Statistics Canada is conducting the Survey of Businesses under Federal Jurisdiction on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada.
The purpose is to confirm whether your business is under federal jurisdiction. If so, we may ask you to submit a list of your employees along with some of their contact information. Your collaboration is critical to ensure an accurate representation of employees in your industry and business size.
The information from this survey will allow us to select a sample of participants for an upcoming employee survey in the winter of 2021/2022. Participation in that survey will be voluntary and will guide research and analysis to update the Canada Labour Code.
Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.
Collection period:
Collection methods:
Survey participation:
Confidentiality
Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.
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.
Data sharing agreements and record linkage
To enhance the data from this survey and reduce response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.
Topics covered in the survey
The survey asks questions about
- business activity
- employee information.
Survey-specific questions
- Why are you doing this survey?
- Why should I respond? I don't have time for this…
- Am I required to take part in this survey?
- Is my information confidential?
- What type of information is being collected?
- Are you going to pay me to complete this questionnaire?
- Who is funding the survey?
- How was I chosen for this survey?
- How do you know this business is under federal jurisdiction?
- Am I being investigated by the Federal Government?
Why are you doing this survey?
Statistics Canada is conducting this survey to determine whether a business is under federal jurisdiction, and if so, they may be asked to submit a list of employee contact information. A sample of employees under federal jurisdiction will then be invited to complete an employee survey in the winter of 2022.
For some businesses, employee contact information will be obtained from administrative sources.
Participation in the employee survey will be voluntary and will cover topics on current working conditions and human resource practices.
Ultimately, the data collected from employees will guide research and analysis to update the Canada Labour Code.
Why should I respond? I don't have time for this…
It is important that all selected businesses complete the survey for the results to be accurate.
We only need to ask a few questions to determine if your business is in scope. If it is, we may ask you for a list of contact information for your employees, which you can provide in the format of your choice.
Am I required to take part in this survey?
Participation in this survey is mandatory under the authority of the Statistics Act.
It is important that all selected businesses complete the survey for the results to be accurate.
Your answers will remain confidential and only be used for statistical purposes.
Is my information confidential?
All information collected by Statistics Canada is strictly confidential and protected by the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada cannot release any information that would identify you, your business, or your employees without your consent. Furthermore, this information cannot be released under any other law, including the Access to Information Act.
The Statistics Act guarantees that any information you give us remains confidential. All employees of Statistics Canada are under oath and are liable to prosecution and severe penalties if they do not safeguard that confidentiality. Statistics Canada goes to extraordinary lengths to protect the confidentiality of the information it gathers. Once completed, questionnaires are considered confidential, and no unauthorized person outside of Statistics Canada will ever be permitted to see them.
To find out more about the measures in place to safeguard the confidentiality of your information, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.
What type of information is being collected?
You may be asked some questions to determine if your business is under federal jurisdiction. In addition, some businesses may be asked how many employees worked for them in 2020 and to send in employee contact information for the upcoming Survey of Employees Under Federal Jurisdiction (SEFJ), which is a voluntary survey.
Are you going to pay me to complete this questionnaire?
Statistics Canada does not pay individuals or businesses for completing surveys.
Who is funding the survey?
Statistics Canada is conducting the survey on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada.
How was I chosen for this survey?
A sample was selected from Statistics Canada's Business Register, which is a comprehensive list of businesses engaged in producing goods and services in Canada. Your business was randomly selected from among businesses most likely to be under federal jurisdiction. Because your business represents many other businesses from your industry, it cannot be left out or replaced if the survey is to be truly representative.
How do you know this business is under federal jurisdiction?
The federal government is responsible for labour standards for businesses in specific industries such as transportation, communications, banking and for businesses with operations that cross or benefit more than one province. Your business was included in the sample because your activities may meet these criteria. This survey will help us assess if the business is under federal jurisdiction.
Am I being investigated by the Federal Government?
No. This survey is being conducted for statistical research purposes only. No one outside Statistics Canada can get any information that would allow them to identify any person or individual business. Only aggregated (summary) information will be released.