Statistics Canada's 2023-24 Departmental results report

1. Statistical information and analysis

To support its mandate and vision, Statistics Canada conducts a census every five years and has approximately 450 active surveys and statistical programs on virtually all aspects of Canadian life, including the economy, society and the environment.

Economy

Economic statistics provided by Statistics Canada are the primary source of information for developing the country's fiscal and monetary policy and for studying the economic evolution of Canadian industries and regions. This information includes a broad range of official statistics on major economic indicators, including gross domestic product (GDP), the Consumer Price Index (CPI), international trade, agriculture, manufacturing and energy. These indicators support evidence-based decision making in the administration of public policy and fiscal and monetary policy.

Data and indicators from these programs have a direct impact on the valuation of the Canadian dollar, national and provincial credit ratings, investment decisions, inflation, and interest rates, to name a few. Other important uses of the data are outlined below:

• The CPI is used not only to monitor inflation but also as a key input for indexing income security programs and for contract escalation. The CPI is essential to the income security of about 6.6 million Canadians, as it is used for cost-of-living adjustments in programs such as Old Age Security and the Canada Pension Plan.
• Quarterly GDP is the key indicator of economic performance for the country. It is at the center of macroeconomic analysis and is critical to creating monetary and fiscal policy. Other important uses include determining Canada's financial commitment to international agencies and identifying business cycles in Canada.

Society

Statistics Canada collects, analyzes and releases a wide range of statistics and analysis on health, the labour market, justice and community safety, demography, and education, used by academics, policy makers and decision makers to help inform their work and understand the society Canadians live in.

Statistics Canada's largest data collection exercise, the Census of Population, provides statistical information ranging from the general demographic, social and economic conditions of the population to the socio-economic conditions and well-being of specific populations such as First Nations people, Métis and Inuit.

It provides governments with accurate population counts that are used to

• determine—along with economic statistics such as the Provincial and Territorial Economic Accounts—over $94.6 billion in major transfer payments, such as the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer, the Health Reform Transfer, and Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing
• establish federal electoral districts—and, therefore, representation in the House of Commons
• assist community planning, such as developing services that support employment, education and health care.

Data are collected through many social surveys, including the General Social Survey, Canadian Survey on Disability, Canadian Health Measures Survey, Canadian Housing Survey, Canadian Community Health Survey, Survey of Household Spending (SHS) and Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS, whose monthly employment numbers are well known by Canadians, is used to administer the national employment insurance program.

Social data are also integrated with other datasets, including economic-related datasets to develop or support social and economic policies and programs. For instance, SHS data are used as inputs to calculate GDP and basket weights for the CPI.

Environment

Statistics Canada produces statistics and analysis to better understand the interactions between human activities—including economic activity—and the environment. Specifically, the Census of Environment provides information on the complex relationship between ecosystems and the economy, society and human well-being in one easily accessible location.

Data from numerous surveys, such as the Households and the Environment Survey, Environmental Protection Expenditures Survey, Industrial Water Use Survey, Waste Management Survey, and Industrial Consumption of Energy Survey, as well as administrative data, including satellite data, are used to inform policy on a wide range of environmental goals and issues, including the following:

• measuring the economic contribution of the environmental and clean technology sector, environmental taxes, and business expenditures
• creating environmental statistics, such as the Environmental and Clean Technology Products Economic Account and Physical flow account for plastic material, to support the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS)
• supporting the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators; the Convention on Biological Diversity; and the World Health Organization / UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene
• supporting the Report on Energy Supply and Demand in Canada, an integrated set of energy balances at the national and provincial and territorial levels; this is the main data source used by Environment and Climate Change Canada to produce the National Inventory Report, which includes Canada's official greenhouse gas estimates reported to the United Nations (UN) Framework Convention on Climate Change.

2. Statistical standards and practices

Statistics Canada promotes sound statistical standards and practices by

• leading the development and use of internationally agreed-upon common concepts and classifications to provide better-quality data
• working with the provinces and territories and other federal departments to promote the quality and coherence of Canada's statistics through collaboration
• reducing burden on respondents through greater use of administrative data and data sharing agreements
• improving statistical methods and systems through collaborative, joint research studies and projects.

Standards, classifications and frameworks are integral elements in producing official and highly credible statistics. Statistics Canada is a global leader in their development—including all aspects of data stewardship. The agency aligns with international standards to ensure that its practices are globally recognized, facilitating international comparisons and collaborations while meeting the high expectations of users for credible and timely data.

As a world-leading national statistical office, Statistics Canada continues to provide international leadership in various statistical domains and has made significant contributions to developing international standards and statistical classifications that enable the production of comparable international statistics for the public good. For example, Statistics Canada chairs the UN task team on the revision of the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) to ensure that it remains relevant for new economic activities. This international leadership and expertise are crucial nationally, e.g., to support the implementation of the Data Strategy for the Federal Public Service, which aligns with the agency's work to ensure a user-centric, effective, and coordinated national statistical system.

Working in collaboration and leveraging partnerships

Statistics Canada continued to collaborate with public and private partners on new methods for collecting and sharing high-quality data and insights, while protecting the privacy and trust of Canadians. The agency collaborated with several new and existing partners to be more responsive to emerging user needs. These collaborations are demonstrated through the following themes and initiatives:

1. economic statistics
2. social statistics
3. information about the environment.

1. Economic statistics

Economic statistics provided by Statistics Canada are the primary source of information for developing the country's fiscal and monetary policies and for studying the economic evolution of Canadian industries and regions.

Statistics Canada continually strives to expand the reach of its statistical programs, leveraging partnerships to do this. For example, the Business Data Lab (BDL), a new housing prices program, and two new food price and internal trade data hubs, have helped users better understand businesses and the economy. This provided Canadian businesses, researchers, and policy makers with critical insights to support informed decision making.

