DLI Survival Guide

Overview

About the program

The Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) is a partnership between postsecondary institutions and Statistics Canada with the goal of improving access to data resources. The DLI is a program within Statistics Canada's continuum of microdata access services. Over the years, the focus of the DLI has evolved from purchasing access to major Statistics Canada datasets to providing the training services and continuous support required for the proper understanding and use of an expanding data collection. For more information, including on the benefits of DLI membership and the history of the program, please visit the DLI website.

Role of the DLI contact

As the DLI contact for your institution (a role shared by a network of contacts across Canada), you play an essential part in promoting access to Canadian data resources.

DLI contacts generally provide assistance in finding, accessing and analyzing Statistics Canada data and products. While contacts may not always be experts in statistical software and data analysis, they are able to refer users to others in their institution or consult the DLI community (through the listserv) who can help answer technical and methodological questions.

DLI contacts have the following responsibilities:

• User support: DLI contacts assist faculty members, staff and students with using Statistics Canada resources.
• Licensing: DLI contacts ensure that the conditions of use of the DLI license
• agreements are being abided by at their institutions.
• Membership renewal: DLI contacts ensure that the annual membership fees are paid.
• Liaison: The DLI contact communicates with member institutions through their network of contacts. These communications involve licensing changes, updates to member services, and outreach and professional development sessions.
• Access: DLI contacts ensure that the program has current institutional internet protocol (IP) ranges to maintain IP-based access to resources.
• Governance: DLI contacts may be asked to vote for their Regional Training Coordinator (RTC) if more than one person volunteers for an open position.

In addition to conducting a census every five years, Statistics Canada conducts a wide range of surveys on virtually all aspects of Canadian life. Statistics Canada makes data available to support research, industry and policy development. Understanding some basic data concepts will help you understand what products are available through which access programs.

Data terminology

Aggregate data

Information derived directly from statistical microdata files or statistical aggregate files. Unlike statistical microdata files, aggregate statistics do not record information at the level of individual units of observation. In other words, they are the result of grouping data at an aggregate or macro level (e.g., people in a specific age group, businesses or organizations in a particular industry, or households in a particular region).

Microdata file

A structured file containing information on individuals, businesses or organizations. A microdata file may come from a census of all units or from only a sample of units. In addition, the file may be the product of direct collection for statistical purposes, an administrative file where the statistical uses are not the primary purpose of the collection or a combination of the two.

There are three types of microdata files:

• Master files: For each survey conducted, a master file is constructed, which contains all responses from each respondent recorded in the format specified on the questionnaire. Access to master files is available only through the research data centres (RDC) by application.
• Synthetic files: Continuing with the focus on offering new alternative access options, Statistics Canada is investing in researching methods for creating synthetic data. Synthetic data can take on a variety of forms and possess a range of quality characteristics, but the main goal is always to offer a microdata access option that poses little or no disclosure risk and— therefore—can be released to the general public.
• Public use microdata files (PUMFs): PUMFs consist of sets of records that contain information on individuals or households (microdata). They are non- aggregated data that are modified carefully then reviewed to ensure that no individual or business is identified directly or indirectly.

Documentation

Statistics Canada releases supporting documentation along with its microdata files. This documentation is needed for the use and interpretation of microdata files and can include survey questionnaires, instructions to interviewers, codebooks, user guides, record layouts, data dictionaries, frequency files and cv tables, among others.

Administrative data

Administrative data are information collected by governments or private-sector organizations as part of their ongoing operations, for example, records of births and deaths, taxation records, records of the flow of goods and people across borders, and data collected by satellites. Like most other statistical agencies, Statistics Canada uses administrative data as well as survey data to support statistical operations.

Data terminology resources

• Statistics Canada's Definitions, data sources and methods: This information is provided to ensure an understanding of the basic concepts that define the data, including variables and classifications, the underlying statistical methods and surveys, and key aspects of the data quality. Direct access to questionnaires is also provided.
• Statistics: Power from Data! glossary: These definitions provide information to those who have statistics-related questions but who do not require highly technical explanations.

Continuum of microdata access

Access to microdata is made available through a variety of dissemination channels, which are summarized in a table on Statistics Canada's Access to microdata webpage.

