Statistics Canada Departmental Performance Report For the Period ending March 31, 2005 _____________________ David L. Emerson Minister of Industry Statistics Canada Page -1- Table of Contents Section I - Overview.......................................................................................................................3 Minister’s Message..................................................................................................................... 3 Management Representation Statement ......................................................................................5 Summary Information..................................................................................................................6 Overall Departmental Performance .............................................................................................7 Section II – Analysis of Performance by Strategic Outcome...................................................13 Relevance of Statistical Information .........................................................................................14 Census of Population ..............................................................................................................14 Census of Agriculture.............................................................................................................15 Aboriginal Statistics ...............................................................................................................16 Health Statistics ......................................................................................................................17 Environment Statistics............................................................................................................20 Education Statistics.................................................................................................................22 Canadian Communities...........................................................................................................26 Crime and Violence Statistics.................................................................................................27 Canadian Economy and the Labour Market ...........................................................................30 Accuracy of Statistical Information...........................................................................................37 Survey Coverage.....................................................................................................................37 Sampling Error .......................................................................................................................39 Response Rates .......................................................................................................................40 Statistical Revision Patterns ...................................................................................................41 Timeliness of Statistical Information ........................................................................................43 Pre-Established Release Dates................................................................................................43 Elapsed Time between Reference Period and Release Dates.................................................43 Accessibility of Statistical Information .....................................................................................45 Access through the Media ......................................................................................................45 Access through the Internet ....................................................................................................46 Interpretability of Statistical Information ..................................................................................48 Availability of Supplementary Information ...........................................................................48 Coherence of Statistical Information.........................................................................................49 Use of Classification System..................................................................................................49 Selected Initiatives to Improve Coherence.............................................................................50 Section III – Financial Performance ..........................................................................................51 Financial Summary Tables ........................................................................................................51 Section IV – Other Items of Interest ..........................................................................................55 Continuing Efforts to Reduce Response Burden.......................................................................55 Status Report on the Service Improvement Initiative................................................................57 New Products and Services on the Web Site.............................................................................58 Management Initiatives .............................................................................................................59 Legislated Requirements for Statistics Canada .........................................................................61 Page -2- Statistics Canada Section I: Overview The organizational members of the Industry Portfolio are: Minister’s Message Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency [2] Business Development Bank of Canada [1] Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions [2] Canadian Space Agency Canadian Tourism Commission [1] Competition Tribunal Copyright Board Canada Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation [1] [2] Industry Canada National Research Council Canada Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Standards Council of Canada [1] Statistics Canada Western Economic Diversification Canada [2] A key priority of the Government of Canada is building an economy that will meet the challenges of the 21st century; an economy that is knowledge-based, technology-driven, and globally oriented. In support of this goal, Statistics Canada and the 14 members of the Industry Portfolio encourage innovative basic and advanced research, promote the commercialization and the adoption of new technologies and support the diffusion of transformative ideas throughout our economy. We also work to forge new and improved relationships with international partners, 1. Not required to submit a Departmental Performance Report. including emerging markets, in science and 2. Not a Portfolio member for the purposes of the Main specialized technical areas. Essential to this Estimates. work is a framework of marketplace regulations and laws that encourages innovation and stable growth. Through our efforts, the Industry Portfolio is helping to build a world-leading economy driven by talent, ideas and initiative. The Industry Portfolio is composed of Statistics Canada and 14 other federal departments, agencies, Crown corporations, and quasi-judicial bodies. These organizations collectively play a key role in advancing Canada’s industrial and economic development as well as fostering progress in science and technology. Advancing these priorities improves the overall health of the Canadian economy, provides opportunities for all Canadians to participate in our economic development and prosperity, and contributes to the quality of life of all Canadians. Many Industry Portfolio initiatives build upon our strategic investments in research and development and help to move publicly-funded scientific and technological advances into the marketplace. Other key activities and programs encourage business growth and help industrial sectors be more innovative. Collectively, Industry Portfolio initiatives — and more importantly the results of those initiatives — stimulate the necessary adaptive and transformative changes demanded by the global economy. Statistics Canada’s Departmental Performance Report for the period ending March 31, 2005 describes the achievements and results of the department. The report demonstrates the contribution of Statistics Canada to better governance by providing key information essential to evidence-based decision-making. It provides an overview of major developments in preparation for the May 16, 2006 Censuses of Population and Agriculture, which will offer Canadians an option to respond using a secure on-line application. Also, statistical findings are reported on a number of Statistics Canada Page -3- subjects relevant to Canadians: health, education, Aboriginals, Canadian communities, environment, economy, and crime statistics. The report highlights major findings in these areas and hyperlinks are provided to the web site for the reader interested in the full publication. Finally, the Report provides reassurance on the strict measures in place at Statistics Canada to ensure high quality statistical standards and responsible financial management. As a member of the Industry Portfolio, Statistics Canada has contributed to the industrial and economic development of our nation. The work and contributions of the department are part of the overall government effort to develop and foster opportunities that reflect Canada’s economic and social character. Through these efforts, we are investing in our people, our enterprises, and our future — the result will be a stronger and more prosperous economy for all Canadians. I am pleased to present the Statistics Canada’s Departmental Performance Report for 2004-2005. David L. Emerson Minister of Industry Page -4- Statistics Canada MANAGEMENT REPRESENTATION STATEMENT I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2004-2005 Departmental Performance Report (DPR) for Statistics Canada. This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Guide for the preparation of 2004-2005 Departmental Performance Reports : • • • • • It adheres to the specific reporting requirements; It uses an approved Business Lines structure; It presents consistent, comprehensive, balanced and accurate information; It provides a basis of accountability for the results pursued or achieved with the resources and authorities entrusted to it; and It reports finances based on approved numbers from the Estimates and the Public Accounts of Canada. ______________________ Ivan P. Fellegi Chief Statistician of Canada Statistics Canada Page -5- Summary Information Statistics Canada (STC) Reason for existence - Statistics Canada’s mandate is to provide Canadians with objective and non-partisan statistics and statistical products, services and analyses on Canada’s economy and society which are relevant, responsive to emerging issues, fulfill legal requirements and are of high quality. Financial Resources ($ millions) Planned Spending Total Authorities Actual Spending 434.6 475.2 462.8 Actual Difference 248 Human Resources Planned 5,188 5,436 Summary of Performance in Relationship to Departmental Strategic Outcomes, Priorities and Commitments Strategic Outcomes Provide Canadians with objective and non-partisan statistics and statistical products, services and analyses on Canada’s economy and society which are relevant, responsive to emerging issues, fulfill legal requirements and are of high quality. Planned Spending 2004-2005 Actual Spending 2004-2005 2006 Census of Population 43.2 41.4 pp. 14-15 Aboriginal Statistics Program 4.7 4.8 pp. 16-17 Canadian Population Health Statistics Program 17.8 16.2 Statistical Gaps II 19.5 18.9 pp. 17-20 pp. 20-23, 25-26, 27-28, 30-34 2004-2005 Specific Priorities / Commitments (not in Main Estimates) Page -6- Expected Results and Current Status Statistics Canada Overall Departmental Performance Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities Statistics Canada's mandate derives primarily from the Statistics Act. The Act requires the Agency, under the direction of the Minister of Industry, to collect, compile, analyze and publish statistical information on the economic, social and general conditions of the country and its citizens. These activities are fundamentally important to an open, democratic society as it provides objective information to Canadians and their elected representatives on the evolution of our society and economy. The Agency’s information resources are also used by businesses, unions and non-profit organizations to make informed decisions. Statistics Canada’s mandate also provides for the coordination and leadership of the country's statistical system. This has led Statistics Canada to form many partnerships at the federal, provincial and territorial levels. These partnerships have benefited Canadians in many ways: improved data quality through more comparable survey methods; reduced response burden through the use of administrative records and data sharing; and the exchange of best practices among all participants are just a few examples. Agency data are used for statutory and regulatory purposes including the distribution of federal funds to provinces (Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act); apportioning federal-provincial tax revenues (Harmonized Sales Tax); indexing various types of federal payments to beneficiaries and income tax credits (Income Tax Act); determining areas of eligibility for supplementary benefits (Employment Insurance Act); determining the distribution of parliamentary seats among provinces and defining federal electoral districts (Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act); designating federal bilingual services areas (Official Languages Act); and measuring the prevalence of sub-populations which are the focus of the federal employment equity program (Employment Equity Act). A complete list of the federal acts which provide the Agency with the responsibility for the collection or provision of specific information is presented in Section IV of this document. Organization The Minister of Industry is the Minister responsible to Parliament for Statistics Canada. The Agency is headed by the Chief Statistician of Canada who is supported by seven Assistant Chief Statisticians (ACSs): four are responsible for program areas and three for technical and management operations in support of the operational programs. Table 1 on the following page will provide an overview of the organization and resources allocated by business lines. Statistics Canada Page -7- Statistics Canada Table 1: 2004-2005 Resources Requirements by Organization and Business Line Minister of Industry Chief Statistician Business Lines ACS ACS Social, ACS National Institu- Business Accounts tions and and and Labour Trade Analytical Statistics Statistics Studies ACS Analysis and Development ACS Communications and Operations ACS Informatics and Methodology ACS Management Services Vote Subnetted total revenues Total in millions of dollars Economic and Social Statistics 1 132.7 82.22 65.63 103.0 100.5 91.0 32.6 34.9 34.1 38.9 26.7 22.4 82.0 159.5 140.4 66.0 99.2 93.2 38.5 25.1 23.1 493.7 528.2 469.8 117.1 117.1 70.0 376.6 411.1 399.8 Census of Population Statistics 37.5 39.3 38.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 13.3 12.9 12.9 19.0 23.3 23.2 1.1 1.6 1.5 70.9 77.0 76.5 12.9 12.9 13.6 58.0 64.1 62.9 Total Program 170.2 121.5 104.4 103.0 100.5 91.0 32.6 34.9 34.1 38.9 26.7 22.4 95.3 172.4 153.3 85.0 122.5 116.4 39.6 26.7 24.7 564.6 605.2 546.4 130.0 130.0 83.6 434.6 475.2 462.8 Notes: 1. Numbers in normal font denote Main estimate levels in 2004-2005. 2. Numbers in italics denote Total authority in 2004-2005. 3. Numbers in bold denote Actual expenditures/revenues in 2004–2005. In addition to the functional organizational structure as presented above, Statistics Canada employs a matrix structure to govern the way it plans its operations, and allocates and manages its resources. For example, for a given survey, subject matter (program) areas use the services of centralised expertise in survey methodology, systems developments, survey collection and processing, etc. This matrix structure has enabled Statistics Canada to consolidate its infrastructure functions to achieve efficiencies, to increase flexibility, and to maintain centres of technical expertise. Financial resources are managed both from a survey area (program) viewpoint as well as from a service area (functional) viewpoint. The Agency also uses ad hoc project teams to creatively solve technical or program challenges. These project teams are multi-disciplinary and cut across program and organizational lines. Page -8- Statistics Canada Partnerships Partnerships and cost-sharing arrangements with other departments, other jurisdictions and external organizations, have been an intrinsic aspect of program delivery since the eighties. These relationships are essential to the development of effective business plans. Statistics Canada has continued to foster these arrangements over the reporting period, as they have proven to serve not only the needs of the stakeholders but also those of the national statistical system and the Canadian research community. The following is a selection of partnership initiatives. • The Agency provides provincial and territorial statistical focal points with a wide array of information products to serve the statistical information needs of their respective administrations. • In the area of health statistics, Statistics Canada’s priorities are developed in conjunction with the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), Health Canada, the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health Advisory Committee on Governance and Accountability, the newly created Public Health Agency of Canada, and other related organizations. • The Canadian Education Statistics Council is a joint management team consisting of members from Statistics Canada and the Council of Ministers of Education. The council, comprising the Chief Statistician and provincial/territorial deputy ministers of education, provides advice to the Chief Statistician on the Agency’s Education Statistics Program. • The Justice Information Council comprises the Chief Statistician and the federal and provincial deputy ministers responsible for justice policies and programs. The council provides advice to the Chief Statistician on the justice statistics program at the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics within STC. • The interdepartmental Policy Research Data Group establishes STC priorities under the Data Gaps II initiative, in response to horizontal information demands in the areas of knowledge-based economy, economic growth, social cohesion, human development and global challenges and opportunities. • Secondary Distributors from the private sector are licensed to repackage and resell statistical data. These firms provide added value to Statistics Canada data to serve the specialized needs of consumers and business-to-business marketers. In addition, over 100 companies are licensed to redistribute books, periodicals and CD-ROM products on behalf of Statistics