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Section 2 Analysis of program activities by strategic outcome

Statistics Canada's strategic outcome is for Canadians to have access to objective, high-quality, non-partisan statistics, statistical products, services and analyses on Canada's economy and society that fulfill legal requirements, are relevant to policy formulation and decision makers, and are responsive to emerging issues.

To achieve this outcome, Statistics Canada engages in three program activities, which are further broken down into subactivities.


Text box 2.1 Program activities and subactivities
Program activities Subactivities (most detailed level)
Economic Statistics ----> Agriculture
Science, Innovation and Electronic Information
Small Business and Special Surveys
Transportation
Manufacturing, Construction and Energy
Distributive Trades
Service Industries
Prices
International Trade
Investment and Capital Stock
Industrial Organization and Finance
Income and Expenditure Accounts
Industry Measures
Balance of Payments
Public Institutions
Input-Output
Environment Accounts and Statistics
Analytical Studies
Social Statistics ----> Culture, Tourism and the Centre for Education Statistics
Health Statistics
Special Surveys
Income Statistics
Labour and Household Surveys Analysis
Labour Statistics
Small Area Data1
Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics
Socio-Economic and Business Analysis
Census Statistics ----> Census of Agriculture
Demography
Small Area Data1
Housing, Family and Social Statistics
Census Operations and Management
Aboriginal Statistics
1. The Small Area Data subactivity is linked to both the Social Statistics and Census Statistics program activities.

Economic Statistics (program activity 1)

The Economic Statistics Program produces a portrait of the economic structure (which sectors are important to the Canadian economy) and trends (which sectors are growing or declining in Canada). This portrait is one of the most comprehensive in the world and is recognized as a model for other countries developing their own economic statistical programs. It includes indicators such as the Consumer Price Index, gross domestic product, import and export statistics, foreign direct investment, investment in plant and equipment by Canadian businesses, retail sales, manufacturing shipments and financial performance of corporations, just to name a few. A more detailed description of these activities can be found at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/about-apercu/structure/paa-aap-eng.htm.

The structural statistics (annual frequency) are used to monitor longer-term economic trends and issues such as productivity, financial performance and industrial structure. These statistics are recognized as being of high quality and they are used intensively in the administration of key programs such as the Equalization Program, and in the distribution of the Harmonized Sales Tax. Finally, these annual statistics are used to determine Canada’s contributions to international commitments for the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and to monitor Canada’s performance as a member in good standing of the International Monetary Fund. The ongoing commitment to the use of these statistics in those important functions is evidence of the excellent performance of the Statistics Canada programs that produce them.

The monthly and quarterly data are used to monitor short-term trends in the Canadian economy and its components. These data are used intensively in the domains of monetary policy and fiscal forecasting to track changing trends in inflation or economic growth and their implications for the Canadian economy. There is a trade-off between timeliness and accuracy of short-term statistics. To produce reliable estimates in a time frame that meets the needs of policy makers and analysts, smaller samples must be used and they must be processed using sound statistical methodology. Key stakeholders who use these data (such as Finance Canada, Bank of Canada and Industry Canada) report that they have a great deal of confidence in the quality of these indicators and that they are satisfied that an appropriate trade-off between timeliness and accuracy has been achieved. The programs are continually reviewed and adjusted to maintain relevance and fitness for use.

Many key initiatives that adjust the program to improve relevance or accuracy are reported here. One key one which was not identified early in the plans and priorities, but was identified during the fiscal year to be of importance, was the delivery of a new detailed database to be used for the study of productivity in Canada. This database, which is called KLEMS (Capital, Labour, Energy, Materials and Services), was also made compliant with an international research database called EU KLEMS, which enables researchers to look at Canadian productivity on a comparable basis with other countries including the United States, Australia and all countries in the European Union. This is an example of how Statistics Canada reacts to current policy questions and initiatives to provide the right data at the right time.

In 2007/2008, the structural indicators were all delivered in a timely fashion to clients and for administrative purposes such as the calculation of Equalization or Harmonized Sales Tax allocation. For quality assurance purposes, they were certified by the Chief Statistician. The short-term indicator data were delivered in a timely fashion on a predetermined schedule (release time lags are reported in Table 2.4) and the modest degree of revisions (Table 2.3) shows that the indicators gave an accurate portrayal of the trends in the Canadian economy.

Text box 2.2 Definition of performance measures

Data accuracy

The accuracy of statistical information is the degree to which that information correctly describes the phenomena it was designed to measure. It is usually characterized in terms of sampling error, measured by the coefficient of variation, when the results of a survey are based on a sample of the population rather than the entire population. It may also be described in terms of the major sources of error that potentially cause inaccuracy, such as the response rates and the average size of revisions.

