplants, are young plants that are bought and then transplanted into a garden, field, container or basket by the purchaser. Ornamental bedding plants are cultivated for their flowers and beauty, rather than their use. Vegetable bedding plants are not yet edible at the time of sale from your greenhouse.

Bedding plants may be sold in various containers, including plugs, cell packs, flats or trays. Report the number of individual plants. If this number is unknown, please estimate it by multiplying the number of trays by the average number of plants per tray.

Exclude vegetable and herb plants not sold directly from the greenhouse (for example, plants being transplanted from the greenhouse to the field by the producer).

What were the number and total gross sales of bedding plants, transplants or plugs produced and sold in 2023?
  Number of plants Total gross sales
Ornamental bedding plants    
Vegetable bedding plants    

Greenhouse products - cut flowers

17. For the following cut flowers, what was the total number of stems produced and sold in 2023?

Exclude:

  • dried cut flowers
  • field-grown flowers (these will be reported in question 2023)
  • flowers grown by another operation.

Include only cut flowers that were produced in, and sold from, a greenhouse in Canada.

Exclude cut flowers that were initially cultivated in a greenhouse but then grown into sellable products in a field; these should be reported in the 'field-grown cut flowers' section, which is its own category in this survey. Some operators may start seeds in their greenhouse but transplant the flowers in the field in May or June and cut and dry them in August.

Exclude any cut flowers you purchased from other growers to re-sell from your own operation within a short period of time with minimal maintenance work (watering).

For the following cut flowers, what was the total number of stems produced and sold in 2023?
  Number of stems produced and sold
Alstroemerias  
Chrysanthemums
Include standard and sprays.
 
Daffodils  
Freesias  
Gerberas  
Irises  
Lilies  
Roses  
Snapdragons  
Tulips  
Lisianthus  
Other cut flowers not listed  
Total number of stems produced and sold  

18. What were the total gross sales of cut flowers grown by this greenhouse operation in 2023?

Total gross sales

Greenhouse products - flowers and plants

19. What were your total gross sales of flowers and plants purchased from other greenhouses for immediate resale in 2023?

Total gross sales

Did not purchase and re-sell any flowers or plants

Summary - flowers and plants

20. This is a summary of your total gross sales of greenhouse flowers and plants in 2022?

This is a summary of your total gross sales of greenhouse flowers and plants in 2023?
  Sales
Total gross sales of potted plants  
Total gross sales of cuttings  
Total gross sales of tree seedlings  
Total gross sales of ornamental bedding plants, transplants or plugs  
Total gross sales of vegetable bedding plants, transplants or plugs  
Total gross sales of cut flowers  
Total sales of flowers and plants produced in your greenhouse  
Total gross sales of flowers and plants purchased from other greenhouses for immediate resale  
Total gross sales of greenhouse flowers and plants  

Greenhouse products - flowers and plants

21. Of your total gross sales [amount]$ reported, please provide the percentage breakdown of greenhouse flowers and plants sales across the following distribution channels.

Sales distribution of greenhouse flowers and plants (total gross sales)

The sales of greenhouse flowers and plants that the operation produced and purchased for immediate resales.

Please report the value of greenhouse flower and plant sales in percentage (%). The sum of different markets should be equal to 100%.

Wholesaler: the organization primarily engaged as the intermediary in the distribution of merchandise. Meaning that a wholesaler is a reseller of manufactured goods in whole (without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise).

A wholesaler provides the warehousing and trade abilities the manufacturer does not want to provide. It also prefers to sell batches, truckloads, pallets, etc. of goods. Often offers discounts as quantity increases. As a result, many wholesalers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in large quantities to retailers, and business and institutional clients.

In addition, wholesalers may frequently perform one of the following related functions; breaking bulk, providing delivery services to customers, or operating warehouse facilities for storage of goods they sell, or marketing and support services such as packaging and labelling, inventory management, shipping, handling of warranty claims, in-store or co-op promotions and training.

Of your total gross sales [amount]$ reported, please provide the percentage breakdown of greenhouse flowers and plants sales across the following distribution channels.
  Percentage of total sales
Sales to retail florists
e.g., flower shops, garden centres
 
Sales to domestic wholesalers
Include Dutch Auction Clock System.
 
Sales to mass market chain stores  
Sales to other greenhouses  
Export sales made directly by your firm  
Sales made directly to the public from your greenhouse or roadside stands  
Sales to the government and other public institutions  
Other methods of sales not listed  
Total sales of flowers and plants  

Christmas trees

22. Please enter the total area used to grow Christmas trees, the number of trees produced and cut, and the total gross sales of trees in 2023?

Include only the Christmas trees that were cut during the year.

Exclude Christmas trees that were grown in a container with their root systems intact.

When reporting the area, include the total area used to grow Christmas trees, regardless of whether the trees were cut or not. Include naturally established or planted areas, regardless of stage of growth, that are pruned or managed with the use of fertilizer or pesticides.

When reporting the number of cut trees, exclude any Christmas trees that were grown in a container with their root systems intact.

Conversions

  • 1 arpent = 0.9986 acres
  • 1 acre = 1.0014 arpent
  • 1 acre = 0.41 hectares
  • 1 hectare = 2.47 acres

Total area

Unit of measure

  • acres
  • hectares
  • arpents

Number of cut trees

Total gross sales

Field-grown cut flowers

23. Please report the total area used to grow field-grown flowers, the number of cut stems produced and sold, and the total gross sales of field-grown cut flowers in 2023?

Include field-grown fresh and dried flowers, and any plant part used for floral or decorative purposes, such as seed heads, stalks and woody cuts.

Exclude cut flowers grown in a greenhouse from start to finish.

Total area

Unit of measure

  • acres
  • hectares
  • arpents

Number of cut stems

Total gross sales

Nursery products - nursery area

24. What was the total nursery area used for growing nursery stock in 2023?

What was the total nursery area used for growing nursery stock in 2023?
  Nursery area Unit of measure (Acres, Hectares or Arpents)
Field area used for growing nursery stock    
Container area used for growing nursery stock    
Total nursery area    

Nursery products - nursery stock

25. How many field-grown and container-grown plants did this operation produce and sell in 2023?

Exclude:

  • stock purchased for immediate resale
  • Christmas trees without the root system intact
  • heated greenhouse production and unsold inventory.

A tree seedling is a young tree grown from a seed in a nursery for transplanting typically at one or two years of age.

Include only tree seedlings produced in a nursery.

Exclude tree seedlings produced in and sold from a greenhouse.

Exclude tree seedlings for reforestation.

Note: tree seedlings may be reported as nursery products if they were conditioned outside for part of the production cycle, after having been cared for inside the greenhouse first.

How many field-grown and container-grown plants did this operation produce and sell in 2023?
  Number of field-grown plants produced and sold Number of container-grown plants produced and sold
Trees — conifer    
Trees — fruit    
Trees — shade or ornamental    
Shrubs — evergreen and conifer    
Shrubs — evergreen and broadleaf    
Shrubs — deciduous
Include roses.
   
Vines    
Perennials and annuals    
Small fruit bushes
e.g., raspberry bush
   
Tree seedlings
Exclude tree seedlings for reforestation.
   
Other type of plants    
Total number of field and container grown nursery stock    

26. What were the total gross sales of field-grown and container-grown nursery stock in 2023?

Exclude sales of stock purchased for immediate resale and revenue from landscaping activities.

Exclude:

  • any nursery stock that was purchased for immediate resale
  • Christmas trees without the root system intact
  • any greenhouse production
  • unsold inventory
  • value received for landscaping services.

Field-grown includes all bailed and burlapped, bare root field potted stock.

Container-grown includes all containers sizes of less than one gallon; one gallon; two gallons; and greater than two gallons.

Balled and burlapped is a method of transplanting that minimizes root disturbance. The tree is dug with a ball of soil around it and wrapped in burlap (method generally used for evergreens and deciduous plants in leaf).

Bare root describes plants dug up, with the soil shaken off (method generally used for deciduous plants in a dormant condition).

Field-potted describes stock which is grown in the field and placed into a pot when dug up for sale. Please report stock that was potted up from the field for a maximum of one full growing season; if potted up for more than one growing season, report under container.

Container-grown is nursery stock grown in a container for a minimum of one growing season before time of sale.

What were the total gross sales of field-grown and container-grown nursery stock in 2023?
  Total Gross Sales
Total gross sales of field-grown stock  
Total gross sales of container-grown stock  
Total gross sales of stock grown by this nursery operation  

27. What were the total gross sales of nursery stock purchased for immediate resale in 2023?

Nursery stock for immediate resale is any nursery stock you purchased from other growers to re-sell from your own operation within a short period of time with minimal maintenance e.g., watering. Please enter your total sales of the nursery stock you purchased from other operations.

Examples of stock that may be ready for immediate resale:
Plants, flowers, bulbs, trees, shrubs, etc.

Total gross sales

Did not purchase and re-sell any nursery stock.

28. This is a summary of your total gross sales of nursery stock in 2023.

This is a summary of your total gross sales of nursery stock in 2023.
  Sales
Total gross sales of stock grown by this nursery operation  
Total gross sales of stock purchased for resale  
Total sales of nursery stock  

29. Of the total gross sales [amount]$ reported, please provide the percentage breakdown of nursery stock sales across the following distribution channels.

Sales distribution of nursery stocks (total gross sales)

The sales of nursery stocks that the operation produced and purchased for immediate resales.

Please report the value of nursery stock sales in percentage (%). The sum of different markets should be equal to 100%.

Of the total gross sales [amount]$ reported, please provide the percentage breakdown of nursery stock sales across the following distribution channels.
  Percentage of total sales
Sales to the public  
Sales to fruit growers  
Sales to landscape contractors  
Sales to garden centres  
Sales to mass merchandisers
e.g., chain stores
 
Sales to other growers  
Export sales made directly by your operation  
Sales to public agencies  
Sales through other channels
e.g., wholesalers, brokers, forestry firms
 
Total sales of nursery products  

Labour

30. How many seasonal and permanent workers, paid or unpaid, were employed by your operation in 2023?

Include all workers involved in growing, maintaining and harvesting on your operation, including the owners, family workers and foreign and seasonal workers. There must be at least one employee reported.

Exclude labour for retail and clerical help, and contract work, e.g., truck driver or landscaper.

How many seasonal and permanent workers, paid or unpaid, were employed by your operation in 2023?
  Greenhouse employees Nursery employees Total employees
Seasonal employees — employed for less than 8 months      
Full-time and part-time permanent employees — employed for 8 months or more      
Total number of employees      

31. Are any of the employees on your payroll?

  • Yes
  • No, only unpaid family labour is involved

Operating expenses

32. In 2023, what were your operating expenses?

Growing on is a term used by operators when stock is cultivated in the greenhouse or the nursery for the purpose of growing it to greater proportions. The operators will plant a seed or seedling in their greenhouse and care for it, by maintaining it (transplanting, fertilizing, etc.) until it becomes a sellable product.

Exclude any plant materials you may have purchased from other growers for immediate resale from your own operation (please report these purchases in row c).

In 2023, what were your operating expenses?
  Greenhouse expenses Nursery expenses Total expenses
Plant material      
Purchases of plant material for growing on      
Include flowers, cuttings, seedlings, seeds, bulbs, bedding plants, young trees or nursery stock etc.      
Percentage of a. purchased from within your province      
Purchases of plant material for immediate resale      
Total plant material purchases      
Payroll      
Payroll
Include:
  • payroll of employees, owners and family members
  • paid benefits, such as medical insurance, workers' compensation, employment insurance and pension plans.
Exclude wages and benefits paid to employees who provide retail or clerical help, and contract work, e.g., truck driving or landscaping.
     
Fuel expenses      
Natural gas      
Heating oil      
Other types of heating fuel
e.g., coal or wood chips
     
Total fuel expenses      
Other expenses      
Electricity expenses
Include lighting, airflow fans and heating.
     
Other crop expenses
Include fertilizer, pesticides, pollination, irrigation, containers, packaging, bioprograms, and growing mediums such as soil, peat moss, vermiculite, perlite, sand, styrofoam and sawdust.
     
Other operating expenses
e.g., Interest, land taxes, insurance, advertising, repairs to farm buildings, machinery, agricultural equipment and vehicles, contract work, and telephone and telecommunications services.
     
Total operating expenses      

Sod operations - area and sales

33. What was the total sod area grown in 2022.

Conversions

  • 1 arpent = 0.9986 acres
  • 1 acre = 1.0014 arpent
  • 1 acre = 0.41 hectares
  • 1 hectare = 2.47 acres

Sod is grass or turf, which has its roots intact at the time of sale. Sod is grown in field and sold as a single product.

Report all the area of land used for growing and maintaining sod.

Include any sod grown that was not intended for sale within the survey year (the past calendar year).

Area

Unit of measure

  • acres
  • hectares
  • arpents

34. Of the total sod area, how much was grown for sale in 2023?

Report the area of sod intended to be sold within the survey year (the past calendar year).

The area of sod grown for sale may be less than or equal to the total area of sod reported in the previous question.

Area

35. What were the total gross sales of sod grown on your operation in 2023?

Exclude revenue from laying sod or reselling sod purchased from others.

Total gross sales

36. What were the total gross sales of sod purchased for immediate resale?

Total gross sales

Did not purchase and re-sell any sod.

Summary - total sales of sod

37. This is a summary of the total sales of sod in 2023.

This is a summary of the total sales of sod in 2023.
  Sales
Total gross sales of sod grown on your operation  
Total gross sales of sod purchased for immediate resale  
Total sales of sod  

Sod operations - labour

38. How many seasonal and permanent workers, paid or unpaid, were employed by your operation in 2023?

Include all workers in this operation involved in growing, maintaining and harvesting sod on your operation, including the owners, family workers and foreign and seasonal workers. There must be at least one employee reported.

Exclude all labour for retail and clerical help; laying sod; and contract work, e.g., truck driver or landscaper.

How many seasonal and permanent workers, paid or unpaid, were employed by your operation in 2023?
  Number of employees
Seasonal employees — employed for less than 8 months  
Full-time and part-time permanent employees — employed for 8 months or more  
Total number of employees  

39. Are any of the employees reported in question 38 on your payroll?

  • Yes
  • No, only unpaid family labour is involved

Sod operations - expenses

40. Please provide your sod operating expenses in 2023.

Please provide your sod operating expenses in 2023.
  Sod operating expenses
Purchases of sod for immediate resale  
Percentage of a. purchased from within your province  
Payroll
Include:
  • payroll of employees, owners and family members
  • paid benefits, such as medical insurance, workers' compensation, employment insurance and pension plans.
Exclude wages and benefits paid to employees who provide retail or clerical help, and contract work, e.g., truck driving, landscaping or laying sod.
 
Other sod operating expenses
Include fertilizer, pesticides, land taxes, interest, insurance, advertising, repairs, fuel, electricity, irrigation expenses, and telephone and other telecommunication services.
 
Total sod operating expenses in 2023  

Agricultural production

41. Which of the following agricultural products are currently being produced on this operation?

  • Field crops
  • Hay
  • Summerfallow
  • Potatoes
  • Fruit, berries and nuts
  • Vegetables
  • Sod
  • Nursery products
  • Greenhouse products
  • Cattle and calves
  • Include beef or dairy.
  • Pigs
  • Sheep and lambs
  • Mink
  • Fox
  • Hens and chickens
  • Turkeys
  • Maple taps
  • Honey bees
  • Mushrooms
  • Other
    Specify agricultural products
  • Not producing agricultural products

Area in crops

42. What area of this operation is used for the following crops?

Report the areas only once, even if used for more than one crop type.

Exclude land used by others.

What area of this operation is used for the following crops?
  Area Unit of measure
Field crops    
Hay    
Summerfallow    
Potatoes    
Fruit, berries and nuts    
Vegetables    
Sod    
Nursery products    

Greenhouse area

43. What is the total area under glass, plastic or other protection used for growing plants?

Total area

Unit of measure

  • square feet
  • square metres

Livestock (excluding birds)

44. How many of the following animals are on this operation?

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

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

How many of the following animals are on this operation?
  Number
Cattle and calves  
Pigs  
Sheep and lambs  
Mink  
Fox  

Birds

45. How many of the following birds are on this operation?

Report all poultry on this operation, regardless of ownership, including those grown under contract.

