Analysis

Description:

The oil crisis of the mid-1970’s triggered a new awareness among Canadians of the importance of energy conservation. The resulting government programs in the transportation sector demanded basic data about on-the-road fuel consumption by motor vehicles operating in Canadian conditions. This paper describes the Passenger Car Fuel Consumption Survey which was developed jointly by Statistics Canada and Transport Canada to meet this need. The methodology of the survey is described and some examples of the results are presented. The paper concludes with some speculation about future directions for the survey and for vehicle-usage statistics in general.

Description:

In order to improve the timeliness, accuracy and consistency of population estimates for different geographic areas, Statistics Canada has developed new methods of estimation for sub-provincial areas (census divisions and census metropolitan areas). Beginning with 1982, two sets of population estimates (regression and component based) will be published yearly, appearing 3-4 months and 12-15 months, respectively, from the reference date.

The regression technique uses family allowance recipients as the main symptomatic indicator and where available, additional indicators - reference population from provincial health insurance files and hydro accounts - to derive population change for the current year. The first set is obtained by adding this change to the second set for the previous year produced by the component method, with births and deaths from vital registers, and estimated migration from Revenue Canada taxation files. The two sets were found to be statistically similar with respect to accuracy, though the first set is more timely, and the second provides more details on the components of population change.

Description:

This paper firstly provides an overview of the For-hire Trucking Survey background and of the steps that were involved in the revision that led to its re-design. It secondly describes the general direction of the methodology of the re-designed survey which is being implemented for reference year 1981.

Description:

The Air Scheduled International Passenger Origin and Destination (ASIPOD) estimation system uses the data from two air traffic surveys to produce origin-destination estimates of international passengers. The “assignment technique” is the solution to the problem caused by the non-coverage of non-interlining traffic. The assumptions of the technique are sufficiently questionable to warrant an evaluation of the bias of the estimates. However, major improvements will be made in the new system which will decrease the bias in the estimates. Also, estimates of reliability will be produced. And as a result, knowledge of the strength of the inferences made with respect to air traffic markets from these estimates will be improved in international bilateral air negotiations.

Description:

Statistics Canada, Canada’s central statistical agency, has been compiling national mortality statistics, including those on cancer mortality since 1921. Also, cancer incidence data are available from 1969.

The data quality of these files may be assessed in a variety of ways. Ratios of cancer mortality to incidence give some information on coverage errors. Micro-data matches between incidence and mortality files give an indication of misclassifications. As well, multiple registrations for cancer incidence may be duplicates. Completeness and availability of data items are also important for special studies.

In this paper, the feasibility of using these measures of data quality and the implications of these measures are discussed.

Description:

The Canadian Labour Force Survey is a household survey conducted each month for the purpose of producing point-in-time estimates of the number of persons employed, unemployed and not in the labor force. The survey has a rotating panel design in which all individuals in a sampled household location are interviewed each month, for six consecutive months. In the past, little use has been made of this longitudinal structure, although considerable interest has been expressed in the month-to-month gross flows (transitions) amongst the labour force status categories. In this paper we discuss methods being considered by Statistics Canada for the production of gross flow estimates, but from a model-based perspective.

Description:

The peach, sour cherry and the grape objective yield surveys have been carried out annually in the Niagara Peninsula since 1964 in order to forecast the magnitude of change in marketable fruit production from the previous year. Timeliness of the estimates is essential in order to enable the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers Marketing Board (OTFGMB) and the Ontario Grape Growers Marketing Board (OGGMB) to establish the marketing strategies well ahead of the harvest. This paper summarizes the major changes due to the second redesign initiated in 1982. In particular, the sample design, data collection operation and modifications of the estimation procedures are elaborated upon.

Description:

This paper describes the procedures used and results of a joint Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) and Statistics Canada project to provide a timely potato acreage estimate for New Brunswick, a major potato producing province in Canada. The project has demonstrated that satellite imagery combined with more traditional potato area estimation procedures can lower respondent burden, produce timely crop distribution maps and produce reliable estimates for subregions.

Description:

A theory of sampling on two occasions with unequal probabilities and without replacement is presented. Fellegi’s (1963) method, which yields the same selection probabilities for a given unit on each occasion, is used to select the units for the rotation sample. The variances of composite estimators of the population total on the second occasion are developed. Numerical results are presented for small sample sizes and efficiency comparisons are made with a competing strategy.

Description:

The modern statistical survey is an effective method of meeting the ever-increasing demand for timely and accurate data. One important component of the statistical survey is the questionnaire. This article discusses the role of the questionnaire in meeting the needs of users, the relationship of the questionnaire to the other components of survey design, and the effect of the questionnaire on the quality of survey data. The importance of viewing the questionnaire as an integral part of the total survey design is stressed.

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: Release published in The Daily – Statistics Canada’s official release bulletin

Description: It is well documented that earnings vary considerably by population group (White, Black, Latin American, etc.). One of the possible reasons may be the fact that educational attainment also varies considerably by population group. Currently, there is a lack of information on the educational pathways of individuals from various population groups who began a postsecondary education program. This article fills this gap by documenting various aspects of the postsecondary experience of different population groups with regard to bachelor’s degree programs.

Description: The impact of immigration on the destination country is contingent not only on the number of immigrants admitted but also on how many of them choose to stay and actively engage in the labour market. This article analyzes the active presence of adult immigrants since the 1990s. Active presence refers to the extent to which immigrants who were admitted to Canada during a specific period actively engage in Canadian society within a specific timeframe.

Description: Headline inflation in Canada reached a 40-year high in 2022. Rising prices reduced the purchasing power of people whose incomes were not keeping pace with inflation and the current high inflation in Canada, as well as in many other countries, may be caused by both demand and supply factors. This article examines whether the current high inflation in Canada is demand–pull or supply–push.

