The purpose of this survey is to collect information on life satisfaction, sources of information and trust in media. Results from this survey will provide important information on the social and cultural environment of individuals and families in Canada and will help decision makers develop programs and policies to better serve all people living in Canada.
Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.
For more information, please visit the Survey Series on People and their Communities page.
Collection period:
From October 2, 2023 to October 22, 2023
Collection methods:
Survey participation:
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.
Data sharing agreements and record linkage
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 2021 Census, and from personal tax data.
Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with other survey or administrative data sources.
Topics covered in the survey
The survey asks questions about:
- life satisfaction;
- sources of information;
- trust in media.
Survey-specific questions
- What is the Survey Series on People and their Communities?
- How and why was I selected?
- What does the project involve?
- What will the surveys be about?
- Why are you collecting this information and what will it be used for?
- 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?
- Where can I find more information about this project?
What is the Survey Series on People and their Communities?
The Survey Series on People and their Communities (SSPC) involves creating a panel of people who agree to complete three or four short surveys over a period of approximately one year. This is the third time that Statistics Canada is conducting this type of survey series.
How and why was I selected?
You recently participated in the 2021 Census. Selecting people who have already participated in a survey simplifies our data collection process. Your participation is very important because you represent many other Canadians with characteristics similar to yours.
As part of the Survey Series on People and their Communities, we are also looking to collect data from racialized Canadians, immigrants to Canada, and other diverse groups that are often underrepresented in survey data.
What does the project involve?
It's very easy to participate in the Survey Series on People and their Communities.
We will send you an invitation to participate in the first survey by mail. Once you receive the invitation, you will be able to complete the questionnaire at your convenience. If you agree to participate in the rest of the series, you will receive an invitation for a new survey approximately every few months, until all the surveys are complete. 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. All of the surveys will aim to better understand Canadians' perspectives on societal trends and changes.
Why are you collecting this information and what will it be used for?
This survey is part of the Government of Canada initiatives to understand the experiences of diverse groups and communities in social settings and in the workplace. The collected information will be aggregated and then become accessible to the public, all levels of government, and other data users. This would enable better data analyses and insights that shed light on inequities and promote fairness and inclusion in decision-making.
How much time will it take me to participate in this project?
Each survey will take around 10-20 minutes to complete. As the surveys are completed online, you will be able to participate at any time that is convenient for you during the collection period. You may receive follow-ups by phone if you do not complete the survey online.
What are the benefits of participating in this project?
This survey aims to fill data gaps and data needs related to diverse groups and enable the Government of Canada to review and to carry out more equitable delivery of programs and services.
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?
Participation is not mandatory, but we would greatly appreciate your cooperation. Please note, however, that each survey will only take around 10-20 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.
Where can I find more information about this project?
You can find more information about this project at Survey Series on People and their Communities.