• For instance, the BDL, in partnership with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, provides future-focused, real-time data and insights for all company sizes, sectors and regions. It brings together data from a variety of sources into a centralized hub to track evolving market conditions. In 2023–24, the BDL released a comprehensive analysis of weekly consumer spending data, providing data on more cities—employers in 153 Canadian cities now have real-time access to monitor workplace mobility patterns, even in remote communities such as Iqaluit. Additionally, the agency released timely business size data for all Canadian cities, as well as industry cluster maps, for the first time, for selected census metropolitan areas, through the BDL.
• To support the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Statistics Canada expanded its new housing prices program in response to new demands resulting from the housing shortage in Canada. In 2023–24, Statistics Canada launched a new outreach initiative targeting Canadian builders to enhance this program. The agency collaborated with the Canadian Home Builders' Association to encourage data sharing from builders and significantly expanded survey samples. The increased data will lead to better market insights related to economic indicators, affordability analysis, investment decisions and market transparency. In turn, these will provide policy makers with accurate, timely and comprehensive information to support evidence-based policies that benefit all Canadians and promote a more stable housing market.
• Statistics Canada partnered with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to make timely data on food prices available to consumers in one central and easy-to-access location. The Food Price Data Hub provides Canadians with detailed information on food prices, empowering them to make decisions about their purchases. The hub is regularly updated to show the latest trends in food inflation, along with the average prices of selected staple food products and the Average Retail Food Prices Data Visualization Tool. The hub also provides insights into year-over-year changes in the prices of goods and services along the food supply chain—from farm to fork—including the price of agricultural products sold by farms, transportation costs like those for diesel fuel and retail markups at grocery stores.
• In 2023–24, the Privy Council Office and Statistics Canada partnered to provide accessible data on internal trade to Canadians. This collaboration led to the launch of the new Canadian Internal Trade Data and Information Hub, which helps businesses and policy makers make informed decisions and facilitates research and analysis on internal trade trends and issues in Canada.

2. Social statistics

Statistics Canada collects, analyzes, and releases a wide range of statistics and analysis on health, crime, justice, labour, community safety, demography, and education—used by academics, policy makers and decisions makers to help them make informed decisions and understand the society within which Canadians live.

• The Pan-Canadian Health Data Strategy, transformed into the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians Plan in February 2023, introduced a new set of shared health priorities for federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) governments. In 2023–24, Statistics Canada contributed to these priorities by developing new health data and indicators, creating an interoperability roadmap, developing the new Survey on the Use of Digital Technologies by Health Care Providers, and providing expertise in statistical and data standards. The agency's contributions to the plan will inform the work of FPT governments by guiding decision making to improve the health care system, while adapting to the changing needs of Canadians.
• To identify data gaps and essential needs for developing programs focused on missing persons, in 2023–24, Statistics Canada conducted information and engagement sessions, as well as surveys, with federal and provincial stakeholders, national Indigenous organizations, and most police services across Canada. The results from the engagement sessions and questionnaires are being used to develop more targeted questions to identify further data needs and gaps for the next phase of engagement sessions. This project will provide the agency with insights into current police processes and existing data, a crucial step in developing missing persons data standards in the future.
• In 2023–24, Statistics Canada, in collaboration with Public Safety Canada, published an analytical article on reconviction rates that used linked data from the Canadian Correctional Services Survey, Integrated Criminal Court Survey and Canadian Vital Statistics – Death database. Reconvictions consist of one potential pathway that may be contributing to the overrepresentation of certain groups within the criminal justice system; therefore, reconviction rates are also disaggregated by Indigenous identity and for Black people and other racialized groups.
  
  This research is part of the Pan-Canadian Recontact Project, which is an initiative to produce and analyze linked criminal justice and socio-economic data to better understand the social and economic circumstances of those who come into contact with the criminal justice system, as well as pathways through the system. A key goal of this project is to examine the overrepresentation of Indigenous people and of Black people and other racialized groups throughout the system to inform policies and programs aiming to address this overrepresentation.
• The agency initiated a pilot study in 2023–24 on firearms tracing, using information from consultations with law enforcement and firearms tracing agencies to evaluate firearms tracing data. This study will assist in measuring and monitoring the movement of firearms in Canada, including illicit firearms, which will inform policies and programs aimed at mitigating this issue.
• In 2023–24, Statistics Canada collaborated with Canadian Heritage to enhance data on eligibility for instruction in the minority official language under the new Action Plan for Official Languages 2023–2028. This collaboration resulted in the release of several high-quality analytical products covering bilingualism, knowledge of official languages and children eligible for instruction in the minority official language. These provide vital evidence for programs and policies related to official languages in Canada and support educational service planning in minority official languages across the country.

3. Information about the environment

Throughout 2023–24, the Canadian Centre for Energy Information and Census of Environment continued to collaborate extensively with their stakeholders and partners to meet the growing demand for comprehensive energy and environmental data and expert analysis. By integrating and sharing these data in a more centralized manner, the agency improved the accessibility of energy and environmental information for Canadians and painted a relevant and full picture.

Canadian Centre for Energy Information

• Statistics Canada, along with Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and the Canada Energy Regulator, continued to build on the Canadian Centre for Energy Information (CCEI). The agency expanded access to energy information and supported new features and enhancements to the CCEI portal, including
  • adding more than 150 energy information products in 2023–24 from different sources
  • developing the new open-source Stat Data Explorer, which allows users to find, visualize and share data
  • creating new coal, uranium and nuclear topic pages
  • releasing 10 energy-related articles in StatsCAN Plus
  • creating a new downloader tool to allow frequent access to all publicly available, high-frequency electricity data.

