Wildfires

• On May 6th, the Government of Alberta declared a provincial state of emergency in response to the threat of multiple wildfires burning throughout the province.

• On May 11th, the Government of Canada announced it had approved a Request for Federal Assistance from the Province of Alberta to support efforts to combat the wildfire situation in the province, including authorizing the Canadian Armed Forces to provide personnel and resources to assist and enable fire fighting.

• On May 17th, the Government of Saskatchewan announced that provincial command had been activated through Saskatchewan Public Safety's Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (PEOC) to assist in response to wildfire across northern Saskatchewan. On May 24th, the Government announced that due to recent rainfall and cooler weather it was lifting the provincial fire ban that had been in place since May 16th.

• On May 28th, the Halifax Regional Municipality declared a local state of emergency in the communities affected by fires. On May 29th, the Government of Nova Scotia declared a provincewide burn ban until June 25th because of the seriousness of the current fires.

• Calgary-based TC Energy Corporation announced on May 8th that as a result of the wildfires’ paths and proximity, the company conducted precautionary controlled shutdowns of three compressor stations on its NGTL System nearest to the active wildfires. On May 10th the company said it had been able to complete a restart of compressor units at all locations that were shut down.

• Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline Corporation announced on May 8th that it had shut down assets, including the Saturn I and II gas plants north of Hinton, and the Duvernay Complex, west of Fox Creek, with a combined processing capacity of 443 million cubic feet per day. The company said that various related pump stations, gathering systems and other supporting infrastructure were also shut down. On May 11th, Pembina said that all facilities previously shut down due to the wildfires had resumed operations.

• Calgary-based Cenovus Energy Inc. announced that on May 4th it began shutting in a number of producing Conventional fields and bringing down processing plants and that approximately 85,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) of production, primarily dry gas, had been impacted in the company’s Rainbow Lake, Kaybob-Edson, Elmworth-Wapiti and Clearwater operating areas.

• Calgary-based Crescent Point Energy Corporation announced on May 8th that it had temporarily shut-in approximately 45,000 boe/d of production in the Kaybob Duvernay. On May 10th, the company said it had restored approximately 75% of the production. On May 16th, Crescent Point said it was temporarily shutting back-in the remainder of its 45,000 boe/d of production in the area as a precautionary measure due to changing wildfire conditions. On May 29th, Crescent Point said that over the past week it had brought back on stream the full 45,000 boe/d of Kaybob Duvernay production previously shut in.

• Calgary-based Paramount Resources Ltd. announced on May 7th that as a result of the shut-in of fields and operated and third-party infrastructure, approximately 50,000 boe/d of production had been temporarily curtailed since the evening of May 5th. On May 10th, Paramount said it had restored 75% of the curtailed production and that it had fully resumed operations in the Grande Prairie Region. On May 14th, the company said that the third-party Wapiti natural gas processing facility and the Company's fields producing to the facility were again shut down on the afternoon of May 12th and that approximately 45,000 boe/d of production in the Grande Prairie and Kaybob Regions was temporarily curtailed. On May 29th, Paramount said it had restored the majority of production that had been temporarily curtailed.

• Calgary-based NuVista Energy Ltd. announced on May 8th that it had temporarily shut in and depressured  all operations and that the impact was approximately 40,000 boe/d. On May 23rd, NuVista said it was able to restart most operations over the prior weekend, with daily production increased to approximately 65,000 boe/d.

• Calgary-based Whitecap Resources Inc. announced on May 17th that wildfires had continued to impact operations in northern Alberta and in northeast British Columbia and that approximately 26,000 boe/d was shut-in. The company said that over the last two weeks this had fluctuated between 12,000 boe/d and 40,000 boe/d shut-in at any given time.

Resources

• Texas-based ConocoPhillips Company announced it was exercising its preemption right to purchase the remaining 50% interest in Surmont from TotalEnergies EP Canada Ltd. for approximately $4 billion. The company said the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2023, with an effective date of April 1, 2023, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

• On May 9th, Calgary-based TC Energy Corporation announced it had halted the majority of construction on an approximately 20-km stretch of the Coastal GasLink project route near the Anzac River, B.C. in order to enhance erosion and sediment control measures during the Spring melt season. On May 11th, the company said  it had stopped construction work on an approximately 10-km stretch of the project route south of Houston, B.C. to implement erosion and sediment control measures. TC Energy said construction on certain areas will continue where conditions permit, with ramp up back to full construction expected in early summer and construction completed by the end of 2023.

