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Organizational profile

Appropriate minister(s): The Honourable Navdeep Bains, P.C., M.P

Institutional head: Anil Arora

Ministerial portfolio: Innovation, Science and Industry

Enabling instrument(s):

Year of incorporation / commencement: The Dominion Bureau of Statistics was established in 1918. In 1971, with the revision of the Statistics Act, the agency became Statistics Canada.

Other: Under the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is required to collect, compile, analyze, abstract and publish statistical information relating to the commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic and general activities and conditions of the people of Canada.

Statistics Canada has two primary objectives:

  • to provide statistical information and analysis of the economic and social structure and functioning of Canadian society, as a basis for developing, operating and evaluating public policies and programs; for public and private decision making; and for the general benefit of all Canadians
  • to promote the quality, coherence and international comparability of Canada's statistics through collaboration with other federal departments and agencies, with the provinces and territories, and in accordance with sound scientific standards and practices.

Statistics Canada's head office is located in Ottawa. There are service centers and regional offices across the country in Halifax, Sherbrooke, Montréal, Toronto, Sturgeon Falls, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver. There are also 27 research data centres located throughout the country. These centres provide researchers with access to microdata from population and household survey programs in a secure university setting. Canadians can follow the agency on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, feeds and YouTube.

Raison d'être, mandate and role: who we are and what we do

Raison d'être

Strong data and evidence are crucial to good decision making. All parts of society—governments, businesses and individuals—count on high-quality, timely and detailed statistics to make decisions. Among its many applications, statistical information is used to draw electoral boundaries, determine international tariffs, inform trade negotiations, analyze economic performance, select sites for schools and public transportation, and support immigration policies and programs.

Mandate and role

Statistics Canada produces data that help Canadians better understand their country—its population, resources, economy, society and culture. As Canada's central statistical office, Statistics Canada is legislated to serve this function for Canada and each of the provinces and territories. The agency also conducts a Census of Population and a Census of Agriculture every five years, providing a detailed picture of Canadian society. Statistics Canada operates under the authority of the Statistics Act and is committed to protecting the confidentiality of the information with which it is entrusted.

The agency promotes the quality and coherence of Canada's statistics through collaboration with international organizations, federal departments and agencies, and the provinces and territories. As a member of the United Nations Statistical Commission, the agency endorses the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, which help define what constitutes a good system of official statistics and what role that system should play in a national government.

For more information on the agency's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the Minister's mandate letter.

Operating context

A developed, democratic country such as Canada requires vast amounts of information to function effectively. Statistics provide Canadians with vital information to help monitor inflation, promote economic growth, plan cities and roads, adjust pensions, and develop employment and social programs. They help governments, businesses and individuals make informed decisions.

The value placed on data by every segment of society is growing at an exponential pace. At the same time, new tools and new computing power are emerging and multiplying the volume and types of information available.

As the demand for information increases along with its importance and availability, privacy concerns, call-screening technology and the busy lives of Canadians are making it harder to reach and obtain information from households. As a result, the agency is continually seeking out new and innovative approaches to meet emerging data needs.

As it innovates and modernizes, the agency will be well positioned to play a more active role in guiding and shaping this information age.

Reporting framework

The Statistics Canada approved Departmental Results Framework and Program Inventory for 2020–21 are as follows.

  • Core Responsibility: Statistical Information
    Statistics Canada produces objective high-quality statistical information for the whole of Canada. The statistical information produced relates to the commercial, industrial, financial, social, economic, environmental and general activities and conditions of the people of Canada.
    • Result 1: Statistical information is of high quality.
      • Indicator 1: Number of post-release corrections due to accuracy
      • Indicator 2: Number of international forums of which Statistics Canada is a member
      • Indicator 3: Percentage of international standards with which Statistics Canada conforms
    • Result 2: Statistical information is available and accessed.
      • Indicator 1: Number of visits to the Statistic Canada website
      • Indicator 2: Percentage of website visitors that found what they were looking for
      • Indicator 3: Number of interactions on social media
      • Indicator 4: Number of statistical products available on the website
      • Indicator 5: Number of Statistics Canada data tables available on Open Data Portal
    • Result 3: Statistical information is relevant.
      • Indicator 1: Number of media citations on Statistics Canada data
      • Indicator 2: Number of journal citations
      • Indicator 3: Percentage of users satisfied with statistical information
  • Internal Services

Program Inventory

  • Economic and Environmental Statistics
  • Socio-economic Statistics
  • Censuses
  • Cost-Recovered Statistical Services
  • Centres of Expertise
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