The Social Policy Simulation Database and Model (SPSD/M) is a microsimulation tool specifically designed for analyzing the tax and transfer system in Canada. It is a complex multidisciplinary analytical tool which, while easily used, requires significant experience to master. Statistics Canada is committed to working with licensees of the SPSD/M in order to help them get the maximum benefit from the model and to do so in a flexible way that is most beneficial to individual client's research and personnel needs. The SPSD/M training will assist those interested in analyzing financial interactions of federal/provincial governments and individuals in Canada. To this end we have two training options to help develop the knowledge and skills to effectively employ the model and provide advice on how to best apply the SPSD/M to approach your policy research questions.
Target participants
Individuals who are interested in using microsimulation to analyze Canadian tax and transfer policies. Participants should have some understanding of the Canadian tax and transfer system.
This tool is specifically designed for analyzing the tax and transfer policies in Canada and can't be used to analyze policies for other countries. Please contact us directly if you have questions.
Training seminars
These courses are offered in English and French twice per year. A minimum number of participants is required to hold a course (courses will be cancelled if there is not enough registrations less than 10 working days prior to the date of the course). This training can also be given at a client's site if suitable facilities are available.
To register, simply send an e-mail message to spsdm@statcan.gc.ca
(Please note that, generally, our seminars are offered in the spring and fall of each year.)
The next scheduled courses
SPSD/M Black Box Training for Beginners (English)
Course description:
- Introduction (Day 1)
- What is the SPSD/M?
- Live Demo of the SPSD/M
- Database Construction
- SPSD/M Validation in the base year
- User Tables (Day 2)
- SPSM Operation
- How to Use the Help File
- SPSM Parameters
- Simulation Management
- Read Parameter Files
- Creating Tables
- User Variables (Day 3)
- Unit of Analysis - Family Definitions
- Database & Variables
- How to Create User Variables
- Simulation Applications (Day 4)
- Take-Home Exercises
- Simulation Validation
Language:
English
Dates:
Course duration is 4 days:
- September 15, 2026 (10:30pm-4:30pm Eastern Time)
- September 17, 2026 (10:30am-4:30pm Eastern Time)
- September 22, 2026 (10:30am-4:30pm Eastern Time)
- September 24, 2026 (10:30am-4:30pm Eastern Time)
Location:
MS Teams
Course cost:
$800.00 + HST
SPSD/M Black Box Training for Beginners (French)
Course description:
- Introduction (Day 1)
- What is the SPSD/M?
- Live Demo of the SPSD/M
- Database Construction
- SPSD/M Validation in the base year
- User Tables (Day 2)
- SPSM Operation
- How to Use the Help File
- SPSM Parameters
- Simulation Management
- Read Parameter Files
- Creating Tables
- User Variables (Day 3)
- Unit of Analysis - Family Definitions
- Database & Variables
- How to Create User Variables
- Simulation Applications (Day 4)
- Take-Home Exercises
- Simulation Validation
Language:
French
Dates:
TBD
Location:
MS Teams
Course cost:
$800.00 + HST
SPSD/M Black Box Training Intermediate (English)
Course description:
- Commonly Used Facilities (Day 1)
- Selection Facility
- Distributional Analysis Facility
- Text Output Facility
- Debugging
- Productivity Facilities (Day 2)
- Adding & editing data
- Marginal Tax Rate Facility
- Turning Point Facility
- Running the SPSM in Classic
- Batch file simulations
- Advanced Simulation Topics (Day 3)
- Poverty Analysis
- Institutional Elderly
- Calendar Year Simulation
- Other Dimensions of Analysis
- Special Topics (Day 4)
- Take-Home Exercises
- One Special Topic
Language:
English
Dates:
This course is postponed
Location:
MS Teams
Course cost:
$800.00 + HST
Prerequisites:
Persons planning on attending the seminar should have taken the Beginners Black Box Training seminar or have adequate experience using the SPSD/M in Black box mode. They should know how to change parameters, run simulations, create new user variables and custom tables at various family levels.
SPSD/M Glass Box Training (English)
Course description:
- Introduction to the Glass Box (Day 1)
- Building Glass Box (Day 2)
- Create New Parameters (Day 3)
- Create Local and Global Variables (Day 4)
- Using Pointers (Day 5)
- Using Family Loops (Day 6)
- Debugging (Day 7)
- Open Discussion (Day 8)
Language:
English
Dates:
Course duration is 8 days: Every Tuesday and Thursday, November 17, 2026 until December 10, 2026. 1:00pm-4:30pm Eastern time.
Location:
MS Teams
Course cost:
$1600 + HST
Prerequisites:
Persons planning on attending this seminar should have already taken either the Intermediate Black Box Training seminar or have extensive experience using the SPSD/M in Black box mode. They should know how to create output microdata, perform debugging by creating new complex user variables and custom tables at various family levels.
SPSD/M Glass Box Training (French)
Course description:
- Introduction to the Glass Box (Day 1)
- Building Glass Box (Day 2)
- Create New Parameters (Day 3)
- Create Local and Global Variables (Day 4)
- Using Pointers (Day 5)
- Using Family Loops (Day 6)
- Debugging (Day 7)
- Open Discussion (Day 8)
Language:
French
Dates:
TBD
Location:
MS Teams
Course cost:
$1600 + HST
Prerequisites:
Persons planning on attending this seminar should have already taken either the Intermediate Black Box Training seminar or have extensive experience using the SPSD/M in Black box mode. They should know how to create output microdata, perform debugging by creating new complex user variables and custom tables at various family levels.
In-house training
If an organization or individual has either a special project they wish to use the model for, or a specific advanced aspect of model use they wish to master (i.e. stochastic imputation) arrangements can be made for one-on-one training. In most of these cases an analyst works with our microsimulation team in Ottawa. The access to a group of microsimulation and quantitative policy analysis oriented professionals is an added benefit of this type of training. It is also possible for a Statistics Canada microsimulation analyst to visit a client's site.