• Toronto-based Centerra Gold Inc. announced on May 31st that it expects to restart full operations at the Öksüt mine in Türkiye in the coming weeks after the Turkish Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change approved the amended Environmental Impact Assessment for the mine.

Financial

• Toronto-based CI Financial Corp. announced it had agreed to sell a 20% minority investment in its U.S. wealth management business (CI US) for approximately $1.34 billion. CI Financial said the transaction was expected to close in late May 2023.

• California-based Franklin Resources, Inc. announced a definitive agreement to acquire Putnam Investments of Massachusetts from Great-West Lifeco, Inc. of Winnipeg for approximately USD $925 million as well as up to USD $375 million in contingent consideration tied to revenue growth targets from the partnership. Franklin Resources said the transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

Other news

• The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced on May 4th that its bargaining team had reached a tentative agreement for more than 35,000 Canada Revenue Agency workers.

• On May 25th the Government of Prince Edward Island presented its 2023-24 operating budget, which included increased investments in healthcare and housing as well as funding to make life more affordable, protect the environment, and grow the workforce and economy. The Government forecasts a $97.6 million deficit and real GDP growth of 3.5% for 2023.

• The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) and the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) had reached an agreement to commence the 2023 crab fishery.

United States and other international news

• The World Health Organization announced on May 5th that COVID-19 is now an established and ongoing health issue which no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).

• The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) raised the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 5.00% to 5.25%. The last change in the target range was a 25 basis points increase in March 2023. The Committee also said it will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities.

• The European Central Bank (ECB) raised its three key interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.75% (main refinancing operations), 4.00% (marginal lending facility), and 3.25% (deposit facility). The last change in these rates was a 50 basis points increase in March 2023. The ECB also said the Asset Purchase Programme (APP) portfolio will decline by €15 billion per month on average until the end of June 2023 and then the Governing Council expects to discontinue the reinvestments under the APP as of July 2023. The ECB also said it intends to reinvest the principal payments from maturing securities purchased under the Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme (PEPP) until at least the end of 2024.

• The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to increase the Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 4.50%. The last change in the Bank Rate was a 25 basis points increase in March 2023.

• The Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee of Norway's Norges Bank raised the policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%. The last change in the policy rate was a 25 basis points increase in March 2023.

• The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised the target for the cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.85%. The last change in the target for the cash rate was a 25 basis points increase in March 2023.

• The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) increased the Official Cash Rate (OCR), its main policy rate, by 25 basis points to 5.50%. The last change in the OCR was a 50 basis points increase in April 2023.

• The U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced on May 1st that First Republic Bank of San Francisco was closed by the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation and that to protect depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with New York-based JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association to assume all of the deposits and substantially all of the assets of First Republic Bank. The FDIC said First Republic Bank’s 84 offices in eight states would reopen as branches of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association and that all depositors of First Republic Bank would become depositors of JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, and would have full access to all of their deposits.

• Virginia-based Boeing Company and Ryanair DAC of Ireland announced that Ryanair had signed an order for up 300 737 MAX airplanes, including a firm order for 150 737-10 jets and options for 150 more.

• Oklahoma-based ONEOK, Inc., an owner of natural gas liquids (NGL) systems, and Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P., a transporter and distributer of refined petroleum products and crude oil, announced they had executed a definitive merger agreement under which ONEOK will acquire all outstanding units of Magellan in a cash-and-stock transaction valued at approximately USD $18.8 billion including assumed debt. The companies said the transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions, including the approvals of both ONEOK shareholders and Magellan unitholders, as well as Hart Scott Rodino Act clearance.

