Education Indicators in Canada: Handbook for the Report of the Pan-Canadian Education Indicators Program June 2016
Section A:
A portrait of the school-age population Section A:
A portrait of the school-age population

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• A1 Population with Aboriginal identity
• A2 Cultural diversity
• A3 Low income
• A4 Family background
• Notes

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A1. Population with Aboriginal identity

Tables A.1.2.1 and A.1.2.2

Overall, Indicator A1, Population size, provides information on the school-age population in Canada. This sub-indicator provides estimates and projections of the population aged 0 to 29 with Aboriginal identity, as well as the proportion of the total Canadian population with Aboriginal identity, by age group, for Canada and for the provinces/territories (Table A.1.2.1 and (Table A.1.2.2).

Concepts and definitions

• For the indicator on population size, the school-age population refers to all individuals aged 5 to 24, whether or not they were attending school. The estimates and projections presented for the population with Aboriginal identity also include the pre-school-age population (aged 0 to 4), as well as the population aged 25 to 29. Data are presented for the following age groups: 0 to 29 overall; 0 to 4, 5 to 14, 15 to 19, 20 to 24, and 25 to 29.
• The Aboriginal identity population refers to individuals who, on the 2011 National Household Survey, said they were First Nations, Métis or Inuit, and/or were a Treaty Indian or Registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or were members of an Indian band or First Nation.^{Footnote 1}

• Population estimates represent the number of people who reported Aboriginal identity in the 2011 National Household Survey adjusted for census undercount and partially enumerated reserves.

• A population projection refers to the future population size resulting from a set of assumptions regarding the demographic and non-demographic components of growth. These assumptions consider the populations at both the outset of the projections and the future evolution of the components likely to affect the size and composition of the populations. For the Aboriginal population, assumptions were grouped together in a limited number of scenarios designed to show what would happen in the coming years if the underlying assumptions were proven correct.
• Projections are presented for 2016, 2021, 2026, 2031 and 2036, for five scenarios (see the "Methodology" section).
• Fertility refers to the demographic phenomenon in relation to live births, which can be considered from the point of view of women, the couple and occasionally men.
• Ethnic mobility is "the phenomenon by which individuals and families change their ethnic affiliation."^{Footnote 2} Ethnic mobility has two components: intragenerational and intergenerational.^{Footnote 3}
• Intergenerational ethnic mobility results from a change in ethnic affiliation between parents and their children, with the parent(s) not having the same ethnic affiliation as the child(ren).
• Intragenerational ethnic mobility results from a change in an individual's ethnic affiliation over time.

• Net undercoverage represents the difference between the number of persons who were covered by the Census of Population, but who were not enumerated (undercoverage) and the number of persons who were enumerated when they should not have been, or who were enumerated more than once (overcoverage).
• Microsimulation, unlike population estimates and projections done using the cohort component method, simulates the demographic destiny of individuals one by one. The method is based on multiple random drawing at the individual level rather than on aggregated data applied at the population group level.

Methodology

• The projections for this sub-indicator were provided by the Demosim team in the Demographic Analysis and Projections Section of Demography Division at Statistics Canada. The population estimates presented for 2011 represent the number of people who reported Aboriginal identity in the 2011 National Household Survey, adjusted to take into account net undercoverage in the census by age, sex, and province/territory, and incompletely enumerated reserves.
• The microdata file for the 2011 National Household Survey also serves as the base population for projections of populations according to Aboriginal identity to 2036.
• The Demosim microsimulation population projections model was used to develop the projections for both the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal populations shown in Table A.1.2.1 and Table A.1.2.2. Assumptions for the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal population are from Scenarios 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Projections of the Aboriginal Population and Households in Canada, 2011 to 2036, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 91-552.

Limitations

• The population reporting an Aboriginal identity should not be confused with the population reporting Aboriginal ancestry. The latter concept refers to the ethnic or cultural group of a person's ancestors, but it does not mean that the person identifies with the Aboriginal group to which his/her ancestors belonged.^{Footnote 4}
• Although commonly used for planning purposes, population projections should be interpreted with caution as they are based on assumptions about the future course of demographic components.

Data sources

• National Household Survey, 2011, Statistics Canada.
• Special tabulations provided by the Demosim team in the Demographic Microsimulation Section of Demography Division, Statistics Canada.
• Projections of the Aboriginal Population and Households in Canada, 2011 to 2036, Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 91-552.

