Reference resources

Description: Documents in this series provide insight into the statistical methods used by Statistics Canada to produce official statistics. They include introductory material, in-depth descriptions of techniques and methods, best practices, and guidelines. All documents have undergone review to ensure that they conform to Statistics Canada's mandate and adhere to generally accepted methodological standards and practices.

Description: This reference document provides answers on selected topics related to the use, interpretation, and calculation of trend-cycle estimates for seasonally adjusted data. It is designed to complement more technical discussions of seasonal adjustment and trend-cycle estimation found in Statistics Canada publications and reference manuals.

Description: This reference document provides nontechnical answers on selected topics related to the use and interpretation of seasonally adjusted data. It is designed to complement more technical discussions of seasonal adjustment found in Statistics Canada publications and reference manuals.

Description: This product contains articles related to the latest methodological, conceptual developments in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts as well as the analysis of the Canadian economy. It includes articles detailing new methods, concepts and statistical techniques used to compile the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. It also includes information related to new or expanded data products, provides updates and supplements to information found in various guides and analytical articles touching upon a broad range of topics related to the Canadian economy.

Description: Health regions are defined by the provinces and represent administrative areas or regions of interest to health authorities. This product contains correspondence files (linking health regions to latest Census geographic codes) and digital boundary files. User documentation provides an overview of health regions, sources, methods, limitations and product description (file format and layout).

In addition to the geographic files, this product also includes Census data (basic profile) for health regions.

Description: Recent changes in Canada’s immigration levels have heightened interest in understanding how immigration affects housing demand. This article develops a methodological framework for projecting housing use associated with permanent residents (PRs) and non-permanent residents (NPRs) under alternative immigration scenarios. The framework applies observed per capita housing use rates from the Census of Population to estimate incremental housing use by tenure over time.

Description: Departmental Plans (DP) are individual expenditure plans for each department and agency. These reports provide increased levels of detail over a three-year period on an organization's main priorities by strategic outcome, program and planned/expected results, including links to related resource requirements presented in the Main Estimates. In conjunction with the Main Estimates, Departmental Plans serve to inform members of Parliament on planned expenditures of departments and agencies, and support Parliament's consideration of supply bills. The DPs are typically tabled soon after the Main Estimates by the President of the Treasury Board.

Description: The publication features products and data highlights that focus on rural areas of Canada or that have a rural dimension present. Rural areas are typically areas outside of Canada's Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) and Census Agglomerations (CA). The publication also includes explanatory notes on key concepts and definitions.

Description: This report defines key concepts related to area-level analysis and introduces area-level measures developed and utilized at Statistics Canada for health analysis. It also provides a decision-making framework and practical recommendations to help researchers select appropriate methods. The goal is to guide readers on when area-level analysis is appropriate and what type of area-level measure is suitable to achieve research objectives.

Description: This report describes how Statistics Canada administers its responsibilities of the Access to Information Act. It is prepared and submitted in accordance with section 94(1) of the Act and is tabled in Parliament.

Description: The Canadian Export Classification is a structured, hierarchical classification system based on the Harmonized Description and Coding System. The HS nomenclature is divided into 21 Sections, which in general, group goods produced in the same sector of the economy.

Description: This product presents the Public Sector Universe, defined by Statistics Canada as a list of institutional units that are included in the economic measurement of governments in Canada. An institutional unit is defined as an economic entity that is capable, in its own right, of owning assets, incurring liabilities, and engaging in economic activities and in transactions with other entities. It includes the sectors of education, health, general government and government business enterprise sectors for all levels of government in Canada, annually, since 2008.

Description: This classification system was developed conjointly by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), and Statistics Canada which is the custodian. This shared standard classification, inspired by the Frascati Model 2015 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), will be used by the federal granting agencies and Statistics Canada to collect, and disseminate data related to research and development in Canada. The Canadian Research and Development Classification (CRDC) first official version was the 2020 Version 1.0, now being replaced by CRDC Version 2.0. The CRDC is revised within 2 years for minor changes, and every five years for major revisions. CRDC 2020 Version 2.0 is composed of 3 main pieces: the type of activity or TOA (with 3 categories), the field of research or FOR (with 1,671 fields at the lowest level) and socioeconomic objective or SEO (with 85 main groups at the lowest level).

Description: The Standard Classification of Countries and Areas of Interest (SCCAI) has been developed to increase coherence of the list of countries used within Statistics Canada and includes countries and areas for which statistical data are compiled. The Variant of the SCCAI for Social Statistics and the Variant of the SCCAI for Travel Statistics were developed to create groupings of countries to enable the production of integrated statistics when publishing social statistics data and travel statistics data, respectively. These variants have three levels.

Description:

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is used for classifying instructional programs according to field of study. CIP was originally created by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in the United States. It is a hierarchical classification. The classification provides a detailed description of each instructional program class together with illustrative examples of the types of instructional programs found in that class. Illustrative examples are also provided of closely related programs that are classified elsewhere. In addition, the classification includes an introduction to CIP and an alternative structure for the aggregation of field of study data. CIP has a ten-year revision cycle.

