Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

This guide contains definitions and descriptions of terminology used in the 2019 Field Crop Survey - June. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

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Table of contents

Definitions

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Current main activity of the business or organization

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational unit(s) targeted by this questionnaire only, and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

Fall rye and winter wheat seeded in previous year

Fall rye:
Rye that is seeded and germinates in the fall of one year, is dormant over the winter and resumes growth in the spring.

Winter wheat:
Wheat that is seeded and germinates in the fall of one year, is dormant over the winter and resumes growth in the spring. Winter wheat is grown in areas with milder winters.

Seeding in 2019

Wheat

Wheat, durum:
A variety of wheat sown in the spring, used to make pasta products.

Wheat, spring:
Is the main type of wheat grown in Canada. It is seeded in the spring and harvested in the late summer or early fall of the same year.

Wheat, spring — Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS):

CWRS wheat is the largest wheat class in Canada. It is recognized around the world for its excellent milling and baking qualities with minimal protein loss during milling. Due to good gluten strength, it is used extensively either alone or in blends with other wheat varieties for the production of a diverse range of products such as hearth breads, steam breads, noodles, common wheat pasta, and flat breads.
CWRS Varieties: AAC Alida, AAC Bailey, AAC Brandon, AAC Cameron, AAC Connery, AAC Elie, AAC Jatharia, AAC Prevail, AAC Redberry, AAC Redwater, AAC Tisdale, AAC Viewfield, AAC W1876, AAC Warman, AC Abbey, AC Barrie, AC Cadillac, AC Cora, AC Domain, AC Eatonia, AC Elsa, AC Intrepid, AC Majestic, AC Michael, AC Minto, AC Splendor, Alikat, Alvena, Carberry, Cardale, CDC Abound, CDC Adamant, CDC Alsask, CDC Bounty, CDC Bradwell, CDC Go, CDC Hughes, CDC Imagine, CDC Kernen, CDC Landmark, CDC Makwa, CDC Osler, CDC Plentiful, CDC Stanley, CDC Teal, CDC Thrive, CDC Titanium, CDC Utmost, CDC VR Morris, Coleman, Columbus, Conway, Fieldstar, Glenn, Go Early, Goodeve, Harvest, Helios, Infinity, Journey, Kane, Katepwa, Laura, Leader, Lillian, Lovitt, McKenzie, Muchmore, Neepawa, Parata, Park, Pasqua, Peace,Pembina, Prodigy, Roblin, Shaw, Somerset, Stettler, Superb, SY Chert, SY Obsidian, SY Slate, SY Sovite, SY 433, SY479 VB, SY637, Thatcher, Thorsby, Unity, Vesper, Waskada, WR859 CL, Zealand, 5500HR, 5600HR, 5601HR, 5602HR, 5603HR, 5604HR CL, 5605HR CL.

Wheat, spring — Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR):
Wheat of medium to hard kernels with a very good milling quality and medium gluten strength. The end uses are mostly hearth breads, steamed breads, flat breads, and noodles. Examples of CNHR are AAC Concord, Elgin ND, Faller and Prosper. *Newly added class.
CNHR Varieties: AAC Concord, AAC Tradition, Elgin ND, Faller, Prosper. New varieties reclassified from the CWRS class as of August 1, 2018: AC Abbey, AC Cora, AC Eatonia, AC Majestic, AC Michael, AC Minto, Alikat, Alvena, CDC Makwa, CDC Osler, Columbus, Conway, Harvest, Kane, Katepwa, Leader, Lillian, McKenzie, Neepawa, Park, Pasqua, Pembina, Thatcher, Unity, 5603HR.

Wheat, spring — Canada Prairie Spring Red (CPSR):
This class of wheat is bred for high yields, has medium to strong dough properties and has medium protein content. CPSR is used for hearth breads, steamed breads, flat breads, crackers, noodles and has become recognized as a viable feedstock for ethanol production.
CPSR Varieties: AAC Crossfield, AAC Crusader, AAC Entice, AAC Foray, AAC Goodwin, AAC Ryley, AAC Penhold, AAC Tenacious, AC Crystal, AC Foremost, AC Taber, CDC Terrain, Conquer, Cutler, Enchant, Oslo, SY Rowyn, SY985, SY995, 5701PR, 5700PR, 5702PR.

Wheat, spring — Canada Prairie Spring White (CPSW):
The white sub-class of the CPS (Canada Prairie Spring) has medium to strong dough properties and has low to medium protein content. CPSW can be used for a wide variety of low volume breads.
CPSW Varieties: AC Karma, AC Vista.

Wheat, spring — Canada Western Extra Strong (CWES):
It was previously called Utility. Includes varieties of hard red spring wheat. CWES class have milling and baking qualities different from other wheat. Its extra strong gluten content is used in specialty products when high gluten strength is needed, and desirable as blending wheat with softer, weaker wheat.
CWES Varieties: AC Corinne, Amazon, Bluesky, Burnside, CDC Rama, CDC Walrus, CDN Bison, Glenavon, Glencross, Glenlea, Laser, Wildcat.

