Trade in Rural and Small Town Canada: Interactive Dashboard

Additional information

Data presented in this interactive dashboard are based on the Rural Canada Trade Profiles (RCTP) derived from the Trade by Exporter Characteristics (TEC) - Goods and Trade by Importer Characteristics (TIC) - Goods program. This visualization tool provides insights on the characteristics of goods-exporters and goods-importers by geography (Canada, province or territories [grouped]), location (rural and small town area and functional urban area) and industry. For more information on data sources, definitions, and methods refer to the RCTP Metadata and user guide.

In October 2024, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) digital initiative. Data on the TIC - Goods program for reference year 2024 will remain unavailable for this data visualization until further notice as Statistics Canada assesses the impact of CARM on this program. Data on the TEC – Goods program for reference year 2024 are still available.

Contact Rural Client Services for additional information or enquiries.

Methodology

The RCTP database reflects source data from the TEC - Goods and TIC - Goods programs, which are based on the linkage of merchandise trade data to the Statistics Canada Business Register (BR). The BR contains business characteristics including location, revenue, tax data and industry classification.

The RCTP database captures 99% of all exporting and importing establishments identified in the TEC - Goods and TIC - Goods programs and accounts for over 98% of the total value of goods traded.

The RCTP database features 2 tables:

Table 12-10-0180-01

Rural Canada Trade Profiles, export of goods, number of exporting establishments and trade value, by industry and location indicator

Table 12-10-0181-01

Rural Canada Trade Profiles, import of goods, number of importing establishments and trade value, by industry and location indicator

The geographical classification and concepts used in the RCTP database are based on Statistics Canada’s Standard Geographical Classification (SGC). The 2011 SGC is applied to reference years from 2012 to 2016, the 2016 SGC from 2017 to 2021 and the 2021 SGC from 2022 onward.

The RCTP database compiles business information at the establishment level, consolidating data from different operational locations. Businesses are classified by their primary industry as identified in the BR. Data from the TEC - Goods and TIC - Goods programs include 6-digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for each establishment, which are used to derive export and import values at the aggregated 2-digit NAICS level. The manufacturing sector is further disaggregated to the 3-digit NAICS level for Canada, Ontario, and Quebec. The 2012 NAICS is applied to reference years from 2012 to 2016, the 2017 NAICS from 2017 to 2021 and 2022 NAICS from 2022 onward.

A reference year for the RCTP database spans from January 1 to December 31 of the same year.

For more details on methodology, refer to the RCTP Metadata and user guide.

Considerations

Users should note potential limitations, including the interpretation of period-to-period changes in the data, which may be influenced by administrative or methodological adjustments in the TEC – Goods and TIC – Goods programs sourcing the RCTP database.

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

The RCTP database applies random rounding as a disclosure control method. Count values are randomly rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. This method may introduce discrepancies of ±5 when comparing the RCTP database with the reference data sources of the TEC – Goods and TIC – Goods programs. Due to the random nature of rounding, the sum of individual values may not equal aggregate totals.

If data for a specific region is not available, please contact the Rural Data Lab’s Rural Client Services for assistance.

Definitions

Key definitions are included to help users navigate the interactive dashboard. To view more definitions on variables, refer to the RCTP Metadata and user guide.

Census agglomeration (CA)

Formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CA must have a core population of at least 10,000, based on adjusted data from the Census of Population Program.

Census metropolitan area (CMA)

Formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centered on a population centre (known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the core, based on adjusted data from the Census of Population Program.

Census subdivision (CSD)

A general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial and territorial legislation) or areas treated as municipal equivalents for statistical purposes (e.g., Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada.

Functional urban area (CMA/CA)

Census subdivisions within census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or census agglomerations (CAs), according to Statistics Canada’s Standard Geographical Classification. For more information see: Variant of Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2021 for Statistical area classification.

Rural and small town (non-CMA/CA)

Census subdivisions outside census metropolitan areas (CMAs) or census agglomerations (CAs), according to Statistics Canada’s Standard Geographical Classification. For more information see: Variant of Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2021 for Statistical area classification.

Other resources

Rural Canada Trade Profiles, 2024

Rural Canada Trade Profiles Metadata and user guide

Trade in Goods by Exporter and Importer Characteristics: Interactive Tool

Canadian Internal Trade Data and Information Hub - Trade in goods by exporter characteristics

Canada and the World Statistics Hub

Learn more

To find more rural and small town Canada products, visit:

Rural Canada Statistics Portal

Rural Statistics in Canada (45-20-0004)

Rural and Small Town Canada Analysis Bulletin (21-006-X)