Description: The North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) is the departmental standard for the classification of products (goods and services). The classification is a joint project of the national statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. NAPCS is used to produce product statistics on a variety of topics, including the value of outputs of industries, the consumption by businesses and households, the value of imports and exports, and the movement of industrial and raw material prices. NAPCS Canada comprises definitions for all categories that include a descriptive text, as well as illustrative examples, inclusions and exclusions where appropriate.

Email: statcan.csds-standardsproducts-cnsd-normesproduits.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

Description: The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

NAICS is a comprehensive system encompassing all economic activities. It has a hierarchical structure. At the highest level, it divides the economy into 20 sectors. At lower levels, it further distinguishes the different economic activities in which businesses are engaged.

Email: statcan.csds-standards-industry-cnsd-normes-industrie.statcan@statcan.gc.ca  

Description: This publication provides a systematic classification structure to identify and categorize the entire range of occupational activity in Canada. Definitions and occupational titles are provided for each unit group. An alphabetical index of the occupational titles classified to the unit group level is also included.

Description:

The concordance table provides a link between data tables and the survey questions from the Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy (SIBS).

Description:

The Ecological Land Classification (ELC) is Statistics Canada's official classification for ecological areas in Canada.

The ELC was developed to enable the production of integrated statistics for ecological areas. It is a hierarchical framework that classifies ecological areas or ecosystems and that incorporates all major components of ecosystems: air, water land and biota. All boundaries in the ecological framework are matched to soil landscape polygons from the Soil Landscapes of Canada (SLC).

There are 15 ecozones at the top of the ecological land classification hierarchy. They cover the entire terrestrial extent of Canada.

These ecozones are subdivided into 53 ecoprovinces that contain 194 ecoregions, which can be further subdivided into 1,027 separate ecological units called ecodistricts.

Description: Documents in this series provide insight into the statistical methods used by Statistics Canada to produce official statistics. They include introductory material, in-depth descriptions of techniques and methods, best practices, and guidelines. All documents have undergone review to ensure that they conform to Statistics Canada's mandate and adhere to generally accepted methodological standards and practices.

Description: This reference document provides answers on selected topics related to the use, interpretation, and calculation of trend-cycle estimates for seasonally adjusted data. It is designed to complement more technical discussions of seasonal adjustment and trend-cycle estimation found in Statistics Canada publications and reference manuals.

Description: This reference document provides nontechnical answers on selected topics related to the use and interpretation of seasonally adjusted data. It is designed to complement more technical discussions of seasonal adjustment found in Statistics Canada publications and reference manuals.

Description: Recent changes in Canada’s immigration levels have heightened interest in understanding how immigration affects housing demand. This article develops a methodological framework for projecting housing use associated with permanent residents (PRs) and non-permanent residents (NPRs) under alternative immigration scenarios. The framework applies observed per capita housing use rates from the Census of Population to estimate incremental housing use by tenure over time.

Description: The publication features products and data highlights that focus on rural areas of Canada or that have a rural dimension present. Rural areas are typically areas outside of Canada's Census Metropolitan Areas (CMA) and Census Agglomerations (CA). The publication also includes explanatory notes on key concepts and definitions.

Description: This report defines key concepts related to area-level analysis and introduces area-level measures developed and utilized at Statistics Canada for health analysis. It also provides a decision-making framework and practical recommendations to help researchers select appropriate methods. The goal is to guide readers on when area-level analysis is appropriate and what type of area-level measure is suitable to achieve research objectives.

Description: This report aims to describe the methods used for the calculation of projection parameters, the various projection assumptions and their rationales.

Description: The Canadian Food Environment Dataset (Can-FED) is a pan-Canadian dataset of retail food environment measures at the dissemination area (DA) level based on food outlet data from the Statistics Canada Business Register.

Description: This user guide contains supporting documentation for the Canadian Food Environment Dataset (Can-FED). Can-FED is a pan-Canadian dataset of retail food environment measures at the dissemination area level based on food outlet data from the 2024 Statistics Canada Business Register.

Description: The Technical Guide on Demographic Estimates at Statistics Canada provides detailed descriptions of the most current data sources and methods used by the Centre for demography at Statistics Canada to produce demographic estimates as part of the Demographic estimates program. They comprise postcensal and intercensal population estimates; base population; births and deaths; immigrants; emigrants; returning emigrants; non-permanent residents; interprovincial migration; subprovincial estimates of population and intraprovincial migration; population estimates by age and gender; and census family estimates. A glossary of commonly used terms is available at the end of the guide.

Description: Health regions are defined by the provinces and represent administrative areas or regions of interest to health authorities. This product contains correspondence files (linking health regions to latest Census geographic codes) and digital boundary files. User documentation provides an overview of health regions, sources, methods, limitations and product description (file format and layout).

In addition to the geographic files, this product also includes Census data (basic profile) for health regions.