Coefficient of variation

The coefficient of variation is used as a measure of sampling error. Most surveys are based on a sample of the target population. Sampling is an important means of achieving an effective allocation of resources, ensuring appropriate relevance across programs, yielding more timely results, and in other ways improving data accuracy.

Estimates based on a sample can be expected to vary from sample to sample, and to differ from those that would result from a complete census. The expected size of these variations depends on a number of factors, such as the size of the sample and the method used to select it. Greater reliability is achieved by optimizing these factors.

The coefficient of variation is the measure of reliability most frequently provided to users. This coefficient gives an indication of the sampling error relative to the size of the estimate. A low coefficient of variation means low sampling errors and a high degree of statistical confidence in the reliability of the associated estimate. Conversely, a higher coefficient of variation means a lower degree of statistical confidence in the reliability. As well, the more disaggregated the estimates, the higher the coefficient of variation tends to be since, typically, as the size of the subgroup of interest decreases, the coefficient of variation of the related estimates rise.

Response rates

The accuracy of the data disseminated by Statistics Canada is directly related to the accuracy of the data provided by the respondents to its surveys and censuses. It follows that an important indication of accuracy is the percentage of respondents asked to provide data who actually do so. Generally, the higher this response rate, the greater the accuracy of the survey results will be. It is generally accepted that for most surveys, a 100% response rate is not a practical possibility. Statistics Canada ensures that reasonable efforts are made to achieve an acceptable response rate (as well as to obtain accurate responses) while producing timely data without placing undue burden on respondents or incurring undue costs.

Average size of revisions

Average size of revision is defined as the absolute percentage of revisions averaged over the 12 releases during the year (for monthly surveys) or four releases (for quarterly surveys).

Economic and socio-economic time series are statistical records of the evolution of economic processes through time, generally compiled for consecutive periods such as months, quarters or years. Time series contribute greatly to understanding both the trends and underlying causes of social and economic phenomena. While revisions to statistical estimates are often necessary, they impact directly on users of statistical information by altering the users’ understanding of these phenomena and, in turn, affecting their decision making.

Statistics Canada strives to minimize revisions to statistical estimates by facilitating reporting, ensuring that questionnaires are easily understood, making use of new technology to better accommodate respondents’ ability to report, and conducting internal reviews to ensure that collection and data-processing procedures yield effective results. Having data that arrive after the cutoff date for processing is the main reason for revisions. Other planned activities, such as changes to classification systems or modifications to baskets of goods and services on which indices are based, also result in revisions. Revisions to Statistics Canada’s series are made with a view to balancing the competing demands of accuracy and timeliness.

Performance of the Economic Statistics Program

The Economic Statistics Program continued to produce high-quality data in a cost-effective manner. Selected quality indicators are provided for some of the key activities of this program: the Monthly Survey of Manufacturing, the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey, the Monthly Retail Trade Survey, the Consumer Price Index, Industrial Product Price Index, Canadian International Merchandise Trade, the Quarterly Financial Statistics for Enterprises, and real gross domestic product. Three accuracy measures and one timeliness measure are presented in this section.

The coefficient of variation for these programs has remained low and stable for many years and indicates a high degree of statistical confidence in the reliability of these estimates.


Table 2.1 Accuracy measure: Coefficient of variation1
  2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008
%
Monthly Survey of Manufacturing 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.7
Monthly Retail Trade Survey 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7
Quarterly Financial Statistics for Enterprises 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7
1. This table omits the Consumer Price Index, the Industrial Product Price Index, Canadian International Merchandise Trade, and real gross domestic product, which do not use random sampling in producing their estimates.

The response rates have generally been in the acceptable to high range, although higher response rates are more desirable.

Some of the response rates have changed over time. The Monthly Survey of Manufacturing response rates increased from 92% in 2004/2005 to 96% in 2007/2008, whereas the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey and the Monthly Retail Trade Survey response rates declined somewhat. In the case of the Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey, the decline was more pronounced and was the result of there being some large non-respondents. Response rates for the Quarterly Financial Statistics were also relatively low. These response rates are very high by private sector or academic research standards.


Table 2.2 Accuracy measure: Response rates1
  2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008
%
Monthly Survey of Manufacturing 92 95 95 96
Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey 94 92 89 88
Monthly Retail Trade Survey 94 94 92 91
Industrial Product Price Index 87 86 84 86
Quarterly Financial Statistics for Enterprises2 84 84 82 73
1. This table omits the Consumer Price Index, Canadian International Merchandise Trade, and real gross domestic product, which do not collect data directly from respondents.
2. Data for 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 have been revised from those shown in the 2006/2007 Departmental Performance Report.

The average number of revisions was small by international standards.

In Canadian International Merchandise Trade, the relatively larger number of revisions for imports and exports are mainly because of the increased volatility of energy prices, which makes preliminary estimates of value more difficult to produce.