Canada. • The Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) provides academia with affordable and equitable access to Statistics Canada data. Through this program, a total of 67 colleges and universities obtain access to Statistics Canada standard electronic data products for a nominal fee. More information on this initiative can be obtained at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/Dli/dli.htm. • The Research Data Centres (RDC) program is an initiative by Statistics Canada, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and university consortia to help strengthen Canada's social research capacity and to support the policy research community. RDCs provide researchers with access, in a secure university setting, to microdata from population and household surveys. More information on the RDCs can be found on STC web site at: www.statcan.ca/english/rdc/index.htm. Statistics Canada Page -9- Public Commitments and Values Commitment to continuous improvement While an increasing share of the Agency’s information comes from existing administrative data, most is still collected through businesses and household surveys. In the past year, Statistics Canada has continued to mine administrative records and to explore other means, such as electronic reporting, in an ongoing effort to minimize the burden on respondents. Section IV- Other Items of Interest provides an overview of initiatives which were pursued in 2004-2005 to reduce response burden. Statistics Canada’s values The Agency recognizes that survey respondents are Statistics Canada’s most valuable asset, since it is their continued goodwill and cooperation that enables the Agency to turn survey results into reliable information. We make two fundamental commitments to them: First, to protect the confidentiality of information provided to us. Second, to find innovative ways to reduce the time spent completing the surveys and try using the Agency’s existing information to minimize the number of surveys. Operating Environment and Challenges About 92% of Statistics Canada’s entire budget is allocated to statistical programs dictated by statutes, regulatory instruments and contractual obligations. To shape priorities, the Agency seeks guidance from stakeholders, chief of which is the National Statistics Council. A network of advisory committees in major statistical areas also helps to ensure that program outputs are relevant. A rigorous planning system is also in place to balance the many and often conflicting priorities and to monitor the progress of approved initiatives. The Agency’s planning and performance monitoring system maintains the effectiveness of its statistical programs by linking strategic and operational plans and program performance to the resource allocations made and the results to be achieved. Priorities are defined as those programs and technical or management areas most in need of attention over the planning period. In 2004-2005, a number of initiatives were considered as priorities in the Agency: the 2006 Censuses of Population and Agriculture, Statistical Gaps II, the Aboriginal Statistics Program, the Health Statistics Program, developing a new framework for the Justice Statistics Program, the Information System for Science and Technology Project, Economic Outcomes of Immigrants and the Labour Force Survey Redesign. Amongst these initiatives, the Census Test which was conducted in May 2004, in preparation for the 2006 censuses, was a main challenge for the Agency. A number of significant changes are planned for the upcoming censuses, including the mailing out of questionnaires to some 70% of households, offering an on-line reporting option, and the automated integration and processing of the mail, telephone and Internet questionnaire returns. The Census Test allowed the Agency to test its new geography and address register systems, many elements of the informatics infrastructure, and several changes in the Census questionnaires. The test was conducted successfully and the evaluation has demonstrated that the new process is essentially sound and functional, Page -10- Statistics Canada and that the return rates by Internet are encouraging. In this report, section II, Analysis of Performance by Strategic Outcome, provides a description of results obtained on Agency priorities and other important initiatives. The information will be presented using the Agency’s Quality Assurance Framework and Strategic Outcome as presented in the 2004-2005 Report on Plans and Priorities. To provide relief from the tight financial situation experienced in many of its areas, the Agency launched the Strategic Streamlining Initiative (SSI) in 2003-2004. Through this initiative, work flows and operations in different parts of the organization were reviewed and enhanced to gain efficiencies without affecting data quality. The initiative was pursued in 2004-2005. The SSI also became an opportunity for the Agency to better position itself to respond to new information needs associated with government initiatives. Such developments include: • • • • • the simplification of the Annual Survey of Manufactures questionnaires to be compatible with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; the reduction of the regional office infrastructure; an enhanced portfolio management of large enterprise respondents; measures undertaken to facilitate electronic data reporting; a greater use of administrative tax data. Statistics Canada Page -11- Page -12- Statistics Canada Section II: Analysis of Performance by Strategic Outcome Statistics Canada’s fundamental purpose is the production of relevant and reliable statistical information. Confidence in the quality of that information is essential. If the information becomes suspect, the credibility of the Agency is called into question and its reputation as an independent, objective source of trustworthy information is undermined. Managing the quality of statistical information therefore plays a central role within the overall management of the Agency. The Agency defines the quality of statistical information in terms of its “fitness for use”. To measure information quality, the Agency uses the six dimensions of its Quality Assurance Framework (www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=12-586-X&CHROPG=1) as defined below. Performance Criteria Relevance of Information Accuracy of Information Timeliness of Information Accessibility of Information Interpretability of Information Coherence of Information Statistics Canada Definition The degree to which statistical information meets the needs of clients. Information must shed light on the issues of most importance to those who use it. The information produced is needed to support policy formulation and decision-making or to meet emerging issues. Changes are also made to statistical programs, based on external advice, to produce more relevant information for the users. The degree to which that statistical information correctly describes the phenomena it was designed to measure. It is usually characterized in terms of statistical estimate errors and is traditionally decomposed into bias (systematic error) and variance (random error) components. It may also be described in terms of the major sources of error that potentially cause inaccuracy: incomplete survey coverage, sampling error, non response (as indicated by response rates), and statistical revision patterns. The delay between the end of the reference period to which the information pertains and the date on which the information becomes available. Adherence to pre-announced release dates for regular series is the Agency’s main performance measure of timeliness of information. These dates are clearly advertised for the coming year in Statistics Canada’s website at www.statcan.ca. The ease with which statistical information can be obtained. This includes the ease as well as the suitability of the form or medium in accessing the information. Access through the Media and Access through the Internet are the two main performance indicators under this criterion. Depends on the availability of the supplementary information and metadata necessary to interpret and utilize statistical information appropriately. This information normally covers the underlying concepts, variables and classification used, the methodology of data collection and processing, and indications of the accuracy of the statistical information. The degree to which statistical information can be successfully brought together with other statistical information within a broad analytic framework and over time. The use of standard concepts, classifications and target populations promotes coherence, as does the use of common methodology across surveys. Ref. Page 14-36 37-42 43-44 45-47 48 49-50 Page -13- Relevance of Statistical Information In the 2004-2005 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP), a number of statistical programs indicated their planned activities to provide statistical information to support informed policy formulation and decision making (section 4.1 of the RPP) as well as to meet emerging issues and new challenges. In addition, a number of them have introduced changes to their statistical program as a result of direct client feedback and external advice. This section provides a description of initiatives completed in 2004-2005 with regard to the relevance of statistical information. Survey findings have been summarized and for the reader interested in more detailed findings, a hyperlink to the Agency’s website has been provided. The information covers nine major topics: the Census of Population, the Census of Agriculture, Aboriginal Statistics, Health Statistics, Environment Statistics, Education Statistics, Canadian Communities, Crime and Violence Statistics, and finally Canadian Economy and the Labour Market. It is important to note that the relevance section of this report highlights major achievements by the Agency with funding in excess of its main estimates program. The Agency also publishes, as part of its main estimates program, statistical information for 29 major economic indicators (ex. Labour Force Survey, Consumer Price Index, Gross Domestic Product). This key economic information is most relevant to Canadians as it is used to develop monetary and economic policies for Canada. A list of the 29 economic indicators is available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/Release/2005.htm - ind. CENSUS OF POPULATION Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making • Results from the 2001 Census of Population Throughout 2004-2005, detailed Census data on the demographic, social and economic conditions of the population were made available as part of the conclusion of the 2001 Census dissemination cycle. Important standard, reference and specialty Internet products were released free of charge from Statistics Canada's website via the 2001 Census of Canada module. They include: • • • • • • Page -14- over 70 additional topic-based tabulations for various topics and detailed levels of geography; over 12 additional technical reports and user guides for various topics; the Aboriginal Population Profile database; additional health information data for Health Regions in the 2001 Community Profiles and Aboriginal Population Profiles Internet sub-modules; a mapping functionality for the 2001 Federal Electoral District Profile (2003 Representation Order); 2001 Census Public Use Microdata File for use by individual researchers. Statistics Canada In addition, as part of the ongoing effort to provide more historical Census data to users, four profiles tilted “1996 Census Electronic Area Profiles” were produced, released and made available free of charge from the Statistics Canada's website via the 2001 Census of Canada module. The module can be accessed at www.statcan.ca/english/census01/home/index.cfm. • 2006 Census of Population Canada will conduct its 20th Census of Population since confederation, on May 16, 2006. A number of important changes are under way for this Census. For example, for the first time, Canadians will be able to complete their questionnaires via a secure and efficient on-line application. Questionnaires will be mailed out to approximately 70% of the country and follow-up for missing information will be conducted centrally. Local enumerators will no longer review completed questionnaires and manual keying will be replaced by state of the art Intelligent Character Recognition technology. Canadians, therefore will have a range of response methods and better privacy protection. The timeliness of Census results will also be improved. The 2004 Census test provided a validation check for the new methodology and technology with a sample of 300,000 households. The response rate for this voluntary Census test was 65% comparable to previous tests, with a 10% response on line, without any public communications. The test demonstrated the viability of all major processes and systems, and identified the need for a few improvements that will be implemented for the 2006 Census, that will collect information from some 13.5 million dwellings. Six federal departments (Human Resources and Skills Development, Social Development Canada, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Canadian Heritage, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and Citizenship and Immigration Canada) contributed a total of $52.3 million to fund a comprehensive Census that will provide essential information on several socioeconomic characteristics of Canadians. Statistics Canada will also reallocate an additional $6 million to the Census. Additional information on the 2006 Census can be obtained at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/census06/index.cfm. CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making • 2001 Census of Agriculture The release of the publication Canadian Agriculture at a Glance in June 2004 wrapped up the product line from the 2001 Census. “Glance” extends the reach of Census data to all Canadians through analytical articles that are particularly attractive to teachers because of the complementary on-line Teacher’s Kit (www.statcan.ca/english/kits/agric04/lesson.htm). Each lesson is accompanied by an electronic version of the actual article in the book, complete with photographs, graphs and tables. To keep interest high, the lessons were released in five stages beginning in June 2004 and ending in March 2005. The approach was a great success, with hits on the kit spiking after each release and exceeding hits on other products in the Census of Agriculture's electronic product line. All products are available on line on the 2001 Census of Agriculture module at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/agcensus2001/index.htm Statistics Canada Page -15- • 2006 Census of Agriculture The changes implemented for the 2006 Census of Population have also been implemented for the May 16, 2006 Census of Agriculture. Indeed, respondents will mail their completed questionnaires to a central highsecurity processing centre, which eliminates the need for local enumerators and addresses long-standing concern about the protection of personal privacy especially in rural areas. Respondents will also have the possibility to respond to the questionnaire electronically. Once the content of the 2006 Census of Agriculture questionnaire was approved by Cabinet in April 2005, it was posted on the Statistics Canada web site (www.statcan.ca/english/agcensus2001/index.htm). A year earlier, the May 2004 Census test had provided the quantitative and qualitative measurements necessary to hone and refine the proposed content of the questionnaire as well as the collection and processing systems for the 2006 Census. The Internet version of the questionnaire, which will be available to all Canadian farm operators for the first time in 2006, was a successful part of the 2004 Census test. Development of processing systems continued throughout 20042005. The final year before the Census, the communications program gained momentum, building public awareness through third-party support, public contact and media exposure. The Census Communications program has traditionally supported the Census of Population and Census of Agriculture jointly; however, the 2006 Census marks a break in tradition as the Census of Agriculture assumes responsibility for targeting some aspects of communications in the run-up to Census Day while continuing to share the benefits of costeffective activities such as the planned paid advertising. ABORIGINAL STATISTICS • Aboriginal Data Initiative Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. Statistics Canada completed in March 2005, a two-year study on the possible establishment of an on-going Aboriginal statistics program. The study examined various components (i.e. surveys on and off reserves, First Nations public sector statistics, Aboriginal populations’ projections and estimates, statistical capacity building) and tested key operational and subject matter related aspects of such a program. A report will be available in the fall of 2005, leading to the formulation of options for the implementation and funding of an ongoing Aboriginal statistics program. The program could yield key information needed for reporting on results and progress and would allow Statistics Canada to be in a position to respond to the data needs that will emerge from the discussions under way between the Government of Canada and Aboriginal groups. Page -16- Statistics Canada • Aboriginal Peoples Survey – Children who live in non-reserve areas Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making The 2001 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS) was developed in partnership with several national Aboriginal organizations, as well as representatives from federal, provincial and territorial departments. In July 2004, using the results of the APS, Statistics Canada published a report on the health, education and language of Métis, Inuit and North American Indian children who live in non-reserve areas. Selected highlights of the report are as follows. • There is a small difference in the self-rated health of Aboriginal children living in non-reserve areas and all Canadian children. For the Aboriginal population living in non-reserve areas, parents of 83% of children aged five and under ranked the health of their children as either very good or excellent, compared with 90% for all Canadian children. • Aboriginal children living in non-reserve areas are very active in extra-curricular activities. For example, 71% of children participate in sports at least once a week, 34% spend time with Elders at least once a week, 31 % participate in art and music and 30% in clubs or youth, drum and dance groups at least once a week, and 21% help out without pay in the community or school at least once a week. • There is a correlation between frequent participation in extra-curricular activities and performance in school. Aboriginal children living in non-reserve areas who frequently participate