Census of Environment

• The Census of Environment program links ecosystem data with socio-economic information to analyze the connections between ecosystems, the economy and human well-being. Through partnerships with other Government of Canada departments, such as Environment and Climate Change Canada, as well as other countries, Statistics Canada supports many national and international initiatives. Nationally, these initiatives include the Domestic Biodiversity Monitoring Framework, the 2030 Nature Strategy and the 2030 National Biodiversity Strategy. International activities include the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the System of Environmental Economic Accounting.
• The Census of Environment program delivered many new and updated products in 2023–24, including a new Census of Environment portal and thematic mapping tool, increasing the accessibility of data and insights. All Census of Environment products are now available through this portal, including data tables, geospatial files, infographics, technical frameworks and methodology documentation. Topics covered by these data products include renewable water resources by ecological and hydrological area, saltmarsh ecosystem condition and services, agroecosystem extent and condition, urban ecosystem extent and condition, and ocean and coastal ecosystem extent. Additional socio-economic data linkages include population by ecological and hydrological area and by distance from the coast and elevation, and information on communities that are highly reliant on fisheries, forestry and agriculture.
• The Census of Environment's ecosystem accounting work will support reporting under the Domestic Biodiversity Monitoring Framework. Additionally, new settled area geospatial boundaries were integrated in new products to report land use change as part of Environment and Climate Change Canada's work on the National Inventory Report.

Delivering user-centric products and services

To ensure Canadians receive the products and services they need—in formats that are accessible and engaging—Statistics Canada continued to enhance its communication strategies and engagement approach, while fostering collaboration with stakeholders across different sectors. These initiatives were focused on the following themes:

1. engaging with Canadians
2. measuring post-pandemic changes
3. ensuring the privacy of Canadians in an increasingly digital world
4. responding to the emerging data needs of Canadians
5. improving data access.

1. Engaging with Canadians

In 2023–24, Statistics Canada continued to make progress on initiatives aimed at engaging Canadians by modernizing its processes for transparency and meaningful engagement. In this way, Statistics Canada can provide the data that Canadians need, when they want them and how they want them.

• In 2023–24, Statistics Canada advanced its Connecting with Canadians: Publishing Strategy, adapting the agency's publishing model to meet the changing needs and behaviours of Canadians and expand its overall reach. For example, shorter, more user-friendly stories that focused on visuals, graphics and appealing layouts were created to tell data stories that resonate with more Canadians.

2. Measuring post-pandemic changes

As Canadians adjusted to the post-pandemic era, informed decision making proved to be essential for navigating the transition effectively. Statistics Canada has been instrumental in guiding the recovery process toward a resilient future.

• Data from Statistics Canada surveys and publications were used to support several indicator frameworks and provide analytical insights related to post-pandemic societal changes. These include the following:
  • Insights on Canadian Society, one of Statistics Canada's key publications during the 2023–24 period, provided valuable insights into Canadian society, including on labour, income, education, social and demographic issues that affect the lives of Canadians.
  • The Time Use Survey examined post-pandemic changes in telework and unpaid work, offering insights into how Canadians use their time. Statistics Canada also engaged in international working groups, held information sessions and released the report Canada's Care Economy: A Conceptual Framework, showcasing the survey as a key source of data on unpaid care.
  • The Survey on Giving, Volunteering and Participating started its data collection in September 2023. This survey highlights the significant contributions of Canadians to the voluntary sector, showcasing its importance in the Canadian economy and its role in social services provision.
  • The Survey on Family Transitions completed its content development and prepared for data collection. This survey tracks social trends and family well-being throughout 2023–24, offering insights crucial for policy development aimed at improving the well-being of children and families in Canada.
  • The Canadian Survey on Business Conditions consistently produced quarterly results, offering timely indicators of the business environment and the impacts of labour challenges, rising costs and supply chain pressures.

To support the measurement of critical post-pandemic changes, Statistics Canada also improved several databases, including the following:

• As Statistics Canada provides a comprehensive statistical overview of all key COVID-19 business support measures, additional data sources were acquired in 2023–24 to complete the picture from 2020 to 2022, including information from the Highly Affected Sectors Credit Availability Program and the Canada Emergency Business Account. This dataset highlights government borrowing and expenditures during the pandemic and serves as a resource of economic history for researchers, policy makers and Canadians to understand the impact of past programs on economic activity and support future research.
• In response to the growing demand for detailed economic data for regional and rural development following the pandemic, Statistics Canada developed Rural Canada Business Profiles, a database that provides financial information for small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, and the Rural Canada Non-Profits database. The database published on the Rural Canada Statistics portal serves as a focal point for many stakeholders, including the Centre for Rural Economic Development, which use it to inform policy decisions concerning rural and remote areas. These data offer valuable insights into rural demographics, economic trends and various developmental aspects. They are also accessible to stakeholders for evidence-based advocacy, analysis and policy development in rural and remote areas.

These data and findings painted a fuller picture of the new environment Canadians were adapting to and provided greater insights for plans and decisions that would impact Canadians.

3. Ensuring the privacy of Canadians in an increasingly digital world

In 2023–24, Statistics Canada reinforced its commitment to privacy and confidentiality protection by continuing to implement the Privacy Management Program and developing robust data-handling frameworks. Partnering with the Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS), the agency created a de-identification framework to help government departments better standardize the concept. In addition, privacy impact assessments have been created and made accessible on Statistics Canada's Trust Centre. These initiatives underscore the agency's dedication to privacy principles and data ethics, both of which are crucial for maintaining public trust.

4. Responding to the emerging data needs of Canadians

Through its extensive engagement activities, Statistics Canada is continuously gaining insights into the emerging data and information needs of Canadians and strives to respond to those gaps. Examples include subject matter themes such as population, agriculture, health and gender—as well as scale of the data, including municipal-level data and disaggregated data.

Census of Population and Census of Agriculture

Statistics Canada is required by law to conduct the Census of Population and Census of Agriculture every five years—to paint a statistical portrait of Canada and Canadians on one specific day. The Census of Population is designed to provide information about people and housing units in Canada and their demographic, social and economic characteristics. Meanwhile, the Census of Agriculture provides a comprehensive and integrated profile of the physical, economic, social and environmental aspects of Canada's agriculture industry.