A2 Cultural diversity

Tables A.2.1, A.2.2, A.2.3, A.2.4 and A.2.5

Indicator A2 portrays the diversity of the school-age population in some of Canada’s major census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in terms of immigrants (Table A.2.1), visible minorities (Table A.2.2) and language spoken at home (Table A.2.3). It also traces shifts in the proportion of the school-age population with Aboriginal identity (Table A.2.4 and Table A.2.5).

Concepts and definitions

• For this indicator, the school-age population refers to all individuals aged 5 to 24, whether or not they are attending school. The following age groups, which align with the standard used by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Statistics Canada, have been adopted for PCEIP: 5 to 14; 15 to 19; 20 to 24; and 25 to 29.
• Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Some immigrants are Canadian citizens, while others are not. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.
• Visible minority refers to whether a person belongs to a visible minority group as defined by the Employment Equity Act and, if so, the visible minority group to which the person belongs. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as 'persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.' The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.
• Home language refers to the language spoken most often or on a regular basis at home by the individual on May 10, 2011. Readers  will find a complete analysis of factors affecting comparability of language results between the censuses in the publication, Methodological Document on the 2011 Census Language Data, Catalogue no. 98-314-X2011051.
• Aboriginal identity refers to whether the person reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or being a Registered or Treaty Indian (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada) and/or being a member of a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
  Aboriginal identity includes the Aboriginal groups (First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit)), multiple Aboriginal identities and Aboriginal responses not included elsewhere.
  Some Indian reserves and settlements did not participate in the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) as enumeration was either not permitted, it was interrupted before completion, or because of natural events (e.g., forest fires). These reserves are referred to as 'incompletely enumerated reserves.' There were 36 reserves out of 863 inhabited reserves in the 2011 NHS that were incompletely enumerated. Data for these 36 Indian reserves and Indian settlements are not included in the 2011 NHS tabulations. As a result, some estimates in this document may be underestimated for First Nations people. Please refer to the reference document entitled Aboriginal Peoples Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-011-X2011006, for more information on these exclusions.
• A census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred 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. A CA must have a core population of at least 10,000. To be included in the CMA or CA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows derived from previous census place of work data.
  If the population of the core of a CA declines below 10,000, the CA is retired. However, once an area becomes a CMA, it is retained as a CMA even if its total population declines below 100,000 or the population of its core falls below 50,000. Small population centres with a population count of less than 10,000 are called fringe. All areas inside the CMA or CA that are not population centres are rural areas.

Methodology

• The proportion of the school-age population with particular characteristics is based on information reported in the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) for immigrants, visible minorities, and Aboriginal identity, and the Census of Population for home language.
• The proportion of the school-age population with characteristic y = (number of individuals aged 5 to 24 with characteristic y) / (number of individuals aged 5 to 24).

Limitations

• PCEIP reports separate Canada-level indicators for people who self-identify as North American Indian, Métis or Inuit. Although this grouping lends itself to more detailed analyses of the Aboriginal population in Canada than a broad pan-Canadian grouping, it does not capture the entire picture. For instance, the grouping does not differentiate between Aboriginal people living in urban versus rural or isolated communities, or between Aboriginal people residing on/off reserves and Aboriginal people from these diverse settings may have very different opportunities, needs and aspirations. Separate Aboriginal indicators for each of the 10 provinces and three territories are also reported; again, the variations within jurisdictions may not be captured completely.
• When comparing estimates from the 2006 Census long form and estimates from the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) users should take into account the fact that the two sources represent different populations. The target population for the 2006 Census long form includes usual residents in collective dwellings and persons living abroad whereas the target population for the NHS excludes them. Moreover, the NHS estimates are derived from a voluntary survey and are therefore subject to potentially higher non response error than those derived from the 2006 Census long form.

Data source

• 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada. 
• 2011 Census of Population, Statistics Canada.

A3 Low income

Tables A.3.1.1 to A.3.1.3 and Table A.3.2

Indicator A3 provides information on the proportion of the population aged 0 to 24 living in low-income circumstances. The percentage of 0- to 24-year-olds in low income situations is presented by age group and type of living arrangement (Table A.3.1.1, Table A.3.1.2 and Table A.3.1.3). The length of time the individuals aged 5 to 24 have been living in such situations is presented in Table A.3.2. These data are presented for Canada and the provinces.