in these extra-curricular activities are more likely to do very well in school, as reported by their parents based on their knowledge of children’s school work, including report cards. The complete study report is available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/cgibin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=89-597-XIE2001001. HEALTH STATISTICS • Health Accord Indicators Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. Canada’s First Ministers entered into a second Health Accord in February 2003. A key component of the Accord is a commitment by all federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions to publish a series of indicators for their respective publics. There have been a number of additions to the range of indicators identified in the first Accord (these were published in September 2002). The new indicators include areas that were the focus of the second Accord: access and quality of primary health care and catastrophic drug coverage. Statistics Canada has contributed to the development and creation of these indicators as well as supplying the data for more than 70% of the indicators. Comparable Health Indicators were published on the Statistics Canada’s web site in December 2004 for public consultation at the following address: Statistics Canada Page -17- (www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-401-XIE/2002000/index.htm). It has been both a challenge and great opportunity to widen the range of health data to fashion statistical indicators that are likely to play an important role in the ongoing monitoring, and to provide Canadians the means to judge the performance of the existing health system. • Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)- Mental Health and Well Being Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is conducted annually in partnership with Health Canada and the Canadian Institute of Health Information (CIHI). The central objective of the survey is to gather health-related data at the sub-provincial levels of geography (health region or combined health regions) in odd numbered years. These survey cycles asks Canadians about their health and well-being, the factors that affect their health and their use of health care services. In even numbered years, the CCHS has a smaller sample size, while probing specific topics in greater detail. The 2002 CCHS focused on mental health and well being, which then formed the core of a series of articles and a third annual report on the health of Canadians. The first article in this report, Social anxiety disorder—Beyond shyness (www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-003-SIE/2004000/anxiety.htm) revealed that in 2002, 750,000 Canadians aged 15 or older (3%) had social anxiety disorders. These people also had a far higher risk of having major depressive disorder, panic disorder and substance dependency compared to the general population. Social anxiety disorder was associated with higher rates of disability, negative perceptions of physical and mental health, and dissatisfaction with life. The second article, Bipolar I disorder, social support and work (www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-003SIE/2004000/bipolar.htm indicated that an estimated 450,000 (2.6%) people aged 25 to 64 had chronic bipolar I disorder. Alcohol dependence, asthma, migraine, obesity and panic disorder were far more prevalent among these people, compared with the general population. People with bipolar I disorder who reported readily accessible tangible support (e.g. someone who could help with chores) had higher odds of being employed, compared to those with less available tangible support. The third article, Panic disorder and coping (www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-003SIE/2004000/panic.htm) reported that an estimated 1.5% of the population had panic disorders manifesting in the past year. Average age of onset was 25. People with panic disorder were less likely to work and more likely to be permanently unable to work compared with those who had never had the condition. Negative coping behaviours, including alcohol or drug use and smoking, were more common among those with panic disorder. Finally, the fourth article, Alcohol and illicit drug dependence www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/82-003SIE/2004000/dependence.htm) indicated that an estimated 640,000 people (2.6% of the household population aged 15 or older) were dependent on alcohol, and 195,000 (0.8%), on illicit drugs. These people had elevated levels of depression compared with the general population. Heavy drinking more than once a Page -18- Statistics Canada week was a risk factor for a new episode of depression, and depression was a risk factor for new cases of frequent heavy drinking. • Canadian Health Measures Survey Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. Statistics Canada, in partnership with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, is planning to begin the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) in the fall of 2006. The CHMS aims to overcome the limitations of existing health-monitoring information by directly measuring indicators of chronic disease, infectious disease, environmental toxin exposure and physical activity and fitness levels from a nationally representative sample of 5,000 Canadians aged 6 to 79. In preparation for the launching of the CHMS a pre-test was planned and conducted in 2004-2005. Its main objectives were to determine the willingness of Canadians to participate in such a survey; to evaluate response rates to the survey and to all direct health measures; to evaluate the survey’s planning assumptions regarding logistics and costs; and to evaluate survey processes and materials. The pre-test was conducted in the Calgary Health Region from October to December 2004. The CHMS pre-test was well received by the Calgary population. The response rate to the pre-test, while not meeting Statistics Canada’s usual high quality levels, was deemed to be acceptable for this type of statistical activity. The pre-test found that the time and resources required to establish the CHMS clinic and the required infrastructure exceeded what had been estimated. Many important lessons were learned regarding the logistics of setting up and running the clinic. Specifically, information was obtained on staffing levels, timing and scheduling of clinic visits, communications and data capture systems, appropriateness of some measures and the screening of questionnaires. The overall lessons learned were that Canadians seem interested in, and supportive of, a survey of this nature, and that the CHMS will be able to yield quality data on the health status of the Canadian population. However, alternate data collection methods will need to be investigated to evaluate whether the model used in the pre-test will yield the best results within the survey’s existing timeframe and available budget. More information on the CHMS can be found at this address: www.statcan.ca/english/survey/household/measures/measures.htm • The 2002 Youth Smoking Survey Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making The main objective of the 2002 Youth Smoking Survey was to provide current information about the smoking behaviour of students in grades 5 to 9, and to measure changes that occurred since the previous survey carried out by Statistics Canada in 1994. The survey, funded by Health Canada, was intended to assist with the evaluation and development of anti-smoking policies and programs. In addition, the 2002 survey collected basic data on alcohol and drug use by students in grades 7 to 9 which contributed to Canada’s Drug Strategy. Statistics Canada Page -19- About 19,000 children in 955 classes randomly selected from schools across the 10 provinces participated in the survey. They represent over 2 million students in Grades 5 to 9 most of whom are 10 to 14 years old. The survey results indicated that, between 1994 and 2002, the rate of smoking among Canadian youths in Grades 5 to 9 declined by more than half. Just fewer than 3% of youths in Grades 5 to 9, or an estimated 54,000 youths, reported that they were current smokers. That is, they smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days and have smoked more than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime. This compares with 7% in the same grade levels eight years earlier. Over two-thirds of current smokers reported that either their father or mother smoked. In contrast, only about one-third of children who had never tried smoking reported that either parent smoked. In addition, parents were the usual source of cigarettes for 18% of current smokers. The survey found an apparent relationship between school performance and smoking behaviour. Only 12% of current smokers rated themselves as doing better than average in school compared with their classmates, in contrast to 40% of students who never tried smoking. While 28% of current smokers considered themselves to be below-average students, among those who never tried smoking, only 6% rated themselves that low. Detailed survey results can be obtained at the following address: http://dissemination.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040614/d040614b.htm. ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS (Data Gaps II Initiative) • Water Quantity, Water Use, and Water Quality Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. During the past year, work proceeded according to plan on the development of accounts for water quantity. In particular, progress was made in estimating the inflows and outflows of surface water in watershed basins. Existing hydrometric data collected by Environment Canada were incorporated into the accounts. First pilot results for the Mackenzie Basin on the rate of water renewal were completed. The method is being adapted and applied to other watershed basins. Funding was secured through Budget 2004 to conduct a survey of industrial water use. The survey is currently under design for implementation in 2006. A feasibility study was carried out on the use of municipal water treatment plant records as a source of data on water quality in Canada. Results were positive and funding, again through Budget 2004, was secured to conduct a survey of water treatment plants to be implemented in 2006-2007. Page -20- Statistics Canada • Flows of Scrap Materials Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. A research document discussing a method for estimating the potential generation of recyclable metal using Input-Output modelling was produced. It describes the data development required to operationalize the method, specifically with regard to manufacturing data, lifetime estimates for capital stock, and estimates of the factory scrap generated during various manufacturing processes for the period 1961-1996. This research was part of a four-year study with Natural Resources Canada aimed at improving statistics on recycled metals but also at estimating the amount of scrap metal that should potentially be available in the Canadian economy. The document is in its final stage of review and will be published in 2005. • The Loss of Dependable Agricultural Land in Canada Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. In January 2005, Statistics Canada published a special study on urban consumption of prime agricultural land in Canada. The study examined the trends in agricultural and non-agricultural land use across Canada from 1951 to 2001. Highlights of the study were that: • By 2001, about one-half of Canada’s urbanized land was located on dependable agricultural land. • Between 1951 and 2001, the supply of dependable agricultural land declined by 4 percent while the demand for cultivated land increased by 20 percent. The detailed study results can be obtained at: www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=21-006XIE2005001 • Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting in support of statistical and regulatory needs Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. In 2004, Statistics Canada was provided with the responsibility of collecting information for the new Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions reporting system. The system is designed to meet four broad objectives: to support the proposed Large Final Emitters regulatory system, to meet provincial and territorial legislative reporting requirements for GHG and related information, to increase the level of detail of the National GHG Inventory maintained by Environment Canada, and to provide Canadians with information on GHG emissions. Information is obtained from Canadian enterprises through a secure, single-window, internetbased system that was harmonized to meet different jurisdictional needs, to avoid duplication and to minimize response burden. Statistics Canada Page -21- Leading this initiative is a Federal, Provincial and Territorial government steering committee, the National Steering Committee on Reporting, which includes Statistics Canada. The Committee works closely with the Stakeholder Advisory Committee on Reporting made up of industry representatives, industry associations and non-government environmental groups. The results have been released at the end of the summer of 2005 and will be reported in the 2005-2006 Departmental Performance Report. EDUCATION STATISTICS • Post-Secondary Transition Survey (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The purpose of the Post-Secondary Transition Survey Program is to provide data that allow for an examination of factors influencing access to and persistence in postsecondary education, postsecondary financing and financial barriers, educational pathways, mobility, school-work transitions, labour market outcomes, pursuit of further postsecondary studies, and debt management. This information will contribute to the development of policies and programs that help youth to achieve a successful transition into the labour market. The program on postsecondary transition is made up of three surveys: the National Graduates Survey and its Follow-up of Graduates (NGS and FOG), the Postsecondary Education Participation Survey (PEPS), and the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). The NGS and FOG interview recent graduates (2 and 5 years after graduation) from public postsecondary education institutions, including those who move to the United States. The PEPS was a one-time survey of 18 to 24 year-olds (17-24 in Quebec) conducted in 2002 that provides information on the full spectrum of postsecondary education choices that face a young person leaving high school. Results were released in September 2003. The annually conducted SED provides timely information on plans of recent Ph.D. graduates with respect to further study, work and mobility. In May 2002, Statistics Canada surveyed the 2000 class of graduates of Canada’s public post-secondary educational institutions (universities, community colleges and trade/vocational schools). Results for the 2002 survey, released in late April 2004, showed that about one-half of college and bachelor graduates from the class of 2000 left school owing money for their education, mostly in the form of government student loans. One in five graduates who did owe money was debt free two years after graduation. On average, graduates who still owed money for student loans had paid off about one-quarter of their debt. On average, bachelor graduates with student debt owed about $20,000 to all sources and college graduates owed almost $13,000. The complete results of the survey are available at www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-595-M2004016. Page -22- Statistics Canada • Enhanced Student Information System (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The goal of the Enhanced Student Information System (ESIS) is to produce enrolment and graduate counts across the full spectrum of public and not-for-profit postsecondary institutions. ESIS represents an integration of data from universities, community colleges and trade/vocational programs into a single, coherent information system. ESIS provides more information on programs of study than was previously available, including more detail on emerging fields, course-level information, and continuous education. ESIS is also designed to capture student records through time, for analysis of student pathways through the postsecondary system. It will yield results on time to completion and student mobility across different programs, institutions and jurisdictions. The first release of ESIS data, covering university enrolment in three academic years, occurred in July 2004 and data on university graduates were released in January 2005. The July 2004 release showed that a record number of students enrolled in Canadian universities in 2001/02, exceeding the peak recorded in 1992/93. In its strongest increase in 10 years, university enrolment rose 4.3% compared with 2000/01, reaching the record number of 886,800. The results are available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040730/d040730b.htm. According to the January 2005 results, university students received a record number of bachelor's and master's degrees in 2001 as the overall level of degrees, certificates and diplomas granted by universities rose for the third straight year. Overall, universities granted 178,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates in 2001, up 0.8% from 2000. This total was just short of the record high of 178,100 set in 1996, which marked a recovery from declines at the end of the 1990s. The complete results are available at: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050118/d050118b.htm. • Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a collaborative effort among member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This program is designed to regularly assess the achievement of 15-year-olds in reading, mathematical and scientific literacy using a common international test. PISA was first implemented in 2000 and is repeated every three years with each cycle providing detailed assessment in one of the three domains and summary assessments in the other two. In Canada, PISA is administered through a partnership of the Council of Ministers of Education, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Statistics Canada. Canada and 40 other countries participated in PISA 2003, which focused primarily on mathematics and secondarily on reading and science. In addition, PISA 2003 included a third minor assessment in problem solving. In Canada, more than 28,000 15-year-olds from more than 1,000 schools participated in April and May 2003. The major assessment domain in 2000 was reading, and science will be the major domain in 2006. Statistics Canada Page -23- Results for PISA 2003, with math as the major assessment domain, were released in December 2004 and showed that Canadian 15-year-old students are among the best in the world when it comes to mathematics, reading, science and problem