Include poultry for sale and poultry for personal use.

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

How many of the following birds are on this operation?
  Number
Hens and chickens  
Turkeys  

Maple taps

46. What was the total number of taps made on maple trees last spring?

Total number of taps

Honey bees

47. How many live colonies of honey bees (used for honey production or pollination) are owned by this operation?

Include bees owned, regardless of location.

Number of colonies

Mushrooms

48. What is the total mushroom growing area (standing footage) on this operation?

Include mushrooms grown using beds, trays, tunnels or logs.

Total area

Unit of measure

  • square feet
  • square metres

Changes or events

49. Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.

Select all that apply.

  • Strike or lock-out
  • Exchange rate impact
  • Price changes in goods or services sold
  • Contracting out
  • Organizational change
  • Price changes in labour or raw materials
  • Natural disaster
  • Recession
  • Change in product line
  • Sold business or business units
  • Expansion
  • New or lost contract
  • Plant closures
  • Acquisition of business or business units
  • Other
    Specify the other changes or events:
  • No changes or events

Contact person

50. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.
Is the provided given names and the provided family name the best person to contact?

  • Yes
  • No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

  • First name:
  • Last name:
  • Title:
  • Email address:
  • Telephone number (including area code):
  • Extension number (if applicable):
    The maximum number of characters is 5.
  • Fax number (including area code):

Feedback

51. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

  • Hours:
  • Minutes:

52. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Variant of the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada 2022 Version 1.0 for Raw Materials Price Index - RMPI (regrouping variant) - Background information

Status

The variant of the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada 2022 for the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) was approved as a departmental standard on September 24, 2021. The new RMPI variant is based on NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0, and replaces the previous RMPI variant based on NAPCS Canada 2017 Version 2.0.

Changes

The Raw Materials Price Index measures price changes for raw materials purchased by manufacturers in Canada for further processing. As our economy evolves, changes in our products must be reflected in the product classification used. Subsequent to the release of the updated NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0, the variant for RMPI has been updated.

Changes to any variant may originate from modifications applied to the standard classification it is based on, as well as from revisions to the structure of the variant itself.

The main changes to this version of the variant is the removal from the variant the NAPCS Subclass 145122-Solid fuel products, n.e.c. and its details due to the non-applicability of these NAPCS categories in the variant.

Changes to the standard classification are described in the introduction of each new version of NAPCS Canada.

Background

In order to create a price index, price data is aggregated into distinct product classes. From the 1980s until 2013, the product classification system used by the RMPI was the Principal Commodity Groups. However, changes in the economy required periodic updates in the classification systems. Following the approval of NAPCS Canada 2012 as a departmental standard, the RMPI and the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) variants were approved as departmental standards in May 2013.

NAPCS is a product classification developed and updated jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States. NAPCS Canada is the Canadian version and has a different structure than the trilateral NAPCS (for more details, see the introduction of NAPCS Canada 2022 V1.0). NAPCS Canada has been implemented by most Statistics Canada programs that have a “product” (goods and services) dimension. As new updated versions of NAPCS Canada are created, the RMPI is also updated.

The RMPI is produced and published together with the Industrial Product Price Index. Both indexes are of value in analytical studies of price formation and historical comparisons. Both are used to calculate the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by industry.

The RMPI is a regrouping variant, it introduces alternative aggregate levels by regrouping categories of NAPCS Canada, the base statistical classification. In the RMPI variant, NAPCS Canada is generally aggregated at the three-digit group level and, to a lesser extent, at the five-digit class level. The coding is alphanumeric and each variant has its own codes at the section and/or group levels. For example, in the RMPI, a letter and two digits are used for the 6 section codes (i.e., M11 to M61).

One of the purposes of the six-digit subclass level in NAPCS Canada 2022 is to support the RMPI and the IPPI programs. There are 1,477 subclasses at the six-digit level of NAPCS Canada 2022 version 1.0, of which 102 are included in the RMPI and 682 in the IPPI.

Hierarchical structure

The structure of the NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0 variant for RMPI is hierarchical. It is composed of five levels:

level 1: section (three-character alphanumeric codes)
level 2: group (three-digit standard codes and four-character alphanumeric codes)
level 3: class (five-digit standard codes and six-character alphanumeric codes)
level 4: subclass (six-digit standard codes)
level 5: detail (seven-digit standard codes)

Variant of the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada 2022 Version 1.0 for Industrial Product Price Index - IPPI (regrouping variant) - Background information

Status

The variant of the North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) Canada 2022 version 1.0 for the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) was approved as a departmental standard on September 24, 2021. The new IPPI variant is based on NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0, and replaces the previous IPPI variant based on NAPCS Canada 2017 Version 2.0.

Changes

The Industrial Product Price Index measures price changes for major commodities sold by manufacturers in Canada. As our economy evolves, changes in our products must be reflected in the product classification used. Subsequent to the release of the updated NAPCS Canada 2022 version 1.0, the variant for IPPI has been updated.

Changes to any variant may originate from modifications applied to the standard classification it is based on, as well as from revisions to the structure of the variant itself such as NAPCS Group 158-Waste and scrap of plastic and rubber was moved in version 2022 back to the more appropriate variant grouping P32-Plastic and rubber products.

Changes to the standard classification are described in the introduction of each new version of NAPCS Canada. Here are some examples of the changes:

Creation of new classification items: Seven classification items or categories were added as "new" in NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0.

Combination of classification items: Combinations consist of mergers and take-overs among classification items. Essentially, new groupings were created with the intent to re-organize the classification. In NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0, 18 classification items or categories resulted in mergers,

Transfer of classification items or their parts:

E-book readers devices were transferred from NAPCS subclass 362212 – Television and other audio and video equipment to NAPCS subclass 361111 – Computers.

Parts of musical instruments transferred from NAPCS class 36221 – Television and other audio and video equipment to NAPCS class 47534 – Musical instruments.

Electronic cigarettes were transferred from NAPCS subclass 381253 – Other electrical equipment and components, n.e.c to NAPCS subclass 212113 – Electronic cigarettes (except containing cannabis).

E-liquids were transferred from NAPCS class 27213 – Chemical products, n.e.c. to NAPCS class 21211 – Cigarettes (including electronic cigarettes), cigars, chewing and smoking tobacco.

Hosiery transferred from NAPCS class 23112 -Women's clothing and NAPCS class 23114 – Clothing accessories, vestments, costumes and unisex clothing to a new 5-digit NAPCS class 23115 – Non-binary and gender-neutral clothing; hosiery; vestments and costumes; and clothing accessories.

Leather shoelaces were transferred from NAPCS subclass 231312 – Other leather and allied products to NAPCS subclass 231214 – Other footwear, with their own new 7-digit detail category 2312199.

Decomposition of classification items:

Pulse flour (see subclass 182124);

Cannabis extracts and concentrates (see detail category 2131321) broken down into cannabis pure intermediates (see detail category 2131351), cannabis extracts inhaled and ingested products (see detail categories 2131362, 2131363, 2131364, 2131365). Other cannabis extracts (see detail category 2131369)

Other cannabis products, n.e.c. (see subclass category 213134);

Other chemical products (see subclass 272136);

Thermosetting resins, except biodegradable (see class 28113);

Biodegradable plastic resins (see class 28114);

Polyethylene resins (see class 28112);

Waste and scrap of plastic (see subclass 158111).

Background

In order to create a price index, price data is aggregated into distinct product classes. From the 1980s until 2013, the product classification system used by the IPPI was the Principal Commodity Groups. However, changes in the economy required periodic updates in the classification systems. Following the approval of NAPCS Canada 2012 as a departmental standard, the IPPI and the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) variants were approved as departmental standards in May 2013.

NAPCS is a product classification developed and updated jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States. NAPCS Canada is the Canadian version, and has a different structure than the trilateral NAPCS (for more details, see the Introduction of NAPCS Canada 2022 V1.0). NAPCS Canada has been implemented by most Statistics Canada programs that have a "product" (goods and services) dimension. As new updated versions of NAPCS Canada are created, the IPPI is also updated.

The IPPI reflects the prices that manufacturers in Canada receive as goods leave the plant gate. It excludes indirect taxes and all the costs that occur between the time a good leaves the plant and the time the final user takes possession of it, including transportation, wholesale and retail costs.

The IPPI is produced and published together with the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI). Both indexes are of value in analytical studies of price formation and historical comparisons. Both are used to calculate the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by industry.

The IPPI employs a regrouping variant, it introduces alternative aggregate levels by regrouping categories of NAPCS Canada, the base statistical classification.  In the IPPI variant, NAPCS Canada is generally aggregated at the three-digit group level and, to a lesser extent, at the five-digit class level. The coding is alphanumeric and each variant has its own codes at the section and/or group levels. For example, in the IPPI, a letter and two digits are used for the 21 section codes (i.e., P11 to P92).

One of the purposes of the six-digit subclass level in NAPCS Canada 2022 is to support the IPPI and RMPI programs. There are 1,477 subclasses at the six-digit level of NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0, of which 682 are included in the IPPI and 102 in the RMPI.

Hierarchical structure

The structure of the NAPCS Canada 2022 Version 1.0 variant for IPPI is hierarchical. It is composed of five levels.

level 1: section (three-character alphanumeric codes)
level 2: group (three-digit standard codes and four-character alphanumeric codes)
level 3: class (five-digit standard codes and six-character alphanumeric codes)
level 4: subclass (six-digit standard codes)
level 5: detail (seven-digit standard codes)

Guidelines Financial Information of Universities Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO) 2022/2023

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I. Preamble

II. General Information

III. Detailed Instructions for Institutions Reporting Financial Data

Text begins

I. Preamble

Financial Information of Universities is an annual publication prepared by Statistics Canada for the Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO). CAUBO obtains the financial data for the publication by undertaking an annual survey of its degree granting member institutions. Users have indicated that the publication is a comprehensive reference source for the financial data of universities and colleges in Canada.

The financial data in the publication is based on an annual return completed and submitted by each member institution. The hard copy of the publication reports the financial data individually, by institution, and in aggregate, by province, region and nationally.

A. General

These Guidelines are intended to assist both users and preparers of the financial data reported in the annual return; specifically, these Guidelines will assist

  • Users –
    • to understand the limitations of the financial data;
    • to understand the different and distinct purposes between an institution's audited financial statements, its internal management reports and its annual return; and,
    • to understand, in general terms, the prescribed reporting practices underlying the financial data in the annual return.
  • Preparers –
    • to understand, in general terms, the users of the annual return and their information requirements;
    • to appreciate the differences between accounting principles for audited financial statements, internal management reports and prescribed reporting practices; and,
    • to appreciate that the financial data in the annual return must be consistent from one year to the next, and comparable between institutions.

The Guidelines are organized as follows:

Section II provides general information for both users and preparers of the annual return. This section discusses financial reporting by institutions and identifies the users of the annual return and their needs, as well as the relationship of generally accepted accounting principles to the financial data and the prescribed reporting practices underlying that data.

This section will assist users and preparers of the annual return to appreciate the differences between accounting principles for audited financial statements and prescribed reporting practices for the annual return. In addition, by understanding the information requirements of the users of the annual return, preparers should be better able to complete the annual return form in a manner that encourages consistency in reported data for each institution over time and, in accordance with the Guidelines, facilitates comparability between institutions.

Section III provides detailed instructions for institutions reporting financial data. This is the "how-to" section for preparers to refer to when completing the annual return, and will be of interest to users who seek additional information on specific terms or particular line items used in the annual return.

B. Limitations

While users require financial data that are consistent from one year to the next and comparable between institutions, users must also appreciate that notwithstanding the use of detailed Guidelines to assist preparers, there are limitations in the comparability of the data. The data is most useful when aggregated and used for trend analysis. As users move from aggregated data to data that directly compares institutions, either individually or even between provinces or regions, the comparability of the data has limitations.

Limitations in the comparability of the data can result because of differences in the underlying accounting practices followed by institutions. Even the most stringent of reporting guidelines cannot eliminate differences resulting from different underlying accounting practices. Limitations can also result from other inherent differences. Institutional comparisons are subject to interpretation and clarification because of differences such as size, academic programs, structure, physical environment, management philosophy, and budgetary and accounting procedures. Interregional comparisons must also recognize differences such as various sources of funding, fiscal year-end dates varying from March 31st to June 30th, and variations in provincial policies and provincial funding responsibilities.

Specific examples where differences between institutions result in limitations in the comparability of financial data include:

  • Definition of research – The definition of research used by an institution will determine the income and expenditures that are reported in the Sponsored research fund. For example, clinical trials may or may not be defined as research and therefore may or may not be reported as sponsored research expenditures.
  • Hospitals and hospital based medical research – The amount and level of detail reported by institutions for hospitals and for hospital based medical research varies depending upon the corporate relationship between the institution and the hospital.
  • Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) – Provincial matching grants – while an institution separately reports certain specific provincial government grants that are earmarked as CFI matching grants, not all provincial CFI matching grants are separately reported because not all are specific and earmarked.
  • Internal sales and cost recoveries – Depending upon particular management information systems and business practices, an institution may report amounts by reducing offsetting expenditures or as internal cost recoveries.
  • Computing and communication costs – The amount reported by institutions for computing and for communication costs will vary depending upon whether an institution has a centralized or decentralized structure for computing and for communications.

In addition, comparisons of financial data over multiple years should be done with caution because of changes in generally accepted accounting principles that could alter the underlying data and changes in the Guidelines that govern the reporting of the data.

II. General Information

This section provides general information for both users and preparers of the annual return. It discusses financial reporting by institutions and identifies the users of the annual return and their needs, as well as the relationship of generally accepted accounting principles to the financial data and the prescribed reporting practices underlying that data.

This section will assist users and preparers of the annual return to appreciate the differences between accounting principles for audited financial statements and prescribed reporting practices for the annual return. In addition, by understanding the information requirements of the users of the annual return, preparers should be better able to complete the annual return in a manner that encourages consistency in reported data for each institution over time and, in accordance with the Guidelines, facilitates comparability between institutions.

A. Financial Reporting by Institutions

As previously stated, the CAUBO annual return is a comprehensive reference source for the financial data of universities and colleges in Canada. The annual return, however, is not the only source for financial information for individual institutions. An institution's primary financial report is its annual financial statements.

An institution's financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and are subject to audit by external auditors. The financial statements are a public document and represent an accounting by the institution's Board of its financial stewardship of the institution as a whole.

An institution's annual return is prepared in accordance with prescribed reporting practices. An institution's annual return is not subject to audit, but is reconciled to its audited financial statements. The annual return is also available to the public, but rather than representing an accounting of financial stewardship, the annual return provides financial data for statistical comparisons among institutions and for trend analysis.

These two reports serve different and distinct purposes. Using audited financial statements, detailed comparisons of financial data between institutions are difficult, if not impossible. For statistical comparisons between institutions and for trend analysis, users of the financial data should refer to the CAUBO annual return. While the CAUBO annual return reports financial data that is more comparable between institutions and lends itself to validation, users should be aware of the limitations in the comparability of the data (see Section I.B).

B. Users of the Annual Return

Participating institutions submit the completed annual return to CAUBO for data verification and compilation by Statistics Canada. Once compiled and published, comparative statistics can be calculated and analyzed either for all institutions combined or for a group of institutions based on one or more characteristics common to the group. Examples of common characteristics include size, location, graduate programs and medicine.

The financial data is used for many and varied purposes. For example, at the aggregate level, the annual return is the principal source of financial data for the estimates of higher education research and development expenditures that are reported in Canada, and reported internationally, for Canada. At the institutional level, the financial data is used to establish the eligibility levels for funding under programs such as the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI).

The financial data is available to many and varied users. Common users include Statistics Canada and clients of Statistics Canada, associations such as AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada), granting councils, other Federal and Provincial government departments and agencies, university analysts and other internal university constituencies, and the external research community.