Not all surveys and statistical programs produce data products. Many divisions do not create PUMFs, as these are costly to produce and must be vetted by the Methodology Expert Panel for Microdata. Some divisions create only standard tables that are available through the Statistics Canada website and charge retrieval fees for more in-depth requests (e.g., custom tabulations). Although the data may be freely available, cost recovery charges apply for the analyst's time.

This page describes and links to self-serve access options to microdata and to mediated options. Below is a summary of these options with information applicable to DLI contacts.

Statistics Canada website

The Statistics Canada website is accessible by the general public on the internet and is governed by the Statistics Canada Open License. The Statistics Canada website provides access to reports publications, summary data tables, and public use microdata files.

Data Liberation Initiative (DLI)

The Data Liberation Initiative makes data available to students, faculty, and staff from subscribing post-secondary institutions. The majority of DLI products fall under the Statistics Canada Open Licence. Access to products outside of the open license is restricted to teaching, research and statistical purposes. Please refer to the Application process and guidelines for more information. DLI data can be accessed through Statistics Canada's Electronic File Transfer Service (EFT) and the IP restricted online database, Rich Data Services (RDS).

Product sales and customized tabulations

Statistics Canada offers a variety of customized products and services to serve clients in Canada and around the world. This service makes tables from confidential files from Statistics Canada available for a fee.

Real Time Remote Access (RTRA) program

RTRA is an online tool that allows individual subscribers to run SAS programs to extract results, in the form of tables, from masterfiles subsets. DLI member institutions receive a single licence for RTRA. DLI institutions can designate the holder of the licence, and this person can be the DLI contact or an alternate. It is possible to request a second user account for use by an alternate contact, however the two accounts cannot be used at the same time. Training materials can be found in the DLI EFT service.

Responsibilities of DLI contacts, researchers, and Data Access Division (DAD) staff are summarized in the table below.

Research data centres

Research data centres provide access to confidential microdata files and administrative datasets to approved researchers (individual members of organizations, post-secondary institutions, or governments). For the purposes of RDC access, these researchers are deemed to have the status of a Statistics Canada employee. Access is provided at Statistics Canada premises (physical Research Data Centres), secure rooms, and other authorized workspaces.

Governance

External Advisory Committee

The DLI is guided by its External Advisory Committee (EAC). The EAC meets quarterly and is composed of representatives appointed from DLI member institutions, Statistics Canada and external organizations. For a current listing of DLI- EAC members, visit the Governance section of the DLI website.

Professional Development Committee

The DLI Professional Development Committee (PDC), which reports to the EAC, is responsible for the ongoing development of a data services curriculum for postsecondary staff who support the DLI at their institutions. The PDC consists of eight RTCs, one college representative, a chair and a DLI section representative. For a current listing of PDC members, visit the Governance section of the DLI website.

Regional Training Coordinators

Two RTCs for each of the four regions (Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada) and one college representative sit on the DLI-PDC, and they are responsible for

• identifying training needs within their region
• communicating those needs to the PDC both for the purpose of budgeting for training and for coordinating national training activities
• arranging national training events and/or regional training events (virtual or in-person)
• determining how best to meet the training needs of DLI members

DLI contact

Member institutions designate their DLI contact and alternate. The DLI contact is responsible for promoting and facilitating access to Statistics Canada resources and ensures that the DLI licence is followed. See the Manage your membership section below for more information on the DLI licence.
Member institutions must have one DLI contact, but the selection of an alternate is optional. The DLI contact and alternate need to be familiar with the DLI and Statistics Canada resources to be able to assist users with their data-related questions. Additionally, it is advised that the DLI contact be familiar with the resources available on campus to assist users with data-related questions, such as the use of statistical software, in the event the DLI contact does not have those skill sets.
See the User community for a list of contacts at each DLI member institution.

Changing a DLI contact

If your institution's DLI contact changes, please advise the DLI section. The DLI contact's contact information should also be updated if the current DLI contact goes on extended leave (e.g., sabbatical, maternity leave). Please provide the date on which the change will be effective and the name of the new contact, as well as the person's position title, mailing address, email address, phone number and fax number.

When a DLI contact is identified, they are provided with access to DLI resources, including the electronic file transfer (EFT) service and the mailing list (dlilist).