solving. Students from only two countries (Hong Kong–China and Finland) outperformed Canadian 15-year-olds in mathematics among 41 nations that participated. Canadian youth also performed well in three other domains measured by PISA. Only students in Finland performed significantly better than those in Canada in reading. And students in only Finland, Japan, Hong Kong–China and Korea performed significantly better in science and problem solving. All provinces performed at or above the OECD average in mathematics overall. Furthermore students in Alberta, British Columbia and Quebec performed as well in mathematics as those from the top performing countries. The study also found that students in nearly every province performed at or above the OECD average in reading, science and problem solving. The study showed that while boys outperformed girls in mathematics, the magnitude of the difference in Canada was small. The survey results can be accessed at: www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-590-XIE2004001. • Education Matters Performance Criteria: Relevance Changes to statistical programs based on external advice and program reviews. In April 2004, Statistics Canada launched a free bimonthly on-line publication, Education Matters: Insights on Education, Learning and Training in Canada. This periodical provides summary information on issues and gives access to education indicators and Canadian education analysis. It presents information, statistics and analysis in a non-technical, highly readable format for teachers, students, parents, education associations, researchers and policy makers. Each edition has two articles that summarize findings from more detailed studies and provide links to those reports. The publication also links electronically to other Statistics Canada learning resources. The feature articles so far have covered a variety of topics, such as • • • • • • • • • school libraries literacy, numeracy and problem solving skills among adults computers in the classroom the cost of postsecondary education how immigrant children fare academically the difference between boys’ and girls’ reading skills achievement of 15-year-olds in French immersion National Graduates Survey results for the class of 2000 the effect of distance from the nearest college or university on postsecondary participation rates. The publication is available at: www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-004-X&CHROPG=1 Page -24- Statistics Canada • Interprovincial Education Statistics Program: indicators for primary and secondary schools Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making In September 2004, the Agency published a new summary report on performance indicators for primary and secondary schools in all the provinces and territories for the period 1996-1997 to 2002-2003. This new report provides a comprehensive examination of public school indicators for the provinces and territories during a six-year period at the turn of the millennium. It examines trends in enrolment and the number of educators for public elementary and secondary schools, as well as basic financial statistics, such as total spending on education, spending per student and spending as a percentage of the gross domestic product. Plans are to continue to gather summary data on performance indicators on an annual basis. Between the school years 1996-1997 and 2002-2003, enrolment in public elementary and secondary schools based on full-time equivalents increased in only two provinces, Ontario and Alberta. In Ontario, enrolment reached nearly 2.2 million, up 4.9% from six years earlier. In Alberta, enrolment hit nearly 539,000, a 2.4% gain. Ontario's increase was essentially due to high levels of immigration. In Alberta, the reason was migration from other provinces. The largest decline occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador, where enrolment fell 20.7% from six years earlier to 84,268. This was largely because of a net outflow of migration to other provinces, as well as the nation's lowest fertility rate. Spending per student increased at a faster rate than inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index during the six-year period. Nationally in 1996-1997, it cost on average $6,672 to educate a student in Canada. Six years later, this cost had increased 19% to $7,946. In comparison, inflation rose only 12% during the same time frame. More information on the subject is available at: www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc-/english/bsolc?catno=81-595MIE2004022. • Information and Communications Technologies in Schools Survey (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The 2003-2004 Information and Communications Technologies in Schools Survey (ICTSS) collected information from principals to assess connectivity and information and communications technology (ICT) integration in elementary and secondary schools in Canada. Data were collected from nearly 6,700 elementary and secondary schools. The ICTSS was conducted in October 2003 by Statistics Canada, in partnership with the sponsor of the survey, Industry Canada's SchoolNet program. According to results released in June 2004, virtually all elementary and secondary schools in Canada were connected to the Internet during the 2003-2004 school year. Overall, an estimated total of more than 1 million computers were available to students and teachers, and about 9 out of 10 of these computers were connected to the Internet. However, while information and communications technology (ICT) has provided students with a new learning tool, it hasn't arrived without a number of challenges. According to school principals, most teachers possessed the required technical skills to use ICT for preparing report cards, taking attendance or recording grades. However, slightly less than half of school principals felt that the majority of their teachers were adequately prepared to engage their students effectively in the use of ICT to Statistics Canada Page -25- enhance their learning. Complete results are available on Statistics Canada’s web site at: www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=81-595-MIE2004017. CANADIAN COMMUNITIES • Trends and Conditions in Canada’s Urban Communities Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making Competitive cities and healthy communities are a priority for governments at all levels. It is recognized that the manner in which cities develop has a long-term effect on the economic growth of Canada as a whole and the social well-being of its citizens. In this context, the demand for information on Canada’s urban areas and the neighbourhoods within them is greater than ever before. Between April 2004 and June 2005, Statistics Canada published a series of eight monographs on Trends and Conditions in Census Metropolitan Areas. The series provides detailed information on Canada’s major urban areas across a number of dimensions, including low-income, health, immigration, housing, culture, economic conditions, transportation and Aboriginal persons. Some highlights are presented below: • The last decade has witnessed some important developments in Canada’s Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs). While jobs are still strongly concentrated in downtown areas in most CMAs, rapid employment growth in the suburbs has been evident. This has implications for commuting patterns and the provision of public transit services. In Toronto, for example, more than 200,000 more workers were commuting to work locations over 20 km from the city centre in 2001 than in 1996, and nearly 90% of these workers were commuting by car. • The 1990s also witnessed widening gaps between high and low income families in Canada’s urban centers. Widening disparity was also evident at the neighborhood level, as the income gap between more and less affluent neighborhoods widened in larger CMAs. The geographic concentration of low income neighborhoods within urban areas varies considerably between CMAs. For example, Winnipeg and Vancouver have a single dominant cluster of low-income neighbourhoods in the downtown core while Toronto and Montréal have several distinct clusters of low-income neighbourhoods surrounding a relatively affluent downtown core. • The Computer and Telecommunications (CT) sector often provides well-remunerated and high value-added jobs, and generally includes more knowledge workers than many other sectors of the economy. CT employment is highly concentrated in Canada’s largest CMAs. Together, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, and Ottawa–Gatineau account for 56% of all CT employment in 2003 (compared to 29% of all CMA employment). While the large CMAs account for the most CT employment, they also bore the brunt of that sector’s cyclical fluctuations. Page -26- Statistics Canada • In terms of health outcomes life expectancy at birth varies more across Canadian CMAs than it does across a list of 22 OECD countries. In 2000, life expectancy at birth averaged 79.4 years in Canada, but ranged from 81.1 years in Vancouver to 76.7 years in Sudbury. A synthesis report will be released in the fall of 2005. The series can be accessed on line at the following addresses: http://www.statcan.ca/cgi-bin/downpub/listpub.cgi?catno=89-613-MIE and http://www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=89-613-M&CHROPG=1. • The General Social Survey on Social Engagement (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making The General Social Survey is an annual survey providing information on social trends in order to monitor changes over time in the living conditions and well-being of Canadians and to provide timely information on specific social policy issues of current or emerging interest. In the summer of 2004, Statistics Canada released the results of the 2003 GSS on Social Engagement. This was the first survey at Statistics Canada to focus on social cohesion. The release explored the role that civic and social activities play in the satisfaction that people derive in their lives. Some more specific highlights include: • • • • Over the course of their lives, Canadians engage in many types of civic and social activities that play a vital role in the health and vitality of the nation. The majority (61%) of Canadians belong to at least one group or organization, with sports and recreational organizations, such as hockey leagues, health clubs or golf clubs. Participation in specific types of political activities is less prevalent. Slightly more than a quarter of Canadians reported that they had signed a petition, and about the same amount had searched for information on a political issue. About one-fifth had attended a public meeting and another fifth reported they had boycotted or chosen a product for ethical reasons. The higher an individual's level of education and household income, the more likely he or she is to get involved in an organization or participate in political activities. The GSS confirmed the image of small towns as places where people are most neighbourly. Most individuals who lived in rural or small town areas (69%) said they knew many or most of the people in their neighbourhood. This was more than twice the proportion of 33% in Canada's largest cities. The type of dwelling in which people live made a difference in how well they know their neighbours. In Census metropolitan areas, 51% of those residing in single detached homes knew most or many of the people in their neighbourhood. This was the case for only 28% of people who lived in apartments or condominium buildings. The vast majority of respondents (85%) described their sense of belonging to Canada as "very strong" or "somewhat strong" and only slightly fewer said they also felt a very strong or somewhat strong sense of belonging to their province and their local community. Such views were less prevalent in Quebec than elsewhere. Still, three-quarters (74%) of Quebec residents described their sense of belonging to the country as either very strong or somewhat strong. Statistics Canada Page -27- For more information about the survey results, the report 2003 General Social Survey on Social Engagement, Cycle 17: An Overview of Findings is now available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=89-598-XIE. • Population Projection of Visible Minorities Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making In March 2005 Statistics Canada released population projections for the visible minority population of Canada. Some highlights include: • 13% of the population presently report themselves as belonging to a visible minority group as defined in the Employment Equity Act. • According to population projections, the nation’s visible minorities could reach between 19% and 23% by 2017. Immigration is the most important factor that accounts for the rapid projected growth in the visible minority population. The impact of this growth is expected to be felt mostly in urban centres where the majority of the visible minority population resides. • According to the projections, in 2017, more than 50% of the population in Toronto and Vancouver metropolitan areas would be members of minority groups. In 2001, these groups represented 36% of the population in Toronto and Vancouver. The publication Population Projections of Visible Minority Groups, Canada, Provinces and Regions, 2001 to 2017 can be accessed at the following address: www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=91-541-XIE. CRIME AND VIOLENCE STATISTICS • Developing New Framework for Justice Statistics and Analysis Performance Criteria: Relevance Changes to statistical programs based on external advice and program reviews. A new framework for justice statistics and analysis has helped the National Justice Statistics Initiative focus on the importance of evidence-based policy development. From a broad perspective that includes both justice and partner systems, such as education, health and social services, the framework encourages policyrelevant analysis that considers the individual, family and community factors that shape interactions and outcomes. In 2004-2005, the framework and a series of demonstration projects were catalysts in the discussion of justice policy information priorities. Included in the consultation were partners in the National Justice Statistics Initiative (Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministries and Departments responsible for Justice and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police) as well as government representatives of health, education, social development, immigration and heritage sectors, national Aboriginal organisations and academic communities. Results will be reflected in a renewed strategic plan for the justice statistics program Page -28- Statistics Canada in 2006. The plan is expected to identify key policy research and analysis priorities and signal the need to build on the program’s existing data assets and partnerships in order to address them in the future. • Improving Capacity to Understand Crime Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. It is through information on criminal incidents reported by police that Statistics Canada sheds light on the characteristics of accused and victims and key details of criminal incidents, such as weapon involvement and victim injury, and the location and time at which a crime took place. This detailed information contributes to a better understanding of crime trends in communities and enables studies of repeat offending behaviour. Detailed information also makes possible studies that help to understand how individuals flow through the justice system through linkage to court sentencing and correctional services programming information. This information is key to understanding the effectiveness of the justice system and the safety of communities. A demonstration study in 2004-2005 linked police and court records to explore sentencing in cases of family violence. It found that family members convicted of most forms of violent crimes against spouses, children and seniors were less likely than other violent offenders to get a prison term. Also, for the first time, police records pertaining to the same individual were linked to shed light on factors influencing decisions to lay charges against apprehended youth. After taking many factors into account, including the characteristics of the alleged offender and the incident, the study found that the most influential factor overall in the decision to lay a charge was the number of times the youth had previously been apprehended. The demonstration study of sentencing outcomes in the 2004 edition of Family Violence in Canada: A Statistical Profile is available at: www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=85-224-XIE. In 2004-2005, the RCMP detachments began converting from summary data reporting to participating in the incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR2). RCMP conversion, which is expected to be completed in 2005-2006, will improve coverage of the UCR2 from 60% to about 90% of all criminal incidents in Canada and will greatly enhance capacity to understand rural crime. In January 2005, with funding from Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada, the UCR2 survey was also extensively revised to provide information on emerging forms of crime including, organized crime, internet-based crime, hate crime and information on the location of crime. This information will enhance Statistics Canada’s understanding of how crime is changing within Canadian society and the programs and policy interventions needed. • Aggressive behaviour among children Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making The National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) is a long-term study by Statistics Canada and Social Development Canada. It was designed to collect information about factors influencing the social, emotional and behavioural development of Canadian children, and to monitor the impact of these factors on their development over time. The survey covers a broad range of topics including health, physical Statistics Canada Page -29- development, learning, behaviour, and social environment (family, friends, schools and communities). The NLSCY follows the development of a cohort of Canadian children from birth to early adulthood. The NLSCY began in 1994/95, when a sample of children under the age of 12 was selected from across Canada. The sample was designed to be representative of all Canadian children aged 0 to 11 years at that time. This sample of children has been monitored every two years since then, with the most recent data collection taking place in 2004-2005. In October, 2004, based on data from the NLSCY, Statistics Canada published a research paper about punitive parenting and children’s aggressive behaviour. The study found that children who lived in homes where punitive parenting techniques were used scored higher in aggressive behaviour than those living in less punitive environments, both at