Consultation objective
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.
One of the key deliverables of the CoE is to produce regional level profiles that include ecosystem data and linkages to socio-economic and economic information. To build upon this idea and highlight this important body of work, the CoE has developed the Census of Environment Ecosystem Profile Explorer. This will be an important way for users to access all available data, that are related to a region (as delineated by Standard Drainage Area Classification (SDAC) or Ecological Land Classification (ELC) geographies) in one location. Users will choose their geography of interest, click on a region on a map and be provided with a list showing the data related to that area, along with links to the original CODR tables. This explorer was soft-launched in March 2025.
The primary objective of this soft launch and subsequent usability testing is to allow the opportunity for users to explore and interact with the new CoE Ecosystem Profile Explorer tool to ensure it meets the needs of the audience, and to verify that users would benefit from its use going forward. Feedback received and recommendations for improvements will inform the design and development of the explorer to enhance user experience.
Consultation methods
The usability testing was conducted through one-on-one testing sessions with CoE data users in June and July 2025. Users were guided through a set of questions and tasks that focused on content relevancy, user-centricity, visual content, enhancements and prospective tool use. They were encouraged to verbalize their thought processes while completing the tasks. Moderators observed and documented their responses and actions.
Results
Below are 5 key recommendations to improve the CoE Ecosystem Profile Explorer from the usability testing process:
- Make the data tables more intuitive and easier to use.
- Enhance map interactivity and ensure clear boundaries.
- Improve search bar functionality.
- Include more geographically granular data.
- Provide clear definitions for the different layers and categories.
Statistics Canada thanks participants for their contributions to this consultative engagement initiative. Their insights will help guide the agency in improving the Census of Environment Ecosystem Profile Explorer tool.