• For the 2021 Census cycle, seven major data releases were published with over 26 billion data points, offering a comprehensive socio-economic portrait of Canada's population. New for the 2021 Census of Population was this year's release of the Special Interest Profile, which allows users to access a large amount of information on many census variables, at low levels of geography.
• For the 2021 Census of Agriculture, Statistics Canada continued to address the need for more detailed information on the farm population. The agency published 7 analytical articles, 14 data tables, 3 infographics and 1 data quality report in 2023–24. The data tables were based on the linkage of Census of Agriculture data with Census of Population data.
• Other analyses based on this linkage included an overall analysis of the farm population's socio-economic profile, as well as in-depth studies of the farm population's diversity and the gender pay gap among farm operators. The agency also released in-depth analysis of the Indigenous farm population, providing more granular data on the Indigenous population and households for various geographic areas.
• Recognizing the need to address known gaps in Indigenous data, the agency also conducted the new Survey Series on First Nations People, Métis and Inuit, providing Indigenous communities, leaders and organizations with high-quality data to help make evidence-based decisions.

Preparations for the 2024 Census Test and 2026 Census

• To prepare for both censuses, Statistics Canada conducts a test to evaluate new and modified questions, as well as to test all collection procedures and tools. For instance, the agency is experimenting with ways to reduce the time Canadians spend completing the questionnaire by using chatbots or live chats, streamlining access codes, and expanding the use of administrative data.
  • The agency engaged broadly with the public and stakeholders to gather feedback to update and improve the census questionnaires—over 90 cognitive interviews were conducted to ensure the census meets the needs of Canadians.
  • In November 2023, the agency introduced The road to the 2026 Census to educate the public about the complex, multifaceted 2026 Census preparations in a transparent manner. Then, in January 2024, the agency launched improved census websites to support test recruitment and collection.
• Following the 2024 Census Test in 2024–25, Statistics Canada will evaluate all results and make recommendations to the federal government to ensure relevant and high-quality questions are being used.

Health-related statistics

In 2023–24, Statistics Canada's health initiatives had significant impacts across several sectors. They helped inform decision making and policy development at both the national and provincial levels to improve access to high-quality health care. Key initiatives included

• collecting the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, which addresses existing data gaps for children and youth health policies
• collaborating with University of Ottawa researchers in a project that influenced screening age recommendations in Alberta and Ontario prompted a national review of breast cancer screening strategies in Canada
• conducting an engagement exercise with diverse data users for the Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Survey, aimed at addressing data gaps in sexual and reproductive health
• supporting the development of a national long-term dental care program for low-income Canadians by creating the Oral Health Statistics Program (including collecting physical oral health data through the Canadian Health Measures Survey and the Canadian Oral Health Survey to establish baselines of dental care access, self-perceived oral health and awareness of the new Canadian Dental Care Plan [CDCP], and preparing to launch the first Survey of Oral Health Care Providers to assess the sector's capacity to handle new patients); these data are helping Health Canada develop and implement a targeted CDCP
• releasing the first results of the Mental Health and Access to Care Survey, with key findings on the prevalence of selected mood, anxiety and substance use disorders, providing valuable information for mental health services and substance use programs.

Overall, these initiatives highlight Statistics Canada's commitment to filling data needs across topics to ensure Canadians have access to the high-quality data and information they need.

Gender-based Analysis Plus

Statistics Canada released several articles, analytical products and tables on Gender-based Analysis (GBA) Plus, intersectionality, gender, diversity and inclusion. These releases informed Canadians about the state and progress of gender equality and outcomes of various groups of people in Canada.

Statistics Canada also updated its gender, diversity and inclusion standards to include variables such as sex at birth, gender of person and sexual orientation, enabling more detailed analysis. These efforts have reinforced Statistics Canada's commitment to providing more inclusive and accurate statistical information and more products for Canadians and stakeholders.

Municipal data

• Statistics Canada continued to collaborate closely with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, provincial and territorial focal points, key federal departments, and private organizations to provide detailed statistics to municipalities. This effort focused on improving access to municipal-level and disaggregated data and fostering greater data-sharing and collaboration. In 2023–24, new enhancements and features were added to the Centre for Municipal and Local Data platform, including
  • the Municipal Diversity Dashboard
  • the Municipal Quality of Life Dashboard, mapped to the Quality of Life Framework for Canada
  • the self-serve Standards of interest for municipalities web page to guide municipalities in producing, using and interpreting relevant data.
• Additionally, the agency published a series of articles in StatsCAN Plus that highlighted the importance of data for specific municipalities, and also contributed an article for the Canadian Urban Institute's first State of Canada's Cities Report on how data and statistics can support Canadian cities and communities.
• Through these efforts and partnerships, Statistics Canada has made municipal-level statistical information and services more accessible to communities, allowing municipalities to assess and understand the data for their specific needs. Having more detailed data for municipalities creates opportunities to better plan future evidence-based programs and services for Canadians and their communities, in turn building trust among local communities and municipalities.

Disaggregated data

In 2023–24, to respond to the needs of Canadians for disaggregated data, Statistics Canada continued to advance the Disaggregated Data Action Plan (DDAP). The DDAP promotes evidence-based decision making, addresses systemic inequalities and fosters a more inclusive Canadian society. These advancements included the release of the Disaggregated Data Action Plan Accomplishments Report on December 19, 2023, which showcased the progress made:

• More data assets were released with the launch of the Survey Series on People and their Communities.
• New datasets for the General Social Survey, the Quality of Life Framework, the LFS and the Social Inclusion Framework were published.
• New analytical products, including insights into the care economy, the gender wage gap and housing affordability, were created.
• A series of 10 data tables containing Social Inclusion Framework indicators and examining dimensions and themes of social inclusion using an intersectional lens were released.

5. Improving data access

Statistics Canada is dedicated not only to resolving data gaps, but also to ensuring improved access to its various types of data and information holdings through ways that meet the individual needs of a wide range of Canadian users.

• In 2023–24, Statistics Canada continued its work on the Virtual Data Lab to allow remote access across Canada. This accelerated access to data, tools and resources for federal departments, provincial ministries, non-governmental organizations and private organizations. In total, 48 active organizations engaged in over 240 projects during this fiscal year.
• Additionally, the Canadian Research Data Centre Network made significant progress in developing a new IT infrastructure in partnership with Statistics Canada to allow remote access for all academic researchers using Statistics Canada data. This ensures safe and secure access to the agency's microdata holdings, fostering increased use by trusted partners such as academics and policy makers and supporting evidence-based policy making that positively impacts all Canadians. In 2023–24, over 2,000 researchers accessed over 1,100 databases, engaging in over 1,300 microdata research contracts, in the current research data centre infrastructure.