Electronic File Transfer Service

The DLI EFT service is a repository used to disseminate the DLI collection. Users of the EFT are limited to an institution's DLI contact or alternate. The EFT requires that each user have their own unique user ID and password. When a new contact has been identified, the DLI unit sends the EFT account information via email. If you forgot your password or need to change it, click on the "Forgot Password" link on the website and follow the prompts to reset your password.

dlilist

The DLI listserv is used by DLI contacts to engage with the DLI community. The dlilist is a subscription-based listserv, which means that only registered users can post and receive messages. Messages from the list are sent to all registered users by email.

Subscribing and unsubscribing

• To subscribe or unsubscribe from the dlilist, email the DLI section.
• To post a message to the dlilist, email dlilist@idd-dli.statcan.gc.ca.

Disclaimer

The dlilist is an opt-in listserv. By using this service, you agree that your email address and any communications will be made available to the other dlilist users. All communications will be archived in Statistics Canada's mailing list archive. The opinions expressed are those of the dlilist users and are not representative of Statistics Canada.

Membership renewal

A DLI annual membership runs from April 1 to March 31 of the following year. DLI memberships are renewed on an annual basis between April and June each year.

DLI contacts are responsible for making sure that the annual membership fees are paid. Some member institutions assign the paying of membership fees to a specific department in the library. Others have the invoicing fees sent to the DLI contact who coordinates payment internally. To change who the purchase confirmation and invoice should be directed to, contact the Microdata Access Portal support.

Learn

Training sessions

Every year, the DLI conducts one or more training sessions. These training sessions may take the form of a single national training event or regional training events held in each of the four regions: Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and Western Canada. This training may be conducted virtually or in person. These multi-day sessions are open to anyone who provides services for the DLI. However, priority goes to primary DLI contacts and alternates.

The PDC and RTCs are responsible for organizing these training events with support from the DLI unit. Topics range from basic data service skills to advanced sessions that build on prior training. These training sessions allow DLI contacts to learn from one another and from Statistics Canada subject-matter experts. Visit the training page for more information.

Financial support for transportation to training may be offered to each DLI contact or their representative to attend the in-person training sessions. All travel requests must be approved by the DLI unit before being booked. For more information, visit the Governance section of the DLI website.

Statistics Canada data literacy training initiative

The data literacy training initiative provides a wealth of resources aimed at those who are new to data or those who have some experience with data but may need a refresher or want to expand their knowledge. The goal of this initiative is to provide learners with the basic concepts and skills related to a range of data literacy topics, including What is Data? An Introduction to Data Terminology and Concepts and Types of Data: Understanding and Exploring Data.

Training Repository

The DLI Training Repository contains workshop presentations from DLI training and from conferences. The PDC is responsible for uploading presentations and materials to the repository after each training session. These materials are available for anyone to view and download.

For more information on the Training Repository, visit the repository web page. For more details about the history of the Training Repository, consult the presentation titled Creating a Repository of Training Materials: The Canadian Experience by Jane Fry from Carleton University (English only).

Data Interest Group for Reference Services

Hosted at the University of Alberta, Data Interest Group for Reference Services (DIGRS) content is based primarily on questions and answers from the DLI listserv from 2004 to the present. The content is presented in a user-friendly manner and information can be retrieved through keyword searches or by searching by date or category.

Citing data

The importance of citing data

Bibliographic references are important when using the data or ideas of others in your written work. References credit your sources and allow your readers to find those sources. Additional information is available here: How to Cite Statistics Canada Products.

Access

What is in the DLI collection?

The DLI collection is composed primarily of standard products produced by Statistics Canada, including PUMFs, aggregated data tables and boundary files. Licensed collections include sample files from the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), postal code data products from Canada Post and the Social Policy Simulation Database and Model (SPSD/M).

Rich Data Services

Rich Data Services (RDS) is Statistics Canada’s analytical platform for Public Use Microdata files (PUMFs) and their metadata. The RDS Explorer and Tabulation Engine allow users to browse, interact, and download data and metadata for online or offline analysis.

Electronic file transfer site

About the site

The DLI EFT site is the data repository of the DLI collection. To ensure the absolute protection of data files, the EFT requires that each user have their own unique user ID and password. If you do not have a user ID and password or you are having difficulty logging in, contact DLI staff by emailing statcan.dad-dli-dad-idd.statcan@statcan.gc.ca. 