Concepts and definitions

• This indicator refers to the pre-school as well as the school-age population and includes all individuals aged 0 to 24, whether or not they are attending school. The following age groups have been adopted for PCEIP:  0 to 4, 5 to 19 and 20 to 24.
• Two living arrangements are presented for the population aged 0 to 4 in low-income circumstances: living with two parents or living with a lone parent. For the population 5 to 24, three types of living arrangements are presented:  living with two parents, living with a lone parent, and not living with any parent.
• The distribution of the population aged 5 to 24 by number of years in low income is categorized as follows:  never in low income, up to one year in low income, and more than one year in low income.
• Parents captures biological and step-parents, as well as those who have adopted children. Lone parent refers to guardians and adults, regardless of marital status, without a partner but with children in their care.
• Low income is determined using Statistics Canada’s low-income cutoffs (LICOs), which indicate when a family may be in “straitened circumstances.” This means that the family is likely to spend 20% more of its net income on basic items such as food, shelter and clothing than the average family, which leaves less money available for other expenses such as health, education, transportation and recreation. LICOs are calculated for families and communities of different sizes.

Methodology

• Data for this indicator are drawn primarily from the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), an important source for income data for Canadian families, households and individuals. Introduced in 1993, SLID provides an added dimension to traditional surveys on labour market activity and income: the changes experienced by individuals and families through time. In 1998, SLID officially replaced the annual Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) as the main source of information on family income.
• After-tax low-income cut-offs (LICOs), which better reflect the income a family has to spend on basic and other items, were used to report the percentage of children living in low-income families and the distribution by number of years in low income. LICOs are updated annually to reflect increases in the cost of living. They are also updated periodically to reflect changes in family spending patterns.
• Low-income rates are calculated for families with all members of an economic family having the same low-income status. An economic family is defined as a group of two or more persons related by blood, marriage, common-law or adoption, who live in the same dwelling.

Limitations

• There is no internationally accepted standard for measuring “poverty”, nor is there an official definition of poverty in Canada. LICOs provide one of many possible measures to monitor trends in the relative economic well-being of Canadian families.
• The Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) was designed to follow individuals for six years; therefore, the income of a given family may be estimated for a maximum of six consecutive years using data from SLID.
• The feasibility of developing low income indicators for the Aboriginal population using SLID was explored. However, the Aboriginal identifier variable used in SLID is not comparable with that used in the census or in the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The identifier used in SLID is based on Aboriginal ancestry and Treaty/Registered Indian status, while the identifier used in the census and the LFS is based on Aboriginal self-identification. Moreover, the sample size of Aboriginal children aged 5 to 24 in low income in Canada is too small to support a breakdown by family characteristics and by province. And, most importantly, SLID is not recommended by subject matter experts in the Social and Aboriginal Statistics Division at Statistics Canada as a reliable source of information on the Aboriginal population.

Data sources

• Survey of Consumer Finances, Statistics Canada. For more information, consult “Definitions, data sources and methods”, Statistics Canada Web site, survey 3502.
• Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics, Statistics Canada. For more information, consult “Definitions, data sources and methods”, Statistics Canada Web site, survey 3889.

A4 Family background

Tables A.4.1 through A.4.4

Indicator A4 examines the living arrangements of the school-age population and the working status of parents.  Distributions are presented for the total school-age population (Table A.4.1 and Table A.4.2) and the school-age population with Aboriginal identity (Table A.4.3 and Table A.4.4).