Using leading-edge methods

To provide Canadians with the information they need to make decisions on complex and emerging issues, Statistics Canada used leading-edge approaches to produce data. The agency focused on generating more insights, while remaining focused on data acquisition, processing, integration and analysis. This was pursued through the following initiatives:

1. Data Science Strategy and artificial intelligence
2. continued expertise in standards
3. modelling and microsimulations.

1. Data Science Strategy and artificial intelligence

Statistics Canada continued to leverage artificial intelligence (AI), big data and emerging technologies, while reinforcing trust and transparency with Canadians, ensuring the integrity and relevance of its statistical work. The agency has continued to enhance data accessibility, drive innovation and assist evidence-based decisions, to support an inclusive, data-driven economy and society, while maintaining public trust.

• Statistics Canada completed many proofs of concepts on text and image analytics, applied AI, and privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs). The agency explored the integration of generative AI (Gen-AI) and large language models to enhance efficiency and productivity in statistical processes.
• Statistics Canada supported various communities of practice (CoPs), including the interdepartmental applied text analytics and Gen-AI CoP and the Data Science Network for the Federal Public Service.
• The agency collaborated with the federal government on AI and emerging technology principles, contributing to the Government of Canada's Directive on Automated Decision-Making and the Algorithmic Impact Assessment tool.
• Internationally, Statistics Canada participated in the UN Committee of Experts on Big Data and Data Science for Official Statistics, focusing on capacity development and contributing to the UN Global Platform and the UN PET Lab. The agency also played a key role in the High-Level Group for the Modernisation of Official Statistics by developing standards and best practices for data integration, highlighting the agency's commitment to driving innovation and best practices in the global statistical community.

2. Continued expertise in standards

Statistics Canada is recognized as one of the leading national statistical organizations in the world, largely because of its focus on statistical standards and practices. For instance, the agency follows the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (PDF), which were adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2014. These 10 principles are the foundation for producing reliable and high-quality statistical data that serve the public interest, support sustainable development and uphold democratic values. They underscore all activities within the agency, from the methods used to collect, process and store data to how statistics are disseminated and communicated.

Statistics Canada develops data standards to ensure relevant, comprehensive, accurate, interoperable and objective statistical information. These standards form the data foundation for national insights, addressing major social, economic and environmental issues and providing valuable information for Canadians. Furthermore, Statistics Canada plays an integral role in terms of data stewardship, as detailed in the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council 2023 Annual Report. Specifically, Statistics Canada has an important role to play in establishing data standards and methodologies; sharing data; and coordinating data flows that form the foundation of coherent, high-quality national statistics. As part of these efforts, Statistics Canada launched the new Standards, data sources and methods web page to improve the usability of standards for Canadians.

3. Modelling and microsimulations

During 2023–24, Statistics Canada developed and used precise modelling and microsimulation tools and techniques to empower decision makers in developing programs to reflect the diverse realities of Canadians.

• In collaboration with HEC Montréal for Employment and Social Development Canada, Statistics Canada developed the first release of the PASSAGES microsimulation model, which allows analysis of future retirement income scenarios for Canadians and informs changes related to the retirement income system, such as Canada Pension Plan contribution levels.
• The agency released a new version of OncoSim, a model developed in collaboration with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, to assist cancer programs nationwide with the development of new screening guidelines and programs.
• In collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Statistics Canada developed a data model for epidemiological modelling, providing more detailed information at lower geographic levels.
• Using geographic modelling techniques, the agency developed and implemented a methodology to estimate industry-level economic output for Canada at a more granular level. This allows for local-level analyses, such as estimating economic activity affected by the 2023 wildfire season.
• Statistics Canada developed a preliminary proof-of-concept computer model illustrating how individuals transition through the criminal justice system, including instances of repeated contact with the system. The current prototype also incorporates the effects of criminal justice interventions, such as from police or courts, to estimate reductions in criminal events. This model provides a comprehensive understanding of the criminal justice system, which helps develop programs and policies for Canadians, to reduce initial and repeated contacts.

Having a modern workforce and workplace

Statistics Canada continued to advance its objective of building a skilled workforce and modernized workplace that reflect the diversity of Canada's population and that serve the needs of all Canadians. This means developing a workforce that embodies the experiences, knowledge and skills of different communities and providing this workforce with a modern work environment—the hallmarks of a modern, inclusive and innovative organization. The agency worked toward this goal through the following initiatives:

1. diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility
2. learning and development
3. employee engagement.

1. Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility

Statistics Canada continued to prioritize equity, diversity and inclusion within the agency, while ensuring the presence of skilled talent to deliver timely statistical insights to Canadians.

The agency has made great progress on the commitments and actions identified in its multi-year action plan—Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan: Moving Forward Together. Actions in 2023–24 focused on improving disaggregated data on representation rates, ensuring opportunities for equity-deserving talent and fostering empowerment. Some of the most notable achievements were

• releasing an interactive format of the quarterly equity, diversity and inclusion progress report
• launching the first and second cohorts of the Sponsorship program
• implementing an inclusive leadership development program
• having a Statistics Canada employee accepted into the Mosaic Leadership Development program.

In 2023–24, the agency made significant progress in implementing its action plan Statistics Canada: Road to Accessibility, 2023-2025, which is detailed in Statistics Canada: Road to Accessibility, 2023 Progress Report. Achievements include addressing barriers such as lack of awareness, lack of inclusion and feedback, and lack of internal collaboration, as well as the following accomplishments:

• having 440 average views per month of the centralized accessibility information site
• hosting discussions between the Accessibility Secretariat and Statistics Canada employees during Disability Employment Awareness Month about the accessibility plan, tools and feedback
• publishing 28 videos incorporating American Sign Language and Quebec Sign Language to ensure the accessibility of official releases
• conducting 103 accessibility reviews on digital services (82 external services and 21 internal services).

