Request for information - Population and demography

Under the authority of the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is hereby requesting the following information, which will be used solely for statistical and research purposes and will be protected in accordance with the provisions of the Statistics Act and any other applicable law. This is a mandatory request for data.

Census counts

Alberta Driver's Licence information

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting selected variables from the complete listing of driver's licences in Alberta for the purposes of improving Census addresses in its statistical registers, and for other statistical linkage functions.

This request will be limited to variables from the Alberta Driver's Licence file that are relevant for statistical purposes. These variables include:

  1. Driver's licence number (Operator number)
  2. Full name (First, Middle, Last names)
  3. Sex (M/F)
  4. Date of birth
  5. Residential, civic, or service address
  6. Mailing address
  7. Phone number (Home phone and/or Business phone)
  8. Licence issue/renewal date
  9. Licence expiry date
  10. Close-out indicator (cancellation due to registration in another province)

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information such as: Name, Address, Demographics, and Contact information. Personal identifiers (Name, Driver's licence number) are required to perform data linkages for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be deleted, and only an anonymous ID number will be retained.

What years of data will be requested?

The requested data would begin in May 2016 or the earliest available, and monthly thereafter.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from the Ministry of Service Alberta.

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting this information to update the address databases with addresses from Alberta. Obtaining an accurate and comprehensive list of all dwellings is necessary for achieving full Census coverage, especially in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. A key COVID-19 adaptation of the 2021 census is to limit the amount of door-to-door census visits, and therefore addresses become more important in order to mail census invitation letters. Historically, the address databases have not adequately covered rural areas in the Western provinces. The updated addresses databases, with information supplied by administrative data from Alberta Driver's Licence files, will ensure these areas are adequately covered by the 2021 Census. To support the 2021 Census, admin data such as the Driver's Licence files could be used, after collection, if enumeration is not possible (or is severely impacted) in a given area due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other natural disaster, and only where the quality of the available administrative data is deemed acceptable.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

The Ministry of Service Alberta manages the Alberta Driver's Licence registration system. This Provincial Government Department collects and maintains up-to-date information on Driver's Licence holders in Alberta.

When will this information be requested?

This request for information to the Province of Alberta will be sent by May 01, 2021. The request will be for monthly data on an ongoing basis.

What Statistics Canada programs will primarily use these data?

  • Census of Population
  • Statistical Building Register (SBgR), a product of the Data Integration Infrastructure Division (DIID)

When was this request published?

April 14, 2021

Veterans Affairs Canada administrative data file (additional variables)

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting to receive four additional variables as part of the annual Veterans Affairs Canada administrative data file that is routinely provided by Veterans Affairs Canada to Statistics Canada under the existing data acquisition agreement between the two departments. These variables are:

  • gender
  • Veterans Affairs Canada program participation indicator
  • preferred language of correspondence
  • Indigenous identity (when collected in future by Veterans Affairs Canada)

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information such as gender and Indigenous identity. Personal identifiers (gender and Indigenous identity) are required to perform data linkages, for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized person key.

What years of data will be requested?

Annual data as of 2023 (ongoing)

From whom will the information be requested?

Veterans Affairs Canada

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada requires this information to create and publish statistics on Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) client reported gender or gender identity, the VAC program(s) in which VAC clients have participated, preferred language of correspondence of VAC clients, and Indigenous identity (as applicable) of VAC clients. 

These statistics will help Veterans Affairs Canada and will be used by policy makers, researchers, industry stakeholders to measure the well-being of Veterans and their families, report on the stratified socioeconomic and health outcomes of Veterans as well as compare them to the respective outcomes of the broader Canadian population, to deliver programs that are responsive to identified areas of need, and to enhance the public understanding of Veterans. Moreover, the gender and Indigenous identity variables are important for delivering on the initiatives of equity in service and Indigenous reconciliation.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Veterans Affairs Canada is responsible for supporting the well-being of Veterans and their families, and to promote recognition and remembrance of the achievements and sacrifices of those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace. Veterans Affairs Canada collects and maintains up-to-date data on former Canadian Armed Forces personnel.

When will this information be requested?

September 2023 and by January 2024 onward for the next calendar year (annually)

What Statistics Canada programs will primarily use these data?