Table 2.3 Accuracy measure: Average size of revisions1
  2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008
%
Monthly Survey of Manufacturing 0.35 0.34 0.30 0.30
Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey 0.39 0.34 0.30 0.20
Monthly Retail Trade Survey 0.23 0.13 0.16 0.24
Industrial Product Price Index 0.46 0.20 0.13 0.13
Canadian International Merchandise Trade
  • imports
1.10 0.50 0.39 0.53
  • exports
0.35 1.23 0.77 0.89
Quarterly Financial Statistics for Enterprises 0.19 0.20 0.17 0.07
Real gross domestic product2 0.05 0.15 0.08 0.05
1. This table omits the Consumer Price Index, which does not regularly revise estimates.
2. The measure presented here is the average absolute revision to the quarterly growth rates of real gross domestic product. Real gross domestic product is an index-based statistic and percentage revisions to levels are not applicable. Data for 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 have been revised from those shown in the 2006/2007 Departmental Performance Report.

All of these subannual programs provide results on a very timely basis. There is always a desire on the part of data users to speed up production. They agree, however, that Statistics Canada has the right balance in the trade-off between timeliness and accuracy, especially in economic statistics where preliminary estimates subject to large revisions can give false signals that can have significant effects throughout the economy.


Table 2.4 Timeliness measure: Elapsed time between reference period and release date
  Frequency Elapsed time 2007/2008
Monthly Survey of Manufacturing Monthly 45 days
Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey Monthly 49 days
Monthly Retail Trade Survey Monthly 52 days
Consumer Price Index Monthly 21 days
Industrial Product Price Index Monthly 30 days
Canadian International Merchandise Trade Monthly 42 days
Quarterly Financial Statistics for Enterprises Quarterly 54 days
Real gross domestic product Quarterly 61 days

2007/2008 Report on Plans and Priorities

For the Economic Statistics Program, four priorities were identified in the 2007/2008 Report on Plans and Priorities:

  • development of a services price index
  • new statistics in support of the revised Equalization formula
  • establishment of Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators
  • Business Register redesign.

Services price index

The initiative was aimed at improving statistics on the increasingly important services sector to enhance the relevance of the national statistical program.

Services make up approximately two-thirds of the Canadian economy. Business services represent almost 40% of gross domestic product; government services, 17%; and personal services, 11%. Despite their importance, price indices for the business services sector do not exist, creating a significant gap in the Canadian economic statistical system. This gap seriously affects the estimates of quality of real output and productivity change for this sector.

In 2005, funding from internal sources was approved to develop the Services Producer Price Index over a five-year period. At the end of that time, services price indices will be available for approximately 30 broad business services categories, accounting for approximately 80% of the value added of the business service sector.

Significant progress was made in 2007/2008. Pilot surveys were launched in several services industries and releases of the new Services Producer Price Index series are planned in the winter of 2008. The development of the indices is a major accomplishment, as it will provide new deflators for a series of industries, which represent 37.5% of the total business services. These services price indices will provide better measurement of the constant dollar gross domestic product and a more appropriate international comparability in the areas of productivity, inflation and trade. Major development has also been launched in several other services industries.

New statistics in support of the revised Equalization formula

The federal government transfers funds to the provincial and territorial governments on an annual basis to assist in the provision of programs and services to the public. These transfers allow the provinces and territories to provide comparable levels of public services at comparable levels of taxation. Amendments to the Federal–Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act in June 2007 implemented changes to the Equalization Program announced in the March 2007 Federal Budget. Among others, the property tax base will be changed to better reflect current market values in the residential property sector. The 2007 Federal–Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations, required to administer the Act, came into effect in December 2007. The project has three phases and will become an ongoing program in 2010/2011.

In 2007/2008, Statistics Canada undertook phase 1 of the Property Tax Base Project, dedicated to the collection of data on property values and property tax revenue from provincial and territorial centralized administrative sources. Issues related to the interprovincial comparability of property classification and valuation methods were addressed. The work on the design and implementation of a common list of municipalities is well underway.

Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators

In 2004, the Government of Canada committed to establishing national indicators of air and water quality and of greenhouse gas emissions. The goal was to provide Canadians with more regular and reliable information on the state of the environment and how the environment is linked with human activities.

Four surveys are funded by the program. The Agricultural Water Use Survey refines estimates of agricultural water use, and helps develop a better understanding of irrigation practices and water issues for irrigators. The Industrial Water Survey provides information about the quantities of water withdrawn, recycled and consumed as well as costs, sources, treatments and discharge of water used for various economic sectors. The Survey of Drinking Water Plants will produce detailed information on treatment type and costs, and generate a national database of raw and treated water quality. The Households and the Environment Survey measures household behaviour and practices with respect to the environment. The survey provides an important socio-economic context, by province, including whether behaviour is influenced by advisories of poor air quality, treatment of drinking water, application of fertilizers and pesticides, ownership of household gasoline-powered equipment, and people travelling by motor vehicle to work.

