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 includes data on urban ecosystems in Canada. 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.
The primary objectives of stakeholder engagement are to determine:
- Priority of urban ecosystems data
- Essential information on urban ecosystem characteristics
- Priority information and services related to urban ecosystems
- Essential socio-economic information to link to urban ecosystems
- Utility of data products and tools
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 February 27, 2023 to June 4, 2023. The questionnaire had 3 sections with a total of 16 questions that included general data needs, rating of data needs, and contact information.
Results
Below are 6 key findings from the consultation process:
- A high number of respondents indicated that their municipality:
- Does not currently compile natural capital accounts or related environmental statistics; and,
- Did not know if their municipality compiles this data.
- The majority of respondents use Provincial or Territorial government sources to get environmental data.
- The majority of respondents indicated watersheds as a very useful geographical areas to aggregate environmental data.
- Water is the most important issue related to urban ecosystems.
- Water movement is the most important type of ecosystem services.
- Spatial data files, data visualization tools and interactive maps were identified as the most important types of data product by respondents.
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.