When was this request published?

August 25, 2023

Migration

Immigrants (Permanent Residents) Data

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting information on immigrants' selection characteristics, immigrant sponsorships, and all types of citizenship including whether citizenship was obtained by grant, resumption or adoption.

The requested data will complement data already acquired by Statistics Canada.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request covers details on the immigration process such as dates, status, and selection results, as well as sociodemographic characteristics.

Immigrant data currently stored at Statistics Canada contains personal identifiers, including unique client identifiers, name, sex and date of birth.

Personal identifiers, such as those listed above, are required to perform data integration, for statistical purposes only. Once the data are integrated, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized person key, meaning individuals will be unidentifiable post linkage.

What years of data will be requested?

Data from the following programs and services will be requested:

  • annual Express Entry data from 2015 onward;
  • annual Provincial Nominee Program data from 1996 onward;
  • annual Settlement services data from 2013 onward;
  • annual Sponsorship files since the creation of the program onward; and,
  • annual Citizenship files since the creation of the program onward

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and provincial partners.

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada is responding to the data needs of federal, provincial, municipal stakeholders and academics. The Government of Canada and the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) use this information to better understand the impact of policies and to ensure that IRCC responds to its integration and demographic objectives.

The requested information will be used to create and publish Statistics on immigration. It will also be used to evaluate policies on the selection of immigrants, family re-unification, and citizenship grants. Statistics Canada requests this information so that these policies can be adjusted to respond to the needs of Canadians.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

IRCC is responsible for immigration and citizenship services. IRCC develops and implements policies, programs and services that facilitate the arrival of people and their integration into Canada in a way that maximizes their contribution to the country. IRCC is the only department that collects and maintains up-to-date information on immigrants (permanent residents) and non-permanent residents (temporary residents).

Provincial partners (departments managing immigration) are responsible for the selection of immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program and are able to provide up-to-date information on immigrants they selected.

When will this information be requested?

This information will be requested in May 2021 and onward (annually).

What Statistics Canada programs will primarily use these data?

When was this request published?

July 7, 2021

Summary of changes

July 2021 – Provincial partners (department managing immigration) were added as data providers. There is no change to the information being requested.

Migration within Canada

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting the number of private household moves in Canada from Canada Post's "Mail Forwarding Program." The data includes the month in which the move was made, the province/territory of origin and the province/territory of destination.

What personal information is included in this request?

No personal information is included in this request.

What years of data will be requested?

Data are being requested for the period between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021.

From whom will the information be requested?

Canada Post

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada must produce monthly population estimates by province and territory. To do so, monthly estimates of interprovincial migration are required.

These monthly population estimates of interprovincial migration are required to calculate demographic control totals used by the Labour Force Survey, a monthly survey that measures the current state of the Canadian labour market and is used, among other things, to calculate the national, provincial, territorial and regional unemployment rates.

These monthly population estimates also help produce the Population Certificates that Statistics Canada must provide annually to Finance Canada to fulfill its mandate under the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act.

The requested data will help determine if the current estimation model reflects changes in migration due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Canada Post is the only organization that maintains timely nation-wide data on interprovincial moves by Canadian private households.

When will this information be requested?

July 2020

When was this request published?

July 14, 2020

Population estimates

Sub-provincial population data

What information is being requested?

The annual aggregated number of British Columbia residents by age, sex and postal code is being requested.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request does not contain any personal information.

What years of data will be requested?

Annual data as of July 1, 2001 and onward. (ongoing)

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from the British Columbia Ministry of Health.

Why is this information being requested?

This information is required to ensure robust population estimates and will be used to evaluate the accuracy of population estimates at the census subdivisions level (municipality) in British Columbia. These estimates are currently derived from Canada Revenue Agency data.

This information will be used for an evaluation of municipality population estimates in British Columbia.

Statistics Canada may consider using this information for the population estimates calculation at the municipality level.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

The British Columbia Ministry of Health collects and maintains timely data on its population at the sub-provincial level.

When will this information be requested?

This information will be requested in January 2021 and onward (yearly).

What Statistics Canada programs will primarily use these data?

When was this request published?

December 22, 2020