In addition to conducting these surveys, Statistics Canada has improved the methodology used in the calculation and reporting of the air and water quality indicators.

The project released indicator reports in December 2005
(http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/051214/dq051214c-eng.htm), in November 2006 
(http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/061123/dq061123c-eng.htm), and in December 2007
(http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/071206/dq071206d-eng.htm). Each report reflected advances in monitoring, analysis and interpretation of the indicators and integration of information on the socio-economic activities that influence them.

Business Register redesign

The Business Register is a central repository containing contact and classification information on all businesses with a significant level of activity in Canada. The majority of Statistics Canada’s economic surveys rely on the Business Register to carry out their activities, particularly with respect to sampling, data collection and the production of estimates. The Business Register is a key component of its Economic Statistics Program.

In 2005/2006, Statistics Canada began a complete redesign of the Business Register to ensure its ongoing capacity to fulfill its mission in the years to come. The primary objectives of this redesign were to simplify and update the concepts as well as the operational processes (which were over 20 years old), to facilitate the use of the register through the use of more modern, user-friendly technology, and to enhance the timeliness of information included in the register.

The redesign of the Business Register was a three-year project. The redesign was completed successfully in January 2008—three months ahead of schedule. A transition plan was developed and implemented, which allowed the surveys to make the necessary adjustments to their operations and move from the old to the new register in a timely manner. As well, to ensure the effective use of the new register, a training program was developed to cover the new procedures and technological tools and is being offered to more than one thousand employees at Statistics Canada.

The new Business Register incorporates a number of features that will help improve business survey coverage, including simplified operational concepts and processes; integrated presentation of all available information on every business listed; and powerful and easy-to-use tools for updating and analysing information. In addition, the modernization of the Business Register helped to significantly reduce its operating costs and increase Statistics Canada’s capacity to effectively manage the business response burden, which is an ongoing Statistics Canada priority.

Social Statistics (program activity 2)

The Social Statistics Program provides information on the economic and social characteristics of individuals, families and households in Canada, and on the major factors that can contribute to their well-being. It includes measures of household income and expenditure; employment, unemployment and their associated costs and benefits; labour income and factors affecting labour supply; health and factors influencing it; and information on topics of specific social policy concern. This program also provides information and analysis on the facilities, agencies and systems that are publicly funded to meet the socio-economic and physical needs of Canadians, and on the outcomes of the services that they provide. It encompasses the justice, health care, and education systems as well as cultural institutions and industries, in terms of the nature and extent of their services and operations, the characteristics of the individual Canadians and families whom they serve, and their impact on Canadian society.

A more detailed description of these activities can be found at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/about-apercu/structure/paa-aap-eng.htm.

Performance of the Social Statistics Program

The Social Statistics Program continued to produce high-quality data in a cost-effective manner. Selected quality indicators are presented for two key surveys that are part of the Social Statistics Program: the Labour Force Survey and the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours.

The coefficients of variation for the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours and the employment estimate from the Labour Force Survey have remained very low and stable for several years, indicating a high degree of reliability in the estimates produced.

The coefficient of variation for the unemployment estimate from the Labour Force Survey is also very low and stable, but is slightly higher than that of the employment estimate because a smaller target population is involved.

In the case of the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours, the reliability at lower levels of disaggregation was the subject of in-depth research in 2007 and was found to be unacceptable by Statistics Canada standards. As a result, changes are being made to restrict publication to cells meeting its basic quality thresholds.


Table 2.5 Accuracy measure: Coefficient of variation
  2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008
%
Labour Force Survey
  • Employment1
0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
  • Unemployment2
2.0 2.0 2.0 2.1
Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
1. Data for 2004/2005, 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 have been revised from those shown in the 2006/2007 Departmental Performance Report.
2. Data for 2004/2005 have been revised from those shown in the 2006/2007 Departmental Performance Report.

For the Labour Force Survey and the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours, response rates remain high.


Table 2.6 Accuracy measure: Response rates
  2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008
%
Labour Force Survey 92 91 93 92
Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours 88 89 89 90

Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours data are revised to reflect late returns and newly identified reporting and processing errors. In recent years, fewer adjustments were made to the preliminary data in order to allow for the receipt of these late returns, thereby accounting for the larger size of the revisions in 2006/2007 and in 2007/2008.


Table 2.7 Accuracy measure: Average size of revisions1
  2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008
%
Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours 0.04 0.03 0.16 0.11
1. This table omits the Labour Force Survey, which does not regularly revise estimates.