Financial market news

• West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed at USD $68.09 per barrel on May 31st, down from a closing value of USD $76.78 at the end of April. Western Canadian Select crude oil traded in the USD $46 to $54 per barrel range throughout May. The Canadian dollar closed at 73.51 cents U.S. on May 31st, down from 73.65 cents U.S. at the end of April. The S&P/TSX composite index closed at 19,572.24  on May 31st, down from 20,636.54 at the end of April.

Date: April 2023

Program manager: Director, Center for Direct Health Measures
Director General, Health Statistics  

Original Supplement to the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS) - Privacy impact assessment summary:
Supplement to Privacy Impact Assessment for the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey for Cycle 2

Reference to Personal Information Bank (PIB):

Personal information collected through the voluntary Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Follow-up Questionnaire, 2023 is described in Statistics Canada's "Health Surveys" PIB, (Bank number: StatCan PPU 806) which is published on the Statistics Canada website for Information about Programs and Information Holdings.

Description of changes to the statistical activity:

Statistics Canada conducted the voluntary Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS) Cycle 2 from April to August 2022, a survey for which a Supplement to the Privacy Impact Assessment for the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey for Cycle 2 was created.

For this voluntary follow-up survey, 80% of respondents (26,036 individuals) from the second cycle of the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (the parent survey) who voluntarily provided a valid email address at the end of the survey for follow-up by Statistics Canada will be contacted and asked to participate in the online questionnaire.

The content of the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Follow-up Questionnaire, 2023 (follow-up) is a mix of new and reused CCAHS Cycle 2 questions. As with the parent survey, the follow-up will collect a variety of personal information such as: the presence of chronic conditions and symptoms, COVID-19 status, vaccination against COVID-19, prescription medication use to treat COVID-19, impacts to work or school and interactions with the health care system from experiencing COVID-19 and sources of income and labour market activities.

Key differences between the parent survey and the follow-up include:

1. The follow-up will be collected longitudinally: the sample for the follow-up will be limited to CCAHS Cycle 2 participants who provided a valid email address after being informed that Statistics Canada could contact them in the future to follow-up on some of the information they provided in the survey. Microdata linkage will be performed to link individual respondent information between the parent survey and the follow-up.
2. The follow-up will not repeat the parent survey biospecimen (blood sample) collection or the survey content related to testing, e.g., consent to test and biobank samples.
3. The follow-up will not repeat the parent survey collection of the following modules from the CCAHS Cycle 2 questionnaire: contact information, demographics, pregnancy status, general health and risk factors.
4. The follow-up will introduce new questions to determine the recency of COVID-19 infections, severity of symptoms, support for symptom management, and respondents’ reliance on disability benefits or worker’s compensation.

Reason for addendum:

While the Supplement to the Privacy Impact Assessment for the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey for Cycle 2 addresses most of the privacy and security risks related to statistical activities conducted by Statistics Canada, this addendum describes the changes related to the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey – Follow-up Questionnaire, 2023 and demonstrates the necessity and proportionality of removing the biospecimen collection component, making the follow-up longitudinal and collecting additional sensitive information not addressed in either of the previous CCAHS PIAs on receiving disability benefits or worker’s compensation.  

Necessity and Proportionality

The collection of personal information for the program can be justified against Statistics Canada’s Necessity and Proportionality Framework:

1. Necessity

1.1 Removal of biospecimen collection

The collection of additional biospecimens is no longer a data requirement as the focus of the research program has shifted from determining SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and active infection status to gathering updated self-reported health information from respondents.

1.2 Longitudinal nature of collection

The need for a longitudinal questionnaire linking respondent information from the parent and follow-up surveys emerged based on the changing impacts of the pandemic and increasing knowledge about the post-COVID-19 condition (PCC) and its relatively high prevalence in those who had COVID-19. Comparing data over time will allow for a more accurate analysis of the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection by extending the follow-up time to track the evolution of symptoms, including the persistence of PCC, while considering the mediating effects of reinfections. The longitudinal aspect of the survey aims to fulfill the data gaps surrounding the longer-term health, financial and social impacts of COVID-19.