Description: Spatial information products provide users with data for visualization, reference, mapping and spatial analysis using geographical information systems (GIS). Available files include spatial environmental data as well as documentation and metadata. This information is released as part of a suite of products associated with the Census of Environment (CoE). The CoE organizes data about Canada’s natural environment using the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Ecosystem Accounting international statistical standard, which takes a spatial approach to accounting for Canada’s ecosystems and natural capital.

Description: This product contains gridded datasets of annual estimates of average normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and green/grey classification.

"Urban greenness" is a measure that assesses the condition and health of an urban landscape. Vegetation contributes to more livable, beautiful communities by helping to clean the air, moderate the local climate, control water flow and provide habitats for wildlife.

Annual average normalized difference vegetation index datasets and annual green/grey classifications are available for the years 2000 to 2025 and cover Canada south of 60°N.

Description: This product contains specifications intended for users of the urban greenness geospatial files. This document provides important technical information for users and links to methodology.

Description: This reference guide is intended for users of the Census Subdivisions Boundary File. The guide provides an overview of the file, the general methodology used to create it, and important technical information for users.

Description: The Census Subdivision Boundary File contains the boundaries of all census subdivisions which combined cover all of Canada. A census subdivision is a municipality or an area treated as an equivalent to a municipality for statistical purposes (for example, unorganized territories). The file provides a framework for mapping and spatial analysis using commercially available geographic information systems (GIS) or other mapping software.

The Census Subdivision Boundary File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection and is based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD83). A reference guide is available (92-162-G).

Description: This reference guide is intended for users of the Census of Population Road Network File (92-500-X). It provides an overview of the general methodology used to create this file, as well as important technical information.

Description:

This geographical file represents Canada's national road network, containing information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges.

A reference guide is available (Road Network File, Reference Guide, 92-500-G).

Description: This product contains specifications intended for users of the land cover register geospatial files. This document provides important technical information for users and links to methodology.

Description: This product contains specifications intended for users of the Statistical Ecosystem Register grid system reference files. This document provides important technical information for users, including the coordinate reference system, resolution, and file contents and structure. This document also provides additional information about the grid system, reasons for some of the chosen parameters, and intended uses.

Description: This product contains articles related to the latest methodological, conceptual developments in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts as well as the analysis of the Canadian economy. It includes articles detailing new methods, concepts and statistical techniques used to compile the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. It also includes information related to new or expanded data products, provides updates and supplements to information found in various guides and analytical articles touching upon a broad range of topics related to the Canadian economy.

Description: Departmental Plans (DP) are individual expenditure plans for each department and agency. These reports provide increased levels of detail over a three-year period on an organization's main priorities by strategic outcome, program and planned/expected results, including links to related resource requirements presented in the Main Estimates. In conjunction with the Main Estimates, Departmental Plans serve to inform members of Parliament on planned expenditures of departments and agencies, and support Parliament's consideration of supply bills. The DPs are typically tabled soon after the Main Estimates by the President of the Treasury Board.

Description: This report describes how Statistics Canada administers its responsibilities of the Access to Information Act. It is prepared and submitted in accordance with section 94(1) of the Act and is tabled in Parliament.

Description: This report describes how Statistics Canada administers its responsibilities in the year of operation of the Privacy Act. It is prepared and submitted in accordance with section 72 of the Act and is tabled in Parliament.

Description: Departmental Results Reports (DRRs) are part of the Estimates family of documents. Estimates documents support appropriation acts, which specify the amounts and broad purposes for which funds can be spent by the government. The Estimates document family has three parts.

Part I (Government Expenditure Plan) provides an overview of federal spending.

Part II (Main Estimates) lists the financial resources required by individual departments, agencies and Crown corporations for the upcoming fiscal year.

Part III (Departmental Expenditure Plans) consists of two documents. Departmental Plans (DPs) are expenditure plans for each appropriated department and agency (excluding Crown corporations).

Description: The Fees Report must be tabled in parliament annually, as per the Service Fees Act, which came into force in June 2017. The Service Fees Act introduces a modern legislative framework that enables cost-effective delivery of services and, through enhanced reporting to Parliament, improved transparency and oversight.

Description: This report provides a summary of changes to municipal boundaries, status and names. The list is usually produced on an annual basis for changes that occurred during the previous year. A five year list is produced on Census of population years.

Description: To stay relevant, preparing for a new Census of Agriculture requires a thorough evaluation of data requirements. Before each census, Statistics Canada conducts consultations to solicit input and feedback on the Census of Agriculture's content. This report describes those consultations and the process that was followed to test and determine which topics could be potentially retained for the next census.

Description: Engagement on the questions used to identify First Nations people, Métis and Inuit that are included on the Census of Population and on other Statistics Canada surveys is an important part of ensuring high quality and meaningful data are collected. The feedback received during these discussions are presented in these reports.

Description: From November 2022 to March 2023 Statistics Canada undertook a series of discussions to obtain feedback on the questions used to identify First Nations people, Métis and Inuit on the Census of Population and on other Statistics Canada surveys. This report summarizes the feedback received during these discussions.