By identifying users of the annual return and understanding their information requirements, reporting practices that best meet user needs can be determined. A point that cannot be overemphasized, however, is that the financial data reported by each institution will only be useful to users of the annual return when the data has been prepared consistently over time and has been prepared in accordance with the Guidelines to facilitate comparability between institutions.

C. Prescribed Reporting Practices

The audited financial statements of reporting institutions are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). For individual institutions, adherence to GAAP results in consistency of reported financial results from one year to the next.

In certain situations, however, GAAP permits individual institutions to choose between equally acceptable alternatives. To the extent institutions make different choices, the financial data, while consistent for one institution from one year to the next, may not be comparable between institutions. As an example, institutions can choose either the deferral or restricted fund method of revenue recognition, and reporting nuances of each method may make comparisons between institutions difficult.

In addition to the differences that exist between the financial data of institutions when they choose different practices from equally acceptable alternatives, the users of the annual return may require, in certain situations, financial data based on an accounting practice that deviates from GAAP. For example, users of capital expenditure data generally require line item reporting of income and expenditures based on the flow of funds, rather than on capitalized and amortized amounts.

By way of highlights, users and preparers of the financial data should note the following points that apply to the annual return, even though they may represent differences from the practices normally followed by individual institutions in reporting financial information:

  • Restricted funds include both external and internal restrictions, rather than external only.
  • Certain restricted income not expended in the year, such as income in the Sponsored research fund, is reported on the funds flow approach, rather than deferred (see Section II.E.4).
  • Capital expenditures are reported on the funds flow approach, rather than capitalized and amortized (see Section II.E.6).
  • Certain expenditures, such as vacation pay, pension costs and future benefits, are reported on the cash basis, rather than accrued (see Section II.E.7).
  • Institutions are encouraged to minimize interfund transfers by reporting income and the corresponding expenditures in the same fund (see Section II.E.9).
  • Users require income and expenditure data, only; therefore, a complete set of financial statements is not reported.

These Guidelines are not intended to conform an institution's annual return to its financial statements or its internal management reports. The prescribed practices, including the uniform reporting practices that follow, may or may not be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. These Guidelines are intended to promote comparability of financial data between institutions, while maintaining consistency.

D. Reconciliation to Audited Financial Statements

By following prescribed reporting practices, each institution will have one or more differences between its annual return and its audited financial statements. To ensure credibility of the financial data reported by an institution, each is required to reconcile the data in its annual return to its audited financial statements.

The reconciliation is reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (Section III.C.4). While the types of items causing the differences between the two reports may vary among institutions, the number of such items is relatively few. The common reconciling items have been identified and can be reported on specified lines in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund.

E. Uniform Reporting Practices

For comparability of financial data between institutions, while maintaining consistency, reporting institutions and the preparers of the annual return within those institutions must comply with the Guidelines in general, and specifically with the uniform reporting practices. The uniform reporting practices, and the detailed instructions that follow in Section III, have been developed recognizing that balance is required between the information requirements of the users of the annual return and the response burden that is placed on the preparers. The uniform reporting practices are as follows:

1. Basis of Consolidation

For related and affiliated entities and except for certain research activities as noted below, each institution is to report financial data in the annual return on the same basis as that used for its consolidated financial statements. If the financial data for the entity is only reported in the notes to the consolidated financial statements, then the financial data is not reported in the annual return. To allow users to better understand the contents of the annual return and its limitations, each reporting institution is required to complete an affiliation report providing information for each legal entity that is consolidated with the annual return (see Section III.C.6 – Part I).

Sponsored research data are sometimes used for allocation purposes and users often look to the sponsored research reported by institutions as the main source of data for total funding of research activities of academic staff in Canada. As a result, institutions may wish to report separately certain additional research activities of their academic staff.  Therefore, as an exception to the above practice whereby financial data in the annual return is reported on the same basis as that used for the consolidated financial statements, institutions are permitted, under certain conditions, to report separately sponsored research that is granted to academic staff of the reporting institution, but conducted in entities that are not consolidated (see Section III.C.1 – Sponsored research). Institutions that report sponsored research data that is conducted in entities that are not consolidated are required to complete an affiliation report identifying each non-consolidated entity and the amount included in the annual return (see Section III.C.6 – Part II).

Given the different relationships existing across Canada between institutions and their affiliated hospitals, for example, this exception will also increase the comparability of research data across institutions.

For clarity, the financial data for a Charitable Foundation will only be included in the annual return if the Charitable Foundation is consolidated in the financial statements of the institution.

2. Funds

The financial data will be reported following a form of fund accounting. Fund accounting classifies resources for accounting and reporting purposes in accordance with activities or objectives as specified by donors, in accordance with regulations, restrictions, or limitations imposed by sources outside the institution, or in accordance with directions issued by the governing body of the institution.

A fund is an accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts for recording assets, liabilities, a fund balance, and changes in the fund balance. Funds have been identified as either unrestricted or restricted. Restricted funds, other than Endowment, account for resources that may be used for current purposes, but with some limitations imposed by external or internal sources.

For accounting and reporting purposes, institutions combine the funds with similar characteristics into distinct fund groups. The fund groups reported in the annual return, with a brief explanation of each, are as follows:

General operating is an unrestricted fund that accounts for the institution's primary operating activities of instruction and research, other than sponsored research.

Special purpose and trust is a restricted fund. The funds, including donations, may be restricted by external sources, or internally restricted by the institution's governing body, for purposes other than sponsored research (Sponsored research fund), or capital (Capital fund).

Sponsored research is a restricted fund that accounts for income and expenditures for all sponsored research. Amounts are separately reported for entities consolidated and entities not consolidated (see Section II.E.1).

Ancillary is an unrestricted fund that separately accounts for all "sales-producing" operations or "self-supporting" activities that are supplementary to the institution's primary operating activities of instruction and research.

Capital is a restricted fund that accounts for resources provided to the institution for capital purposes and not reported in any other fund.

Endowment is a restricted fund that accounts for the capitalization of externally or internally restricted amounts, primarily donations, which cannot be spent.

Section III.C.1 provides additional information and explanatory comments on each of the above funds.

3. Accrual Concept

As a general reporting practice, institutions follow the accrual, rather than the cash basis of accounting. The accrual concept refers to the method of recording transactions where income is reported in the period in which the income is considered to have been earned, rather than received; and expenditures, in the period in which the expenditures are considered to have been incurred, rather than disbursed. An example of the application of this concept to an income item is the accrual for interest earned, but not received; and, to an expenditure item, is the accrual for retroactive salary costs earned, but not paid.

Exceptions in the annual return to the accrual concept include –

  • the funds flow approach for reporting income in the Special purpose and trust, and Sponsored research funds (see Section II.E.4),
  • the funds flow approach for reporting income and expenditures for capital asset transactions (see Section II.E.4), and
  • the cash basis for reporting vacation pay, pension costs and future benefits (see Section II.E.7).

4. Funds Flow Approach

For specific types of activities, income will be reported in the annual return following a funds flow approach; that is, for both Special purpose and trust, and Sponsored research (see Section III.C.1), the funds are reported as income in the period in which the funds are received or receivable. The corresponding expenditures, on the other hand, are reported consistent with the accrual concept; that is, in the period in which the expenditures are incurred. For example, when an institution is awarded a research contract, the income is reported when the funds are received or receivable under the terms of the contract.

For CAUBO reporting purposes, income and the corresponding expenditures are to be reported in the same fund (see Section II.E.9).

Where an institution defers the income noted above in its audited financial statements, the difference between the funds flow approach and the deferral method must be a reconciling item in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund between the institution's annual return and its audited financial statements (see Section III.C.4 – line 11).

5. Guidance on Use of the Correct Fund

For all funds the matching principle applies; that is the revenue and related expenditure should be recorded in the same fund. it is not as straightforward to decide whether the revenue or expenditure source should dictate the fund where they are recorded. Depending upon the fund, there is not one method that says that expenditures should be recorded in the same fund as the revenue (expenditures follow revenues) or vice versa (revenues follow expenditures). Other reporting considerations have taken precedence over this consideration. However, while the applicable method may not be consistent across all funds, it is consistent within a given fund. The following shows the method to follow for each fund:

Operating Fund – expenditures follow revenues; Special Purpose & Trust Fund – expenditures follow revenues; Sponsored Research Fund – expenditures follow revenues; Ancillary Fund – expenditures follow revenues; Endowment Fund – revenues follow expenditures; Capital Fund – expenditures follow revenues.

6. Capital Assets

The uniform reporting practice in the annual return for capital expenditures is to follow the funds flow approach, rather than to capitalize and amortize. Funds received to acquire capital assets are reported as income in the period in which the funds are received or receivable. Funds used to acquire capital assets are reported as expenditures in the period in which the funds are paid or payable.

For CAUBO reporting purposes, capital expenditures are to be reported in the same fund as the corresponding income. Specifically, capital expenditures are only reported in the Capital fund when the corresponding income is reported in the Capital fund.

The difference between the funds flow approach and capitalized and amortized expenditures must be a reconciling item in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund between the institution's annual return and its audited financial statements (see Section III.C.4 – lines 9 and 10).

7.Vacation Pay, Pension Costs and Future Benefits

Vacation pay, pension costs and future benefits, including benefits arising as a result of early retirement, are to be reported on the cash basis. The cash basis refers to the method of recording transactions where expenditures are reported in the period in which cash is disbursed.

Where an institution accrues the expenditures noted above in its audited financial statements, the difference between the cash basis and the accrual basis must be a reconciling item in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund between the institution's annual return and its audited financial statements (see Section III.C.4 – lines 12 and 13).

8. Sales and Cost Recoveries

The practices followed by institutions in reporting sales and cost recoveries in their financial records vary significantly and, for the most part, are dependent upon the particular management information systems and business practices of the respective institutions.

For the annual return, as a general practice, sales and cost recovery amounts are to be reported at "gross", rather than "net". "Gross" means that the sales and the corresponding cost are reported as separate items. "Net" means that the sales and corresponding cost are combined, and the difference is reported as a separate item. Reporting amounts at "gross" provides users of the financial data with better information than reporting at "net".

Sales and cost recovery transactions can generally be classified as external sales, internal sales, external cost recoveries and internal cost recoveries.

  • (a) External sales and external cost recoveries – "third party" transactions, where the price to the external party is determined based on either the commercial value of the services or product, or the cost of the services or product. The price may or may not include a profit component.
  • (b) Internal sales – transactions between funds or functions, where the price to the internal party is determined based on either the commercial value of the services or product, or the cost of the services or product. The price includes a profit component. Internal sales exclude transactions based specifically on indirect or overhead costs. For the purposes of the annual return, internal sales will be categorized by those sales originating from ancillary services (see Section III.C.1 – Ancillary) and those sales originating from other funds or functions.
  • (c) Internal cost recoveries – the recovery, allocation, charge-out or transfer of costs between funds or functions. Internal cost recoveries refers specifically to indirect or overhead costs.

External sales, external cost recoveries and internal sales originating from ancillary services are to be reported as sale of services and products (see Section III.C.2 – line 25).

As an exception to reporting amounts at "gross", and also to avoid double counting of income and expenditures, the preferred method of reporting internal sales, other than those originating from ancillary services, is to report the amounts at "net". To report at "net", income in the fund or function selling the services or product is netted against the expenditures in that same fund or function. The fund or function purchasing the services or product reports the expenditure. Alternatively, where "netting" is not possible or feasible within a fund or function, the internal sales can be reported separately under an expenditure line item (a recovery) in both the fund or function selling the services or product and the fund or function purchasing the services or product (see Section III.C.3 – line 20).

Internal cost recoveries are also to be reported in such a manner as to avoid double counting of expenditures. The preferred method is direct allocation – that is, by reducing the expenditure types in the fund or function from which the costs are allocated, offset with a corresponding increase in the same expenditure types in the fund or function to which the costs are allocated. This approach provides users with better functional comparisons of individual expenditure line items. Alternatively, where direct allocation is not possible or feasible, the internal cost recoveries can be reported separately under an expenditure line item (a recovery) in the fund or function from and to which the costs are allocated (see Section III.C.3 –line 20).

9. Interfund Transfers

Situations arise where in the normal course of operations, an institution reports income in one fund, but reports the corresponding expenditure in another fund. In such situations, the institution records a transfer from the fund in which the income was received, to the fund in which it is expended. This transfer is referred to as an interfund transfer.

These Guidelines encourage institutions to report, to the extent possible, income and the corresponding expenditure in the same fund. For example, capital expenditures are to be reported in the same fund as the corresponding income and investment income earned on trust and endowment funds is to be reported in the same fund as the corresponding expenditures. This approach provides users with better financial data to calculate statistics such as the relationship between income and expenditures, by fund.

The transfer of an operating surplus from the Ancillary fund to the General operating fund is an example of an interfund transfer. Other examples include interfund transfers approved by the institution's governing body. Interfund transfers are reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4 – lines 5 and 8).

10. Gifts-In-Kind

Gifts-in-kind that are recorded in an institution's audited financial statements will be reported in the annual return as both an income and expenditure item. As an income and expenditure item, gifts-in-kind must be reported consistent with the CAUBO uniform reporting practices.

11. Internally Restricted Net Assets

Internally restricted net assets or fund balances are commonly referred to as appropriations or reserves. Changes in fund balances reported in an institution's financial statements occur in part as a result of approved transfers or the appropriation of funds for specific future purposes. For the annual return, an increase or transfer to appropriations should not be recorded as an expenditure, nor should a decrease or transfer from appropriations be recorded as income (see Section III.C.4 – line 19).

12. Borrowing and Principal Repayment

The borrowing and repayment of principal will not be reported as income or expenditure. Any such amounts, however, will be separately reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4 – lines 6 and 7). However, interest payments will be reported as expenditures in the appropriate fund.

13. Full Costing of Ancillary Services

Ancillary services (see Section III.C.1 – Ancillary) should include all direct expenditures and cost allocations related to ancillary operations. Cost allocations, for example, should include a reasonable allocation for utility (unless the utility is an ancillary service) and plant maintenance, and for the institution's management and administrative support. Cost allocations to ancillary services are internal cost recoveries (see Section II.E.8) in the fund or function from which the costs are allocated.

14. Use of Estimates

To complete the annual return in accordance with these uniform reporting practices, costs may have to be allocated among funds and functions. Where cost allocations are required, the allocations can be based on best estimates.

15. Double Counting

In certain situations, an institution receives funds and subsequently disburses or transfers all or part of the funds to one or more related or affiliated entities that are included in the annual return. These entities could be included in the annual return for either reason noted in the uniform reporting practice on "Basis of Consolidation" (see Section II.E.1). In such situations, the institution submitting the annual return must ensure that total income and total expenditures are only reported once. The types of income to be reported should correspond to the original source of the funds. The types of expenditures to be reported should correspond to the final use of the funds. The intervening disbursements or transfers of funds between related or affiliated entities should not be reported. Furthermore, the institution must ensure that the income and expenditures are reported in the same fund (see Section II.E.9).

Also, care should be exercised in situations where a reporting institution receives funds and subsequently disburses or transfers all or part of the funds to other reporting member institutions of CAUBO. This is particularly important in the case of large research grants such as Networks of Centres of Excellence, where one institution, the administrative centre, is responsible for disbursing funds to other participating institutions. In such situations, the reporting institution should report the funds received "net" of the funds disbursed or transferred. This practice avoids double counting of income and expenditures when annual return data is aggregated for provincial, regional and national totals.

III. Detailed Instructions for Institutions Reporting Financial Data

This section provides detailed instructions for institutions reporting financial data. This is the "how-to" section for preparers to refer to when completing the annual return, and will be of interest to users who seek additional information on specific terms or particular line items used in the annual return. Preparers of the financial data should review the previous sections of the Guidelines before proceeding.

A. Comparable Financial Data

Normally, the criteria for placement of a particular income or expenditure item within a fund or function in the annual return is the same as that used by an institution in its financial statements or internal management reports. However, where the Guidelines specifically designate the placement of an item, the item must be shown under the designated heading regardless of the institution's practice. Consequently, the classification of activities or items of income and expenditure in the annual return may differ from the classification used by an institution in its financial statements or internal management reports. For example, health services and athletics are to be reported in the Student services function in the annual return (see Section III.C.5 – Student services) although they may be reported as ancillary services in the institution's financial statements or internal management reports.

