This is the sixth and final survey in the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series. This project involves conducting a series of surveys using electronic questionnaires with the same group of respondents, including you, over a one-year period.
During these difficult times, Canadians may be at an increased risk of substance misuse. The purpose of this final survey is to understand the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of substances, including alcohol, cannabis, opioids and non-prescription substances. In addition, the pandemic may magnify the stigma around accessing health and social services for these problems, leaving some people especially vulnerable. This survey aims to help shed light on these issues.
This information may be used by government organizations at all levels as well as other types of organizations to evaluate the delivery of services and support to families during and after the pandemic.
Information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may also be retained and used..
For more information, please visit the Canadian Perspective Survey Series page.
Collection period:
From January 25 to January 31, 2021
Collection methods:
Electronic questionnaire
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.
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
- technology use
- cyber security practices
- online spending during the pandemic.
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.
Survey-specific questions
- Why are you currently conducting a survey on COVID-19?
- How was I selected?
- Why do you conduct this survey exclusively online?
- Can I participate in the survey over the phone?
- Can I volunteer for this survey?
- When are you planning to release the results from this survey?
- What are the benefits of participating in this survey?
- Why are you still conducting surveys? What are the actions taken by Statistics Canada to protect its own employees and the population?
- How will you safeguard the confidentiality of my information?
Why are you currently conducting a survey on COVID-19?
The social and economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to disrupt the lives and habits of all Canadians. In response to the urgent need for information, Statistics Canada remains committed to collecting data to help understand how the pandemic is affecting the daily lives of people like you across the country. This short survey, which is the last of the Series, will cover a number of important topics including the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use of substances, including alcohol, cannabis, opioids and non-prescription substances.
How was I selected?
In the past year, you accepted to participate in the Canadian Perspectives Survey Series, a project consisting of a series of online surveys conducted among the same participants over a one-year period. This survey on the Impacts of COVID-19 is part of this series.
Why do you conduct this survey exclusively online?
This survey involves online data collection only.
There are many advantages to conducting a survey exclusively online. This method allows us to collect, process and publish information more rapidly. Please note that we only publish aggregated, compiled and anonymized data. We do not publish information that could identify a respondent.
Can I participate in the survey over the phone?
At the moment, it is not possible to participate in this survey by phone. However, if you need help accessing your electronic questionnaire, contact us.
Can I volunteer for this survey?
Thank you for your interest in this survey. However, we are conducting the survey among a predetermined and representative sample of Canadians. We therefore cannot accept new requests to participate.
When are you planning to release the results from this survey?
We want to make the results of this survey available to Canadians as soon as possible. We are aiming to publish them in the spring of 2021 in The Daily, Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The official release date is still to be confirmed.
What are the benefits of participating in this survey?
You will provide information that is essential in understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This information may be used by government organizations at all levels, as well as other types of organizations, to inform the delivery of services and support to Canadians, during and after the pandemic.
Why are you still conducting surveys? What are the actions taken by Statistics Canada to protect its own employees and the population?
We are following the COVID-19 situation very closely and implementing the directives and recommendations of public health authorities to ensure the safety of Canadians, including all of our employees.
Currently, no surveys are being conducted in person. We are only conducting surveys by telephone and online. This allows us to continue to publish essential data on the impacts of the pandemic on the economy and on individuals.
We have added this survey on COVID-19 to our collection activities because the current situation requires a rapid assessment of its impact on the mental and physical health of individuals. The information will allow us to evaluate the need for health and social services, as well as economic support during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.