ages 2 to 3 years and 8 to 9 years. The study also found that change in parenting practices was linked to change in behaviour. Children whose early parenting environment had been punitive but whose environment had become less punitive, scored as low in aggressive behaviour as those whose parenting environment was non-punitive at both ages, after adjusting for initial levels of aggressive behaviour. By the same token, children whose early environment had been non-punitive but whose environment had become more punitive, scored just as high in aggressive behaviour as those whose environment was punitive at both ages, after adjusting for initial levels of aggressive behaviour. The patterns in the data appeared regardless of the sex of the child or household income level. In February, 2005, Statistics Canada published an article in The Daily that extended these findings. Children aged 2 to 5 years were followed for eight years, when they were aged 10 to 13 years. The results followed the same pattern as in the earlier analysis. To obtain more information about this study, you should refer to the following address: www.statcan.ca:8096/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=89-599-M2004001. CANADIAN ECONOMY AND THE LABOUR MARKET • Information System for Science and Technology (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. This project provides integrated information on three aspects of science and technology in Canada: the activities of research and development, commercialization, innovation, and related human resource development; economic and social impacts of technological and related organizational change; and the diffusion of technologies and ideas in a knowledge-based economy. These measurements serve to provide a coherent picture of the Canadian system of innovation and its relation to the knowledge-based economy. The following is a selection of studies conducted under this project. • Spending on Research and Development Preliminary estimates of Canada’s Gross Domestic Expenditures on Research and Development (GERD) in 2004 were $24.5 billion, up 5.1% from 2003 forecasts. The ratio of GERD to GDP, an estimate of the intensity of Canada’s research and development, fell to 1.90 in 2004 and has been Page -30- Statistics Canada declining since 2001 when it peaked at 2.05. Full results are available at www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041210/d041210e.htm. • Public Sector Technology Transfer in Canada Technology acquired from universities, hospitals or government laboratories has played a major role in the success of more than 4,400 Canadian companies. Of the $22 billion in research and development performed in Canada in 2003, about 10% was done by the federal government and 35% by universities. This report is a first Canadian attempt to view the impact of federally-funded research from the perspective of the whole economy. It is available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=88F0006XIE2004018. • Use of knowledge management in innovative business units Business units in selected service industries that are considered innovators believe that a key factor in their success is the way they manage their knowledge. The results suggested that understanding how business units are managed, and their perception of the value of management practices, may indicate whether they will be innovative. It may also indicate to some extent the type of innovation. The study found that knowledge management practices were considered more important to the success by innovative business units than they were by those that did not innovate. Detailed results are available at www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050209/d050209a.htm. • Innovation in small firms Smaller firms kept pace with their larger counterparts in terms of technological innovation. However, smaller technological innovators were noticeably less likely to use more complex, newer and, at times, more resource-dependent information communications technologies (ICTs), such as intranets and extranets. Small firms were also less likely to have a presence on the World Wide Web than larger firms. However, small technological innovators with 1 to 19 full-time employees were almost twice as likely to have an Internet site and three times more likely to engage in Internet commerce than were their noninnovator counterparts. Detailed results can be obtained at the following address: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040521/d040521c.htm. • Characteristics of firms that grow from small to medium size In collaboration with the National Research Council, Statistics Canada conducted twenty-five case studies as a part of a larger study on the characteristics of firms which grow from small to medium size. The case studies showed that for every company that made the transition from small to medium size by adhering to the “traditional” growth factors there was another that managed to do it by breaking the rules. In general the respondents were aware that to grow they need to engage in alliances, conduct R&D, develop a competence in obtaining funding, manage their Intellectual Property, and find a market niche. However, many pointed out that other factors such as business advice, the formalization of organizational practices and planning processes, as well as the ability to remain adaptable and innovative were as important or more important to their growth. www.statcan.ca/english/freepub/88- Statistics Canada Page -31- 003-XIE/88-003-XIE2004003.pdf and www.statcan.ca/english/research/88F0006XIE/88F0006XIE2004021.pdf • Trends in biotechnology activity The biotechnology activity in Canada continued to grow between 2001 and 2003, according to preliminary results from the 2003 Biotechnology use and Development Survey. The number of innovative biotechnology firms grew by one-third from 375 to 496 between 2001 and 2003. Together, these firms generated $3.8 billion in revenues in 2003, up 7% from 2001, while their spending on research and development increased 11% to $1.5 billion. Despite the increase in the number of firms, the number of employees working in biotechnology-related activities remained stable at about 11,900. Detailed results are available at www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041214/d041214d.htm. • Socio-Economic Indicators of “Connectedness” (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The purpose of this project is to provide information on factors influencing Canada’s ability to achieve its objective of making Canada’s knowledge infrastructure accessible to all Canadians. It is also aimed at determining the use, or planned use, of information and communication technologies by households and other sectors of the economy, as well as on their readiness to engage in electronic commerce and other activities in the knowledge-based economy. In this age of the information society, information and communications technologies (ICTs) have become everyday tools for living, working and learning. The following is a selection of studies undertaken under this project. • Household Internet Use The number of Canadian households surfing the Internet continued to grow in 2003. However, growth rates for Internet use remained relatively stable largely because the majority of households were already plugged in. Underlying this trend were Canadian households’ continued quest for speed and increased adoption by lower income households. Canadian households spent just over $3.0 billion shopping on the Internet on everything from airplane tickets to books in 2003. Results of the survey are available at the following addresses: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040708/d040708a.htm and www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040923/d040923a.htm. • Broadband Internet: Removing the speed limit for Canadian firms The use of high-speed Internet is a key complement for firms trying to effectively use other advanced information communication technologies, such as websites, Intranets and Extranets, and conducting transactions on line. This is true across all sizes of enterprises however broadband Internet also enables small firms to be on a more level technological footing with larger firms. Results can be obtained at the following address: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040927/d040927c.htm. Page -32- Statistics Canada • Electronic commerce and technology On-line sales by Canadian companies and government departments grew substantially for the fifth consecutive year in 2004, but e-commerce still accounted for less than 1% of total operating revenues for private businesses. A large proportion of the gains in e-commerce in 2004 resulted from increased sales from one business to another, rather than sales to households. Only the smallest firms do not use the internet, as those that do represent 97% of gross business income. Results available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050420/d050420b.htm. • Competition to supply voice, video and high-speed Internet heats up In recent years both traditional telephone and cable companies have invested considerable resources in upgrading their networks and have bolstered their bottom lines with revenues from high-speed Internet offerings. The competition between these two industries is poised to accelerate further as both the telecommunications and cable industries prepare to roll out new voice over Internet services. During the past decade satellite TV has emerged as a substitute to Cable TV and now some telephone customers are able to subscribe to television programming and high speed Internet service through a Video Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL). This convergence of product offerings is blurring the distinction between telephone and cable companies as they both vie to be the single channel provider into the home. Mobile communications are also changing the way Canadians communicate as nearly 15 million Canadians leave home or work with a mobile telecommunication device in hand. For detailed information, the following links should be consulted: www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040914/d040914c.htm www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050203/d050203c.htm www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/041222/d041222b.htm • Exporter Register (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information to support informed policy formulation and decision making The Exporter Register provides estimates of the number of exporters and the value of exports by industry group, exporter size, province of residence, destination of export and (for the most recent data years) employment size. Export documents are grouped and linked to establishments/enterprises on the Statistics Canada Business Register. For the small component of export documents that are not linked, an estimation methodology is applied to obtain a total annual count of exporting establishments. The exporter data are released in a publication titled “A Profile of Canadian Exporters”. The most recent data were available on February 21, 2005 (www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/050221/d050221c.htm and covered the years 1993 to 2003. The number of Canadian exporting establishments declined for the first time in 2003. Some 43,310 establishments were exporters in 2003, down 2.6% from 2002, but 38% higher than in 1993. These establishments exported $348 billion in merchandise, a decline of over $11 billion from 2002, but more than double the level in 1993. Statistics Canada Page -33- Wholesale and retail trade industries together accounted for 44% of the decline in the number of exporters, while the agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting industry accounted for an additional 18% of the decline. Despite the overall decline in numbers, more than 2,000 establishments began exporting in 2003. This was the smallest number of new exporters in any year covered by the Exporter Register. However, the value of their exports exceeded $2 billion. Establishments exporting more than $25 million annually continued to account for the majority of merchandise exports. In 2003, 3.7% of exporting establishments accounted for 81% of the total value of merchandise exports. Establishments exporting less than $1 million annually represented 72% of all exporting establishments, yet they accounted for less than 2% of the value of merchandise exports in 2003. • Workplace and Employee Survey (Data Gaps II Initiative) Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. The Workplace and Employee Survey (WES) was introduced in 1999 to collect information on the workplace and on how it is changing, and its effects on workers. Specifically the aim of this annual survey is to investigate the relationships among competitiveness, innovation, technology use and human resources management on the employer side, and technology use, training, job stability and earnings on the employee side. The following are selected findings based on the WES. • Firms that combine high levels of information and communication technology with various organizational changes and human resource practices are more likely to experience productivity improvements and to innovate than others. • Workplace productivity is strongly associated with computer-related investments. The correlation is higher when the workforce is highly educated and trained. • There is only moderate support for the notion that innovative work practices such as teamwork, job rotation and profit-sharing reduce employee turnover. For instance, there is no evidence that such innovative work practices reduce employee turnover in the manufacturing sector. • About one-third of the gender wage gap is due to women’s concentration in low-paying firms. Hence, employment equity measures, which are aimed at eliminating male-female wage differences within workplaces (rather than between workplaces), do not address a sizable portion of the gender wage gap. • In 2001, an estimated 390,000 full-time permanent employees in the private sector, or 4% of the total, thought they had a retirement plan, but in reality did not. Complete survey results are available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=71-585-X&CHROPG=1. Page -34- Statistics Canada Studies on Transition to Retirement Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. Many people anticipate a labour shortage in the coming years as baby boomers approach the age of retirement. However, data from the past two censuses indicate that a growing number of Canadian seniors remain on the job. In five short years, both the number and proportion of workers aged 65 and older rose noticeably—from 255,000 in 1996 (1 in 13 seniors) to 305,000 in 2001 (1 in 12). Most older workers are employed full time, and they tend to be better-educated than retirees. Although they are more likely to be self-employed than younger workers, over half are employees. Working seniors are concentrated in farming, management and retail sales occupations, as well as the professions of accounting, medicine and law. The full article which was published in the Daily is accessible at the following address: http://dissemination.statcan.ca/Daily/English/040225/d040225d.htm. • National Survey of Non-profit and Voluntary Organizations Performance Criteria: Relevance Produce information required to meet emerging issues and new challenges. On September 20, 2004, Statistics Canada released the results from the first National Survey of Non-Profit and Voluntary Organizations (NSNVO). The survey provided a national portrait of the estimated 161,000 registered charities and incorporated non profit organizations operating in Canada in 2003. These organizations included sports clubs, arts organizations, social clubs, hospitals, colleges and universities, trade associations and religious organizations. The survey was a collaborative undertaking of Statistics Canada and a consortium of organizations led by Imagine Canada (formerly the Canadian Centre for Philanthropy). Some of these findings include: In 2003, Canadians took out 139 million memberships in non-profit and voluntary organizations, an average of four per person. One of the hallmarks of these organizations is their connection to the community through the participation of individual citizens. Individual Canadians gave generously to organizations, both in terms of money and time. In 2003, Canadians donated more than $8 billion, and organizations reported a combined volunteer complement of more than 19 million who contributed more than 2 billion hours of volunteer time, or the equivalent of more than 1 million full-time jobs. Nearly all non-profit and voluntary organizations make use of volunteers, and more than half rely solely on volunteers to fulfill their mission. However, most volunteers are concentrated among a relatively small Statistics Canada Page -35- number of organizations. Almost three-quarters (73%) are engaged by the 6% of organizations that have volunteer complements of 200 or more. A majority of those that participated in this study reported having problems fulfilling their missions and achieving their organization's objectives. Many appear to be reporting significant challenges in providing the public with all the benefits they have the potential to offer, as well as problems recruiting volunteers and obtaining funding, both from individual donors and from other organizations, such as governments, foundations or corporations. Others said they had difficulties being able to plan for the future, or finding suitable people to sit on their boards. In 2003, about 161,000 non-profit and voluntary organizations were operating across the country in a wide variety of areas. The two largest groups of organizations operate in the area of sports and recreation (21%) and in religion (19%), both with about one-fifth of the organizations. Detailed survey results are available at www.statcan.ca/bsolc/english/bsolc?catno=61-533-XIE. Page -36- Statistics Canada Accuracy of Statistical Information The accuracy of statistical information is the degree to which that information correctly describes the phenomena it was designed to measure. It is usually characterized in terms of statistical estimate errors and is traditionally broken down into bias (systematic error) and variance (random error) components. It may also be described in terms of the major sources of error that potentially cause inaccuracy: incomplete survey coverage, sampling error, non response (as indicated by response rates), and statistical revision patterns. Statistics Canada uses a wide range of statistical methodologies and quality assurance practices to manage and control errors. For the more critical statistical information—such as the population counts from the Census of Population, employment and unemployment measures, the Consumer Price Index and measures of economic production—more resources are applied to assure a high degree of accuracy. In addition, all hard copy