Concepts and definitions

• For this indicator, the school-age population refers to all individuals aged 5 to 24, whether or not they are attending school. The following age groups, which align with the standard used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Statistics Canada, are used:  5 to 14; 15 to 19; 20 to 24; and 25 to 29.
• The 5- to 24-year-old population was grouped into the following categories to reflect living arrangements: living with parents(s), which includes married parents, common-law parents, and lone parents; and not living with parents, which captures those individuals living as part of a couple or lone parent, or who have other living arrangements.
• Parents captures biological, same sex and step-parents, as well as those who have adopted children. Lone parent refers to guardians and adults, regardless of marital status, without a partner but with children in their care. “Other living arrangements” includes people who live with “non-family” persons; that is, people living with relatives only, living with relatives and other persons, or living with non-relatives (at least two of these non-relatives must constitute a census family).  Parents also refers to grandparents when there are no parents present in the household.
• Percentage distributions are presented for the 5-to-24 age group overall, and for the following age groups:  5 to 14, 15 to 19, and 20 to 24.
• The Census of Population definition of family refers to a married couple (with or without children of either or both spouses), a couple living common-law (with or without children of either or both partners) or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one child living in the same dwelling. A married couple or a couple living common-law may be of the opposite or same sex. “Children” in a census family include grandchildren living with their grandparent(s) but with no parent(s) present.
• There were several significant changes that were made to the census family concept beginning in the 2001 Census: two persons living in a same-sex common-law relationship, along with any of their children residing in the household will be considered a census family. Children in a census family can have been previously married (as long as they are not currently living with a spouse or common-law partner); previously, they had to be never-married. A grandchild living in a three-generation household where the parent (middle generation) is never-married will, contrary to previous censuses, now be considered as a child in the census family of his or her parent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, the census family usually consisted of the two older generations. A grandchild of another household member, where a middle-generation parent is not present, will now be considered as a child in the census family of his or her grandparent, provided the grandchild is not living with his or her own spouse, common-law partner, or child. Traditionally, such a grandchild would not be considered as the member of a census family.
• In  Table A.4.1: Distribution of the school-age population, by age group and living arrangements, Canada and jurisdictions, 2006 and 2011, children living with same sex married parents are grouped together with those living with same sex common-in –law parents to be consistent with the definitions used in the 2006 Census.  Therefore, in this table, the category of children living with “common-law- parents” include those of opposite sex common-law, same sex common-law and same sex married parents. It is important to note that the data in this table are not comparable to the data in Table A.4.3: Distribution of the population aged 5 to 24 with Aboriginal identity, by age group and living arrangements, Canada, 2011where children living with same sex married parents are grouped together with those living with married parents to be consistent with the definitions used in the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS).
• Aboriginal identity refers to whether the person reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or being a Registered or Treaty Indian (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada) and/or being a member of a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
• “Total Aboriginal identity” includes Aboriginal group (i.e., whether the person reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis, or Inuk(Inuit)), multiple Aboriginal identities and Aboriginal responses not included elsewhere.

Methodology

• The percentage distribution of the school-age population, by age group and living arrangements, was examined for the total Canadian population (Table A.4.1 and Table A.4.2), and for the school-age population with Aboriginal identity (Table A.4.3 and Table A.4.4).
• To ensure the confidentiality of responses collected for the census, a random rounding process is used to alter the values reported for individual counts.  As a result, when data are summed or grouped, the total value may not match the sum of the individual values, since the total and subtotals are independently and randomly rounded.  However, apart from discrepancies due to simple rounding, the percentages were calculated to add up to 100%, as recommended by the census methodology group.

Limitations

• PCEIP reports separate Canada-level indicators for people who self-identify as North American Indian, Métis or Inuit. Although this grouping lends itself to more detailed analyses of the Aboriginal population in Canada than a broad pan-Canadian grouping, it does not capture the entire picture. For instance, the grouping does not differentiate between Aboriginal people living in urban versus rural or isolated communities, or between Aboriginal people residing on/off reserves and Aboriginal people from these diverse settings may have very different opportunities, needs and aspirations.
• Some Indian reserves and settlements did not participate in the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) as enumeration was either not permitted, it was interrupted before completion, or because of natural events (e.g., forest fires). These reserves are referred to as 'incompletely enumerated reserves.' There were 36 reserves out of 863 inhabited reserves in the 2011 NHS that were incompletely enumerated. Data for these 36 Indian reserves and Indian settlements are not included in the 2011 NHS tabulations. As a result, some estimates in this document may be underestimated for First Nations people. Please refer to the reference document entitled Aboriginal Peoples Reference Guide, National Household Survey, Catalogue no. 99-011-X2011006, for more information on these exclusions.
• When comparing the census results to other Statistics Canada sources, it appears that there is some over-estimation of persons aged 15, 16 and 17 who are counted as married, common-law, separated, divorced or widowed, rather than never married (single).  For further information, please consult the Families Reference Guide, 2011 Census.
• There is some variability of the counts in each census of people aged 20 to 24 due to the possibility that students are being reported at their college location instead of at their parents’ home (which is recommended).  Please see “Living Arrangements of Young Adults aged 20 to 29”, a Census in Brief by Anne Milan.
• When comparing estimates from the 2006 Census long form and estimates from the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) users should take into account the fact that the two sources represent different populations. The target population for the 2006 Census long form includes usual residents in collective dwellings and persons living abroad whereas the target population for the NHS excludes them. Moreover, the NHS estimates are derived from a voluntary survey and are therefore subject to potentially higher non response error than those derived from the 2006 Census long form.

Data source

2006 and 2011 Census of Population, 2011 National Household Survey (NHS), Statistics Canada.