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This paper examines some of the fundamental issues behind foreign affiliate trade statistics (FATS), including what they are, who needs them and why they have become so important, and Statistics Canada's plan for collecting FATS.

For most of the post-war period, Canada and the United States have utilized an open regime to govern trade relations between the two countries. Such has not always been the case for transborder air services, however. In 1966, the two countries signed an air services accord (ASA) that governed commercial air services between the two. The 1966 accord was quite restrictive, limiting entry and price competition in transborder markets. This restrictive agreement governed Canada-U.S. air service for almost 30 years, finally being replaced in 1995 with a new ASA that has granted entry and pricing freedom in transborder markets.

The Quebec Institute of Statistics hosted a forum for Statistics Canada and provincial government experts dealing with the subject of science and technology statistics.

Statistics Canada's annual retail trade surveys are undergoing changes. Two activities underlie these changes. The re-design of our annual retail trade questionnaires is one. The other is the conversion from the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification (1980 SIC) to the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). These activities will have significant impacts on the output of the annual surveys.

This paper has two goals. The first is to inform retail store data users, industry analysts, trade associations and other stakeholders about these changes. The second is to consult with stakeholders on possible data outputs resulting from the changes.

The paper is organized into five parts. Following the introduction, Part II describes the outputs from the current surveys and compares and contrasts the current outputs with the new. Part III focuses on the introduction of NAICS codes and the changes in coverage for retail trade. In Part IV, the benefits resulting from the above changes are outlined. The final part (Part V) seeks comments or suggestions from data users, retail trade associations and industry specialists on the release of data products as a result of the changes to the surveys.

For most of the post-war period, Canada and the United States have utilized an open regime to govern trade relations between the two countries. Such has not always been the case for transborder air services, however. In 1966, the two countries signed an air services accord (ASA) that governed commercial air services between the two. The 1966 accord was quite restrictive, limiting entry and price competition in transborder markets. This restrictive agreement governed Canada-U.S. air service for almost 30 years, finally being replaced in 1995 with a new ASA that has granted entry and pricing freedom in transborder markets.

This paper examines some of the fundamental issues behind foreign affiliate trade statistics (FATS), including what they are, who needs them and why they have become so important, and Statistics Canada's plan for collecting FATS.

The Quebec Institute of Statistics hosted a forum for Statistics Canada and provincial government experts dealing with the subject of science and technology statistics.

Statistics Canada's annual retail trade surveys are undergoing changes. Two activities underlie these changes. The re-design of our annual retail trade questionnaires is one. The other is the conversion from the 1980 Standard Industrial Classification (1980 SIC) to the North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS). These activities will have significant impacts on the output of the annual surveys.

This paper has two goals. The first is to inform retail store data users, industry analysts, trade associations and other stakeholders about these changes. The second is to consult with stakeholders on possible data outputs resulting from the changes.

The paper is organized into five parts. Following the introduction, Part II describes the outputs from the current surveys and compares and contrasts the current outputs with the new. Part III focuses on the introduction of NAICS codes and the changes in coverage for retail trade. In Part IV, the benefits resulting from the above changes are outlined. The final part (Part V) seeks comments or suggestions from data users, retail trade associations and industry specialists on the release of data products as a result of the changes to the surveys.