Sponsorship program

Guided by data, the agency launched the Sponsorship program to ensure equity-deserving employees are provided with mentorship and advocacy opportunities, to support aspiring leaders in their career progression, and to address representation gaps at senior and executive levels. Statistics Canada also provided financial and accessibility support for career progression coaching events or other related activities, e.g., a networking session with former Chief Statistician Anil Arora. With 31 protégés sponsored under the program, the agency expects a positive impact on promotion and separation rates.

2. Learning and development

Statistics Canada is committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. The agency's learning and development framework is designed to equip employees with the skills, knowledge and competencies necessary to excel in their roles and contribute to the agency's mission. In 2023–24, the agency's learning and development initiatives achieved many milestones, including the following:

• 130 employees successfully completed language training, thereby supporting bilingualism in the workplace
• completion rates for mandatory training increased by 13%, ensuring compliance with agency standards while enhancing employees' ability to perform their roles effectively
• 28 executives successfully completed the Canada School of Public Service executive program, enhancing their leadership skills and strategic capabilities to better drive organizational success
• mentor recruitment increased by 37% (70 new mentors in April 2023, for a total of 236 mentors and 547 mentees), ensuring that mentees have the career support they need.

3. Employee engagement

To ensure an optimal work environment and employee experience, the agency uses a wide range of formal and informal methods to continuously engage with its employees. These methods range from small-scale unit discussions, workshops, townhalls and ask-me-anything discussions with executives, to large-scale corporate surveys.

The Employee Wellness Survey (EWS), for example, was conducted at Statistics Canada in 2021 and 2023 to measure psychological health through work engagement and burnout indicators. Using scientifically validated measures from the psychological literature, the EWS provided a comprehensive assessment of psychological health, capturing factors such as workload, interpersonal relationships, inclusion and the hybrid work environment. Statistics Canada is addressing the analysis and results released in 2023–24 through divisional action plans to address psychological health, a review of mandatory training, the launch of coaching circles, the creation of a new inclusion framework (part of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan) and other initiatives.

Building numeracy and data literacy skills

In 2023–24 Statistics Canada developed innovative methods to present data in a more compelling and accessible way for Canadians. To enhance statistical capacity and data literacy, the agency introduced training courses and expanded international cooperation. Building numeracy and data literacy skills is also important to counter misinformation. These initiatives support evidence-based decision making at all levels in a rapidly changing world. The agency worked toward these objectives in the following areas:

1. expansion of data literacy training and Indigenous statistical capacity
2. international leadership
3. data stewardship
4. statistical geomatics.

1. Expansion of data literacy training and Indigenous statistical capacity

Data Literacy Training Initiative

Enhancing data literacy and analytical capacity within the agency and among stakeholders and other public servants is crucial for allowing Canadians to leverage data for meaningful insights. In 2023–24, Statistics Canada focused on developing new courses to promote the use of disaggregated data, and they were taken by more than 140 learners, with a satisfaction rate of over 95%.

Statistics Canada also introduced new online courses, such as Foundations of Data Analysis and Data Literacy for the Public Sector, offering over 10 hours of self-paced learning for all Canadian public servants. The online Data Literacy for the Public Sector course, offered through Apolitical, had approximately 790 learners enrolled, with a 26% completion rate, exceeding industry standards of 5% to 10%. This course was made mandatory by Global Affairs Canada for all new foreign service officers. These courses ensure data are used responsibly and generate insights that inform policy making to positively impact Canadians.

Building Indigenous statistical capacity

The agency continued to support the data and statistical capacity development of First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations and communities. Statistics Canada's Indigenous Statistical Capacity Development Initiative offered 35 statistical capacity courses and 38 Indigenous cultural awareness training sessions. The initiative also included nine routine courses, customized learning options and train-the-trainer opportunities. Statistics Canada collaborated with Indigenous communities and leaders to support the development of their own data and research capabilities.

Through its partnership with Indigenous Services Canada and the Transformational Approach to Indigenous Data, Statistics Canada helped develop innovative methods for creating disaggregated data, ensuring representation of First Nations, Métis and Inuit in the national statistical system. This included data linkage projects and a web panel survey series targeting the Indigenous population. These programs enhanced service delivery and capacity-building, producing valuable information through Indigenous-focused online data and analytical tools. These efforts contribute to reconciliation by empowering Indigenous governments and organizations with the data they need to address policy challenges and close socio-economic gaps.

2. International leadership

Statistics Canada plays a leadership role in many aspects of the international statistical system. In 2023–24, the agency chaired or co-chaired a variety of high-level statistical governance groups, including

• the UN Network of Economic Statisticians, which works to improve the system of economic statistics through networking and engagement, in collaboration with international statistical organizations
• the Conference of European Statisticians, which directs statistical work in the UN Economic Commission for Europe region (to which Canada belongs) to address emerging challenges through joint international work and the pooling of resources
• the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Committee on Statistics and Statistical Policy, which oversees the OECD's statistical policy and supports policy making on the basis of high-quality, internationally comparable data and evidence-based analysis
• the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental-Economic Accounting, which functions as an umbrella body to provide overall vision, coordination, prioritization and direction in the field of environmental-economic accounting
• the High-Level Group for the Modernisation of Official Statistics, which works collaboratively to identify trends, threats and opportunities in modernizing statistical organizations and provide a common platform for experts to develop solutions in a flexible and agile way.

Holding leadership positions in these various groups allows Statistics Canada to gain useful insights on future developments and solutions to existing issues, which will in turn benefit work conducted at the agency. By maintaining a leadership role, Statistics Canada also has the opportunity to influence decisions and priorities with regard to issues explored and proposed solutions.

Furthermore, Statistics Canada led over 30 working groups and was a member of about 200 working groups on issues ranging from economic, social, and environmental statistics to matters of statistical governance. Below are some additional details on how Statistics Canada has contributed to the international statistical system.

Statistics Canada's leadership in statistical capacity development is the foundation for establishing effective national governance and expanding and exchanging statistical knowledge and best practices on an international scale.