and electronic data releases undergo ‘institutional’ quality verification within the Agency to ensure that data users obtain sound products. There are, however, limits to the degree of accuracy that can be achieved at a realistic cost. All statistical data, regardless of the source, are subject to some degree of error. Statistics Canada’s Policy on Informing Users of Data Quality and Methodology (www.statcan.ca/english/about/policy/infousers.htm) requires each data release to be accompanied by, or make reference to, descriptions of methodology. The definitions, data sources and methods used for all STC surveys can be accessed on the web site: www.statcan.ca/english/concepts/index.htm. SURVEY COVERAGE Performance Criteria: Accuracy of Statistical Information Survey Coverage Every survey has a target population it is intended to cover. Its survey frame - the list of units of this target population - is used to identify and select the sample for the survey. Coverage errors (omissions, erroneous inclusions, duplications and misclassifications of units) in the survey frame may cause a bias in the estimates produced from the survey. Therefore, the accuracy of survey frames is crucial to the accuracy of survey results. • Business Surveys The Business Register (BR) is used as the frame for the majority of Statistics Canada’s business surveys. The BR is intended to cover all significantly active businesses (as defined below) in Canada. Administrative data from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) are used to maintain the BR as a current list of businesses in Canada. Since 1997, the coverage of the BR has been extended with the use of Goods and Services Tax (GST) data together with information on federal corporation tax filers as collected by CRA. Periodically, studies are conducted on the BR to measure the quality of the coverage and the quality of the information residing on the BR (e.g., industrial and geographical classifications). The coverage of the BR is currently estimated to be over 93% of those businesses meeting at least one of the following three criteria: Statistics Canada Page -37- • • • • having a work force for which the business submits payroll remittances to CRA; being an unincorporated business with a minimum of $30,000 in estimated sales revenue; or being incorporated under a federal or provincial act and being an active federal corporation tax filer. Household Surveys The Labour Force Survey (LFS) and many other household surveys make use of a common area frame that covers all of the geography of Canada’s provinces and territories, with some exceptions1. Geographic areas are randomly selected from this frame. Within the selected areas, households are chosen randomly from the compiled lists of dwellings. Coverage problems can arise if some dwellings are missed in the lists, or if households in selected dwellings fail to report some of their members. The coverage of the survey is monitored, in part, by comparing the estimate of total population obtained directly from the survey sample to the official population estimates. To minimize the effects of coverage errors, the survey estimates are statistically adjusted so that the published survey results cover the total population. This past year the decennial sample redesign of the LFS based on the 2001 Census of Population was completed. The new design includes many methodological innovations to improve both the quality and efficiency of the survey. One such improvement is the use of the Address Register (AR) for some geographic areas. The AR is a list of addresses created using administrative data. It has been under development at Statistics Canada for a number of years and will serve as a significant methodological tool to ensure coverage quality and efficiency for the 2006 Census of Population. Other improvements to the LFS include the creation of more special strata (namely, those with high concentrations of certain groups such as Aboriginal people and recent immigrants), and a more efficient approach to high-cost areas. Some hard-to-reach areas and some areas with a very high vacancy rate were removed from the frame, and the sampling rate was reduced in the remaining high-cost areas. As well, in some urban areas less expensive telephone interviewing replaces the traditional pattern of conducting the first interview in person and subsequent interviews by telephone. Thus, for ‘birth’ households for which a telephone number can be obtained in advance, the first and all subsequent interviews will be conducted by telephone. Over the last several years of the previous LFS design the estimate of coverage had remained constant, at close to 90%. As a result of the recent redesign and collective changes described above, the estimate of coverage for the LFS is now approximately 92%. Some household surveys make use of a telephone frame. This is cost-effective for the vast majority of Canadian households but omits those not accessible by telephone. Telephone coverage is monitored, and for some surveys, an area frame is used in combination with a telephone frame to improve coverage. For surveys aimed at particular subsets of the population (for example, persons within certain age groups), an existing list frame of persons (or households) may be used. Such a list could have been derived from an administrative data source or, as in the case of post-censal surveys, from the Census of Population. 1 Indian reserves, members of the armed forces and inmates of institutions are excluded from the Labour Force Survey. Page -38- Statistics Canada SAMPLING ERROR Performance Criteria: Accuracy of Statistical Information Sampling Error Most surveys are aimed at a sample of the target population. Sampling is an important means of achieving a more effective allocation of resources, ensuring appropriate relevance across programs, yielding more timely results, and in other ways improving data accuracy. Because of sampling, the Agency is able to do more with less. Estimates based on a sample can be expected to vary from sample to sample, and to differ from those that would result from a complete census. The expected size of these variations depends on the sample design, among other factors. Greater reliability is achieved by optimizing these sample designs. The reliability of each estimate can be approximated from the sample data. The measure of reliability that is most frequently provided to users is the ‘coefficient of variation’ (CV). A low CV means a high degree of statistical confidence in the reliability of the associated estimate. Conversely, a higher CV would mean a lower degree of statistical confidence in the reliability. The coefficients of variation for the primary estimates or results from the Agency’s mission critical surveys are presented in Table 2. Table 2: Coefficients of Variation for Mission Critical Surveys Mission critical survey1 Topic 2001-02 Coefficient of variation 2002–03 2003-04 2004-05 % Labour Force Survey Employment Unemployment Monthly Survey of Manufacturing Monthly Wholesale Trade2 Monthly Retail Trade2 Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours Quarterly Financial Survey Total employment Total unemployment Total shipments Total wholesale sales Total retail sales Employees 0.3 1.8 0.6 1.1 1.2 0.1 0.3 1.8 0.5 1.1 1.2 0.1 0.2 1.9 0.6 1.1 1.3 0.1 0.2 1.9 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.1 Total operating revenue 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.6 Note: 1. This table omits those mission critical surveys that do not use random sampling in producing their estimates (Consumer Price Index, International Trade and the Industrial Price Index). 2. The Monthly Wholesale and Retail Trade Surveys were redesigned and survey results released starting in fiscal year 2004-05. A number of improvements were introduced which have lowered significantly the overall coefficient of variation for the surveys. The improvements include lower target coefficients for certain industry trade and geography groups, better sample stratification as a result of improved size measure for the population, enhanced edit procedures at collection and during analysis, and improved imputation procedures. Statistics Canada Page -39- The coefficients of variation presented in the table above are all very low and thus the estimates are considered very reliable. This speaks to the importance of these programs. More disaggregated results from these programs would tend to have higher CVs since, typically, as the size of the sub-group of interest decreases, the CVs of the related estimates rise. RESPONSE RATES Performance Criteria: Accuracy of Statistical Information Response rates The accuracy of the data disseminated by Statistics Canada is directly related to the accuracy of the data provided by the respondents to the Agency’s surveys and censuses. It follows that an important indication of accuracy is the percentage of respondents asked to provide data who actually do so. It can be expected that the higher this response rate, the greater will be the accuracy of the survey results. Overall response rates (expressed as a percentage) for the Agency’s mission critical surveys are presented in Table 3 below. Table 3: Response Rates for Mission Critical Surveys Response rates 1 Mission critical survey 2001–02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 93 94 92 93 89 80 94 92 92 94 94 88 74 94 % Labour Force Survey Monthly Survey of Manufacturing 2 Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey Monthly Retail Trade Survey Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours Quarterly Financial Survey3 Industrial Product Price Indexes 94 98 93 95 84 88 94 94 97 93 95 87 82 94 Notes: 1. This table omits the Consumer Price Index, International Trade and Quarterly Gross Domestic Product surveys, which do not collect data directly from respondents. 2. The lower response rate in 2003-04 was due to both the electricity shut-down in Ontario as well as the interviewers’ strike. In 200405, the lower response rate has been attributed to a number of factors: respondent apathy; consolidation of the Monthly Survey of Manufacturing (MSM) collection to two Regional Offices; transfer of more experienced staff in the Regional Offices to work on the Census of Population; and less experienced staff to work on the MSM. 3. In 2004-05, 74% represents response rates for the first quarter. The Quarterly Financial Survey response rates are subject to revision to reflect subsequent data collection and corrections. It is generally accepted that for most surveys, a 100% response rate is not a practical possibility. The Agency ensures that reasonable efforts are made to achieve an acceptable response rate (as well as to obtain accurate responses) while producing timely data without undue burden on respondents. Among a variety of methods, this is usually achieved by having good questionnaire design, using tested and proven procedures and operations, providing respondents with information on the purposes of the data collection, following up with non-respondents (for economic and business programs, the main focus of follow-up being the major contributors to the estimates), and making suitable statistical adjustments to the data when complete response is not achieved. Page -40- Statistics Canada Clearly, obtaining complete and accurate response requires the co-operation and support of respondents. Information is published on the web site for survey participants, explaining what they should expect when they participate in a survey, the importance of the survey, STC’s commitments for preserving the confidentiality of the information provided and a list of frequently asked questions about the survey. The information is available at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/survey/index.htm. STATISTICAL REVISION PATTERNS Performance Criteria: Accuracy of Statistical Information Statistical revision patterns Economic and socio-economic time series are statistical records of the evolution of economic processes through time, generally compiled for consecutive periods such as months, quarters or years. Time series contribute greatly to understanding both the trends and underlying causes of social and economic phenomena. While revisions to statistical estimates are often necessary, they impact directly on users of statistical information by altering the users’ understanding of these phenomena and, in turn, affecting their decision making. Statistics Canada takes care to minimize revisions to statistical estimates by facilitating reporting, ensuring that questionnaires are easily understood, making use of new technology to better accommodate respondents’ ability to report, and conducting internal reviews to ensure that collection and data-processing procedures yield effective results. An incomplete processing cycle is the principal reason for revisions. Other planned activities - changes to classification systems or modifications to baskets of goods and services on which indices are based - also result in revisions. Revisions to Statistics Canada’s series are made with a view to balancing the competing demands of accuracy and timeliness. Table 4 indicates the average size and range of revisions of some key programs. Average size of revision is defined as the absolute percentage revision averaged over the 12 (for monthly surveys) or 4 (for quarterly surveys) releases during the year. The last revised estimates before annual revisions are used in calculating revision sizes. The revisions are usually upwards, as indicated in the average size, but some are downwards, as indicated in the range of revision (shown for 2004 only). Statistics Canada Page -41- Table 4: Revisions of Mission Critical Programs in 2002, 2003 and 2004 Average size of revision Mission critical program1 Topic Frequency 2002 2003 2004 Range of revision 2004 % Monthly Survey of Manufacturing International Trade2 Monthly Wholesale Trade Monthly Retail Trade3 Gross Domestic Product Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours Quarterly Financial Survey Industrial Product Price Indexes4 Shipments Total exports Total imports Total wholesale sales Total retail sales GDP Employment Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly 0.30 0.44 0.24 0.34 0.38 0.43 0.30 0.39 0.37 0.35 1.10 0.39 -0.30 to 1.38 - 2.67 to 1.70 - 1.30 to 2.23 -0.17 to 0.79 Monthly Quarterly Monthly 0.12 0.08 0.01 0.17 0.07 0.01 0.23 0.06 0.04 0.04 to 0.47 0.00 to 0.11 -0.31 to 0.57 Operating revenue Price index Quarterly 0.20 0.23 0.25 0.15 to 0.46 Monthly 0.18 0.21 0.46 -0.28 to 0.83 Note: 1. This table omits those mission critical programs that do not regularly revise estimates (Labour Force Survey and Consumer Price Index). 2. The range of revisions for imports and exports is greater in 2004. This is mainly due to the increased volatility of energy prices that m preliminary estimates of value more difficult to produce. 3. Retail sales have been particularly strong throughout 2004, with sales advancing in ten of the twelve months of the year. Consequently, monthly revisions to retail sales were always upward in 2004, since seasonally adjusted estimates have been pulled up every month. 4. The revisions are greater than previous years. The main contributors to this are primary metal and metal fabricated products. The introduction of a steel surcharge starting January 2004 has resulted in higher prices for primary steel products as well as any products with a significant steel component. The larger revisions are therefore the result of late receipt of questionnaires that included the effect of the higher costs of steel. There were also some revisions for lumber products and petroleum products. Page -42- Statistics Canada Timeliness of Statistical Information The timeliness of statistical information refers to the delay between the end of the reference period to which the information pertains and the date on which the information becomes available. It is typically involved in a trade off against accuracy. The timeliness of survey release is generally quite stable and changes occur over a long period of time. Change is often brought about when surveys undergo major redesigns. Timeliness is clearly visible to users and easy to track. The choice of a timely target is closely related to relevance since information may not be useful if it is not available on time. Given timeliness targets, two performance measures are useful. The first is the existence of pre-announced release dates—and adherence to these dates—for regular series. The second is improvements in the timeliness achieved on the basis of how long it takes to release the information. However, this measure has to be considered in conjunction with other factors since improvements that are achieved at the expense of accuracy, or at undue cost, may not represent an overall improvement in performance. Clients have consistently preferred to maintain existing timeliness, if improved timeliness implies larger subsequent statistical revisions or a reduced level of statistical detail. Furthermore, users place great emphasis on the predictability of release dates. PRE-ESTABLISHED RELEASE DATES Performance Criteria: Timeliness of statistical information Pre-established release dates for major economic indicators At the beginning of each fiscal year, Statistics Canada publishes on its web site release dates for the coming year for all 29 major economic indicators, by month. These dates can be accessed at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/Release/index.htm. In 2004-2005, the Agency published a total of 305 releases of these 29 major economic indicators, and all were released as scheduled. In addition, the Agency published 975 other releases for which there was no pre-established release date. ELAPSED TIME BETWEEN REFERENCE PERIOD AND RELEASE DATES Performance Criteria: Timeliness of statistical information Measures of elapsed time between reference period and release dates for mission critical surveys The elapsed time between reference period and release dates for mission critical programs is a timeliness measure that serves to test the relevance of the statistics in terms of the ‘freshness’ of the information released. Table 5 highlights the timeliness of a selection of major releases. Statistics Canada Page -43- Table 5: Elapsed time between reference period and release dates of selected mission critical programs Mission critical program Labour Force Survey Frequency Elapsed Time1 Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Monthly Quarterly Monthly 20 days 21 days 45 days 42 days 52 days 61 days 57 days Consumer Price Index Monthly Survey of Manufacturing International trade Monthly wholesale/retail trade Gross Domestic Product Survey of Employment, Earnings and Hours (Income Component) Quarterly financial statistics for enterprises Quarterly 58 days Industrial Product Price Indexes Monthly 32 days Note: 1. Elapsed time is measured in calendar days and may vary, for example, depending on the number of business