Description: The pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on the Canadian economy. This impact was uneven across different workers and businesses. However, there is little information available on how businesses were affected by and survived through the pandemic according to the characteristics of their owners, especially those owned by certain groups such as women and immigrants. This article uses a linkage of the monthly business openings and closures with the Canadian Employer-Employee Dynamics Database and the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to study the survival rate and employment growth of businesses by gender, and immigrant status of owners.

Description: This technical paper describes the collection of food price data and the methodologies that are used to provide Canadians with accurate and timely food inflation data in both the CPI and the monthly average retail prices table.

Description: This article explores trends in patent applications made by Canadian-resident businesses for advanced technologies from 2001 to 2019, drawing on Eurostat's aggregation of high-tech patents. Approximately one-third of applications fall under high-tech categories, the bulk of which were associated with Communication, Computer, and Automated business equipment technologies. While these fields saw growth until 2012, a subsequent decline occurred, notably in Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing. Biotechnology, Semiconductors, and Lasers showed limited dynamism, while aviation technology applications surged by nearly twentyfold over the period.

Description: Digital Insights brings together a variety of data from across Statistics Canada and other sources to provide insights and analysis on the digital economy and society in Canada. The topics covered include: e-commerce, digital trade, cyber security and cybercrime, and the impacts of Internet and other technology use on the Canadian economy and society.

Description: This study compares the Government of Canada’s direct and indirect measures to support R&D, as captured by business innovation and growth support (BIGS) programs and the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentive program. BIGS and SR&ED are two central instruments that the Canadian government uses to stimulate R&D expenditures in the business sector.

Description: Over the last several years, recreational screen time has been increasing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, recreational screen time rose among Canadian youth and adults, and those who increased screen time had poorer self-reported mental health. Using data from the 2017, 2018, and 2021 Canadian Community Health Survey, the objective of this study was to compare recreational screen time behaviours before (2018) and during (2021) the pandemic, looking at patterns by sociodemographic subgroups of the Canadian population.

Description: The availability of measures to operationalize allostatic load—the cumulative toll on the body of responding to stressor demands—in population health surveys may differ across years or surveys, hampering analyses on the entire sampled population. In this study, the impacts of variable selection and calculation method were evaluated to generate an allostatic load index applicable across all cycles of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). CHMS data were used to compare individual and population-level changes in scores for allostatic load indexes in which other commonly used measures were substituted for waist-to-hip ratio. Associations between the various constructs and indicators of socioeconomic position were then assessed to evaluate whether relationships were maintained across indexes.

Description:

Each issue contains a short article highlighting statistical insights on themes relating to agriculture, food and rural issues.

Description: This publication presents energy balance sheets in natural units and heat equivalents in primary and secondary forms, by province. Each balance sheet shows data on production, trade, interprovincial movements, conversion and consumption by sector. Analytical tables and details on non-energy products are also included. It includes explanatory notes, a historical energy summary table and data analysis. The publication also presents data on natural gas liquids, electricity generated from fossil fuels, solid wood waste and spent pulping liquor.

Description: Once every five years, the Census of Population provides a detailed and comprehensive statistical portrait of Canada that is vital to our country. It is the primary source of sociodemographic data for specific population groups such as lone-parent families, Indigenous peoples, immigrants, seniors and language groups.

In order to help users of census products to better understand the various Census of Population concepts, Statistics Canada has developed, in the context of the activities of the 2021 Census and previous censuses, a collection of short videos. These videos are a reference source for users who are new to census concepts or those who have some experience with these concepts, but may need a refresher or would like to expand their knowledge.

Description: The Departmental Sustainable Development Strategy (DSDS) outlines departmental actions, with measurable performance indicators, that support the implementation strategies of the 2022-2026 Federal Sustainable Development Strategy. The DSDS further outlines Statistics Canada’s sustainable development vision to produce data to help track whether Canada is moving toward a more sustainable future and highlights projects with links to supporting sustainable development goals.

Description: This series provides detailed documentation on the issues, concepts, methodology, data quality and other relevant research related to household expenditures from the Survey of Household Spending, the Homeowner Repair and Renovation Survey and the Food Expenditure Survey.

Description: This report summarizes the annual achievements of the Methodology Research and Development Program (MRDP) sponsored by the Modern Statistical Methods and Data Science Branch at Statistics Canada. This program covers research and development activities in statistical methods with potentially broad application in the agency’s statistical programs; these activities would otherwise be less likely to be carried out during the provision of regular methodology services to those programs. The MRDP also includes activities that provide support in the application of past successful developments in order to promote the use of the results of research and development work. Selected prospective research activities are also presented.

Description: The series covers environment accounts and indicators, environmental surveys, spatial environmental information and other research related to environmental statistics. The technical paper series is intended to stimulate discussion on a range of environmental topics.

Description: This bulletin presents the most up-to-date available information extracted from all of the Aviation Statistics Centre's surveys. Regular features include releases on principal statistics for Canada's major air carriers, airport data, fare basis statistics and traffic data for Canada's most important markets.

Description: This series of analytical articles provides insights on the socio-economic environment in rural communities in Canada. New articles will be released periodically.

Description: Statistics Canada is committed to sharing our knowledge and expertise to help all Canadians develop their data literacy skills by developing a series of data literacy training resources. Data literacy is a key skill needed in the 21st century. It is generally described as the ability to derive meaning from data. Data literacy focuses on the competencies or skills involved in working with data, including the ability to read, analyze, interpret, visualize data, as well as to drive good decision-making.