1.3 New disability benefits or workers’ compensation question

New data is required to investigate if experiencing a SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or its resulting health outcomes is associated with obtaining disability benefits and workers’ compensation, in an aim to increase the availability of high-quality evidence to support the mandate of public health authorities in Canada. These data could, for instance, help to better understand the impacts of PCC on Canadians, including possible financial effects related to the type and longevity of symptoms. The data will also enable an evaluation of existing disability and workers’ compensation services during the pandemic recovery.

2. Effectiveness - Working assumptions:

2.1 Removal of biospecimen collection

Biospecimen collection does not fall within the scope of the follow-up; prevalence for antibody and active COVID-19 infections are not required and therefore not collected for this questionnaire.  

2.2 Longitudinal nature of collection

Data from the follow-up will be combined with CCAHS Cycle 2 data to produce the evidence needed to inform decision-making. A longitudinal survey design is selected over repeating a cross-sectional survey design because it enables the use of a shorter collection instrument to track the potential persistence of health outcomes (e.g., long-term symptoms) following a SARS-CoV-2 infection while reducing the burden on respondents. Moreover, the relatively invasive biospecimen collection of self-administered dried blood spot tests does not need to be repeated in this longitudinal cohort of Canadians, as they have already self-administered and returned biospecimens that confirmed the status of a prior infection through antibody testing. No additional follow-ups are planned for the selected cohort of participants.

2.3 New disability benefits or workers’ compensation question

The new question and wording for disability benefits and worker’s compensation is based on a question from Statistics Canada’s 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability that was tested and performed well in the field. A minor adjustment was made to the question to include a reference to benefits from the workers’ compensation program as the target population of the follow-up is not limited to Canadians who previously reported living with a disability.

3. Proportionality

3.1 Removal of biospecimen collection

Proportional to evolving needs, the removal of biospecimen collection reduces both respondent burden and the privacy invasiveness associated with the collection of sensitive data.

3.2 Longitudinal nature of collection

Those who responded to the parent survey detailed their experience surrounding a first COVID-19 experience in the context of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating between the start of the pandemic and the end of August 2022; as the virus is continually evolving, a longitudinal survey design enables Statistics Canada to complement existing respondent information and investigate the impacts of reinfections, evolving variants and whether persisting post-infection symptoms have resolved. Furthermore, by linking follow-up data to parent survey data and not readministering the baseline health and sociodemographic questions that are necessary for analyses of quality, the follow-up survey allows for a proportional reduction in respondent burden leading to improved response rates in a population that is being surveyed twice in less than a year. Surveying all eligible respondents for the follow-up, as opposed to a sub-sample, was deemed methodologically necessary to reach or exceed the minimum number of respondents required to produce and publish disaggregated statistics by sub-population and province while protecting the privacy of the individual respondents. While the questionnaire collects sensitive health data, careful consideration was made to avoid adversely impacting the privacy of respondents by limiting the number of questions being asked. Compared to its parent survey, which had 72 questions, the follow-up is limited to 26 questions. This step limits the overall survey completion time and invasiveness of the research program. Moreover, the longitudinal nature of the follow-up questionnaire removes the need to request that a new cohort of respondents self-administer the relatively invasive biospecimen test.

3.3 New disability benefits or workers’ compensation question

Fulfilling this data gap could help identify health inequities and better evaluate existing programs and services to better inform the pandemic recovery efforts. This is particularly relevant given the high prevalence (≈15%) of Canadians who were previously infected by SARS-CoV-2 who may be affected by PCC.

4. Alternatives

4.1 Removal of biospecimen collection

No alternatives considered as this action reduces privacy invasiveness and the burden of self-administered tests on respondents.

4.2 Longitudinal nature of collection

There are no other sources of nationally representative data on the longitudinal progression of COVID-19 symptoms and reinfections in Canada, at the person level, in individuals for whom we have sociodemographic information, health status data such as existing chronic conditions and symptoms, and COVID-19-specific health data such as vaccination and infection status confirmed through antibody testing, dating back to the start of the pandemic.