Understanding the directory structure

The DLI EFT collection contains five subdirectories, which are outlined in the table below. Some DLI contacts may not be able to view all of the directories if your institution has not signed the appropriate DLI licences (e.g., Postal Code Conversion File [PCCF] or SPSD/M).

DAD_PUMF_FMGD_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan

Each year of a survey is usually contained in a separate subdirectory. The secondary level in the survey breaks down the information based on data (data) and documentation (doc). The readme file for the survey is also found at this level. The data folder contains a zipped file with the data. The data can take the form of microdata in ascii, SPSS, STATA or SAS format. The documentation folder includes the metadata, which is the information required to interpret and understand the microdata.

For example:

/DAD_PUMF_FMGD_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan/
/3250_APS_EAPA
/1991
/2001/2001-Children
/2006
/age-06-14
/age-15+
/data
/doc
lisezeapa2006-age-15+.txt
readaps2006-age-15+.txt
/3251_PALS_EPLA

With respect to the General Social Survey (GSS) folders, please consult the EFT key titled Readme-Key_Lisezmoi-clé.xls. A note of the GSS cycles (far right column) indicates the associated cycles.

DAD_DLI_IDD_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan

Census_agri_recens and census_pop_recens folders

Census folders are organized by census year. The way each census-year folder is organized varies from year to year. Generally, for the Census of Population, folders within a census year are organized either by data type (e.g., b2020, PUMF) or by topic (e.g., labour, income). For the Census of Agriculture, the way the folders are organized can vary by data type (e.g., Excel), geography (e.g., small area, agricultural region), or data and documentation. Sometimes the quickest way to find a census file is to email the DLI list asking where it is.

Geo folder

The geography folder is initially broken down by census year. The secondary level of breakdown identifies the type of information sought. For example, a user may be seeking reference maps, boundary files or a specific product. The readme once again becomes a critical tool for navigating the folder.

Reports_rapports folder

The reports folder contains materials of particular interest to DLI contacts, such as the EAC biannual report, DLI updates, and meeting minutes for both the EAC and PDC. In addition, users can find the images of the DLI graphic identifier.

Other_autres folder

The other folder provides a listing of additional data products organized according to their survey record number or catalogue number and corresponding survey or product acronym. Users seeking clarity on the record numbers or acronyms are invited to use the Excel workbook housed in the folder (other-products_autres-produits.xls). The workbook functions are key for helping to explain the nomenclature. The CD-ROM products found in this folder are available in a zipped format for download. Occasionally, the user will need to download the contents of the CD-ROM, unzip them and then burn them onto a CD- ROM (this will be noted in the file's readme). Many of the products have unusual proprietary structures and—as a result—must be run from a CD instead of being downloaded to a hard drive.

RTRA folder

The RTRA folder contains the RTRA DLI user application form and training materials for RTRA including the user guide and webinar recordings.

Utilities_utilitaires folder

The utilities folder contains software applications that may be useful to DLI contacts, such as FTP software and Beyond 2020. Consult the Util-Readme.txt file for more details.

Colectica folder

Colectica is a metadata repository containing xml files.

Trade_commerce folder

This folder contains trade and commerce data that was part of a custom request.

Outbox folder

This folder is empty and not currently in use.

DAD_CIHI_ICIS_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan

The CIHI safe contains sample files from the DAD. Data for 2009 onward are currently available in clearly labelled subfolders.

DAD-PCCF_FCCP_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan

The PCCF safe is initially broken down by census year. The secondary level of breakdown identifies the postal code data product:

• PCCF (folder: pccf-fccp)
• Postal Codes by Federal Ridings File (folder: pcfrf-fcpcef)
• Postal Code Conversion File Plus (folder: ppcf-fccp-plus)

Within each subfolder, a readme file provides a product description and a summary of changes to the product (e.g., starting in June 2013, the PCCF is available only as a standard package for Canada [no longer available at the province level] and is updated more than once each year. The readme file also lists the title of the product (e.g., PCCF for August 2015), the release date (e.g., February 12, 2016), the frequency of release and the directory.

DAD_SPSDM_BDMSPS_D AD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan

In 2016, the DLI unit created the SPSD/M safe. Subfolders are labelled by version, each containing its own unique install files and instructions. Please consult the readme files housed within the folders for more information.

