The Canadian Perspectives Survey Series (CPSS) involves creating a pool of people who agree to complete several very short online surveys over a period of one year. This is the first time that Statistics Canada is conducting this type of survey.
For now, this is an experimental project. We will be able to test this collection method thanks to you and other volunteers agreeing to participate. In the medium term, we plan on using this method, which is more effective and economical than traditional methods, to collect important data for Canadian society.
The first survey of the Series focused on the impacts of COVID-19.
The second survey of the Series focused on monitoring the effect of COVID-19.
The third survey of the Series focused on the gradual reopening of economic and social activities during COVID-19.
The fourth survey of the Series focused on monitoring the effects of COVID-19 and on the source of information consulted during the pandemic.
The fifth survey of the Series focused on the technology use and cyber security during the pandemic.
The sixth survey of the Series focused on substance use and stigma during the pandemic.
Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.
Collection period:
January 15, 2020 to March 15, 2021
Collection methods:
An electronic questionnaire for each survey
Survey participation:
Voluntary
Confidentiality
Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
Topics covered in the survey
The surveys will cover a variety of social topics, such as education, health and justice. The link to the surveys in this project will be added here as the information becomes available.
Published data
Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.
Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.
Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.
To see results from the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series (CPSS), please check out the following:
- Impacts of COVID-19
- COVID-19 and working from home, 2020
- Impacts of COVID-19 on job security and personal finances, 2020
- Canadians report lower self-perceived mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Mental health of Canadians during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 2: Monitoring the effects of COVID-19, May 2020
- Food insecurity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, May 2020
- Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 3: Resuming economic and social activities during COVID-19
- Precautions that Canadians will take or continue to take as COVID-19 safety measures are relaxed
- Canadian Perspectives Survey Series 4: Information sources consulted during the pandemic, July 2020
- Canadians spend more money and time online during pandemic and over two-fifths report a cyber incident
- COVID-19 in Canada: A Six-month Update on Social and Economic Impacts
Survey-specific questions
- What is the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series?
- How and why was I selected?
- What does the project involve?
- What will the surveys be about?
- How much time will it take me to participate in this project?
- What are the benefits of participating in this project?
- I do not want to participate because I don't have time. Is my participation mandatory?
- How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
What is the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series?
The Canadian Perspectives Survey Series is a new Statistics Canada initiative. It involves asking the same group of participants to complete brief online surveys over a one-year period.
For now, this is an experimental project which is part of a larger effort to modernize our data collection methods and activities. Thanks to you and all of the people who agree to participate, we will be able to test this new collection method. The goal is to collect important data on Canadian society more efficiently, more rapidly and at a lower cost compared to traditional survey methods.
How and why was I selected?
Your household recently participated in the Labour Force Survey (LFS). Selecting people who have already participated in a survey simplifies our data collection process. Since we already know basic information, such as your age and sex, we don't need to ask those questions again.
Your participation is very important because you represent many other Canadians with characteristics similar to yours.
What does the project involve?
It's very easy to participate in the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series. We will send you an invitation to participate in the first survey by email or text message. Once you receive the invitation, you will be able to complete the questionnaire at your convenience. You will receive an invitation for a new survey approximately every one to two months. After that, we will no longer contact you for this project, except to provide the survey results to you.
What will the surveys be about?
The subjects will vary and will touch on current issues. For example, topics will include fake news and disinformation as well as digital technologies. Other topics may include health, education and justice. All of the surveys will aim to better understand Canadians' perspectives on societal trends and changes.
How much time will it take me to participate in this project?
Each survey will take a maximum of five to ten minutes to complete. You will receive an invitation every month or two approximately. As the surveys are completed online, you will be able to participate at any time that is convenient for you during the collection period.
What are the benefits of participating in this project?
You will be helping us to implement a new method of data collection that will provide information on Canadian society more quickly and cost effectively.
You will also receive your own results after we compile and anonymize all of the data. You will therefore be able to compare your results to the general trends captured by the surveys.
I do not want to participate because I don't have time. Is my participation mandatory?
We would greatly appreciate your cooperation, but participation is not mandatory. Please note, however, that each survey will only take a maximum of five to ten minutes of your time, and you can do it online whenever it is convenient for you.
How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
As with all Statistics Canada surveys, any information provided will remain confidential pursuant to the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. Published data can never identify you or your household.
To find out more about the measures in place to safeguard the confidentiality of your information, visit Statistics Canada's Trust Centre.