The financial data reported by each institution will only be useful to users of the annual return when the data has been prepared consistently over time and is comparable to other institutions. In order to satisfy user information needs, preparers must comply with these Guidelines.

B. Annual Return

The detailed financial data requested in the annual return is reported in Tables 1 to 7. The contents of the annual return are as follows:

  • General Information and Instructions
  • Table 1. Income by Fund
  • Table 2. Expenditures by Fund
  • Table 3. Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund
  • Table 4. General Operating Expenditures by Function
  • Table 5. Affiliation Report
    • Part I: Separate Legal Entities Consolidated
    • Part II: Separate Legal Entities not Consolidated
  • Table 6. Other Federal Government Departments and Agencies – Grants and Contracts
  • Table 7. Provincial Government Departments and Agencies – Grants and Contracts

In certain situations, an institution may determine that while it has complied with the Guidelines, it has provided financial data that may not be comparable to other institutions. In such situations, the institution can provide either accompanying notes of explanation, or observations and comments in the space provided at the bottom of each Table. This additional information would be useful for Statistics Canada in its review of the annual return for reasonableness. Examples could be any "material" extraordinary or non-recurring income or expenditure item included in a fund and/or functional area.

An institution may also use the space provided at the bottom of each Table for any observations and comments that the institution wishes to make regarding items not covered in the annual return.

Preparers should recognize that users of the annual return are prepared to accept reasonable allocations where exact numbers are not available (see Section II.E.14).

C. Definitions, Explanations and Examples

The funds are discussed first to assist the preparer to segregate the various income and expenditure items for reporting purposes. The financial data should be reported by fund in Tables 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 of the annual return. Following the discussion of funds, the financial data to be reported on the applicable lines in each Table is discussed.

1. Funds

Fund accounting (see Section II.E.2) classifies resources for accounting and reporting purposes in accordance with activities or objectives as specified by donors, in accordance with regulations, restrictions, or limitations imposed by sources outside the institution (external restrictions) or in accordance with directions issued by the governing body (internal restrictions). Funds have been identified as either unrestricted or restricted. Restricted funds, other than Endowment, account for resources that may be used for current purposes, but with some limitations imposed by external or internal sources.

For accounting and reporting purposes, institutions combine the funds with similar characteristics into distinct fund groups. For the annual return, the fund groups are General operating, Special purpose and trust, Sponsored research, Ancillary, Capital, and  Endowment.

Preparers should note the following:

  • restricted funds include both external and internal restrictions,
  • income and expenditure within Sponsored research is separately reported for entities consolidated and entities not consolidated (see Section II.E.1),
  • interfund transfers should be minimized by reporting income and the corresponding expenditure in the same fund (see Section II.E.9),
  • differences resulting from compliance with the uniform reporting practices in these Guidelines (see Section II.E) and the principles followed in the institution's financial statements will be reconciling items in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4).

General operating is an unrestricted fund that accounts for the institution's primary operating activities of instruction and research, other than sponsored research. The general operating fund includes the costs of privately funded and non-credit programs.

Fund income includes provincial government grants (including research other than sponsored research), student tuition and other fees (for credit and non-credit courses), and income from private and other unrestricted sources. Fund income also includes investment income, if the corresponding expenditures are reported in the General operating fund.

Fund expenditures are for the general operating costs of the institution including instruction and research (other than sponsored research), academic support services, library, student services, administrative services, plant maintenance, external relations and other operating expenditures of the institution. Fund expenditures also include the purchase of capital assets, if the corresponding income is reported in the General operating fund.

Special purpose and trust is a restricted fund. The funds, including donations, may be restricted by external sources, or internally restricted by the institution's governing body, for purposes other than sponsored research (Sponsored research fund), or capital (Capital fund). Income is to be reported following the funds flow approach (see Section II.E.4).

Fund income includes designated gifts, benefactions and grants. Fund income also includes investment income, if the corresponding expenditures are reported in the Special purpose and trust fund.

Fund expenditures include the purchase of capital assets, if the corresponding income is reported in the Special purpose and trust fund.

Sponsored research is a restricted fund that accounts for income and expenditures for all sponsored research. Amounts are separately reported for entities consolidated and entities not consolidated (see Section II.E.1). Income is to be reported following the funds flow approach (see Section II.E.4).

Fund income includes funds to support research paid either in the form of a grant or by means of a contract from a source external to the institution. Income sources include government, private industry and donors. The federal grant allocation for Indirect Costs of Research would be included here. The corresponding expenditures should be reported as an internal cost recovery between the Operating and Sponsored Research Funds, similar to the treatment of overheads. Fund income also includes investment income, if the corresponding expenditures are reported in the Sponsored research fund.

Fund expenditures include activity funded from Sponsored research income and exclude activity funded from the General operating fund. Fund expenditures include the purchase of capital assets, if the corresponding income is reported in the Sponsored research fund. Fund expenditures also include internal cost recoveries (see Section II.E.8).

Funds from Canada Foundation for Innovation, along with applicable matching funds, are to be reported as Sponsored research income. The corresponding expenditures, including the purchase of capital assets, are to be reported as Sponsored research expenditures.

Funding related to Canada Research Chairs are to be reported as Sponsored Research income. The corresponding expenditures, including the purchase of capital assets, are to be reported as Sponsored Research expenditures.

Within the Sponsored research fund, the first column in the applicable Tables is used to report income and expenditures for entities consolidated, and the second column, for entities not consolidated. Both columns combined represent the total Sponsored research reported by the institution. For the first column, "Entities Consolidated", reported amounts are based on the financial data of entities included in the consolidated financial statements of the institution.

For the second column, "Entities not Consolidated", institutions are permitted to separately report sponsored research, including hospital based medical research funding, that is granted to academic staff of the reporting institution, but conducted in entities that are not consolidated. Reporting of the sponsored research is permitted if all the following four conditions are met:

  • the entity not consolidated must be an affiliated institution as established by an affiliation agreement with the reporting institution. The term affiliated institution refers to all federated, affiliated and associated entities (see Section III.C.6).
  • academic staff from the reporting institution lead the sponsored research project and conduct the research at the non-consolidated affiliated institution,
  • the financial data (income and expenditure) for the sponsored research are reported in the financial statements of the non-consolidated affiliated institution, and
  • the sponsored research would be reported in the Sponsored research fund had the research been conducted at the reporting institution, rather than at the affiliated institution.

In addition, for "Entities not Consolidated", the amounts reported as income (Table 1, line 27, column 4) must equal the amounts reported as expenditures (Table 2, line 24, column 4).

To provide financial data that is consistent and comparable, the income and expenditure items for sponsored research for entities not consolidated are to be reported in accordance with these Guidelines. Although this financial data has not been subject to audit by the reporting institution, there is an expectation that the data has adequately documented support.

Institutions that report sponsored research for such entities are required to

  • acknowledge and represent in the Transmittal Letter that the four conditions above have been met, and
  • complete Part II of Table 5 identifying each entity and the amounts reported in the annual return (see Section III.C.6).

Ancillary is an unrestricted fund that separately accounts for all "sales-producing" operations or "self-supporting" activities that are supplementary to the institution's primary operating activities of instruction and research. Ancillary services exist to provide goods and services to students, faculty, staff, and others. Ancillary services charge a fee directly related to, although not necessarily equal to, the cost of the goods or services.

Ancillary services typically include bookstores, food services (dining hall, cafeterias, vending machines), residences and housing, parking, university press, publishing, laundry services, property rentals, university facility rentals, theaters, and conference centers.

All sales, external and internal, from ancillary services are reported as income (see Section II.E.8).

To report expenditures, full costing of ancillary services is required (see Section II.E.13). The preferred method of reporting internal cost recoveries or cost allocations is direct allocation, but where direct allocation is not possible or feasible, the internal cost recoveries can be reported under a separate expenditure line item (see Section II.E.8). Any capital items purchased directly from Ancillary income are to be reported in the Ancillary fund on the appropriate expenditure line.

Capital is a restricted fund that accounts for resources provided to the institution for capital purposes and not reported in any other fund. Income and expenditures are to be reported following the funds flow approach for capital assets (see Section II.E.6).

Fund income includes grants and related investment income, donations, and other resources made available to the institution by external funding sources, such as government and donors, specifically for capital purposes.

Fund expenditures include building programs, acquisitions of major equipment and furniture, major renovations and alterations, space rental and buildings, land and land improvements.

Because capital expenditures are to be reported in the same fund as the corresponding income, not all capital expenditures will be reported in the Capital fund. For example, funds from Canada Foundation for Innovation, along with applicable matching funds, are to be reported as Sponsored research income. The corresponding expenditures, including the purchase of capital assets, are to be reported as Sponsored research expenditures.

Endowment is a restricted fund that accounts for the capitalization of externally or internally restricted amounts, primarily donations, which cannot be spent.

Investment income generated by endowments may be used for various purposes, with these purposes often restricted by donors. Investment income should be reported in the same fund as the corresponding expenditures. Expenditures, excluding those incurred to earn investment income, are to be reported in an appropriate fund other than the Endowment fund.

Expenditures incurred to earn investment income are to be reported "net" of the investment income. Investment income that is used to preserve the capital value of the Endowment fund is reported as income in the Endowment fund.

2. Income by Fund (Table 1)

The funds described in Section III.C.1 are reported in columns 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Table 1, with the total of the funds reported in column 9. Column 5 reports the sub-total for the Sponsored research fund. Within Sponsored research, column 3 reports "Entities Consolidated" and column 4 reports "Entities not Consolidated".

The types of income to be reported in Table 1 are identified on the left-hand side of the Table. If there is uncertainty as to which line to use to report a type of income, report the income on the line best describing the activity. For example, government funds to pay tuition fees for participants in a non-credit program should be reported on line 13 (Non-credit tuition), rather than under government grants and contracts. Furthermore, where the designation of a particular type of income in this Table differs from that used by an institution in its financial statements or its internal management reports, the type of income must be shown per the Guideline instructions regardless of the institution's practice.

As a general reporting practice, institutions follow the accrual, rather than the cash basis of accounting (see Section II.E.3). For reporting income, exceptions to the accrual concept in the annual return include the funds flow approach for reporting funds received to acquire capital assets (see Section II.E.6) and for reporting income in the Special purpose and trust, and Sponsored research funds (see Section II.E.4).

Income includes gifts-in-kind that are recorded in an institution's audited financial statements (see Section II.E.10).

Borrowings will not be reported as income (see Section II.E.12). Any such amounts, however, will be separately reported on the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4 – line 6).

The six major categories of income are –

  • government departments and agencies – grants and contracts,
  • tuition and other fees,
  • donations, including bequests
  • non-government grants and contracts,
  • investment, and
  • other (including sale of services and products, and miscellaneous).

(i)  Government departments and agencies – grants and contracts

Lines 1 to 11 include grants from, and contracts with, federal government departments and agencies, provincial government departments and agencies, and municipal governments. Grants and contracts from other provincial governments and from foreign governments are also reported in this category.

Government grants provide financial support to institutions and the grants may or may not be restricted.

Government contracts provide financial support to institutions under certain stipulations and conditions, including the provision of a deliverable product, such as a piece of equipment, a service, or a report. A contract normally includes provisions for institutions to recover certain indirect or overhead costs, with the contract specifying or documenting the basis for the calculation of the recoverable costs.

To avoid double counting of government grants and contracts, income must only be reported once. In other words, where an institution receives funds and subsequently disburses or transfers all or part of the funds to one or more related or affiliated entities that are included in the annual return, the transfers must be eliminated (see Section II.E.15).

Furthermore, and again to avoid double counting, where a reporting institution receives funds and subsequently disburses or transfers all or part of the funds to other reporting institutions of CAUBO, the funds received should be reported "net" of the funds disbursed or transferred (see Section II.E.15).

Federal

Lines 1 to 7 include all research grants, research contracts, grants and contributions from the Government of Canada and its departments and agencies, including the federal portion of capital and other grants that flow through a provincial government. Income received from the six major federal government agencies is reported on lines 1 to 6, as applicable.

The line items under "federal" are as follows:

Line 1 Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

Line 2 Health Canada

  • Income from Health Canada not reported under line 4 – Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) – should be reported in this line.

Line 3 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)

Line 4 Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Line 5 Canada Foundation for Innovation ( CFI )

  • CFI income is reported under the Sponsored Research fund.

Line 6 Canada Research Chairs

  • Funding for Canada Research Chairs is reported under the Sponsored Research Fund.

Line 7 Other federal (see Table 6)

  • Income from all other federal government departments and agencies is reported on this line with the details provided in Table 6 (see Section III.C.7). This would include grant allocations for the Indirect Costs of Research. A separate line is provided in Table 6 for Indirect Costs of Research.

Other

Lines 8 to 11 include all grants from, and contracts with, the province and its departments and agencies, municipal governments, other provinces, and foreign governments.

The line items under "other" are as follows:

Line 8 Provincial (see Table 7)

  • Income from provincial government departments and agencies, including provincial CFI matching grants, is reported on this line with the details provided in Table 7 (see Section III.C.8).
  • Provincial CFI matching income from the Ministry responsible for the institution is reported under the Sponsored research fund.

Line 9 Municipal

  • Examples of income to be reported on this line include grants from urban transit, communication and parking authorities.

Line 10 Other provinces

  • This line includes grants from, and contracts with, provinces other than the province with jurisdiction.

Line 11 Foreign

  • Examples of income to be reported on this line include grants from the National Endowment for Humanities, National Institutes of Health, and the National Science Foundation.

(ii) Tuition and other fees

The types of revenue (Lines 12 to 14) include credit course tuition, non-credit tuition and other fees.

Line 12 Credit course tuition

  • Credit courses are courses of instruction or programmed learning that are offered within a degree program; or, that may be granted status equivalent to a credit course within a degree program.
  • Credit courses are offered during the fall and winter sessions of a semester type operation, all three terms of a trimester operation and the year round operation of graduate schools and include intersession, spring session and summer session credit courses and credit extension.
  • Credit course tuition includes tuition and other mandatory fees related to the instruction of the courses, such as computer and laboratory fees.
  • Credit course tuition also includes fees for "make-up" or special courses that are related to the credit offerings of the institution, and fees for auditing in credit courses.
  • Credit course tuition should be reported on this line whether the cost of the credit course is subsidized or fully recoverable.

Line 13 Non-credit tuition

  • Non-credit programs are courses of instruction or programmed learning that are not credit courses (see line 12).
  • Non-credit tuition includes fees for lectures, courses and similar activities that are not recognized by the institution for the purpose of granting credit. Non-credit programs are usually offered through continuing education units.
  • Government funds to pay tuition for participants in a non-credit program should be reported as non-credit tuition, rather than as government grants and contracts.

Line 14 Other fees

  • Other fees include all compulsory and non-compulsory fees charged to students such as health services, athletics, library, applications, late registrations, lockers and transcripts. These fees would be reported under the General operating fund.
  • Other fees exclude fees collected by the institution acting in an agency capacity. An example would be student fees collected on behalf of student controlled and administered activities such as student councils or federations.

(iii) Donations, including bequests

Donations are a voluntary transfer of cash or negotiable instruments made without expectation of return or benefits of any kind to the donor. Bequests flow from wills. Donations, including bequests, are considered to be gifts for tax purposes. Amounts received that are eligible to be receipted as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes are to be reported on lines 15 to 17, as applicable.

Lines 15 to 17 categorize "donations, including bequests" by individuals, business enterprises, foundations and not-for-profit organizations.

In addition, donations designated for specific purposes and donations that cannot be spent are reported in the Endowment fund (see Section III.C.1 – Endowment). Donations also include gifts-in-kind that are recorded in an institution's audited financial statements (see Section II.E.10).

With the exception of circumstances outlined in the preceding paragraph, donations are to be reported in the same fund as the corresponding expenditures (see Section II.E.9).