DAD_RTRA_REP_ADTR_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan

The RTRA safe contains sample SAS shell programs and survey documentation, organized in folders according to the survey abbreviations. For guidance on how to use RTRA refer to the materials in the RTRA folder of the DAD_DLI_IDD_DAD_from_StatCan_DeStatCan safe.

MAD_RTRA_prd_…_ToStatCan_ÀStatCan and MAD_RTRA_prd_…_FromStatCan_DeStatCan

These two safes are used to submit SAS programs to run in RTRA and to receive the resulting output. For detailed instructions on how to use the EFT to send and receive files for RTRA refer to the instructions on the Statistics Canada RTRA website.

File-naming convention

Files located on the EFT site follow a similar naming convention. When the files are received from the author division, they are renamed to fit the DLI naming convention. Therefore, a file produced by the subject-matter division may differ from the file located on the DLI EFT site.

Files are initially named according to the survey acronym followed by the year or cycle of the survey, then by type of document.

Documents and their extensions

If a file is updated or replaced by the subject-matter division, an additional extension will be added identifying the version, for example,

• User Guide for the 2003 Household Internet Use Survey: hius2003gid.pdf
• Questionnaire for the 2009 Survey of Household Spending: shs2009que.pdf.

readme files

The readme file is a quick reference guide to the DLI EFT site. Once in a folder (e.g., survey, census, geography), the readme file provides a breakdown of the contents of the folder. This includes not only the file names, but also longer titles, which allows users to identify the file they are looking for. The readme file also includes the size and length of the data file for PUMFs to perform a quick verification that the file was transferred from the EFT to the user's computer successfully.

Requesting data not found in the DLI collection

If you identify a product that you think should be a part of the DLI collection, please submit your request to statcan.dad-dli-dad-idd.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

For inquiries related to Statistics Canada products not available exclusively through the DLI use Statistics Canada's Contact Us (also known as InfoStats). The following types of inquiries should be directed to Contact Us:

• Tier 1: Data Enquiries and Publicly Available Information
  • How to access specific data sets, including PUMFs
  • Data availability
  • Data formats
• Tier 2: Complex and custom requests
• Tier 3: Information required by subject matter divisions
• Navigating the Statistics Canada website
• General enquiries about Statistics Canada (e.g., My StatCan, Webinars, Workshops, Public Consultations, StatsCan app, StatsCan Plus)
• Questions about StatCan products
• Respondent Relations - Household & Business (e.g., Parliamentary Liaison)

For best results, include the information that you are your institution's DLI Contact/Alternate. You can use the following template to begin your email when emailing Contact Us:

I am a Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) Contact for [name of your institution], and (if applicable) I have a question for subject matter.

Secondary data distributors

Computing in the Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) (institutional membership required)

CHASS (available in English only) is a computing facility in the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. It offers a collection of social sciences and general interest databases (e.g., International Monetary Fund and World Bank tables) and three databases with Statistics Canada data:

• Canadian Census: census profile data at various levels of geography back to 1961
• CANSIM on CHASS: Microdata analysis and subsetting with survey documentation and analysis (SDA) on CHASS (institutional membership required)
• SDA @ CHASS is a set of programs for the documentation and web-based analysis of survey data. SDA also has procedures for creating customized subsets of datasets.

Abacus Dataverse Network

Abacus Dataverse Network is the research data repository of the British Columbia Research Libraries' data services—a collaboration involving the data libraries at Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria. Open license datasets from Statistics Canada can be retrieved from this repository by anyone.

Ontario Data Documentation, Extraction Service and Infrastructure Initiative (ODESI) (institutional membership required)

ODESI is a digital repository for social science data, including DLI data and a range of public opinion polls. It is a web-based data exploration, extraction and analysis tool created by Scholars Portal—a service of the Ontario Council of University Libraries (OCUL)—and is available to authorized users from Ontario universities and subscribing institutions. ODESI metadata are openly available to the world.

Borealis (institutional membership required)

Borealis, the Canadian Dataverse Repository, is a bilingual, multidisciplinary, secure, Canadian research data repository, supported by academic libraries and research institutions across Canada. Borealis supports open discovery, management, sharing, and preservation of Canadian research data.