• In July 2023, Statistics Canada played a key role in organizing and supporting the International Statistical Institute's 64th World Statistics Congress and participated in numerous presentations. The event brought together over 1,500 delegates, statistical researchers, academics, industry leaders and policy makers from all over the world to take part in over 250 sessions designed to share insights on developments in statistical science and to advance the application of statistics for discovery, innovation and decision making.
• In October 2023, the agency also participated in the International Conference of Labour Statisticians—an international standard-setting body for labour market statistics—and, as a result, adopted a new international statistical standard on measuring the informal economy.
• In 2023, Statistics Canada led Canada's participation in the third phase of the International Monetary Fund's Data Gaps Initiative (DGI-3) and contributed to the first DGI-3 annual progress report, reinforcing its leadership in developing System of National Accounts standards and data.
• Statistics Canada worked with the UN Economic Commission for Europe to develop a cloud adoption framework, sharing experiences and insights to modernize and optimize its cloud operating model, particularly in financial operations and monitoring.
• The agency participated in the Project for the Regional Advancement of Statistics in the Caribbean, which concluded in 2023. The agency helped 14 Caribbean Community countries strengthen their statistical systems and assisted them in creating websites that feature data and statistical information to support their population.

As a world-leading national statistical office, Statistics Canada continues to provide leadership internationally, participating in communities dedicated to statistical standards. The agency has made a significant contribution (as an expert on various technical committees and by responding to global consultations) to developing and maintaining (revising) statistical classifications, in roles such as

• member expert of the UN Committee of Experts on International Statistical Classifications (UNCEISC), where important decisions are made on the development and revision of statistical classifications, with a report to the UN Statistical Commission, as well as three online webinars on international classifications as a foundation of relevant and sound statistics organized by the UNCEISC and the Network of Economic Statisticians, with the agency's active participation and leadership
• chair of the UN task team on the revision of the International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC), with a new version, ISIC Revision 5, endorsed by the UN Statistical Commission, and accompanying documents, such as correspondence table, introduction and explanatory notes, being finalized
• active participant, including responding to a global consultation, in the UN task team on the Central Product Classification revision
• active participant on the Technical Working Group on the revision of the International Standard Classification of Occupations and in the task team on the revision of the Standard International Energy Product Classification
• classification expert advisor for assessing and finalizing the new International Classification of Violence Against Children submitted by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to the UNCEISC and the UN Statistical Commission
• part of the Trilateral Steering Committee on North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and North American Product Classification System (NAPCS), continuing to meet and discuss issues pertinent to the revision of these classifications, including starting discussions related to NAICS and NAPCS 2027.

The agency also displayed leadership in many other projects, two of which are highlighted below.

United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals

• During 2023–24, Statistics Canada's work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (both domestically and internationally)—developing progress measures for indicators—has provided clarity for Canadians on the advances that have been made. Additionally, the agency's reporting on the Canadian Indicator Framework and the Global Indicator Framework ensured that stakeholders reported on goals and indicators in an unbiased and impartial way.
• In addition, Statistics Canada prepared the statistical annex of Canada's Voluntary National Review for the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The agency led international efforts to create a global indicator on sustainable agriculture and led the sustainable tourism task team for the 2025 comprehensive review of the Global Indicator Framework for SDGs.

More information on Statistics Canada's contributions to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy can be found in the agency's 2023 to 2024 Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy Report, which will be available in November 2024.

Quality of Life Framework

• Building on its experience with the Quality of Life Statistics Program, Statistics Canada led international discussions with the UN Statistical Commission to develop guidance on integrating demographic and social statistics with economic and environmental statistical pillars of national statistical systems, to improve the quality, timeliness and relevance of statistical information for decision makers.
• Statistics Canada showed international leadership by advancing its Quality of Life Statistics Program:
  • launched its first review of the quality of life indicators to enhance their relevance for policy makers and began the first quarterly datasets tracked over time for core indicators, leading to new analyses of issues such as trust in others, confidence in institutions and trust in media
  • enhanced the Quality of Life Hub (which consolidates 84 indicators across the health, society, good governance, environment and prosperity domains into an easy-to-use hub, addressing key quality of life data gaps and supporting evidence-based decision making) with new indicators and updated statistic visualizations, likely contributing to the 659% increase in page views from April 2022 to January 2024
  • collected and disseminated data on trust in media, showcasing a transformative approach that leverages agency expertise to bridge any data gaps in policy development.

3. Data stewardship

To support data stewardship modernization, Statistics Canada extended its partnership with the Canadian Data Governance Standardization Collaborative to address issues related to AI and data governance, resulting in the creation of the new AI and Data Governance (AIDG) Standardization Collaborative. The renewed collaborative will support the development of standardization strategies that are aligned with Canada's priorities and enable the Canadian AI and data ecosystem to scale up on the international scene.

To further support data stewardship, the agency partnered with the Standards Council of Canada to develop the AIDG Standardization Hub and is leading project oversight. The hub empowers Canadian stakeholders to become actively involved in the international AI and data governance standardization landscape to maintain consistency with international standards. Through this partnership, Statistics Canada advanced data standards and the development and use of AI.

4. Statistical geomatics

Statistics Canada worked toward developing a statistical geomatics vision and using geomatics services and tools to leverage insights from the integration of geo-enabled data and geospatial layers within the agency. These efforts support improved resource management and enhanced disaster response capabilities within Canada.

• The agency produced and disseminated numerous reference and thematic maps to support and complement official data releases, adding more visualizations and insight.
• The agency used Earth Observation data to produce geo-enabled statistical insights, focusing on discoverability, access, storage, processing and dissemination.
• Statistics Canada collaborated with Infrastructure Canada to publish the Infrastructure Project Planning Tool to support early phases of infrastructure projects.
• The agency also began developing parameters and requirements for using a grid system to analyze location-based data. This system would help researchers, planners and decision makers study and manage environmental changes, urban development and natural disasters with precision and efficiency.