Line 15 Individuals

  • This line includes families.

Line 16 Business enterprises

  • Business enterprises include unincorporated businesses as well as privately or publicly incorporated companies that are operated for profit and derive revenue mainly from the sale of goods and services. The common forms of unincorporated businesses are sole proprietorships and partnerships, and examples include farmers and professional practitioners.

Line 17 Not-for-profit organizations

This includes foundations and other not-for-profit organizations.

  • A foundation is an entity that can either be a corporation or a trust constituted and operated exclusively for charitable purposes. Funds contributed to an institution by a non-consolidated charitable foundation would be reported here.
  • Not-for-profit organizations include associations or societies, and examples include religious organizations, labour unions, professional organizations and fraternal societies.

(iv) Non-government grants and contracts

Non-government grants and contracts provide financial support under certain specific stipulations and conditions, including the provision of a deliverable product, such as a piece of equipment, a service, or a report. The amounts received by an institution are not considered as charitable donations for tax purposes and therefore are ineligible to be receipted as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

Lines 18 to 20 categorize "non-government grants and contracts" by individuals, business enterprises, foundations and not-for-profit organizations.

Line 18 Individuals

  • This line includes families.

Line 19 Business enterprises

  • Business enterprises include unincorporated businesses as well as privately or publicly incorporated companies that are operated for profit and derive revenue mainly from the sale of goods and services. The common forms of unincorporated businesses are sole proprietorships and partnerships, and examples include farmers and professional practitioners.

Line 20 Not-for-profit organizations

This includes foundations and other not-for-profit organizations.

  • A foundation is an entity that can either be a corporation or a trust constituted and operated exclusively for charitable purposes.
  • Not-for-profit organizations include associations or societies, and examples include religious organizations, labour unions, professional organizations and fraternal societies.

(v) Investment income

Investment income includes income from dividends, bonds, mortgages, short-term notes and bank interest. Bond interest would include an accrual for stripped bonds (see Section II.E.3). Investment income also includes realized and unrealized gains and losses on investment transactions, if the gains and losses are reported in the audited financial statements, regardless of how investments have been designated by the institution (held for trading or not).

Investment income excludes income from a non-consolidated charitable foundation. Income from a non-consolidated charitable foundation should be reported on line 17 (Not-for-profit organizations).

Included in this section are endowment and other investment income (Lines 21 and 22).

Line 21 Endowment

  • Investment income earned on endowment funds is reported on this line under the same fund as the corresponding expenditures.
  • Investment income earned on endowment funds and used to preserve the capital value of the Endowment fund is reported on this line under the Endowment fund.
  • Expenditures incurred to earn investment income, such as the cost of an investment manager(s) to manage the endowment funds, are to be reported "net" of the investment income.

Line 22 Other investment

  • Investment income earned on all funds other than endowment funds is reported on this line under the same fund as the corresponding expenditures.
  • Other investment income also includes charges for deferred or installment payments and for unpaid student tuition and other fees.
  • Any significant non-recurring items should be explained by way of accompanying notes or in the observations and comments section at the bottom of Table 1.

(vi) Other

  • Other income (Lines 23 and 24) includes sale of services and products, and miscellaneous.

Line 23 Sale of services and products

  • This line includes external sales and external cost recoveries (see Section II.E.8).
  • External sales and external cost recoveries include sales to outside organizations, such as those for laboratory tests, space rental, utilities and incidental income (including athletic gate receipts, parking fees, conferences and various medical clinics).
  • This line also includes rental income from residences and parking.
  • Payments received from non-consolidated federated or affiliated entities for the provision of instructional, administrative or other services are reported as sale of services and products.
  • For ancillary services (see Section III.C.1 – Ancillary), this line includes both external and internal sales (see Section II.E.8).
  • Internal sales, other than those originating from ancillary services, and internal cost recoveries are not reported as income.

Line 24 Miscellaneous

  • Miscellaneous income includes commissions, royalties and fees from the use of institution owned rights or properties, or fees for services rendered. Miscellaneous also includes library and other similar fines, rentals, net gain or loss on sale of fixed assets and any type of income not identified in the other categories of income.
  • Payments received from non-consolidated federated or affiliated entities for the provision of instructional, administrative or other services are reported as sale of services and products (line 23).

3. Expenditures by Fund (Table 2)

The funds described in Section III.C.1 are reported in columns 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Table 2, with the total of the funds reported in column 9. Column 5 reports the sub-total for the Sponsored research fund. Within Sponsored research, column 3 reports "Entities Consolidated" and column 4 reports "Entities not Consolidated".

The types of expenditures to be reported in Table 2 are identified on the left-hand side of the Table. Where the designation of a particular expenditure in this Table differs from that used by an institution in its financial statements or its internal management reports, the expenditure must be shown under the designated Table heading regardless of the institution's practice.

As a general reporting practice, institutions follow the accrual, rather than the cash basis of accounting (see Section II.E.3). For reporting expenditures, exceptions to the accrual concept in the annual return include the funds flow approach for reporting funds used to acquire capital assets (see Section II.E.6) and the cash basis for reporting vacation pay, pension costs and future benefits (see Section II.E.7).

Expenditures include gifts-in-kind that are recorded in an institution's audited financial statements (see Section II.E.10).

The repayment of principal will not be reported as an expenditure (see Section II.E.12). Any such amounts, however, will be separately reported in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4 – line 7).

Lines 1 to 20 report expenditures that are generally recurring, with a sub-total for lines 1 to 20 reported on line 21. Lines 22 and 23 report significant periodic expenditures such as those for buildings, land and land improvements (line 22) and unusual or non-recurring expenditures, referred to as lump sum payments (line 23), such as those for special assisted early retirement programs. The total of all expenditures is reported on line 24.

The types of expenditures to be reported in Table 2, by line, are as follows:

Salaries and wages

Salaries and wages are categorized as academic salaries (lines 1 and 2) and other salaries and wages (line 3). Academic salaries are reported by academic ranks (line 1) and by other instruction and research (line 2).

The following types of payments are to be reported as salary and wage expenditures:

  • compensation payments, such as payments for salary continuance during sick leave or maternity leave,
  • severance payments as a result of terminations in the normal course of business, and
  • vacation pay (see Section II.E.7).

Certain lump sum payments for current and future fiscal periods to employees who have terminated employment with the institution are reported on an accrual basis as lump sum payments (line 23).

With the exception of vacation pay, the amounts to be reported as salaries and wages in the annual return are to be calculated following the same practices as those used by the institution for its audited financial statements.

Academic salaries

Academic salaries are reported by academic ranks and by other instruction and research.

Line 1 Academic ranks

  • This line includes payments to both full and part time staff members who hold an academic rank at the reporting institution and are engaged in instruction and research activities.
  • The academic ranks include deans, professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers.
  • Academic salaries also include payments to staff members in the academic ranks for various types of leave such as administrative, academic or sabbatical.

Line 2 Other instruction and research

  • This line includes payments to both full and part time staff and non-staff members without academic rank at the reporting institution, but who are engaged in instruction and research activities.
  • The staff and non-staff members include instructors, tutors, markers, laboratory demonstrators, teaching assistants, research assistants, invigilators, clinical assistants, post-doctoral fellows, and others.
  • Other instruction and research salaries also include payments made to graduate and undergraduate students undertaking instruction and research activities.

Line 3 Other salaries and wages

  • This line includes salaries and wages not reported on lines 1 and 2. Specifically, other salaries and wages includes payments to all full and part time non-instructional (support) staff including among others, technicians, teaching and research laboratory technicians, clerical and secretarial, professional and managerial, janitorial, trades and maintenance.
  • Other salaries and wages also includes payments to individuals who may hold an academic rank, or equivalent thereto, but are engaged in activities other than instruction and research. Examples of such individuals include the president, vice-presidents, certain professional librarians and computing center personnel.

Line 4 Benefits

  • Pension costs and future benefits, including benefits arising as a result of early retirement, are to be reported on the cash basis (see Section II.E.7). Otherwise, the amounts to be reported as benefits in the annual return are to be calculated following the same practices as those used by the institution for its audited financial statements.
  • Benefits include the cost of an institution's contributions (with respect to salaries) for pensions (including payments for actuarial deficiencies and past service liability), group life insurance, salary continuance insurance, dental plans, workers' compensation, health taxes, tuition remission, employment insurance and other costs of an employee benefit programs.
  • Benefits also include the cost of benefits paid during early retirement periods, as well as the cost of post retirement benefits.
  • Whenever an institution pays a premium or sets aside a negotiated amount for an employee, these amounts should be included as Benefits.
  • Memberships or other perquisites of employment are not reported as Benefits.

Line 5 Travel

  • Travel includes expenditures on recruitment, travel, moving and relocation of staff, field trips and all other types of travel necessary for the operation of the institution.

Line 6 Library acquisitions

  • Library acquisitions include all purchases of, and access to (including electronic access), books, periodicals and other reference materials for the institution's main branch and faculty or departmental libraries.
  • Cost of binding may also be included if normally considered part of the acquisition cost.

Line 7 Printing and duplicating

  • This line includes expenditures that would normally be consumed in the fiscal year such as printing, duplicating, photocopying, reproductions, illustrations, publishing and the related supplies.

Line 8 Materials and supplies

  • Materials and supplies include expenditures that would normally be consumed in the fiscal year such as sports supplies, stationery, computer and other office supplies.
  • Also included are material and supplies for teaching and laboratories. Laboratory supplies include chemicals, instruments, animals, feed and seed.
  • Small dollar value equipment and computer software items should be reported under furniture and equipment purchase (line 18).

Line 9 Communications

  • Communications includes telephone, data communications, mailing and courier, but excludes expenditures reported as equipment rental and maintenance (line 19).
  • Telephone includes watts lines, line services, long distance and other charges.

Line 10 Other operational expenditures

  • This line includes space rental, property taxes, institutional membership fees, insurance, meals, advertising and promotion, and doubtful accounts.
  • Space rental includes the cost of renting space and land on a long-term basis.
  • Property taxes include all taxes paid directly to municipalities by the institution, whether assessed on property values or based on student population.
  • Institutional membership fees include fees paid by the institution to organizations such as AUCC and CAUBO.
  • This line includes all other expenditures that are not reported elsewhere.

Line 11 Utilities

  • Utilities include expenditures for items such as electricity, water, natural gas, fuel and sewer.
  • Utilities also include the generating costs for electricity, steam, water, and natural gas.

Line 12 Renovations and alterations

  • This line includes expenditures for renovations and alterations to the existing space of the institution, whether the expenditures are internally performed or external contracted.

Line 13 Scholarships, bursaries and prizes

  • This line includes payments to students (except those for which the student is required to perform service for the payment) such as those for fee remission, prizes and awards.
  • Payments for which the student is required to perform service for the payment are reported as other instruction and research (line 2), and include payments to graduate and undergraduate students who are instructors, tutors, markers, laboratory demonstrators, teaching assistants, research assistants, invigilators, clinical assistants, postdoctoral fellows, and others.

Line 14 Externally contracted services

  • This line includes all expenditures for services contracted to external agencies except for renovations and alterations (line 12), professional fees (line 15), equipment rental and maintenance (line 19), and buildings, land and land improvements (line 22).
  • Examples of expenditures to be included are cleaning contracts, security services, snow removal and similar time and material contracts, and food services.
  • Where food services are contracted, the contract amount in total should be shown on this line and not as cost of goods sold (line 16) or any other expenditure types, even though the contractor may provide a breakdown of costs.

Line 15 Professional fees

  • Professional fees include all fees paid to legal counselors (including retainers for the negotiations of collective agreements), auditors, and computer, human resource and other consultants.
  • This line excludes consulting fees for renovations and alterations (line 12), equipment rental and maintenance (line 19), and buildings, land and land improvements (line 22).

Line 16 Cost of goods sold

  • Cost of goods sold is to be used where an inventory method of accounting is normally employed, (e.g. bookstore, food services) and should include the laid down cost of goods purchased for resale only. The remaining costs of operating the service, such as salaries and supplies, are to be shown in their respective expenditure types.
  • Where a service is externally contracted, particularly for ancillary services, the total costs of the contract should be included in externally contracted services (line 14). For example, contracted food services are to be reported on line 14, under the Ancillary fund.
  • The cost of goods sold is to be reported under the same fund as the income from the sale of the product (see Section III.C.2 – line 25).

Line 17 Interest

  • This line includes all interest expenditures to service debts of the institution. Examples include bank interest, mortgage or debenture interest and related charges, and the interest component of installment or lease payments.
  • Repayments of principal such as principal reductions on loans, mortgages, debentures or repayable grants are not reported as expenditures (see Section II.E.12).

Line 18 Furniture and equipment purchase

  • This line includes laboratory equipment (other than consumables), computing equipment and computer software packages, administrative equipment and furnishings (including carpets and drapery), copying and duplicating equipment, and maintenance equipment. Installation expenditures for the above items are to be included as part of their cost.
  • This line also includes installment payments and payments under lease purchase contracts, where the lease is a capital lease for accounting purposes. The interest component of any such payments should be reported on line 17.
  • This line includes small dollar equipment and computer software items that would normally be expensed in the accounting records of the institution.
  • Furniture and equipment purchases are reported under the same fund as the corresponding income (see Section II.E.6). For example, purchases made from CFI grants are reported under Sponsored research (see Section III.C.1 – Sponsored research). Purchases made or to be made from current or future ancillary services income are to be reported under Ancillary (see Section III.C.1 – Ancillary).
  • Amortization is not reported as an expenditure, but is included as a reconciling item in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4 – line 10).
  • Provisions for the replacement of furniture and equipment are considered to be transfers to appropriation or reserve accounts; consequently, such provisions are not to be reported as expenditures (see Section II.E.11).

Line 19 Equipment rental and maintenance

  • This line includes all rental and maintenance expenditures for furniture and equipment including laboratory equipment (other than consumables), administrative equipment and furnishings (including carpets and drapery), copying and duplicating equipment, computing equipment, maintenance equipment and telephone equipment.
  • This line also includes lease purchase contracts, where the lease is an operating lease for accounting purposes.
  • This line also includes expenditures for equipment repairs and maintenance contracted to external agencies.

Line 20 Internal sales and cost recoveries

  • The preferred method of reporting internal sales, other than those originating from ancillary services, is to report the amounts at "net" (see Section II.E.8). The preferred method of reporting internal cost recoveries is direct allocation (see Section II.E.8). Where the preferred method is not possible or feasible, this expenditure type can be used, but when it is used, the internal sales and cost recoveries for all funds, when added together, must equal zero.
  • This line includes internal sales, other than those originating from ancillary services, and internal cost recoveries (see Section II.E.8).
  • Internal sales originating from ancillary services are to be reported as sale of services and product (see Section III.C.2 – line 25).
  • Common examples of internal cost recoveries include the overhead recovery of administrative costs and the indirect costs of research between the General Operating fund and the Ancillary and Sponsored research funds, and the overhead recovery of utility (unless the utility is an ancillary service) and maintenance costs between the General operating fund and the Ancillary fund.
  • To provide better functional comparisons of types of expenditures, institutions are asked to minimize the use of this line to the extent possible.

Line 21 Sub-total

  • This line is the sub-total of all expenditures reported on lines 1 to 20.

Line 22 Buildings, land and land improvements

  • Buildings include all expenditures that are normally considered part of the construction cost as well as costs incurred during the construction period such as utilities. Land and land improvements include acquisition costs and site preparation such as landscaping, sewers, tunnels and roads. All fees and planning costs related to buildings, land and land improvements are also included.
  • Furniture and equipment purchases are reported on line 18.
  • The expenditures for buildings, land and land improvements are reported under the same fund as the corresponding income (see Section II.E.6). For example, purchases made from CFI grants are reported under Sponsored research (see Section III.C.1 – Sponsored research). Purchases made or to be made from current or future ancillary services income are to be reported under Ancillary (see Section III.C.1 – Ancillary).
  • Amortization is not reported as an expenditure, but is included as a reconciling item in the Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (see Section III.C.4 – line 10).
  • Provisions for the replacement of buildings are considered to be transfers to appropriation or reserve accounts; consequently, such provisions are not to be reported as expenditures (see Section II.E.11).