4.3 New disability benefits or workers’ compensation question

There are no other data sources collecting or combining information on disability benefits or workers’ compensation with individual level confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity (a positive result of a blood test for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies), chronic conditions and symptoms, progression and symptoms of PCC, details about a prior infection, vaccination status, pre-existing conditions, the use of and challenges with accessing health care services along with sociodemographic information that will enable the disaggregated statistics by sub-population and province.

Mitigation factors

The overall risk of harm to the survey respondents has been deemed manageable with the implementation of existing Statistics Canada safeguards that are described in Statistics Canada’s Generic Privacy Impact Assessment, the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS) - Privacy Impact Assessment, and the Supplement to Privacy Impact Assessment for the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey for Cycle 2, including the following:

• The longitudinal collection and microdata linkage between the parent survey and the follow-up survey will result in the latter collecting less sensitive content overall.
• Removal of the self-administered blood sample will similarly reduce privacy invasiveness by eliminating biospecimen collection from the follow-up.
• Respondents were duly informed that participation in the parent survey was voluntary, that their information could be combined with other data, and that their contact information could be used to contact them for follow-up:

Voluntary participation

The Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS) aims to collect important information about lasting general health problems and symptoms and about post-COVID-19 condition. The purpose is to gather information on the presence of COVID-19 among the Canadian population, protection against COVID-19, health concerns, use of the health care system and prescribed medications. This information will be collected in two parts: through an electronic questionnaire and through a self-administered COVID-19 testing component.
 
Even if you do not think you have been exposed to COVID-19, your participation is important as it will provide useful information about the virus and insight into the overall health of Canadians. You will also receive a copy of your lab report, providing you with valuable information about your own health. Survey results will be used to develop programs and services to respond to needs related to the pandemic.

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

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

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to minimize the reporting burden for respondents, Statistics Canada will combine your responses with information from the tax data of all members of your household. Statistics Canada and the ministry of health for your home province or territory may also add information from other surveys or administrative sources.

For Quebec residents, the Institut de la statistique du Québec may add information from other surveys or administrative sources.

Having a provincial or territorial health number will assist Statistics Canada in linking the survey data to the provincial or territorial health information.

Contact information

Statistics Canada may contact you in the future to follow-up on some of the information you have provided. …

Wording in the survey purpose and data linkage content at the beginning of the follow-up questionnaire informs respondents of the longitudinal nature of the survey:

Why are we conducting this survey?

Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health and well-being of Canadians is an important step toward Canada’s recovery. To support this goal, Statistics Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada have partnered to conduct a follow-up to the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS – Follow-up Questionnaire). The data from this survey will be combined with data from cycle 2 of the CCAHS, which was conducted between April and August 2022, to produce the evidence needed for informed decision-making.

This follow-up will collect updated information about your health. The questions will touch on changes in vaccination status, reinfection with the virus that causes COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19 and impact on daily life, health conditions and the use of health care services.

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

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

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from the Canadian COVID-19 Antibody and Health Survey (CCAHS) – Cycle 2.

Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with other survey or administrative data sources.

Wording in the data sharing content in the follow-up questionnaire informs respondents of the data sharing agreements:

Data sharing agreements

To avoid duplication of surveys, Statistics Canada may enter into agreements to share the data from this survey with provincial and territorial ministries of health, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. For Quebec residents, Statistics Canada may also enter into an agreement with the Institut de la statistique du Québec to share the same information.
 
The Institut de la statistique du Québec and provincial ministries of health may make this data available to local health authorities. Local health authorities will not receive any identifiers.

These organizations have agreed to keep the data confidential and use it only for statistical purposes.”

Conclusion:

This assessment concludes that with the existing Statistics Canada safeguards and mitigations listed above, any remaining risks are such that Statistics Canada is prepared to accept and manage the risk.

As of June 16, 2023, there are now 40 million Canadians! This is a historic milestone for Canada and certainly cause for celebration. It is also a great opportunity to look back on the country's growth over the years, and to reflect on the future.

Canada's population is currently growing at a record-setting pace. In 2022, the number of Canadians rose by 1,050,110. This marks the first time in Canadian history that our population grew by over 1 million people in a single year, and the highest annual population growth rate (+2.7%) on record since 1957 (+3.3%).

Canada's population through the years