days in a given month. In addition to the mission critical programs noted above, Statistics Canada’s Unified Enterprise Statistics (UES) Program (a series of annual business surveys) has seen a continual improvement in the timeliness of releases. For the 1998 reference year, sixteen of the eighteen UES surveys run at that time were released no earlier than eighteen months after the end of the reference period. For reference year 2002, forty of the forty-one surveys were released within 17 months after the end of the reference year. Out of these surveys, six were released within 15 months. A year later, for reference year 2003, forty-two of the forty-four UES surveys (95%) were released within the 17-months after the end of the reference year, with thirty-nine being released within 15 months. Two surveys were released within one year. Plans call for continued efforts to reduce the release time of all annual business surveys to within twelve to fifteen months of the reference year. Page -44- Statistics Canada Accessibility of Statistical Information As the national statistical agency, Statistics Canada serves a broad range of users —businesses, labour unions, academic institutions, the media, the general public and all levels of government. The Agency’s overall objective is to make its statistical information widely available in a way that keeps the Canadian public well informed about the social, economic and general conditions in which they live. Most information users fall into two broad categories: by far the largest number acquire their statistical information through the media or are general users of the website at www.statcan.ca. For these users, the Agency strives to offer free, user-friendly information. The other category of users consists of either businesses or government organizations that require large-volume, specialized information. The Agency charges them on a cost recoverable basis for this service. Finally, the Agency also provides a single point of access to its products and services through a national contact centre for telephone and e-mail inquiries. On March 31, 2005, Statistics Canada closed its network of eight Statistical Reference Centres that provided walk-in services to the public. Since a large percentage of the Statistical Reference Centres' walk-in clientele has typically been students who now use the website, the number of visitors had dropped to a few users per day. The Agency continues to see an increase in the number of users accessing its services as a result of the shift to electronic research which has allowed STC as a whole to service more people than ever before. Students and teachers can access STC information through the Learning Resources Module (www.statcan.ca/english/edu/index.htm) of the web site. The Data Liberation Initiative (www.statcan.ca/english/Dli/dli.htm) has provided academia with affordable and equitable access to Agency data since the program began in 1996. The Research Data Centre (RDC) program is part of an initiative by Statistics Canada, the Social Science and Humanities Research Council and university consortia and was introduced to help strengthen Canada's social research capacity and to support the policy research community. The Media Room (www42.statcan.ca/smr_r000_e.htm). was recently introduced to provide easier access by journalists to products and services offered by the Agency. The Agency’s standards of service to the public (www.statcan.ca/english/about/servic.htm) as well as performance information (www.statcan.ca/english/about/webeval.htm) are published on the website and a departmental contact name is provided for clients not satisfied with the service received. Over the years, the number of complaints received has been minimal. The Status Report on the Service Improvement Initiative at Section IV will provide more information on service improvement initiatives at the Agency. The accessibility of statistical information refers to the ease with which it can be obtained. It is measured in terms of Media inquiries and citations and Visits and page views on the web site. ACCESS THROUGH THE MEDIA Performance Criteria: Accessibility of statistical information through the media Media inquiries and citations The Agency’s media monitoring program tracks coverage in 42 main newspapers as well as three national radio and television networks, and also tracks journalist inquiries through the media hotline service. In 2004-2005, media citations averaged 170 per month and media inquiries totalled 190, evidence that the Statistics Canada Page -45- Agency’s releases continue to enjoy broad coverage in the media. Peak levels of media citations usually coincide with the release of Census data. Figure 1: Media Inquiries and Citations 3,000 2,500 2,000 1,500 1,000 Media inquiries 500 Media citations 0 1998-1999 1990-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 ACCESS THROUGH THE INTERNET Performance Criteria: Accessibility of statistical information through the Internet Visits and page views on STC web site Statistics Canada’s marketing and dissemination effort centres on making its information more accessible to its various users through the Internet and the National Contact Centre. From 2003-2004 to 2004-2005, the number of visits to the Agency web site increased by 7% to15 million and the number of page views increased by 10% to 111 million. During the same period, the number of enquiries received through the tollfree telephone enquiry service, electronic messaging services and e-mail service Contact Us increased by 20% to reach 367,000 enquiries. Although there were no major releases in 2004-2005, the 2001 Census of Population Dissemination module continued to receive more than 30 million page views, representing 25% of total page views for the Agency website. Statistics Canada conducts regular website research, including analysis of traffic and information used, usability testing of new features and an annual study to obtain feedback from end-users through the use of on-line surveys. Overall satisfaction with the site has remained fairly constant over the past four years, with just over 70% of respondents reporting being either satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience with the site. Students continue to be the most frequent users of the site, with college and university students accounting for 41% of site visits. More detailed information on the website traffic and satisfaction measurement is available directly on line at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/about/webeval.htm. Page -46- Statistics Canada The number of total visits and page views on the Agency’s web site has increased constantly since 1997, as indicated in Table 7 below. Figure 2: Visits and Page Views from 1997 to 2005 in millions Visits Page Views 120 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 19971998 19981999 19992000 Total Visits Statistics Canada 20002001 20012002 20022003 20032004 20042005 Page Views Page -47- Interpretability of Statistical Information The interpretability of statistical information refers to the availability of the supplementary information necessary to interpret and utilize the data appropriately. This supplementary information, known as metainformation or metadata, normally covers the underlying concepts, variables and classifications used, the methodology of data collection and processing, and indications of the accuracy of the statistical information. Also, the interpretability of the Agency’s products is enhanced by ensuring that its official releases in The Daily clearly enunciate the main findings of the release in a language that illustrates their relevance and can be easily used by the media in publicizing the results. AVAILABILITY OF SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Performance Criteria: Interpretability of statistical information Availability of supplementary information to interpret and utilize the data Statistics Canada’s Policy on Informing Users of Data Quality and Methodology requires that a description of the concepts and methodology used in collecting and compiling the data, together with information on the accuracy of the data, be provided with all statistical products. As the volume and scope of statistical information provided on line expand, the Agency’s primary vehicle for disseminating meta-information and satisfying the requirements of the policy is the Integrated Meta Data Base (IMDB). The IMDB is a central repository containing information on variables, questionnaires, methods and measures of data accuracy for the Agency’s 600 or so surveys and statistical programs. In 2004-2005, a new version of the IMDB was released on the Agency’s website. For each IMDB record, there are direct links to other Agency’s products, such as The Daily and CANSIM tables, links to other reference periods back to November 2000, and a chronology of changes to content or methodology since November 2000. In addition, the Agency continued to enhance the content of the IMDB, with emphasis on definitions of variables and classifications used in statistical programs. The release of such information for public use through the IMDB started in May 2005 and will continue over the year. The goal is to release all the variables in the IMDB as they get approved. Definitions, data sources and methods used for all Agency surveys are available on line at the following address: www.statcan.ca/english/concepts/index.htm. Page -48- Statistics Canada Coherence of Statistical Information The coherence of statistical information reflects the degree to which it can be successfully brought together with other statistical information within a broad analytic framework and over time. The use of standard concepts, classifications and target populations promotes coherence, as does the use of common methodology across surveys. Coherence does not necessarily imply full numerical consistency. USE OF CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS Performance Criteria: Coherence of statistical information Use of classification systems The use of standard classification systems by surveys ensures rigour and consistency between surveys, thus making them coherent with one another. The following table highlights the use of various standard classification systems for selected key surveys conducted by Statistics Canada. Table 6: The Use of Standard Classification Systems for Selected Programs Major program North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Labour Force Survey Consumer Price Index1 Standard Classification of Goods or Harmonized System (SCG or HS) N/A National Occupational Classification – Statistics (NOC-S) Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) N/A. N/A Monthly Survey of Manufacturing International Trade N/A Monthly Wholesale and Monthly Retail Trade Monthly/Quarterly Gross Domestic Product Survey of Employment Payrolls and Hours Quarterly Financial Survey Industrial Product Price Indexes N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A. N/A N/A. N/A. N/A N/A N/A N/A Notes: Indicates that the classification is used. N/A Indicates the classification is not applicable. 1. Given the nature of the survey (pricing the basket of goods), the CPI uses its own classification system for products. Statistics Canada Page -49- SELECTED INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE COHERENCE • New North American Product Classification System (NAPCS) During 2004-2005, the Agency completed the development of the North American Product Classification System. This new, harmonized classification was developed jointly by Canada, Mexico and the United States in order to improve coherence and tri-national comparability of their respective national statistics on products. Product lists for both goods and services were finalised for virtually all industry sectors in the North American Industry Classification System. Three-country agreement was also achieved on a demandbased aggregation structure for this new classification. The Annual Survey of Manufactures and some surveys covering services industries have already implemented NAPCS on their questionnaires. The full implementation of NAPCS in all statistical programs is scheduled to begin in 2007. • Revisions to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Revisions were finalized by Canada, Mexico and the United States for the 2007 version of NAICS. Major changes occurred in the area of telecommunication and internet services. These revisions took into account the concurrent revisions in Europe of NACE (la Nomenclature générale des activités économiques dans la Communauté Européenne) and of the United Nations’ International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC). As a result of collaboration between the custodians of these classifications, changes to each of these classifications have produced a much better concordance between them. • New Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP Canada 2000) The Agency released the first Canadian version of the Classification of Instructional Programs (www.statcan.ca/english/concepts/definitions/education09.htm), which provides the entire range of instructional programs in Canada. CIP Canada 2000 is the culmination of a multiyear co-operative effort by Statistics Canada and the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics. The two major programs that produce data on field of study—the Enhanced Student Information System and the Census of Population— have adopted CIP. Data on university enrolments were published for the first time on the basis of CIP Canada 2000 in July 2004; and the 2004 Census of Population Test coded the field of study variable to the CIP, with a view to use CIP in the 2006 Census. • New on-line database for North American Transportation Statistics (NATS) As the economies of Canada, the United States and Mexico have become more integrated, demand has increased for improved comparability of statistics for key transportation data time series involving these three countries. The NATS database, a unique on-line source for comprehensive information on transportation activity, was officially launched in September 2004. Available in English, French and Spanish, the database is the result of a tripartite initiative representing the transportation and statistical agencies of Canada, the United States and Mexico. Page -50- Statistics Canada Section III: Financial Performance The following financial tables are included in this report: Summary Information p. 6 Resource Requirements by Organization and Business Line Table 1 p. 8 Comparison of Planned to Actual Spending Table 7 p. 51 Use of Resources by Business Lines Table 8 p. 52 Voted and Statutory Items Table 9 p. 52 Net Cost of Department Table 10 p. 53 Sources of Respendable and Non-Respendable Revenue Table 11 p. 53 External Charging Table 12 p. 54 Table 7: Comparison of Planned to Actual Spending (incl. FTE) ($ millions) 2002–03 Actual 2003-04 Actual 2004-2005 Main Estimates Planned Spending Total Authorities Actual Economic and Social Statistics 361.4 361.6 357.2 376.6 408.6 397.4 Census Statistics 61.3 66.5 57.9 58.0 66.6 65.4 Total 422.7 428.1 415.1 434.6 475.2 462.8 Total 422.7 428.1 415.1 434.6 475.2 462.8 Less: Non-Respendable revenue 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Plus: Cost of services received without charge 48.4 50.5 50.2 50.2 63.7 63.6 Net cost of Department 470.3 477.8 464.5 484.0 538.1 525.6 Full Time Equivalents 5,964 5,648 5,118 5,188 5,200 5,436 Statistics Canada Page -51- Table 8: Use of Resources by Business Lines ($ millions) 2004-2005 Plus: NonBudgetary Budgetary Business Lines Operating Capital Grants and Contributions Total: Gross Budgetary Expenditures Less: Respendable Revenue Total: Net Budgetary Expenditures Loans, Investments and Advances Total Economic and Social Statistics Main Estimates 473.7 0 0.6 474.3 117.1 357.2 0 357.2 Planned Spending 493.1 0 0.6 493.7 117.1 376.6 0 376.6 Total Authorities 525.1 0 0.6 525.7 117.1 408.6 0 408.6 Actual Spending 466.8 0 0.6 467.4 70.0 397.4 0 397.4 Main Estimates 70.8 0 0 70.8 12.9 57.9 0 57.9 Planned Spending 70.9 0 0 70.9 12.9 58.0 0 58.0 Total Authorities 79.5 0 0 79.5 12.9 66.6 0 66.6 Actual Spending 79.0 0 0 79.0 13.6 65.4 0 65.4 Census Statistics Table 9: Vote or Statutory Item Voted and Statutory Items ($ millions) Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording Operating Expenditures Grants and Contributions Contributions to employee benefit plans Total Page -52- Main Estimates 2004-2005 Planned Total Spending Authorities Actual 346.0 364.1 405.6 393.1 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 68.5 70.0 69.1 69.1 415.1 434.6 475.2 462.8 Statistics Canada Table 10: Net Cost of Department ($ millions) 2004-2005 462.8 Total Actual Spending Plus: Services Received without Charge Accommodation provided by Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) 32.7 Contributions covering employers’ share of employees’ insurance premiums and expenditures paid by TBS (excluding revolving funds) 30.7 Worker’s compensation coverage provided by Social Development Canada 0.2 Salary and associated expenditures of legal services provided by Justice Canada 0.0 63.6 Less: Non-respendable Revenue 0.8 525.6 2004-2005 Net cost of Department Table 11: Sources of Respendable and Non-Respendable Revenue ($ millions) Respendable Revenue 2002–03 Actual 2003-04 Actual 2004-2005 Main Estimates Planned Spending Total Authorities Actual Economic and Social Statistics Special statistical services 98.2 87.3 117.1 117.1 117.1 70.0 12.1 16.3 12.9 12.9 12.9 13.6 110.3 103.6 130.0 130.0 130.0 83.6 Census Statistics Special statistical services Total Respendable Revenue Non-Respendable Revenue 2004-2005 2002–03 Actual 2003-04 Actual Main Estimates Planned Spending Total Authorities Actual Economic and Social Statistics Special statistical services 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 Census Statistics Special statistical services Total Non-Respendable Revenue Statistics Canada Page -53- Table 12: External Charging 2004-2005 Fee Activity Statistics Canada Publica-tions CANSIM Special Statistical Services Fee Type Other Goods and Service Fee for PostManu-script Product Other Goods and Service Fee for Access Other Goods and Service Fee for Service Fee Setting Authority Ministerial Authority to enter into contract Ministerial Authority to enter into contract Ministerial Authority to enter into contract Date last modified April 1996 September 2001 July 1997 Forecast Revenue ($000) $1,260.0 $1,030.0 $49,037.0 Total $51,327.0 Actual Revenue ($000) $1,376.8 $995.3 $20,155.2 Total $22,527.3 Full Cost ($000) $1,376.8 $995.3 $20,155.2 Total $22,527.3 Planning Years Service Standard Performance Results Fixed prices to clients for individual issues and/or subscriptions. Continue to meet client information needs through hard copy sales and increasingly in electronic format Specific contracts for distributors with set prices for fixed options. Internet access at fixed prices also. No distributors