Line 23 Lump sum payments

  • This line includes certain lump sum payments for current and future fiscal periods to employees who have terminated employment with the institution. The characteristics of the payments are such that similar transactions or events are not expected to occur frequently over several years, or do not typify normal business activities of the institution.
  • Lump sum payments are reported on an accrual basis.
  • Examples of lump sum payments include payments under downsizing or special assisted early retirement programs.
  • Severance payments as a result of terminations in the normal course of business are reported as salary and wage expenditures (lines 1 to 3).

4. Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund (Table 3)

The Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund identifies, for each fund in the annual return, the changes between the net asset balances at the beginning of the year and the net asset balances at the end of the year. The changes between the beginning and ending net asset balances are more than the difference between total income (Table 1, line 27) and total expenditures (Table 2, line 24). The changes also result from the addition and deduction of transactions that are neither income nor expenditures. These transactions are reported on lines 4 to 7 and include prior year adjustments, interfund transfers, borrowings, and the principal portion of debt repayments.

In addition, the statement identifies the uniform reporting practices that cause differences between the institution's annual return and its audited financial statements (see Section II.D). While the specific types of items causing the differences may vary among institutions, the number of such items is relatively few. These items are reported on lines 8 to 15. The uniform reporting practices that cause the differences include funds flow (see Section II.E.4), capital assets (see Section II.E.6), and vacation pay, pension costs and future benefits (see Section II.E.7).

The Statement of Changes in Net Assets by Fund, then, reconciles the net asset balances at the beginning of the year with the net asset balances at the end of the year. As more clearly indicated in the details for lines 16 to 21, both the beginning and ending net asset balances are based on information reported in the institution's audited financial statements.

The details of each line in the statement are as follows:

Line 1 Net asset balances, beginning of year

  • The net asset balances, by fund, at the beginning of the year must equal line 16 of the prior year's return.

Line 2 Income (Table 1, line 27)

  • This line must equal the total reported in Table 1 (Income by Fund), line 27.

Line 3 Expenditures (Table 2, line 24)

  • This line must equal the total reported in Table 2 (Expenditures by Fund), line 24.

Line 4 Prior year adjustments

  • This line should be used infrequently and generally only when the net asset balances reported in the audited financial statements at the end of the prior year have been subsequently adjusted.
  • An example of a prior year adjustment includes a retroactive change in accounting policies.

Line 5 Interfund transfers

  • Institutions have been encouraged to minimize interfund transfers in the annual return by reporting income and the corresponding expenditures under the same fund (see Section II.E.9). For example, capital expenditures are to be reported under the same fund as the corresponding income. Investment income earned on trust and endowment funds is to be reported under the same fund as the corresponding expenditures.
  • Where the amount of an interfund transfer is not material to an institution's reported financial data, the amount should be restated to an appropriate fund.
  • After following the above guidelines, any remaining interfund transfers would be reported on this line. An example would be the transfer of an operating surplus from the Ancillary fund to the General operating fund. Other examples include transfers approved by the institution's governing body.
  • The total in column 9 on line 5 must equal 0.

Line 6 Add: borrowings

  • This line reports debt borrowings (see Section II.E.12).

Line 7 Deduct: principal portion of debt repayments

  • This line reports repayment of principal (see Section II.E.12).
  • Repayments of principal include principal reductions on loans, mortgages, debentures or repayable grants.
  • Interest to service debts of the institution is reported as an expenditure (see Section III.C.3 – line 17).

Line 8 Interfund reallocations

  • Normally, the criteria for placement of a particular income or expenditure item within a fund in the annual return is the same as that used by an institution in its financial statements or internal management reports. However, where the Guidelines specifically designate the placement of an item, the item must be shown under the designated heading regardless of the institution's practice. Consequently, items may be classified under one fund for the purposes of an institution's annual return, but a different fund in its audited financial statements or internal management reports (see Section III.A).
  • In addition, institutions have been encouraged to minimize interfund transfers in the annual return by reporting income and the corresponding expenditures under the same fund (see Section II.E.9). For example, capital expenditures are to be reported under the same fund as the corresponding income. Investment income earned on trust and endowment funds is to be reported under the same fund as the corresponding expenditures. To the extent interfund transfers have been minimized, items may be classified under one fund for the purposes of the institution's annual return, but a different fund in its audited financial statements.
  • Differences in ending net asset balances, by fund, between the annual return and audited financial statements resulting from the above guidelines, can be adjusted on line 8. Column 9, the total for all interfund reallocations reported on line 8, must equal 0.

Line 9 Add: capital expenditures

  • Funds used to acquire capital assets have been reported as expenditures in the annual return based on the funds flow approach (see Section II.E.6). This line reports the difference between capital asset expenditures as reported in the annual return and the same amounts that have been capitalized during the year in the audited financial statements.
  • This line also includes differences that result from installment payments and payments under lease purchase contracts where the lease is a capital lease for accounting purposes (see Section III.C.3 – line 18).
  • The differences that result from amortizing capital assets are reported on line 10.

Line 10 Deduct: amortization

  • Funds used to acquire capital assets have been capitalized in the audited financial statements and amortized on an annual basis (see Section II.E.6). This line reports the amortization expense that has been recorded in the audited financial statements.
  • The differences that result upon the acquisition of capital assets are reported on line 9.

Line 11 Add or deduct: deferred income

  • Certain restricted income not expended in the year is reported in the annual return following a funds flow approach (see Section II.E.4). This line reports the difference between amounts that have been reported as income in the annual return following a funds flow approach and the same amounts that have been reported as income in the audited financial statements following the deferral method.

Line 12 Add or deduct: pension costs and vacation pay accrual

  • Vacation pay and pension costs are reported in the annual return on a cash basis (see Section II.E.7). This line reports the difference between amounts that have been reported as expenditures in the annual return on a cash basis and the same amounts that have been reported as expenditures in the audited financial statements on an accrual basis.

Line 13 Add or deduct: future cost of employee benefits

  • Future cost of employee benefits are reported on this line and represent employee benefit costs not already reported in the annual return on a cash basis. An example would be the cost of future benefits on early retirement programs.

Line 14 Add or deduct: related or affiliated entities

  • In certain situations, the reporting institution may report financial data for a related or affiliated entity in its audited financial statements, but not report the same data in its annual return (see Section III.C.6 – Part I). In such situations, the change in the net asset balances of the related or affiliated entity between the beginning of the year and the end of the year should be reported on this line.

Line 15 Add or deduct: other

  • This line reports any other amounts such as the net book value of asset disposals where there are differences between the institution's annual return and its audited financial statements.
  • For amounts reported on this line, provide details in the "Observations and Comments" space at the bottom of the Table.

Line 16 Net asset balances, end of year

  • For a number of institutions, the audited financial statements may not specifically disclose net asset balances, by fund, in a format similar to the annual return. As a minimum, total net asset balances reported in column 9 should equal the total net assets reported in the institution's audited financial statements.
  • In certain situations, the reporting institution will report sponsored research in Column 4 that is attributable to the institution, but conducted through entities that are not consolidated. In such situations, the amount reported for column 4, on line 16, must equal 0 (see Section III.C.1 – Sponsored research).
  • The net asset balances, by fund, reported on this line, should equal the net asset balances, by fund, reported on line 21.
  • The net asset balances, by fund, reported on this line, should also equal the net asset balances, by fund, at the beginning of the next year; that is, line 16 of the current year's annual return must equal line 1 of next year's annual return.

Net asset balances are comprised of:

The net asset balances reported on lines 17, 18, 19 and 20 agree with certain net asset balances in the institutions audited financial statements.

Line 17 Unrestricted net assets

  • The net asset balance in column 9 should equal the accumulated surplus or deficit reported in the institution's audited financial statements.

Line 18 Investment in capital assets

  • Investment in capital assets represents the funds expended to acquire capital assets, less accumulated amounts amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related capital assets. The funds expended are reduced by amounts financed by long term debt and, where applicable, deferred capital contributions. These funds are not available for other purposes since they have been invested in capital assets.
  • The net asset balance in column 9 should equal the investment in capital assets reported in the institution's audited financial statements.

Line 19 Internally restricted net assets

  • An increase or transfer to appropriations should not be recorded as an expenditure, nor should a decrease or transfer from appropriations be recorded as income (see Section II.E.11).
  • The net asset balance in column 9 should equal the internally restricted appropriations, including internal endowments, reported in the institution's audited financial statements.

Line 20 Externally restricted net assets

  • The net asset balance in column 9 should equal the externally restricted funds, including external endowments, reported in the institution's audited financial statements.

Line 21 Net asset balances, end of year

  • The net asset balances, by fund, reported on this line, should equal the net asset balances, by fund, reported on line 16.

5. General Operating Expenditures by Function (Table 4)

Expenditures by Fund (see Section III.C.3) and this section of the Guidelines are very similar in that types of expenditures are identified on the left-hand side of both Tables. Table 2, however, is organized by fund, and Table 4 is organized by operational or functional areas, within the General operating fund, that represent the major areas of institutional activity. The functions are Instruction and non-sponsored research, Non-credit instruction, Library, Computing and communications, Administration and academic support, Student services, Physical plant and External relations. These functions are reported in columns 1 to 8, with the total of the functions reported in column 9. The amounts in Column 9 should be identical to the amounts in Table 2, Column 1 (General operating).

This section provides details to assist preparers to segregate, by function, the various activities and types of expenditures under the General operating fund. Unless otherwise indicated, the definitions, explanations and examples presented in Section III.C.3 for types of expenditures also apply to this section. In addition, as noted previously, where the designation of a particular expenditure in this Table differs from that used by an institution in its financial statements or its internal management reports, the expenditure must be shown under the designated Table heading regardless of the institution's practice. For example, health services and intramural and intercollegiate athletics are to be reported under the Student services function although they may be reported as ancillary services in the institution's financial statements or its internal management reports.

In reporting General operating fund expenditures by function, preparers should be familiar with the uniform reporting practices (see Section II.E). In particular, preparers should be familiar with the practices on internal and external cost recoveries (see Section II.E.8) and use of estimates (see Section II.E.14).

The functions in the General operating fund are as follows:

(i) Instruction and non-sponsored research

The Instruction and non-sponsored research function in the General operating fund includes all direct costs of faculties, academic departments (including salaries of academic deans and their offices), graduate school, summer school, credit extension, and other academic functions and expenditures attributable to this function.

(ii) Non-credit instruction

The Non-credit instruction function in the General operating fund includes lectures, courses and similar activities that are not recognized by the institution for the purpose of granting credit. Non-credit programs are usually offered through continuing education units. Normally where there is non-credit tuition income reported on line 13 under the General operating fund in Table 1, the corresponding expenditures (not necessarily equal to the income) will be reported under this function.

(iii) Library

The Library function in the General operating fund includes the institution's Archives and other activities related to the institution's main branch and faculty or departmental libraries. The expenditures include the salary and wage costs of providing the library services as well as the cost of books and periodicals.

(iv) Computing and communications

The Computing and communications function in the General operating fund includes only the activities of centralized computing and communication facilities.

A centralized computing facility refers to computer related activities and resources that have been organized under the management of a central administration. The computing facility is usually seen as an institutional resource that is available on an institution-wide basis and is the most effective way of providing certain services supportive of the institution's research and administrative activities. Such a facility usually results from factors including economies of scale, a large number of users who require a wide variety of services, and a high degree of technical expertise required in computer operations.

This function does not include the activities of local or decentralized stand-alone computer installations that are under the management of, and were established for the main purpose of providing services to, a single division or department. The expenditures for decentralized computing facilities are to be included under the related functions and funds, as appropriate.

A centralized communications facility includes the costs of telephone equipment rental, service, acquisition and switchboard, including related personnel and other costs. The expenditures for decentralized communications facilities are to be included in the related functions and funds, as appropriate.

If an institution employs a charge-out system for central computing time or communications equipment usage, expenditures should be combined and reported under this function.

Any sales to, or recoveries from, other functional areas or funds, or outside users, are considered to be either an internal or external cost recovery and are to be reported according to the uniform reporting practice for internal and external cost recoveries (see Section II.E.8).

(v) Administration and academic support

The Administration and academic support function in the general operating fund covers expenditures in the two broad areas of academic support and other support services. Other support services include administration. These areas are combined and reported in Table 4 under Administration and academic support.

The academic support area of the Administration and academic support function includes all activities provided by an institution in direct support of Instruction and non-sponsored research. This area includes the following types of activities:

  • the positions of vice-president academic and research (or their equivalents) and their offices
  • faculty and instructional support services
  • research administration (including grants and contracts administration)
  • registrar's and graduate students office (including calendars, admissions, student records and related reporting)
  • convocation and ceremonies
  • co-op program administration
  • central animal services
  • central shops for instruction and research (machine shop, glass blowing, electronics shop)
  • distance education support
  • instructional technology and audio visual services
  • academic class scheduling

The administration area of the Administration and academic support function includes the following activities:

  • administration, planning and information costs and activities associated with the positions of president and vice-president (or their equivalents) and their offices, except for the positions of vice-president academic and research (or their equivalents) and their offices, which are included in the academic support area. Administrative costs for activities such as fundraising, development, alumni and external communications are included in the external relations area.
  • finance, including investment management, internal audit and accounting
  • human resources (personnel)
  • institutional research
  • board and senate secretariat
  • printing and duplicating services

Specific types of expenditures in the administration area include the following:

  • professional fees including legal, audit, human resource and other consulting fees that are not specifically attributable to another function. Computer consulting fees are included if the computing facilities are decentralized.
  • general university memberships including AUCC and CAUBO
  • liability and E & O insurance (fire, boiler and pressure vessel, and property insurance are reported under the Physical plant function).

The appropriate reporting for computing, communications, purchasing, receiving and stores will depend upon whether the institution operates with centralized or decentralized facilities. If the institution has centralized facilities for computing and communications, the activities should be reported under the Computing and communications function. If the institution has centralized facilities for purchasing, receiving and stores, the activities should be included in the administration area of the Administration and academic support function. If any of computing, communications, purchasing, receiving or stores is decentralized, then these activities should be included under the related functions and funds, as appropriate.

(vi) Student services

The Student services function in the General operating fund includes the cost of services (other than direct teaching, research and administrative services) provided to students by the institution. Generally, these services will include:

  • the dean of students and the dean's office
  • counseling and chaplaincy services
  • career guidance and placement services
  • intramural and intercollegiate athletics (not physical education)
  • student health services
  • student accommodation services (not residences)
  • student transportation services
  • student financial aid administration
  • bursaries, scholarships and prizes
  • grants to student organizations, including the student union
  • student programs, including music, drama and student center
  • student day care center
  • any other student services, social or cultural activities funded by the institution

These services may be provided from General operating fund income in whole, or in part by a specific fee included in the student incidental fee structure. Where an institution acts in an agency capacity, however, and collects student fees on behalf of student controlled and administered activities such as student councils or federations, the fees collected by the institution are to be excluded from income of the institution. The amount turned over to the benefit of the student council or federation is to be excluded from expenditures of the institution.

(vii) Physical plant

The Physical plant function in the General operating fund includes expenditures related to the physical facilities of the institution. The expenditures include the physical plant office, space planning, maintenance of buildings and grounds, custodial services, utilities, vehicle operations, security and traffic, repairs and furnishings, renovations and alterations, mail delivery services, long-term space and property rental, and municipal taxes (including those for which compensatory grants are received from government).

Physical plant also includes fire, boiler and pressure vessel, and property insurance. All other insurance is reported in the administration area of the Administration and academic support function.

(viii) External relations

The external relations area includes all activities provided by an institution in support of ongoing external relations. These activities include fundraising, development, alumni, public relations and public information or external communications. The related administrative costs from the office of the vice-president(s), or equivalent, responsible for one or more of these activities should be included in this area.

6. Affiliation Report (Table 5)

For each reporting institution, there could be one or more separate legal entities that are related or affiliated to the reporting institution and for which financial data is included in the annual return (see Section II.E.1).