The time elapsed between the reference period and release date corresponds to that for similar surveys done in other countries.


Table 2.8 Timeliness measure: Elapsed time between reference period and release date
  Frequency Elapsed time
2007/2008
Labour Force Survey Monthly 20 days
Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours Monthly 59 days

2007/2008 Report on Plans and Priorities

For the Social Statistics Program, two priorities were identified in the 2007/2008 Report on Plans and Priorities:

  • Health Statistics Program
  • Child-centered Family Law Strategy.

Health Statistics Program

A number of major developments occurred to meet this priority.

First, the new Canadian Health Measures Survey, launched in March 2007, is collecting key information on the health of Canadians by means of direct physical measurements such as blood pressure, height, weight and physical fitness. In addition, the survey collects blood and urine samples to test for infectious diseases, nutrition and environmental markers. The survey aims to collect data and physical health measures from 5,000 Canadians aged 6 to 79 in 15 communities across Canada. Collection began in 2007/2008 and will continue until March 2009. Canadians from all selected age groups are responding positively to this new initiative. Even more encouraging is that respondents are participating in all clinical tests; response rates for blood and urine collection are as high as those for less intrusive tests such as blood pressure.

The information resulting from the Canadian Health Measures Survey will create national baseline data on the extent of such major health concerns as obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, exposure to infectious diseases and exposure to environmental contaminants. In addition, the survey will provide evidence about many diseases, such as hypertension, that may be undiagnosed among Canadians. In Australia, a similar survey conducted from 1999 to 2001 found that for every known case of diabetes, there was one undiagnosed case. Data dissemination will begin with a preliminary release on environmental information in November 2008, followed by release of comprehensive results in early 2010. Funding to make the Canadian Health Measures Survey an ongoing survey was secured in Budget 2008 by Statistics Canada’s partners, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Second, the Canadian Community Health Survey is being enhanced. It has moved from a model in which the data were collected from a large sample of households (130,000 respondents) every second year, to one of continuous collection where approximately 65,000 respondents are interviewed each year. This will allow Statistics Canada to release data from the survey more often and to react more quickly to emerging issues. The redesign of the Canadian Health Measures Survey has added increased flexibility to the questionnaire, which now includes a rapid response option. This allows clients with a specific, time-sensitive data requirement to include two to three minutes’ worth of questionnaire content on the main survey questionnaire for a minimum of two months (on a cost-recoverable basis).

Third, the Longitudinal Health and Administrative Data initiative involves Statistics Canada working closely with provincial and territorial ministries responsible for health care and public health to develop a partnership to undertake research requiring assembly and linkage of administrative data, routinely collected through the health care system, with data collected through Statistics Canada surveys. The initiative’s partners have determined the research agenda for 2008/2009 that would provide pan-Canadian and comparative information across provinces and territories to improve understanding of relationships among risk factors, socio-economic characteristics, determinants of health, health status measures and utilization of health care.

Child-centered Family Law Strategy

In 2003/2004, the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics embarked upon a five-year project to develop and implement the Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs and the Civil Court Survey.

By March 2008, six provinces and territories were reporting to the Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs and seven to the Civil Court Survey. The year 2008 was the first year data for the Civil Court Survey were released, while the scope and breadth of data analysis for the Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs continued to expand with a third annual release. The development, programming and testing of standard output tables for the Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs was completed during the year. Despite the interest in and high degree of relevance of this program, funding for it ended in 2007/2008.

Census Statistics (program activity 3)

The census provides a statistical portrait of Canada and its people. The vast majority of countries carry out a census at regular intervals to collect important information about the social and economic situation of the people living in their various regions.

In Canada, the census is the only reliable source of detailed data for a wide range of small groups (including lone-parent families, ethnic groups, and industrial and occupational categories) and for areas as small as a city neighbourhood or as large as the country itself. Because the Canadian census is collected every five years and the questions are similar from one census to another, it is possible to compare changes that have occurred in the makeup of Canada's population over time.

Census outputs include information on

  • the minority language information needs for the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
  • basic demographic information for social programs, such as the Old Age Security pension and the Child Tax Benefit
  • where people are born, their citizenship status for electoral planning and administration of pension exchange programs between Canada and other countries, the number of immigrants and non-permanent residents in Canada, and the year people immigrated to Canada. This information is used to review immigration and employment policies and programs, as well as to plan education, health, and other services
  • the ethnic and cultural diversity of Canada’s population, which is used extensively by ethnic and cultural associations, by government departments such as Canadian Heritage, Human Resources and Social Development, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and by agencies and researchers for a wide range of activities, such as health promotion, communications and marketing
  • Aboriginal or First Nations peoples, to administer legislation and employment programs under the Indian Act and the Employment Equity Act
  • the visible minority population, for the Employment Equity Act
  • the education, training and specific job skills to meet the changing needs of the workforce
  • paid work done by people aged 15 and older to plan for education and training programs to meet job needs
  • income to develop income support programs and social services, such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement, provincial and territorial income supplements, social assistance and welfare.