Innovation

Statistics Canada has been dedicated to building numeracy and data literacy by strengthening the innovation ecosystem and developing governance, infrastructure and skills to foster innovation and experimentation. In its ongoing commitment to enhancing purpose-driven innovation, the agency achieved the following notable examples in 2023–24:

• The agency conducted hackathons and sprints targeting specific challenges across the agency and federal public service to foster creativity, collaboration and problem-solving. Hackathons and sprints have facilitated stakeholder engagement and informed the development of user-centric solutions, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations.
  • These activities led to ongoing collaboration with the Office of the Comptroller General of Canada at TBS and resulted in the Grants and Contributions Data Sharing and Visualization Project managed by Statistics Canada. This project leverages Statistics Canada's expertise in data hub development to enhance transparency in government spending. Additionally, it provides robust data sharing and visualization tools, helping departments track and report government funding, ultimately benefiting Canadians by promoting greater accountability and transparency in public resource allocation.
• Statistics Canada helped to spearhead the annual Public Service Data Challenge (PSDC), a government-wide competition that encourages public servants to pitch ideas for better using government data and that fosters innovation, collaboration and data-driven decision making across the public service.
  • For this year's challenge, participants developed actionable insights and solutions to address data challenges, leading to the successful launch of AgPal Chat, a tool providing Canadians with access to agricultural programs and resources. Statistics Canada's innovation team worked closely with the AgPal Chat team throughout the challenge to provide advice and pitch training, which influenced the success at the finale. AgPal Chat won the PSDC and is now a fully functioning public-facing product.
  • This achievement highlighted the effectiveness of the PSDC in advancing data literacy and use. The challenge also contributed to a culture of innovation and collaboration, allowing participants to gain valuable skills, expertise and connections. By promoting creative thinking about data and their applications, the PSDC has sparked enthusiasm among public servants about the potential of data to drive positive change.
• Experimentation with new technologies, such as Gen-AI, has contributed to building a working prototype of a chatbot to help Canadians find information in publications on the Statistics Canada website. Further experimentation with Microsoft Copilot will help Statistics Canada assess potential business benefits and applications of this revolutionary technology.

1. Employee well-being

In 2023–24, Statistics Canada focused on mental health support and committed to analyzing wellness survey data for new insights. Initiatives to promote wellness included

• planning and collecting the second iteration of the 2023 EWS, with a response rate of 51%, with analytical activities planned for the next fiscal year
• partnering with Saint Mary's University to launch a leadership training study with 60 assistant directors aimed at developing their skills to promote psychological health and safety in the Statistics Canada workplace
• launching HR Engage, a user-friendly survey tool that allows for more real-time feedback from employees about their experience at Statistics Canada, which led to improved programs, policies and a more comprehensive understanding of the work environment
• updating the wellness hubs for employees regularly, providing staff with key information, including LifeSpeak, the mental health intranet page, the 13 psychosocial factors page and the workplace wellness page
• delivering 77 sessions both internally and externally with over 2,233 participants, reaching record numbers of Statistics Canada employees.

2. Awards and recognition

Statistics Canada was recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers in 2024 for its innovative and impactful initiatives promoting diversity and inclusion. These efforts showcased the agency's commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace, setting a benchmark for diversity and inclusion in the Canadian employment landscape.

Additionally, in 2024, for the sixth year, Statistics Canada was named one of Canada's Top Employers for Young People by the organizers of the annual Canada's Top 100 Employers competition. This special designation recognizes employers that offer the best workplaces and programs in the country for young people, providing great opportunities for ongoing career development and advancement. Young employees are a vital part of Statistics Canada and a source of creativity, enthusiasm and fresh ideas, and the agency can only benefit from helping them learn and grow.

Statistics Canada was also recognized as one of the National Capital Region's Top Employers—for the 17th year in a row. This annual competition recognizes exceptional places to work across Ottawa–Gatineau.

3. Internal audit and evaluation

The Audit and Evaluation Branch (AEB) provides management with trusted, neutral and objective information to inform decision making. In 2023–24, the AEB continued to provide feedback through its audit and evaluation projects using an increasingly agile and focused approach and gave timely insight and advice to support the agency's top priorities. This took place at critical times in the early stages of planning and implementation of new program strategies and initiatives, focusing on key areas such as the migration to the cloud, financial management and census operations. Overall, the AEB completed five internal audit engagements, as well as two evaluation engagements. In addition, the AEB confirmed that 28 action plans stemming from audit and evaluation recommendations were fully implemented in 2023–24.

4. Digital solutions

In 2023–24, Statistics Canada made significant strides in enhancing its digital capabilities. The following accomplishments reflect Statistics Canada's commitment to innovation, security and creating a positive working environment for employees:

• Cyber security enhancements: Enhanced defence capabilities, a security-focused workforce, a mature vulnerability management program and improved cyber security operations services have collectively increased resilience against cyber breaches, effectively protecting Canadian data.
• Cloud Native Platform 2.0: The introduction of this upgraded platform enhanced the integration of cloud technology into new projects, resulting in more efficient cloud use and greater flexibility in speed and memory usage.
• IT foundations and advisory role: The agency strengthened its advisory and compliance role through the Enterprise Architecture Review Board, developing Digital Target Enterprise Architecture and architecture standards to align with strategic business outcomes to improve relevance, efficiency, innovation and the employee experience.
• Digital tools and solutions: The agency enhanced the employee experience and productivity by updating conference room technology, ensuring a consistent user experience across boardrooms, and expanding virtual collaboration frameworks under the Microsoft 365 platform.
• Technology innovation: The agency strengthened technology innovation capabilities by reviewing new and emerging technologies and focusing on the revolutionary Gen-AI technology, through the lens of supporting business outcomes and strategic objectives.
• Product management: The agency increased its focus on delivering business outcomes through digital solutions, in close collaboration with programs, by piloting a product management methodology.

5. Data-driven talent management strategy

In 2023–24, Statistics Canada implemented a data-driven talent management strategy to optimize executive performance and foster organizational excellence. The agency developed and piloted a data-driven performance management approach for executive performance, advancing toward an evidence-based method of measurement and assessment. The aim was to enhance objectivity, uncover and address systemic biases, and ensure consistent performance evaluation across the agency.