To allow users to better understand the contents of the annual return and its limitations, each reporting institution is required to identify and provide additional information in Table 5 for each such entity.

Depending upon an institution's circumstances, two parts of the affiliation report may be required. The first part is for entities consolidated in the institution's audited financial statements; the second is for entities not consolidated in the institution's audited financial statements, but for which some data is nevertheless included in the annual return.

(i) Part I: Separate Legal Entities Consolidated

Normally, an institution will report financial data in the annual return on the same basis as that used for its consolidated financial statements. This means that the financial data for a separate legal entity that is consolidated in the audited financial statements will be included in the annual return.

As an exception, there could be financial data for an affiliated entity that is included in the institution's consolidated financial statements, but not reported in the annual return. This exception could arise where an affiliated entity is also submitting an annual return as a member institution of CAUBO.

Information to be provided in the affiliation report for "entities consolidated" is based on the separate legal entities consolidated in the institution's financial statements and includes –

  • Legal name of affiliated institution
  • Category of affiliation – columns 1 to 7. Indicate the category of affiliation with an "x" in the appropriate column. For further information see the section below on Categories of Affiliation.
  • Basis of reporting – columns 8 and 9. Indicate with an "x" in the appropriate column whether the separate legal entity is included (I) in the annual return (the norm) or excluded (E) from the annual return (the exception).

(ii) Part II: Separate Legal Entities not Consolidated

Under certain conditions, institutions are permitted to report separately sponsored research that is granted to academic staff of the reporting institution, but conducted in entities that are not consolidated (see Section III.C.1 – Sponsored research). This sponsored research data must be reported under column 4 (Entities not Consolidated) in the applicable Tables in the annual return. Part II of the affiliation report requests additional information on this data.

For clarity, financial data for a Charitable Foundation is only included in the annual return if the Charitable Foundation is consolidated in the financial statements of the institution.

Separate legal "entities not consolidated" are individually identified on lines 11 to 18 in the affiliation report when the amount reported in the annual return is over $100,000. For the entities individually identified, information to be provided includes –

  • Legal name of affiliated institution
  • Category of affiliation – columns 1 to 7. Indicate the category of affiliation with an "x" in the appropriate column. For further information see the section below on Categories of Affiliation.
  • Amount included in annual return – column 10. The amount for the separate legal entity must be over $100,000.

All other separate legal entities with amounts under $100,000 are to combined and reported on line 19.

The total amount reported on line 20 in column 10 must agree with the amount reported in Table 1, line 27, column 4 and with the amount reported in Table 2, line 24, column 4.

(iii) Categories of Affiliation

For the purposes of the affiliation report in Table 5, a parent institution is defined as a university with federated, affiliated or associated institutions, research institutes or hospitals. In the Guidelines and the affiliation report, the term affiliates and affiliatedinstitutions are used to simplify the text and refer to all federated, affiliated and associated entities. For the same reason, the term institution may refer to universities, university-colleges, colleges, institutes and hospitals.

An affiliatedinstitution is responsible for its own administration but does not have the power to grant degrees. An associated institution is a public or private education, health, or research oriented, legal entity that is neither federated nor affiliated with the parent institution, yet has academic, research, or administrative ties to that parent institution. A federated institution is responsible for its own administration and has the power to grant degrees, but during the term of federation agreement it suspends some or all of its degree-granting powers.

Please note that in the cases of affiliated and federated institutions, the parent institution supervises instruction in the programs covered by the federation or affiliation agreement, and grants degrees to the students who successfully complete those programs.

7. Other Federal Government Departments and Agencies – Grants and Contracts (Table 6)

Table 6 reports grants and contracts by federal government departments and agencies, other than the grants and contracts reported on lines 1 to 6 in Table 1. In section A in Table 6, a separate line is provided for reporting the federal government allocation for the Indirect Costs of Research. The column totals in Table 6 must agree with the amounts reported on line 7 (Other federal) in Table 1.

In section B in Table 6, where the aggregate grants and contracts provided by a separate federal government department or agency is in excess of $100,000, identify the department or agency and report the amount, by fund.

On line C in Table 6, where the aggregate grants and contracts provided by a separate federal government department or agency is less than $100,000, combine the departments and agencies and report the total amount, by fund.

Please note that double counting of government grants and contracts is to be avoided and in certain situations grants or contracts received should be reported "net" of the funds disbursed or transferred (see Section II.E.15).

For additional information on the funds and on federal government grants and contracts, preparers should refer to Section III.C.1 (Funds) and Section III.C.2 (Income by Fund), with particular emphasis in Section III.C.2 on the details in the government departments and agencies – grants and contracts category.

8. Provincial Government Departments and Agencies – Grants and Contracts (Table 7)

Table 7 reports grants and contracts, including certain specific and earmarked provincial CFI matching grants, by provincial government departments and agencies. The column totals in Table 7 must agree with the amounts reported on line 8 in Table 1.

Grants and contracts from provincial government departments and agencies only include those from the province with jurisdiction. Grants and contracts from other provinces are reported on line 10 (Other provinces) in Table 1.

In section A (Ministry responsible) in Table 7, please report the following information on lines 1 and 2:

  • Line 1: identify the primary provincial government department or agency responsible for the institution and report, by fund, the total of the grants and contracts received from that department or agency, excluding the CFI matching funds reported on line 2. The types of grants might include funding formula operating grants.
  • Line 2: under column 3 or 4, as appropriate, for sponsored research, report the total of the specific grants received, if any, from the "Ministry responsible" that are earmarked as CFI matching funds.

In section B (Other) in Table 7, where the aggregate grants and contracts provided by a separate provincial government department or agency is in excess of $100,000, identify the department or agency and report the amount, by fund.

On line C in Table 7, where the aggregate grants and contracts provided by a separate provincial government department or agency is less than $100,000, combine the departments and agencies and report the total amount, by fund. These types of departments and agencies are primarily funded by the provincial government and include Councils, Grants Commissions, and commissions and boards that perform various functions delegated to them by public authorities.

Please note that double counting of government grants and contracts is to be avoided and in certain situations grants or contracts received should be reported "net" of the funds disbursed or transferred (see Section II.E.15).

For additional information on the funds and on provincial government grants and contracts, preparers should refer to Section III.C.1 (Funds) and Section III.C.2 (Income by Fund), with particular emphasis in Section III.C.2 on the details in the government departments and agencies – grants and contracts category.

 

Canadian Association of University Business Officers (CAUBO)

Financial Information of Universities – 2022/2023

General information

  • Name of University (or College)
  • Address of preparer
    • Street
    • City
    • Province
    • Postal Code
  • Fiscal year ending: Day Month Year
  • Name and title of preparer
  • Telephone
    • Area code
    • Number
    • Local
  • Fax
    • Area code
    • Number
  • E-mail address
  • Name of Senior Administrative Officer (if different from above)

Instructions

  1. Please read carefully the accompanying Guidelines.
  2. All amounts should be expressed in thousands of dollars ($'000).
  3. In the "Observations and Comments" section, please explain financial data that may not be comparable with the prior year.
  4. Please do not fill in shaded areas. All non-shaded cells should be completed.
    A nil entry should be indicated with a zero.
  5. Please complete and return the Transmittal Letter.

Reserved for Statistics Canada

  • Full-time equivalent
  • Report Status
  • Institution Code: cbeYYIII
  • Comments
Table 1
Income by fund
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Types of income Funds
General operating Special purpose and trust Sponsored research Ancillary Capital Endowment Total funds
Entities consolidated Entities not consolidated Sub-total
(thousands of dollars)
Government departments and agencies - grants and contracts  
Federal  
1. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council                  
2. Health Canada                  
3. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council                  
4. Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)                  
5. Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)                  
6. Canada Research Chairs                  
7. Other federal (see Table 6)                  
Other  
8. Provincial (see Table 7)                  
9. Municipal                  
10. Other provinces                  
11. Foreign                  
Tuition and other fees  
12. Credit course tuition                  
13. Non-credit tuition                  
14. Other fees                  
Donations, including bequests  
15. Individuals                  
16. Business enterprises                  
17. Not-for-profit organizations                  
Non-government grants and contracts  
18. Individuals                  
19. Business enterprises                  
20. Not-for-profit organizations                  
Investment  
21. Endowment                  
22. Other investment                  
Other  
23. Sale of services and products                  
24. Miscellaneous                  
25. TotalNote 1                  

  Observations and comments

  • Description (Fund and type of income)
  • Comments
Table 2
Expenditures by fund
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Types of expenditures Funds
General operating Special purpose and trust Sponsored research Ancillary Capital Endowment Total funds
Entities consolidated Entities not consolidated Sub-total
(thousands of dollars)
Academic salaries  
1. Academic ranks                  
2. Other instruction and research                  
3. Other salaries and wages                  
4. Benefits                  
5. Travel                  
6. Library acquisitions                  
7. Printing and duplicating                  
8. Materials and supplies                  
9. Communications                  
10. Other operational expenditures                  
11. Utilities                  
12. Renovations and alterations                  
13. Scholarships, bursaries and prizes                  
14. Externally contracted services                  
15. Professional fees                  
16. Cost of goods sold                  
17. Interest                  
18. Furniture and equipment purchase                  
19. Equipment rental and maintenance                  
20. Internal sales and cost recoveriesNote 1                  
21. Sub-total                  
22. Buildings, land and land improvements                  
23. Lump sum payments                  
24. TotalNote 2                  

Observations and comments

  • Description (Fund and type of expenditure)
  • Comments
Table 3
Statement of changes in net assets by fund
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Objects Funds
General operating Special purpose and trust Sponsored research Ancillary Capital Endowment Total funds
Entities consolidated Entities not consolidated Sub-total
(thousands of dollars)
1. Net asset balances, beginning of year                  
2. Income (Table 1, line Total)                  
3. Expenditures (Table 2, line Total)                  
4. Prior year adjustments                  
5. Interfund transfersNote 1                  
6. Add: borrowings                  
7. Deduct: principal portion of debt repayments                  
8. Interfund reallocationsNote 1                  
9. Add: capital expenditures                  
10. Deduct: amortization                  
11. Add or deduct: deferred income                  
12. Add or deduct: pension costs and vacation pay accrual                  
13. Add or deduct: future cost of employee benefits                  
14. Add or deduct: related or affilitated entities                  
15. Add or deduct: other (provide details in space below)                  
16. Net asset balances, end of yearNote 2                  
Net asset balances are comprised of:                  
17. Unrestricted net assets                  
18. Investment in capital assets                  
19. Internally restricted net assets                  
20. Externally restricted net assets                  
21. Net asset balances, end of yearNote 2                  

Observations and comments

  • Description (Fund and object)
  • Comments
Table 4
General operating expenditures by function
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Types of expenditures Functions
Instruction and non-sponsored research Non-credit instruction Library Computing and communications Administration and academic support Student services Physical plant External Relations Total functionsNote 1
(thousands of dollars)
Academic salaries  
1. Academic ranks                  
2. Other instruction and research                  
3. Other salaries and wages                  
4. Benefits                  
5. Travel                  
6. Library acquisitions                  
7. Printing and duplicating                  
8. Materials and supplies                  
9. Communications                  
10. Other operational expenditures                  
11. Utilities                  
12. Renovations and alterations                  
13. Scholarships, bursaries and prizes                  
14. Externally contracted services                  
15. Professional fees                  
16. Cost of goods sold                  
17. Interest                  
18. Furniture and equipment purchase                  
19. Equipment rental and maintenance                  
20. Internal sales and cost recoveries                  
21. Sub-total                  
22. Buildings, land and land improvements                  
23. Lump sum payments                  
24. Total                  

Observations and comments

  • Description (Function and type of expenditure)
  • Comments
Table 5
Affiliation report
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Code Legal Name of Affiliated Institution Category of Affiliation
Health Research Institute Other Research Institute Affiliated Hospital Other Affiliated Institution Associated Hospital Other Associated Institution Federated Institution Basis of Reporting Amount Included in Annual Return ($'000)
Included Excluded
For columns 1 to 9, indicate with an "x" in the appropriate column.  
Part I: Separate legal entities consolidated  
1                    
2                    
3                    
4                    
5                    
6                    
7                    
8                    
9                    
10                    
For columns 1 to 7, indicate with an "x" in the appropriate column.  
Part II: Separate legal entities not consolidated  
List each separate legal entity over $100,000  
11                    
12                    
13                    
14                    
15                    
16                    
17                    
18                    
19. Total of all other legal entities under $100,000                    
20. TotalNote 1                    

Observations and comments

  • Description (Function and type of expenditure)
  • Comments
Table 6
Other federal government departments and agencies – Grants and contracts
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Source of grant/contract Funds
General operating Special purpose and trust Sponsored research Ancillary Capital Endowment Total funds
Entities consolidated Entities not consolidated Sub-total
(thousands of dollars)
1. A. Indirect costs of research                  
B. Separately list each department and agency over $100,000:  
2                  
3                  
4                  
5                  
6                  
7                  
8                  
9                  
10                  
11                  
12                  
13                  
14                  
15                  
16                  
17                  
18                  
19                  
20                  
21                  
22                  
23                  
24                  
25. C. Total of all departments and agencies under $100,000                  
26. TotalNote 1                  

Observations and comments

  • Description
  • Comments
Table 7
Provincial government departments and agencies – Grants and contracts
Table summary
This is an empty data table used by respondents to provide data to Statistics Canada. This table contains no data.
Source of grant/contract Funds
General operating Special purpose and trust Sponsored research Ancillary Capital Endowment Total funds
Entities consolidated Entities not consolidated Sub-total
(thousands of dollars)
A. Ministry responsible (total grants and contracts):  
1                  
2. CFI matching funds                  
B. Other (list each department and agency over $100,000):  
3                  
4                  
5                  
6                  
7                  
8                  
9                  
10                  
11                  
12                  
13                  
14                  
15                  
16                  
17                  
18                  
19                  
20                  
21                  
22                  
23                  
24. C. Total of all departments and agencies under $100,000                  
25. TotalNote 1                  

Observations and comments

  • Description
  • Comments

Business or organization information

1. Which of the following categories best describes this business or organization?

  • Government agency
  • Private sector business
  • Non-profit organization
    • Who does this organization primarily serve?
      • Households or individuals
        e.g., child and youth services, community food services, food bank, women's shelter, community housing services, emergency relief services, religious organization, grant and giving services, social advocacy group, arts and recreation group
    • Businesses
      e.g., business association, chamber of commerce, condominium association, environmental support or protection services, group benefit carriers (pensions, health, medical)
  • Don't know

Business or organization information

2. In what year was this business or organization first established?

Please provide the year this business or organization first began operations.
Year business or organization was first established:
OR
Don't know

3. Over the last 12 months, which of the following international activities did this business or organization conduct?

Select all that apply.

  • Export or sell goods outside of Canada
    Include both intermediate and final goods.
  • Export or sell services outside of Canada
    Include services delivered virtually and in person.
    e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
  • Make investments outside of Canada
  • Sell goods to businesses or organizations in Canada who then resold them outside of Canada
  • Import or buy goods from outside of Canada
    Include both intermediate and final goods.
  • Import or buy services from outside of Canada
    Include services received virtually and in person.
    e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
  • Relocate any Business or organizational activities or employees from another country into Canada
    Exclude temporary foreign workers.
  • Relocate any Business or organizational activities or employees from Canada to another country
  • Engage in other international Business or organizational activities
    OR
  • None of the above

4. Over the next three months, how are each of the following expected to change for this business or organization?

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

  • Number of employees
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Vacant positions
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Sales of goods and services offered by this business or organization
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Selling price of goods and services offered by this business or organization
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Demand for goods and services offered by this business or organization
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Imports of goods or services
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Exports of goods or services
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Operating income
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Operating expenses
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Profitability
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Cash reserves
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Capital expenditures
    e.g., machinery, equipment
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Training expenditures
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Marketing and advertising budget
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Expenditures in research and development
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Decrease" is selected for "Capital expenditures" in Q4, go to Q5. Otherwise, go to Q6.

Capital expenditures

5. Compared with the last 12 months, what percentage does this business or organization expect capital expenditures to decrease by over the next 12 months?