A more detailed description of these activities can be found at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/about-apercu/structure/paa-aap-eng.htm.

Performance of the Census Statistics Program

Highlights from the Census Statistics Program for the fiscal year 2007/2008 include the dissemination of data from the 2006 Census of Population and the 2006 Census of Agriculture and from postcensal surveys such as the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey and the Survey on the Vitality of Official-Language Minorities. Data were also collected for the Aboriginal Peoples Survey for release in the fall of 2008.

During this same fiscal year, the Office of the Auditor General conducted an audit on whether Statistics Canada applied its established quality assurance systems and practices in managing the 2006 Census of Population. The Office of the Auditor General also examined to what extent the 2006 Census program managed the risks to the privacy of respondents and complied with the government's risk management policy, particularly in its ability to recruit and retain temporary field staff. The report, tabled in the House of Commons on October 30, 2007, found that Statistics Canada followed sound quality assurance standards in managing the 2006 Census of Population. The audit also found that Statistics Canada took necessary steps to understand and meet the needs of its clients for census information and to improve the quality of the information on population groups that have been hard to count. In addition, the audit found that Statistics Canada made considerable efforts to ensure that the privacy of information supplied by respondents was protected. For example, it provided mail-back and Internet options so Canadians could respond privately without the presence of a local census employee.

The report made a small number of recommendations, specifically in the area of documentation of high-impact and high-probability risks along with the quality assurance measures in place at various stages of the census-taking process. These recommendations will be implemented for the 2011 Census.

During 2007/2008, a number of evaluation studies were conducted on the 2006 Census Internet questionnaire responses. The results show that data collected via the Internet were more complete than data collected on paper questionnaires. As a result, far less follow-up with Internet respondents was required. The challenge moving towards the 2011 Census is to increase Internet response. Building on research conducted during 2006, the plan for some areas of the country is to send an invitation letter to respondents asking them to complete the census online instead of providing them with a paper questionnaire. As for the Census of Agriculture, it is anticipated that Internet response will double in 2011 to 10% from the 5% achieved in 2006. More limited access to high-speed Internet connections in rural areas, as well as the length of the questionnaire (16 pages), are significant factors that make the Census of Agriculture’s Internet response take-up rate much lower than the corresponding rate for the Census of Population.

Evaluations have also identified that one of the major challenges faced in the last census was attracting and retaining sufficient field staff in many parts of the country, and it is expected that this challenge will continue into the next census.  It is critical that we develop and test effective recruitment, retention and compensation strategies that will attract and sustain a productive field staff for 2011. In the Census of Agriculture, the need for field staff will be vastly reduced in 2011, given the move to complete mail-out and centralized, telephone-based non-response follow-up.

2007/2008 Report on Plans and Priorities

There were three priorities: the release of data from the 2006 Census of Population, the release of data from the 2006 Census of Agriculture, and the conducting of the Aboriginal Peoples postcensal survey. In addition to these priorities, the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey was repeated and a new survey on the vitality of official language minorities was undertaken.

2006 Census of Population

In the 2007/2008 Report on Plans and Priorities, the release of data from the 2006 Census of Population was identified as a priority initiative. The initiative was aimed at improving the relevance of the national statistical program through the release of these data. The census is a fundamental source of statistical information for a wide variety of users across the country.

The Census of Population has now released the following sets of results. These were all released on time, in accordance with the pre-announced schedule posted at http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/rt-td/index-eng.cfm.


Table 2.9 Census of Population release dates, titles and website addresses
Release 1: March 31, 2007 Population and Dwelling Counts http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/070313/tdq070313-eng.htm
Release 2: July 17, 2007 Age and Sex http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/070717/dq070717a-eng.htm
Release 3: September 12, 2007 Families and Households
Marital Status (including Common-law Status)
Housing and Dwelling Characteristics
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/070912/dq070912a-eng.htm
Release 4: December 4, 2007 Language
Immigration and Citizenship
Mobility and Migration
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/071204/dq071204a-eng.htm
Release 5: January 15, 2008 Aboriginal Peoples http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080115/dq080115a-eng.htm
Release 6: March 4, 2008 Labour (including Labour Market Activity, Industry and Occupation)
Place of Work and Commuting to Work (including Mode of Transportation)
Education
Language of Work
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080304/dq080304a-eng.htm
Release 7: April 2, 2008 Ethnic Origin and Visible Minorities http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080402/dq080402a-eng.htm
Release 8: May 1, 2008 Income and Earnings
Shelter Costs
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080501/dq080501a-eng.htm

More details on the results of the 2006 Census can be found at http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/index-eng.cfm.