Statistical and Geographic Data

Statistical and Geographic Data was developed by Quebec university libraries and enables access to DLI geographic products and aggregate data. Access to data is restricted to students, researchers and professors at participating universities.

Open Data – Government of Canada

Search open data that are relevant to Canadians, learn how to work with datasets and see what people have done with open data across the country.

Canadian Century Research Infrastructure

The Canadian Century Research Infrastructure (CCRI) is a pan-Canadian, multidisciplinary and multi-institutional effort to develop a set of interrelated databases centred on data from Canadian censuses from 1911 to 1951. The CCRI gateway website is hosted by the University of Alberta and provides access to microdata, as well as a geographical framework developed to enable the location, selection, aggregation and analysis of census and contextual data.

Glossary

A

Abacus

Abacus Dataverse Network is the research data repository of the British Columbia Research Libraries' data services—a collaboration involving the data libraries at Simon Fraser University, the University of British Columbia, the University of Northern British Columbia and the University of Victoria. 

Administrative data

Information collected by government or private-sector organizations as part of their ongoing operations.

Aggregate data

Statistics that are organized into a data structure and stored in a database or data file. The data structure is based on tabulations organized by time, geography or social content.

B

Borealis

Borealis, the Canadian Dataverse Repository, is a bilingual, multidisciplinary, secure, Canadian research data repository, supported by academic libraries and research institutions across Canada.

C

Canadian Century Research Infrastructure

A pan-Canadian database centred on data from the Canadian census from 1911 to 1951. 

Canadian Institute for Health Information

An independent, not-for-profit organization that provides essential information on Canada's health systems and the health of Canadians. The institute has shared access to sample files from the Discharge Abstract Database with the Data Liberation Initiative community.

CCRI

See Canadian Century Research Infrastructure.

CHASS

See Computing in the Humanities and Social Sciences. 

CIHI

See Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Codebooks

A generic term often used to describe the user guide, record layout and data dictionary or combinations of these documents.

Command files

Defines the microdata file by providing the name of the dataset; the variable locations (column locations and widths), names and labels; and value labels and missing value locations.

Computing in the Humanities and Social Sciences

This is a computing facility within the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto.

Continuum of access

A dissemination model used by Statistics Canada that helps users identify the various levels of data access at Statistics Canada, of which the Data Liberation Initiative is one avenue.

Cross tabulation

Cross tabulation groups variables to understand the correlation between different variables. Also known as "cross tab".

Customized tabulations

Tables from confidential files that are specially processed by Statistics Canada for a fee and are also known as "custom tabs."

CV tables

Coefficients of variation tables are used to assess the quality of the data.

D

DAD

See Discharge Abstract Database.
Also, the abbreviation for the Data Access Division.

Data

A collection of data objects stored together in electronic form, according to one schema, and accessible by computer.

Data dictionaries

Data dictionaries are used to find general information on the variables in a survey, the codes for the variables, missing value assignments and frequency counts.

Data Interest Group for Reference Services

Hosted at the University of Alberta, Data Interest Group for Reference Services content is based primarily on questions and answers from the Data Liberation Initiative listserv from 2004 to present.

Data Liberation Initiative

The Data Liberation Initiative is a partnership between Statistics Canada and Canadian postsecondary institutions with the objective of promoting and facilitating the availability of Statistics Canada data and other Canadian data for educational and academic research purposes.

DIGRS

See Data Interest Group for Reference Services.

Discharge Abstract Database

The Discharge Abstract Database consists of research analytic files on patient discharges from hospital, including codes for treatments and diagnostics from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

DLI

See Data Liberation Initiative.

DLI alternate

An alternate is identified by the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) contact to assist them in their DLI role at the institution.

DLI contact

The primary point of contact between the end users and the Data Liberation Initiative program.

DLI licence

The formal agreement between Statistics Canada (Data Liberation Initiative program) and participating postsecondary institutions. 

DLI unit

The Statistics Canada unit responsible for administering the Data Liberation Initiative partnership.

dlilist

The Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) listserv is the primary communication tool for the DLI community. 

Dummy files

Dummy files are created by author divisions by reproducing the master file and distorting the data. Dummy files do not contain actual data and can never be used for analysis.