Provide your best estimate.

  • 0% to 19%
  • 20% to 39%
  • 40% to 59%
  • 60% to 79%
  • 80% to 99%
  • 100%
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Increase" is selected for "Capital expenditures" in Q4, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q7.

6. Compared with the last 12 months, what percentage does this business or organization expect capital expenditures to increase by over the next 12 months?

Provide your best estimate.

  • 0% to 19%
  • 20% to 39%
  • 40% to 59%
  • 60% to 79%
  • 80% to 99%
  • 100%
  • More than 100%
    • By what percentage does this business or organization expect capital expenditures to be higher, compared with the last 12 months?
      Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
      Percentage by which capital expenditures are expected to be higher:
      OR
      Don't know
  • Don't know

Business or organization obstacles

7. Over the next three months, which of the following are expected to be obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

  • Shortage of labour force
  • Recruiting skilled employees
  • Retaining skilled employees
  • Shortage of space or equipment
  • Rising cost of inputs
    An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
    e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
  • Rising costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
  • Rising inflation
  • Rising interest rates and debt costs
    e.g., borrowing fees, interest payments
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
  • Maintaining inventory levels
  • Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
  • Fluctuations in consumer demand
  • Attracting new or returning customers
  • Cost of insurance
  • Transportation costs
  • Obtaining financing
  • Increasing competition
  • Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
  • Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
  • Other obstacle
    • Specify other obstacle:
  • OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If at least two obstacles are selected in Q7, go to Q8. Otherwise, go to Q9.
Display condition: Display in Q8 the obstacles selected in Q7.

8. Of the obstacles selected in the previous question, what obstacle is expected to be the most challenging over the next three months?

  • Shortage of labour force
  • Recruiting skilled employees
  • Retaining skilled employees
  • Shortage of space or equipment
  • Rising cost of inputs
    An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
    e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
  • Rising costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
  • Rising inflation
  • Rising interest rates and debt costs
    e.g., borrowing fees, interest payments
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
  • Maintaining inventory levels
  • Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
  • Fluctuations in consumer demand
  • Attracting new or returning customers
  • Cost of insurance
  • Transportation costs
  • Obtaining financing
  • Increasing competition 
  • Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
  • Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
  • Other obstacle

Flow condition: If "Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada", "Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad", or "Maintaining inventory levels" is selected in Q7, go to Q9. Otherwise, go to Q12.

Supply chain challenges

9. How long does this business or organization expect the following to continue to be an obstacle?

  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
    • Less than 3 months
    • 3 months to less than 6 months
    • 6 months to less than 12 months
    • 12 months or more
    • Don't know
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
    • Less than 3 months
    • 3 months to less than 6 months
    • 6 months to less than 12 months
    • 12 months or more
    • Don't know
  • Maintaining inventory levels
    • Less than 3 months
    • 3 months to less than 6 months
    • 6 months to less than 12 months
    • 12 months or more
    • Don't know

10. Over the last three months, how have supply chain challenges experienced by this business or organization changed?

Supply chain challenges include difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada or abroad and difficulty maintaining inventory levels.

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

  • Supply chain challenges have worsened
    • Which of the following factors have contributed to these challenges?
      Select all that apply.
      • Increased prices of inputs, products or supplies
      • Increased delays in deliveries of inputs, products or supplies
      • Supply shortages resulted in fewer inputs, products or supplies being available
      • Supply shortages resulted in no inputs, products or supplies available
      • Other factor
        • Specify other factor:
      • OR
      • Don't know
  • Supply chain challenges have remained about the same
  • Supply chain challenges have improved

11. Over the next three months, how does this business or organization expect supply chain challenges to change?

Supply chain challenges include difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada or abroad and difficulty maintaining inventory levels.

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

  • Supply chain challenges are expected to worsen
  • Supply chain challenges are expected to remain about the same
  • Supply chain challenges are expected to improve

Flow condition: If "Government agency" is selected in Q1, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q12.
Display condition: If "Non-profit organization" is selected in Q1, do not display "Transfer the business" or "Sell the business" in Q12.

Expectations for the next year

12. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to do any of the following?

Select all that apply.

  • Expand current location of this business or organization
  • Expand operations of this business or organization internationally
  • Expand operations of this business or organization into a new province or territory within Canada
  • Move operations of this business or organization to another province or territory within Canada entirely
  • Expand this business or organization to other locations within the same province or territory
  • Expand this business or organization without increasing physical space
    i.e., hiring more staff who will work remotely, or expanding online sales capacity
  • Restructure this business or organization
    Restructuring involves changing the financial, operational, legal or other structures of the business or organization to make it more efficient or more profitable.
  • Acquire other businesses, organizations or franchises
  • Invest in other businesses or organizations
  • Merge with other businesses or organizations
  • Reduce the physical space of this business or organization
  • Scale down operations of this business or organization to within a single province or territory within Canada
  • Transfer the business
  • Sell the business
    OR
  • Close the business or organization
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Labour mobility

13. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization employ individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence regulated within the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Include regulated occupations, professions, and skilled trades overseen by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.

e.g., doctors, engineers, welders, roofers, industrial mechanics, electricians

  • Yes
    • Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization hire or consider individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located?
      Exclude individuals in regulated occupations from outside of Canada.
      • Yes, this business or organization hired individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
      • Yes, this business or organization considered hiring individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located but did not hire any
      • No, this business or organization neither hired nor considered hiring individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
      • Don't know
  • No
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Yes, this business or organization hired individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located" or "Yes, this business or organization considered hiring individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located but did not hire any" is selected in Q13, go to Q14. Otherwise, go to Q18.

14. Over the last 12 months, which of the following obstacles did this business or organization experience when hiring or considering hiring individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence from outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Include regulated occupations, professions, and skilled trades overseen by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.
e.g., doctors, engineers, welders, roofers, industrial mechanics, electricians
Exclude individuals in regulated occupations from outside of Canada.

Select all that apply.

  • Level of effort required to verify individuals' certification or licence with the appropriate regulatory body
  • Time waiting for candidates to become certified or licensed in the province or territory of the business or organization
  • Concerns over scope of knowledge or skills due to their certification or licence coming from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
  • Amount of paperwork or forms to fill out
  • Cost associated with hiring an individual from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    e.g., moving expenses, training costs
  • Concerns over individuals' language proficiency
  • Other obstacle
    • Specify other obstacle:
    OR
  • None of the above
    OR
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If at least 1 obstacle was selected in Q14, go to Q15. Otherwise, go to Q16.
Display condition: Display in Q15 the obstacles selected in Q14, from "Level of effort required to verify individuals' certification or licence with the appropriate regulatory body" to "Other obstacle".

15. Over the last 12 months, what impact did each of the following obstacles experienced have on this business's or organization's decision to hire or consider hiring individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence from outside of the province or territory of the business or organization?

Include regulated occupations, professions, and skilled trades overseen by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.

e.g., doctors, engineers, welders, roofers, industrial mechanics, electricians

Exclude individuals in regulated occupations from outside of Canada.

  • Level of effort required to verify individuals' certification or licence with the appropriate regulatory body
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Time waiting for individuals to become certified or licensed in the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Concerns over scope of knowledge or skills due to their certification or licence coming from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Amount of paperwork or forms to fill out
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Cost associated with hiring individuals from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    e.g., moving expenses, training costs
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Concerns over individuals' language proficiency
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Other obstacle
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all

16. Over the last 12 months, which temporary measures did this business or organization implement to allow individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located to work while they were becoming certified or licensed in the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Select all that apply.

  • Provided the individual with another role that did not require certification or licence
  • Allowed the individual to work under a limited scope of practice until they received certification or licence
  • Other temporary measure
    • Specify other temporary measure:
    OR
  • Individuals for this business or organization only begin working once their certification or licence is recognized by the regulator for their occupation
    OR
  • Don't know

17. Over the last 12 months, in which of the following occupational categories did this business or organization experience the most challenges when hiring individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence certified in another province or territory outside the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Select all that apply.

  • Health and mental health professions
    e.g., doctor, nurse, dentist, psychotherapist
  • Veterinary medicine
  • Trades performed in the construction industry
    e.g., electrician, plumber, carpenter
  • Trades performed outside the construction industry
    e.g., hair stylist, truck driver, mechanic, welder, chef
  • Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Financial services
    e.g., mortgage broker, accountant, securities agent, financial planner
  • Law and legal services
  • Education
    e.g., teacher, early childhood educator
  • Social services
    e.g., social worker, interpreter, translator
  • Other occupation
    • Specify other occupation:
    OR
  • Don't know

Labour and wages

18. Over the next 12 months, at what rate does this business or organization expect to increase wages?

  • At a slower rate than last year
  • At a similar rate as last year
  • At a faster rate than last year
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "At a faster rate than last year" is selected in Q18, go to Q19. Otherwise, go to Q20.

19. Over the next 12 months, what are the expected reasons for this increase in wage?

Select all that apply.

  • Current rate of inflation
  • Expected rate of inflation
  • Labour market tightness
  • Labour productivity
  • Fear of losing labour to competing firms
  • Capacity to attract labour
  • Retaining talent
  • Other cause
    • Specify other cause:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Skills gap

20. Taking into account the skills needed to do their current job, what percentage of employees are fully proficient in this business or organization?

A proficient employee is someone who is able to do the job to the required level.

  • 100%
  • 80% to 99%
  • 60% to 79%
  • 40% to 59%
  • 20% to 39%
  • 1% to 19%
  • 0% - No employee has all the necessary skills
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If a percentage less than 100% is selected in Q20, go to Q21. Otherwise, go to Q22.

21. Over the next 12 months, which of the following actions does this business or organization plan to take to address skills gaps or employee skill deficiencies?

Select all that apply.

  • Provide internal training or on-the-job (in-house training)
  • Provide external training
  • Implement a mentoring or coaching scheme
  • Increase performance monitoring
  • Provide feedback to staff
  • Recruit new staff with suitable qualifications, skills and competencies
  • Change work practices
  • Reallocate work
  • Automate production
  • Implement outsourcing or offshoring
  • Drop some activities
  • Other action
    • Specify other action:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • No plans to take any action

Flow condition: If "Non-profit organization" is selected in Q1, go to Q22. Otherwise, go to Q24.

Donations

22. Does this organization typically receive revenue in the form of donations from the public?

  • Yes
    • Which of the following challenges is this organization facing in seeking donations from the public?
      Select all that apply.
      • Finding new donors
      • Retaining existing donors
      • Donors not giving as much as they used to
      • Lack of time or resources for this organization to seek donations
      • Other challenge
        • Specify other challenge:
      • OR
      • Don't know
      • OR
      • No challenges have been experienced
  • No
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If at least 1 challenge is selected in Q22, go to Q23. Otherwise, go to Q24.

23. Which of the following are impacts or expected impacts of challenges related to donations?

Select all that apply.

  • Reduction of programs and services offered
  • Cancellation of programs and services offered
  • Inability to accept new participants in programs or services
  • Reduction in staff
  • Increased reliance on volunteers
  • Reduction in spending on things other than staff
  • Exploring alternative revenue sources
  • Organization at risk of closing
  • Other impact
    • Specify other impact:
  • OR
  • Don't know
  • OR
  • No impacts on this organization are expected

Interest rates

24. What is the level of impact interest rates have on this business or organization?

  • No impact
  • Low impact
  • Medium impact
  • High impact
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Low Impact", "Medium impact", or "High impact" is selected in Q24, go to Q25. Otherwise, go to Q26.

25. Which of the following has been most impacted by interest rates for this business or organization?

  • New borrowing costs
  • Cost of existing debt
  • Capital expenditures
  • Sales of products and services offered by this business or organization
  • Financing for customers
  • Exchange rates
  • Investments made by this business or organization
  • Don't know

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

26. Did this business or organization receive a repayable loan from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)?

The CEBA program offered interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits.

  • Yes
    • Has it been paid back fully?
      • Yes
      • No
        • Does this business or organization anticipate having the liquidity available or the access to credit to repay the CEBA loan by December 31, 2026?
          • Yes
          • No
          • Don't know
      • Don't know
  • No
  • Don't know

Marketplace lending

27. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization request financing using marketplace lending?

Marketplace lending is a form of financial technology that allows people to lend or borrow money from one another without going through a bank using online websites that connect borrowers directly to lenders.

  • Yes
    • What was the reason behind using this type of lending source?
      Select all that apply.
      • Competitive interest rates
      • Could not obtain financing using traditional financing such as loans from banks or credit unions
      • Faster turnaround time
      • No spending stipulations
      • Accessibility
      • Other reason
        • Specify other reason:
      • OR
      • Don't know
      • OR
      • None of the above
  • No
  • Don't know

28. Over the next 12 months, will this business or organization request financing using marketplace lending?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't know

Liquidity

29. Does this business or organization have the cash or liquid assets required to operate for the next three months?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Will this business or organization be able to acquire the cash or liquid assets required?
      • Yes
      • No
      • Don't know
  • Don't know

Debt

30. Over the next three months, does this business or organization plan to apply for a new line of credit, a new term loan, a new non-residential mortgage, or refinancing of an existing non-residential mortgage?

Include commercial mortgages.

Exclude residential mortgages.

  • Yes
  • No
    • Does this business or organization have the ability to take on more debt
      Answer based on this business's or organization's ability, even if there are no plans to take on   
      more debt.
      • Yes
      • No
        • For which of the following reasons is this business or organization unable to take on more debt?
          Select all that apply.
          • Cash flow
          • Lack of confidence or uncertainty in future sales
          • Request would be turned down
          • Too difficult or time consuming to apply
          • Interest rates are unfavourable
          • Payment terms are unfavourable
          • Credit rating
          • Other reason
          • OR
            • Specify other reason:
          • Not applicable
            OR
          • Don't know
      • Don't know
  • Don't know

Working arrangements

31. Over the next three months, what percentage of the employees of this business or organization is anticipated to do each of the following?

Exclude contractors.

Exclude employees that are primarily engaged in providing driving or delivery services or employees that primarily work at client premises.

Working on-site refers to working from an office or job site.

Working remotely refers to an employee working from home or another location of the employee's choosing, other than their regular on-site location.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
If the percentages are unknown, leave the question blank.

  • a. Work on-site exclusively
    Percentage of employees:
  • b. Work on-site most hours
    Percentage of employees:
  • c. Work approximately the same number of hours on-site and remotely
    Percentage of employees:
  • d. Work remotely most hours
    Percentage of employees:
  • e. Work remotely exclusively
    Percentage of employees:

Future outlook

32. Over the next 12 months, what is the future outlook for this business or organization?

  • Very optimistic
  • Somewhat optimistic
  • Somewhat pessimistic
  • Very pessimistic
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Private sector business" is selected in Q1, go to Q33. Otherwise, go to "Contact Person".

Ownership

(i) The groups identified within the following questions are included in order to gain a better understanding of businesses owned by members of various communities across Canada.

33. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by each of the following groups?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

If the business or organization is not owned by anyone that falls under that group, please enter '0'.

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by women?
Percentage of business or organization owned by women:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?
Percentage of business or organization owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by immigrants to Canada?
Percentage of business or organization owned by immigrants to Canada:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by persons with a disability?
Percentage of business or organization owned by persons with a disability:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or two-spirited (LGBTQ2) people?
Percentage of business or organization owned by LGBTQ2 people:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities?
A member of a visible minority in Canada may be defined as someone (other than an Indigenous person) who is non-white in colour or race, regardless of place of birth.
Percentage of business or organization owned by visible minorities:
OR
Don't know

Flow condition: If more than 50% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities, go to Q33. Otherwise, go to "Contact person".

34. It was indicated that at least 51% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities. Please select the categories that describe the owner or owners.

Select all that apply.

  • South Asian
    e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
  • Chinese
  • Black
  • Filipino
  • Latin American
  • Arab
  • Southeast Asian
    e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
  • West Asian
    e.g., Afghan, Iranian
  • Korean
  • Japanese
  • Other group
    • Specify other group:
  • OR
  • Prefer not to say