The amount of coverage generated by the census is a measure of its success. Media coverage for the 2006 Census releases was nearly double coverage of the 2001 Census releases. Increased traffic on the Statistics Canada website―nearly 3 million census-related visitors and over 25 million census page views—combined with positive feedback from data users points to an overwhelmingly positive response from Canadians. Census data are being made more accessible and are reaching unprecedented coverage levels, and this serves to heighten the relevance of this information to Canadians.

While several factors can influence census data accuracy, it is most affected by the degree to which persons are missed in the census (undercoverage) or counted more than once (overcoverage). Statistics Canada completed the preliminary certification activities of the Census Coverage Studies over the winter of 2007/2008. These consist of the Reverse Record Check, a sample survey of about 70,000 persons to measure undercoverage, and the Census Overcoverage Study, which searches for pairs of persons with identical characteristics on the census database. Preliminary undercoverage and overcoverage estimates were released in the spring of 2008. Nationally, the preliminary population net undercoverage rate for the 2006 Census was estimated at 2.8%. Once the coverage estimates are finalized, a new postcensal population estimates series will be produced and released. These estimates are of critical importance and are used in the annual allocation of billions of dollars in health and social transfers and equalization payments to provinces and territories. In fiscal year 2007/2008, approximately $67 billion was allocated based on these population estimates.

When Statistics Canada releases population and dwelling counts from the census, data users sometimes question the accuracy of the counts for a particular geographic area, such as a municipality. Statistics Canada investigates and addresses each request in a formal review of the 2006 Census counts. In cases where no significant error in the population and dwelling counts is detected, it confirms the published census counts with a written explanation. For a very small number of cases, errors are confirmed and revised population counts are provided.

2006 Census of Agriculture

The initiative was aimed at improving the relevance of the national statistical program through the release of these data.

The census is a fundamental source of statistical information for a wide variety of users across the country. The Census of Agriculture has now released the following sets of results. These were all released on time, in accordance with the pre-announced schedule posted at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/ca-ra2006/release-diffusion-eng.htm.


Table 2.10 Census of Agriculture release dates, titles and website addresses
Release 1: May 16, 2007 Farm Operations and Operators (Comprehensive information about agricultural operations across Canada and the people managing those farms) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/070516/dq070516a-eng.htm
Release 2: October 26, 2007 The Soybean, a Canadian Agricultural Success Story (Inaugural release of the 2006 edition of the Canadian Agriculture at a Glance series of analytical articles) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/071026/dq071026b-eng.htm
Release 3: December 11, 2007 Selected Historical Data from the Census of Agriculture (Most of the data cover the period from 1976 to 2006. Some variables go back to 1921.) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/95-632-x/95-632-x2007000-eng.htm
Release 4: January 25, 2008 Canada's Bison Industry (Part of the Canadian Agriculture at a Glance series) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080125/dq080125b-eng.htm
Release 5: February 5, 2008 2006 Agriculture Community Profile (Available online on the Statistics Canada website and present community-level information from the 2006 Census of Agriculture) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080205/be080205a-eng.htm
Release 6: March 28, 2008 Organic from Niche to Mainstream (Part of the Canadian Agriculture at a Glance series) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080328/dq080328a-eng.htm
Release 7: May 23, 2008 Sugar Beets in Canada (Part of the Canadian Agriculture at a Glance series) http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080523/dq080523a-eng.htm

More details on the results of the 2006 Census of Agriculture can be found at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/ca-ra2006/index-eng.htm.

An enhanced release strategy enabled the public and the media to have increased access to Census of Agriculture data. There were over 619,000 downloads of 2006 Census of Agriculture products in 2007/2008. As in the past, the initial release of data one year after Census Day saw heavy media coverage. To sustain that coverage and provide a more in-depth examination of Census of Agriculture data, a series of descriptive educational products is being released approximately every two months in electronic format. This user-friendly publication has proven very attractive to the media, the general public and educators, generating positive commentary along with in-depth coverage of data in print, radio and television.

For the Census of Agriculture, coverage errors occur when farms are missed, incorrectly included or double counted. Coverage estimates were published with the initial release of 2006 Census of Agriculture data in May 2007. They indicated that nationally, the undercoverage rate for the number of farms was 3.3%. The undercoverage rate for the total farm area was 1.3% and for gross farm receipts was 0.9%, confirming that Census of Agriculture undercoverage tends to occur for smaller farms.

Aboriginal Peoples Survey

The Aboriginal Peoples Survey off-reserve component was successfully conducted in 2006/2007. The data will be released in the fall of 2008. The Aboriginal Peoples Survey provides information on the social and economic conditions of First Nations people living off-reserve, Métis and Inuit.

