A departmental plan describes a department's priorities, plans and associated costs for the upcoming three fiscal years.
- Statistics Canada's raison d'être, mandate, role and operating context can be found on its website.
- Information on Statistics Canada's mandate letter commitments is available in the Minister's mandate letter.
Canadians need high-quality, insightful and accessible data to support good decision making. Statistics Canada's mission is to provide the trusted data, statistical services and insights required to support these decisions. The agency holds itself to very high standards of quality, privacy protection, communications and measurement to maintain the trust of Canadians, businesses and institutions.
In 2024-25, Statistics Canada will continue to deliver regular data releases and updates on a wide variety of topics, while monitoring emerging challenges and opportunities in the overall statistical landscape. This will be especially important as the agency prepares for the next Census of Population in 2026.
Statistics Canada made important investments in recent years to integrate cutting-edge tools and technologies to continuously improve its operations and services. Building on these efforts is the focus of the agency's current strategic plan, which was recently developed and will guide the agency's modernization efforts until at least 2026. It aims to ensure that statistical programs are relevant, while also boosting their impact, improving operations, and empowering a diverse and high-performing workforce.
The plan is built around three strategic priorities, which were developed following extensive consultations with Statistics Canada employees and managers at all levels and a review of modernization projects across the agency. They also reflect the feedback collected through dozens of interactions and consultations with various stakeholders to understand their evolving needs and priorities. These priorities, along with their associated objectives, build on a solid foundation of values and ethics. They also align with recommendations received by Statistics Canada's different subject matter advisory groups and other bodies such as the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council (CSAC) and Departmental Audit Committee (DAC). They will allow the agency to adapt to a rapidly changing environment and continue to meet Canadians' evolving needs for trusted data, leveraging innovative tools for top-quality statistics.
Key priorities
- Advance the next generation of statistical programs and operations
To advance the next generation of statistical programs and operations, Statistics Canada will focus its efforts on ensuring the data it provides to Canadians continue to be of high quality, accessible and relevant. This will be achieved by making data integration the first response to new program demands, enhancing data use and acquisition, adopting advanced methodologies and modelling, strengthening data linkages, and streamlining the agency's dissemination and publication activities and products. - Adopt a complete enabling infrastructure
To produce high-quality statistical information, Statistics Canada is committed to providing its staff with a complete enabling infrastructure. This includes leveraging investments to adopt cutting-edge software and technologies, such as cloud computing and machine learning, to support data collection, analysis and management. These changes will make operations faster and more efficient, allowing the agency to deliver even deeper insights for Canadians. - Shape a healthy, diverse and skilled workforce to meet the current and future needs of Canadians
Statistics Canada's most important asset is its people. To build and adopt an enabling infrastructure and the next generation of statistical programs, it also needs an empowered and inspired workforce that is deeply connected to its mission and values. This means investing in the skills of its employees, while recruiting diverse talent to meet its staffing needs today and in the future. In parallel, continuing to foster a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace, in which employees are equipped to deliver on the agency's priorities, remains paramount.
Refocusing Government Spending
In Budget 2023, the government committed to reducing spending by $14.1 billion over the next five years, starting in 2023–24, and by $4.1 billion annually after that.
As part of meeting this commitment, Statistics Canada is planning the following spending reductions.
- 2024-25: $4,194,288
- 2025-26: $5,889,036
- 2026-27 and after: $8,208,865
Statistics Canada will achieve these reductions through cost-saving efficiency measures, which will involve modernizing business processes. The agency will also streamline internal services, communications and dissemination activities; and optimize resources for the statistical collection organizational structure. This is a critical aspect of the strategic priorities that will be undertaken by the agency in 2024-25 and Statistics Canada's overall modernization efforts, which will allow it to take full advantage of cutting-edge resources and technologies to drive efficiencies. The agency therefore expects to achieve its reduction objectives with minimal impact on its products or its dedication and commitment to its employees.
The figures in this departmental plan reflect these reductions.
There is a risk that Statistics Canada may be further affected by a potential loss of revenues from cost-recovery surveys and analyses, mainly in relation to the agency's social programs, if federal partners adjust their spending as a result of this government-wide reduction exercise.
Highlights
Statistics Canada's activities for 2024-25 will be guided by its strategic plan for 2023 to 2026 and aligned with the three priorities listed above.
The plan was developed to help Statistics Canada adapt to a rapidly changing environment so it can continue to meet Canadians' evolving needs for trusted data, leveraging cutting-edge tools for top-quality statistics. This focus on modernization and ongoing improvement will be reflected in all of the agency's activities throughout the year. Whether it is planning for the next Census of Population, measuring economic growth, tracking food prices or understanding the diverse factors that affect the well-being of Canadians, Statistics Canada will be looking at ways to make the best of available resources and technologies to improve products, processes and services.
In addition to rigorous internal governance, Statistics Canada is also guided by external advice from groups such as the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council (CSAC), the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Consultative Council on Statistical Policy and many other advisory groups, such as the Advisory Council on Ethics and Modernization of Microdata Access provide expertise on a wide variety of topics. The recommendations issued by this robust set of committees reinforces the independence, relevance and quality of the national statistical system.
The Canadian Statistics Advisory Council released its fourth annual report in 2023, The Way Forward: Addressing Challenges Facing the National Statistical System. It underscores how the national statistical system is essential for helping Canadians keep pace with a rapidly changing society.
The report provides four main recommendations to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and the Chief Statistician:
- Engage Canadians and policy makers in a modern national statistical system.
- Invest in data science and analytical skill.
- Develop innovative data flows.
- Recognize the role of data stewardship.
Statistics Canada will make good use of the CSAC's expert advice on an ongoing basis and will ensure that the work planned for the upcoming year continues to align with these key recommendations.
Core responsibility: Statistical Information
Statistics Canada's core responsibility is to produce objective, high-quality statistical information for Canadians. The agency provides data and insights on a wide variety of subjects, from commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic and environmental activities to population health and well-being. Regardless of the topic, the agency aims for three broad results that are used to measure the success of its activities:
- High-quality statistical information is available to Canadians.
- High-quality statistical information is accessed by Canadians.
- High-quality statistical information is relevant to Canadians.
See GC InfoBase for the full framework and program inventory.
Planned spending (net of respendable revenue): $654,143,413
Planned human resources: 6,228
Plan to deliver high-quality statistical information
Producing high-quality statistical information is at the heart of Statistics Canada's mandate. All of the agency's activities and outputs serve that purpose, whether directly or indirectly. Over the next year, the agency will continue to release data and insights on a wide variety of topics, from measuring affordability to gathering information on the health and well-being of Canadians. It will do so with a particular focus on improving processes and methodologies to meet the evolving needs of Canadians and policy makers and to ensure that future data continue to meet Statistics Canada's high standards for years to come. Therefore, this will be a year of adaptation and modernization, as the agency also prepares for the 2026 Census of Population.
More information about statistical information can be found in the full departmental plan.