terminated contracts because of price. Internet sales continue to grow. Each unique contract has its own separate specifications and deliverables. All deliverables met and contracts paid in full. Fiscal Year Forecast Revenue ($000) Estimated Full Cost ($000) 2005-06 $1,255.0 $1,255.0 2006-07 $1,235.0 $1,235.0 2007-08 $1,175.0 $1,175.0 2005-06 $1,040.0 $1,040.0 2006-07 $1,050.0 $1,050.0 2007-08 $1,060.0 $1,060.0 2005-06 $43,354.0 $43,354.0 2006-07 2007-08 $30,674.0 $30,674.0 $30,674.0 $30,674.0 Sub-total: $45,649.0 $45,649.0 Sub-total: $32,959.0 $32,959.0 Sub-total: $32,909.0 $32,909.0 Statistics Canada is committed to serving its clients in a prompt, reliable and courteous manner. To this end, the Agency has developed standards of service which employees observe in serving our clients. These standards, which are published on the website (www.statcan.ca/english/about/servic.htm) and in paper form, make commitments in the following six categories: quality, accessibility, promptness, cost, reliability and redress mechanism. Page -54- Statistics Canada Section IV: Other Items of Interest Continuing Efforts to Reduce Response Burden USE OF ADMINISTRATIVE DATA For the last several years, Statistics Canada has been gradually implementing a program to use administrative data sources to eliminate many smaller businesses from its survey program. The major elements of this tax replacement initiative came to fruition in 2004. Efforts are continuing to further reduce paper burden on the business community, although the future impacts are expected to be more modest. Annual expansion of the Canadian economy and the number of businesses necessitates increased survey samples to maintain data quality levels. Statistics Canada has taken steps to mitigate this increase in recent years with the increased use of administrative data. While absolute response burden hours have declined by 22% since 1991, over the same period the average burden placed on each Canadian business has declined 39%. This is illustrated in the graph below which displays the indexed hours of total response burden divided by the estimated total number of Canadian businesses. Figure 3: Index of Average Response Burden Hours per Canadian Businesses Index (1991 = 100) 120 100 100 97 98 92 91 88 90 92 93 90 83 80 79 80 61 60 40 20 0 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Cale ndar Ye ar ELECTRONIC DATA REPORTING In 2004-2005, the Electronic Data Reporting (EDR) Project was in its fourth year of Government On Line funding. The goal of the project was to develop the tools and infrastructure to provide respondents to Statistics Canada’s surveys with the ability to complete their questionnaires electronically. Statistics Canada Page -55- Currently, over 70,000 respondents to forty-seven surveys have received an offer to complete their surveys electronically. Take-up rates have remained stable over the past year. Roughly 10% of annual survey respondents and 40% of sub-annual survey respondents who were offered the EDR option selected this reporting method. Last year the EDR project conducted market research to determine how take-up rates could be improved. The feedback from this research will guide development over the coming year to make the tools and infrastructure more robust and user-friendly. Some of the enhancements that are already in place include allowing respondents to securely complete their survey over multiple sessions. One of the more recent EDR successes was the development of a web-based application to collect Greenhouse Gas emission data from Large Final Emitters. Ninety-eight percent of the 321 reporters used the Internet reporting tool to submit their information through a single window to Statistics Canada, Environment Canada and the Government of Alberta. In the past, the Agency has relied heavily on paper or electronic questionnaires as a source of information from businesses. Electronic data interchange represents a shift in focus from a questionnaire by using tools that will automatically extract information from a respondent’s database. Innovation in this area could greatly reduce respondent burden, especially for large businesses. Page -56- Statistics Canada Status Report on the Service Improvement Initiative (SII) Statistics Canada remains a strong supporter of the SII. Client service standards and research have long been reflected in Statistics Canada's management philosophy and operational practices. The Agency contributed its expertise to the research and development of SII Common Measurements Tool (CMT). The Agency's client-service divisions are required to conduct client-satisfaction research in their regular program reviews. Statistics Canada's web-related client-research activities are reported in the Government On Line Corporate Plan. Client-feedback research is a key element of survey-collection activities, since relations with survey respondents are a key determinant of data quality. As increasing numbers of Statistics Canada surveys offer an electronic reporting option, feedback-research activities have also increased. Past research includes research addressing respondent expectations and potential concerns, pre-testing of survey prototypes, feedback collected by client-support services, as well as satisfaction research conducted following deployment of a survey. The Internet has emerged as the primary distribution channel for the Agency's data and information. Data quality standards are applied to all information published electronically. Service standards are posted publicly and are closely monitored by the Agency, including the measurement of response burden for survey collection. Each year, the Agency conducts an extensive client-service survey among all internet users and clients, in which interests, expectations and satisfaction levels are measured according to principles reflected in the CMT. Statistics Canada has increased usability testing for products and services. Recently, web research led to a major re-design of the Statistics Canada Internet site. Canadians requiring Statistics Canada information are served through many program areas and centralized service groups. Due to the number and diversity of products, services, and service channels utilized by Statistics Canada, methodologies used to determine client satisfaction are quite diverse. While this diversity precludes aggregate-level satisfaction measurements, the various research activities all share common research dimensions, addressing perceptions of data quality, timeliness, ease-of-access, general satisfaction, and recommendations. Given the length of time that Statistics Canada has been conducting client satisfaction surveys, program areas can now analyse their progress longitudinally. Stakeholder relations involve ongoing consultations with a wide variety of groups and organizations for which Statistics Canada's survey-taking operations and data-publishing activities have particular interest or impact. These consultations include the Policy Research Initiative, a National Statistics Council, 13 ongoing Advisory and six subject-matter committees, a Federal-Provincial Consultative Council on Statistical Policy, and extensive consultation programs with a wide range of communities to plan Census content and outputs. Recently, the 2006 Census content consultation process involved high levels of participation of key stakeholders and data users. Continuous client-feedback mechanisms focus on the scope, value and relevance of Statistics Canada data, and the manner in which those data are collected and published. As more and more Canadians utilize the Internet for accessing government services as well as participating in consultations with federal departments, Statistics Canada expects consultations with its stakeholders will increasingly be conducted on line, provided that consultations conducted electronically can be broadly accessed and are representative of communities of interest. Statistics Canada Page -57- The Agency recently contracted a national survey of Canadians to identify awareness and general perceptions of Statistics Canada. There is generally strong awareness of the role and activities of the Agency, and the relevance and value of our data -- and individual participation in our surveys -- is generally very positively viewed. The survey also identified continuing interest in responding to our surveys using an electronic response option, particularly among specific segments of the population. New Products and Services on the Web Site As Statistics Canada’s principal channel for serving information users, the website www.statcan.ca enables the Agency to serve more Canadians than ever before. The average number of daily visits to the website is more than 50,000 and over 15 million visited in 2004-2005. The site has been improved based on research on various user communities and their satisfaction with the site’s content and functionality. Here are the major improvements to our products and services over the past year: o The Canadian Statistics module www40.statcan.ca/l01/cst01/ has been redesigned and contains Census information on all Canadian communities (cities, towns, villages, Indian reserves and settlements), counties or their equivalents, and metropolitan areas. The profiles also contain health information for health regions across Canada. The profiles have been expanded by almost 50% for the 2001 Census cycle and a mapping feature is also provided. The tables have been designed for on-screen viewing and are dynamically updated each day at 8:30 a.m. when new information is released in The Daily. Most site visitors found the information they sought in Canadian Statistics. o A Media Room module (www42.statcan.ca/smr_r000_e.htm) has been introduced for journalists. o The 2006 Census module (www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/index.cfm) was launched in 2004 to provide preliminary information on the status of activities leading towards the 2006 Census. o The Learning Resources module www.statcan.ca/english/edu/index.htm provides a wide range of information and tools to support classroom activities and student research assignments in high schools. In addition to statistical data, the module provides lesson plans and teaching kits that complement the Agency’s Education Outreach Program. E-STAT, Statistics Canada’s interactive learning tool for students, is now linked to an interactive mapping application. o The Search functionality for web site has been improved including the categorization of search results. Page -58- Statistics Canada Management Initiatives IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT Statistics Canada has used the opportunity provided by the new Public Service Modernization Act to capitalize on the flexibilities offered by the Act and enrich the Agency’s Human Resources Strategy. This strategy is aimed at recruiting the highest possible calibre of staff and providing learning and career development opportunities in a supportive work environment that encourages career employment and ensures sustainable human resources. To understand the potential offered by the legislation, the Agency undertook an environmental scan and impact analysis of the Act. A project structure was developed, and an HR Modernization Advisory Committee chaired by a senior manager appointed to steer the changes. Working groups were established with all stakeholders and unions and managers to address the changes required and a supporting infrastructure was put in place. • Alternative dispute resolution The Agency initiated a co-development project with the local union and an Informal Conflict Management System (ICMS) was established. The ICMS infrastructure is now operational with a Senior ICMS Officer as Champion and overseer, and an ICMS Coordinator in place to furnish services. These services have been introduced in a manner which reinforces Statistics Canada’s commitment to a healthy workplace and they have been co-located with the Agency’s existing wellness services. • Human Resources Planning The Agency undertook a thorough review of its long-standing integrated Business and HR Planning process to validate the planning process and identify areas where it might require strengthening. Several enhancements to this process are now in place including the first formal STC Human Resources Strategic Plan. • Staffing To profit from the flexibilities afforded by the new Public Service Employment Act, a broad consultation process was undertaken with management, unions and employees prior to commencing the development of key policies for staffing. Some of the innovative projects which are being undertaken include creating a strategy for unranked pools and a blueprint for training human resources specialists, managers, union and employees. • Performance Management Legislative revisions and new authorities with respect to performance management have provided an occasion for identifying ways in which to improve the management of performance at the Agency. The aim is to support the STC community and reinforce positive performance and help managers and employees sort out the difficult issues that arise when employees do not adequately perform the full range of tasks of their job. The program framework for managing performance, which will include policies and guidelines, supporting tools, and training to assist in performance management, has been established. Statistics Canada Page -59- • Training To underpin the numerous changes being implemented for HR Modernization and to support the new HR Accountability Framework, a comprehensive review of management and HR Training is being undertaken to ensure effective implementation of these initiatives. PERSONALIZED LEARNING PLANS In February 2004, after the implementation of the Policy on Continuous Learning in the Public Service, a policy which fosters the concept of life-long learning for employees, Statistics Canada developed A Framework for Continuous Learning, and established a number of mechanisms to support learning at the Agency, including: a network of divisional learning champions appointed to analyze their own division’s learning needs, develop a divisional Learning Plan and steer learning activities in their division; and a “Tool Kit” to help supervisors and employees develop a Personal Learning Plan. A Compendium of broad learning activities has been established from which employees and managers can select activities that will address an employee’s learning objectives. All employees have been offered the opportunity to have a Personal Learning Plan. By August 2004 over 80% of STC employees who had completed their Employee Performance Review Form had discussed learning with their immediate supervisor and over 70% had finalized a Personal Learning Plan or were in the process of finalizing one. For a variety of reasons not every individual will choose to have a Personal Learning Plan, thus attaining 100% is not feasible. The Learning Framework that is now in place will serve as a benchmark for qualitative and quantitative evaluation that will be used to guide future strategic decisions. ANALYSIS OF NEW OFFICIAL LANGUAGES POLICIES PURSUANT TO NEW POLICIES Statistics Canada is viewed as a best practice Agency in terms of providing language training. When the new Treasury Board Policies on Official Languages came into effect on April 1, 2004, and required all bilingual positions in the Public Service to be staffed imperatively, the Agency conducted a review and adopted a practical and gradual, yet innovative multi-year Official Languages strategy that would gradually implement imperative staffing over a period of three years. This enabled employees to acquire skills they will need for their career development. The review identified that there already was a backlog of employees awaiting full-time language training. The Agency designed and instituted a highly effective on-site fulltime language training program entitled Programme Accéléré which supplemented the already established program of part-time language training for employees. Page -60- Statistics Canada Table 13: Legislated Requirements for Statistics Canada In addition to the Statistics Act, the following federal acts give the Chief Statistician or Statistics Canada responsibility for the collection or provision of specific information: Alberta Natural Resources Act Bank Act Canada Council for the Arts Act Canada Elections Act Canada Pension Plan Act Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act Canada Student Financial Assistance Act Canada Student Loans Act Canada Transportation Act Children of Deceased Veterans Education Assistance Act Competition Act Constitution Act Constitutional Amendments Corporations Returns Act Customs Act Department of Health Act Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Suspension Act Employment Insurance Act Energy Efficiency Act Energy Monitoring Act Excise Tax Act Federal–Provincial Fiscal Arrangements and Federal Act Governor General’s Act Income Tax Act Industrial and Regional Development Act Judges Act Marine Liability Act Northern Pipeline Act Old Age Security Act Patent Act Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act Pension Act Pension Benefits Standards Act Provincial Subsidies Act Railway Relocation and Crossing Act Representation Act Salaries Act Supplementary Retirement Benefits Act Telecommunications Act War Veterans Allowance Act Statistics Canada 1930, c.3, as amended R.S.C., 1991, c. B-1 R.S.C., 1985, c. C-2 S.C., 2000, c. 9 R.S.C., 1985, c. C-8 1997, c. 40 1994, c. 28 R.S.C., 1985, c. S-23 1996, c. 10, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. C-28 R.S.C., 1985, c. C-34 1867 1996, c. 1, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. C-43, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. 1 1996, c. 8 R.S.C., 1985, c. E-3, as amended 1994, c. 19 1996, c. 23, as amended 1992, c. 36, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. E-8, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. E-15, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. F-8, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. G-9, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. 1, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. I-8, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. J-1, as amended 2001, c. 6, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. N-26, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. O-9, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. P-4, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. M-13, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. P-6, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. P-7, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. P-26, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. R-4, as amended R.S.C., 1986, c, 8 R.S.C., 1985, c. S-3, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. S-24, as amended 1993, c. 38, as amended R.S.C., 1985, c. W-3, as amended Page -61-
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