In the summer of 2007, the Aboriginal Children’s Survey was integrated into the Aboriginal Statistics Program. The Aboriginal Children’s Survey off-reserve component was successfully conducted in 2006/2007. Data will be released in the fall of 2008, providing information on the development and well-being of First Nations children living off-reserve, Métis children and Inuit children under the age of 6. Previously run outside the Aboriginal Statistics Program, this integration allows for a more co-ordinated approach to the collection and dissemination of the data from both the Aboriginal postcensal surveys.

Discussions are presently ongoing with federal departments for proceeding with an on-reserve component to the Aboriginal Peoples Survey and Aboriginal Children’s Survey. Work is proceeding slowly. The plan to carry out these surveys continues to be progressive and involves working over the next several years with First Nations communities willing to participate in the survey.

Steps have also been taken toward operationalizing the First Nations Statistical Institute. Once operational, this new Crown corporation will assist First Nations in meeting their information needs and will work with Statistics Canada to better represent First Nations in the national statistical system.

Participation and Activity Limitation Survey

In 2007/2008, the Census Statistics Program conducted the Participation and Activity Limitation Survey, capturing data for 2006. This is a survey on Canadians (adults and children) whose day-to-day activities may be limited because of a condition or health problem. Survey results will help to identify difficulties and barriers these Canadians may face.

The first results were released in December 2007 at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/071203/dq071203a-eng.htm.

A release focusing on special education for children took place in May 2008 and appears at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080527/dq080527a-eng.htm.

A release focusing on assistive technology took place in June 2008 and appears at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/080603/dq080603b-eng.htm.

The Participation and Activity Limitation Survey was very well received by participants and by the media. In fact, Statistics Canada has regularly been contacted by people with disabilities wishing to participate in the next Participation and Activity Limitation Survey. The overall response rate was 75%.

Survey on the Vitality of Official-language Minorities

In 2007/2008, the Census Statistics Program conducted the Survey on the Vitality of Official-language Minorities, capturing data for 2006. This survey pertains to the vitality of anglophones in Quebec and francophones outside of Quebec. The information collected allows for a more in-depth understanding of the current situation of individuals belonging to these groups on subjects as diverse as instruction in the language of the minority or access to different services in the language of the minority (e.g., health care), as well as language practices both at home and outside of the home.

The first results were released in December 2007 at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/071211/dq071211a-eng.htm.

This survey was well received by the public and the results generated considerable media coverage. The overall response rate was 73%.

Lessons learned

Statistics Canada requires, and has instituted, a vigilant, ongoing quality assurance system to maintain and enhance the quality of its data.

Statistics Canada has always known that Canadians’ trust in its data depends critically on the quality of those data. The quality assurance system put in place in 2006 has made significant investments in a number of areas and has been conducive to minimizing the frequency of errors that can, and do, creep in when thousands of staff deal with millions of pieces of data.

Effective dissemination of statistics to Canadians and policy makers allow the data to influence decision making at a national level.

Statistics Canada disseminates data using a variety of means that include The Daily, the Internet and publications. Statistics Canada has learned that dissemination of data cannot be static but rather dynamic and evolutionary as economy and society change and evolve. Statistics Canada products must evolve and change to provide Canadians the most accurate picture of the country’s economy, society and population.

Statistics Canada must be constantly alert to the data needs of the country so that data can keep pace with economic and social developments.

Examples of this are globalization and the increasing importance of the service sector. Statistics Canada is focused on improving the relevance of data in these areas.

Statistics Canada’s organizational structure, a major factor in securing its international reputation as a statistical agency to be emulated, must be guarded.

Statistics Canada has learned over many years that all staff need to work together as a group to produce the best possible data. This collegiality is reflected in its organizational structure where all key decisions are made collegially and collectively, a feature that has served Statistics Canada well and needs to be guarded.

People are the reason Statistics Canada has a reputation for excellence. The systems in place to recruit, develop, provide learning opportunities for and look after the wellness of staff are critical and need strengthening in view of the demographic challenges the public service faces.

Statistics Canada’s human resources systems are models for other public sector organizations. There is a clear link between these systems and the quality of its products, which are recognized internationally. The demographic pressures faced by the public service have taught Statistics Canada the value of continuing with and strengthening these systems.

The Internet is becoming increasingly important as a response mode and Statistics Canada has learned that it must tailor its program to accommodate evolving technologies.
 
As the Environics Research Group’s survey clearly shows (see Section 1), more and more Canadians want to respond to Statistics Canada surveys through the Internet. Statistics Canada must evolve over time to accommodate that. In this context, it is putting in place systems that would ensure that the 2011 Census would more than meet Canadians’ needs.