Consultative engagement objectives
Statistics Canada’s Census of Environment (CoE), established in 2021, is designed to track the size and health of ecosystems across Canada. It also provides measures of ecosystem services such as food, clean air, clean water, carbon storage, natural disaster mitigation, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. In this way, information about the value of ecosystems and how ecosystems benefit the economy and well-being are made accessible to all. Statistics Canada implemented this program to provide information on and help monitor environmental trends and inform decision making, which will support the Government of Canada’s policy priorities on climate change and biodiversity.
The breadth of data that could be included in the Census of Environment program is extensive and options for communicating and sharing the data with Canadians and stakeholders are numerous. Statistics Canada undertook this engagement process to better understand the needs and priorities of data users to best target its resources and ensure that user needs are met.
Specifically the primary objectives of stakeholder engagement were to determine:
- Priority ecosystems for stakeholders
- Essential information on ecosystem characteristics
- Priority indicators / measures of change that should be made available
- Essential socio-economic information that stakeholders would like to see linked to ecosystems
- Scale and units of measure that are useful to stakeholders
Consultative engagement methods
The engagement process was conducted through the release of an e-form questionnaire that was available on the Consulting with Canadians website from November 1, 2022 to January 7, 2023. The questionnaire had 4 sections with a total of 8 questions that included General data needs, rating of ecosystem types, rating of environmental and socioeconomic information for the development of ecosystem profiles, and contact information.
Results
Below are 5 key findings from the consultation process:
- Majority of respondents use Government sources as their main source for collecting ecosystem data.
- Ecosystem health is the most useful ecosystem data type.
- Watersheds / Drainage areas are the most useful geographic areas to aggregate within ecosystem data.
- Dynamic interactive maps and Data tables are the most useful ecosystem data product types.
- Measures of Ecosystem health and Watersheds or drainage areas are the most highly intersectional requested forms of data.
Statistics Canada thanks participants for their contributions to this consultative engagement initiative. Their insights will help guide the agency in providing relevant and useful information and tools on ecosystems through the Census of Environment program.