E

EAC

See External Advisory Committee.

EFT

See Electronic File Transfer.

Electronic File Transfer

A Statistics Canada service, where Data Liberation Initiative data can be accessed via a file transfer protocol.

External Advisory Committee

The committee's primary role is to advise the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) on matters pertaining to the planning, promotion and implementation of DLI initiatives.

F

FTP

A file transfer protocol is a way to download files.

M

Master files

Master files are so-called "pure" datasets created by the author division. All variables and cases are available for analysis in the master file. The master file is not available to all users.

Member institutions

Member institutions are postsecondary institutions that subscribe to the Data Liberation Initiative.

Metadata

Documentation that accompanies and assists users in the interpretation of various data and geographic files.

Microdata

The data observed or collected directly from a specific unit of observation. 

Microdata Release Committee

Statistics Canada's confidentiality control mechanism for the release of microdata files.

N

National training sessions

National training sessions are held every four years and allow the Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) community to come together and learn about data services. They also assist postsecondary institution users with accessing and using DLI data.

O

ODESI

See Ontario Data Documentation, Extraction Service and Infrastructure Initiative.

Ontario Data Documentation, Extraction Service and Infrastructure Initiative

ODESI is a digital repository for social science data. It includes Data Liberation Initiative data, as well as a range of public opinion polls created by the Ontario Council of University Libraries. It is available to authorized users from Ontario universities, but the metadata are openly available anyone.

Open Licence Agreement

Statistics Canada's Open Licence Agreement applies to standard and custom data products in the Data Liberation Initiative collection, but not to postal code files, the Discharge Abstract Database files or the Social Policy Simulation Database and Model.

P

PCCF

See Postal Code Conversion File.

PDC

See Professional Development Committee.

Postal Code Conversion File

A digital file that provides a correspondence between the six-character postal code and geographical areas for which census data and other statistics are produced.

Professional Development Committee

The Data Liberation Initiative Professional Development Committee reports to the External Advisory Committee and is tasked with planning and developing a training curriculum for regional workshops.

Public use microdata file

A master file that has been modified to minimize the possibility of disclosing a respondent's identity.

PUMF

See Public use microdata file.

Purchase confirmation

This is the purchase confirmation provided by Statistics Canada and accepted by the client to confirm their order when the total amount of the transaction is less than CAN$20,000.

Q

Questionnaire

A questionnaire is a list of questions posed to the survey respondent.

R

RDC

See Research data centre.

RDS

See Rich Data Services

readme file

A quick reference guide on the Data Liberation Initiative electronic file transfer site that provides a breakdown of the contents of a folder.

Real Time Remote Access

An online remote access facility that allows subscribers to run SAS programs in real time against microdata sets located in a central and secure location.

Record layout

A record layout provides the names of the variables and their column position in the microdata file.

Regional Training Coordinator

A person selected to represent their region in identifying training priorities and carrying out Data Liberation Initiative training.

Regional training session

This training is held in four regions across Canada, the purpose of which is to prepare data services staff to assist postsecondary institution users with accessing and using Data Liberation Initiative data.

Research data centre

Research data centres provide researchers with access—in a secure university setting— to confidential survey and administrative microdata from Statistics Canada.

Rich Data Services

Statistics Canada's analytical platform for Public Use Microdata files (PUMFs) and their metadata.

RTC

See Regional Training Coordinator. See Real Time Remote Access.

RTRA

See Real Time Remote Access.

S

SAS

The Statistical Analysis System is a statistical analysis software program.

SDA

Survey Documentation and Analysis is a set of programs used for the documentation and web-based analysis of survey data.

Social Policy Simulation Database and Model

A static microsimulation model available in the Data Liberation Initiative collection and subject to a licensing agreement.

SPSD/M

See Social Policy Simulation Database and Model.

SPSS

Statistical Package for the Social Sciences is a statistical analysis software program. 

STATA

STATA is a statistical analysis software program.

Synthetic files

These files are created by author divisions by reproducing the master file and distorting the data. Synthetic files do not contain actual data and can never be used for analysis.

T

Training Repository

The Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) Training Repository contains training sessions and workshop presentations from the DLI and other national and international conferences over the years.

U

User guide

The user guide provides essential information to inform the use, analysis and interpretation of the microdata file.