Wheat, spring — Canada Western Hard White Spring (CWHWS):
Varieties have been developed using the CWRS quality profile with superior milling and dough properties as well as improved flour colour. Hard white wheat is in demand by millers and bakers due to an improved flavour profile when used in whole grain baked products. It is suitable for bread and noodle production. *Newly added class.
CWHWS Varieties: AAC Cirrus, AAC Iceberg, AAC Whitefox, CDC Whitewood, Kanata, Snowbird, Snowstar, Whitehawk.

Wheat, spring — Canada Western Soft White Spring (CWSWS):
This soft white spring wheat has low protein content and is used for cookies, cakes, pastry, flat breads, noodles, steamed breads, chapatis. 
CWSWS Varieties: AAC Chiffon, AC Indus, AAC Paramount, AC Andrew, AC Meena, AC Nanda, AC Phil, AC Reed, Bhishaj, Sadash.

Wheat, spring — Canada Eastern Red Spring (CERS):
CERS has superior milling and baking qualities. It is used for the production of high volume pan bread. This class of wheat is also used for hearth breads, steam breads, noodles, common wheat pasta, and flat breads.

Wheat, spring — other:
Include all Western varieties not listed above such as unlicensed varieties, Grandin wheat, and Canada Western Special Purpose (CWSP). Include all other milling classes of Eastern Canadian spring wheat (e.g., Canada Eastern Hard White Spring (CEHWS), Canada Eastern Soft White Spring (CESWS).

Wheat, winter:
Wheat that is seeded in the fall of one year, germinates and "overwinters", resumes growth in the spring and then is harvested in the mid -summer. Winter Wheat is grown in areas with milder winters.

Barley:
A high energy cereal grown primarily for livestock feed. It is usually harvested for grain, but is also occasionally cut green for hay or silage. Ontario, Quebec only: include winter barley seeded the previous fall.

Buckwheat:
A plant grown as green manure and as a cereal crop.

Canary seed:
A cereal grain primarily grown for use as birdseed, as well as for human consumption. Most of the canary seed grown in Canada is exported.

Canola (rapeseed):
Canola are plants grown specifically for their low erucic acid oil and low glucosinolate content. Canola meal, the residue after the oil is extracted, is used in animal feeds as a protein source. This crop also includes Industry Preserved canola (IP).

Chickpeas:
Leguminous annual pea plant cultivated for human consumption. Also called Garbanzo beans.

Corn for grain:
Also called "grain corn", this is corn left to mature in the field, then harvested for grain rather than as forage. The grain may be harvested dry or as "high moisture corn" and stored in a silo. "Shelled corn", "cob corn" and "corn seed" are also considered as corn for grain.

Corn for silage:
This is corn that is cut while still immature. It is then turned into silage or is grazed. This category also includes corn that is left standing in the fall or winter, for feed purposes. This category is also referred to as "fodder corn".

Dry beans:
Please report all dry beans (black, red, white, fava, etc.) individually.  Other and unknown varieties examples: adzuki (azuki, aduki), baby lima, black eyes peas, Dutch brown, kintoki, large lima, lupini, otebo, pink, speckled sugar, white kidney (cannellini, alubia type).

Dry field peas:
An annual leguminous plant producing 3-inch long pod, grown to be harvested when dry.

Flaxseed:
A plant grown for its oil-bearing seeds e.g., linseed as well as for its fibres i.e., linen.

Hemp:
Crop (often called industrial hemp) that can be transformed into textiles, clothing, cosmetics, soap, beer, industrial fibre, building materials and paper. Canada's hemp industry is pioneering the development of hemp-based foods: flour, nutritional bars, pasta, cookies, lactose-free milk and ice cream.

Lentils:
Annual plants similar to peas, which produce pods containing two dark flat seeds.

Mixed grains:
A combination of two or more grains e.g., oats and barley or peas and oats sown and harvested together, usually harvested for grain. It may also be cut green for hay or silage.

Mustard seed:
An oilseed crop that generates seed-filled pods used mostly for spice and to make the yellow condiment. Three main types are grown on the Prairies: yellow, brown and oriental.

Oats:
A cereal grown primarily for livestock feed. Oats are usually harvested for grain but may also be cut green for hay or silage. Oats are also grown for human consumption e.g., oatmeal and oat bran.

Soybeans:
A plant primarily grown for their edible, high protein, oil-bearing seeds.

Spring rye:
Rye seeded in the spring and harvested in the fall.  This type of rye is grown only in areas which are too cold for fall seeding e.g., Northern Prairies.

Sugar beets:
Large beets (6 to 12 inches) selected for their high sugar content and used for making white table sugar.

Sunflower seed:
Plants from which the seeds are selected either for their oil content, or for use as birdseed or for confectionery purposes. Includes sunola and other dwarf varieties.

Triticale:
Triticale is a varietal cross between rye and wheat. It is harvested for its grain but often it is cut for hay or silage.

Tobacco:
The tobacco plant is a coarse, large leafed perennial but it is usually cultivated as an annual.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs)

Genetically modified organisms – GMOs
Crops developed through genetic engineering, a more precise method of plant breeding. Genetic engineering, also referred to as biotechnology, allows plant breeders to take a desirable trait found in nature and transfer it from one plant or organism to the plant they want to improve, as well as make a change to an existing trait in a plant they are developing. Some examples of desirable traits commonly transferred include resistance to insects and disease and tolerance to herbicides that allow farmers to better control weeds.

Biotechnology
The application of science and engineering in the use of living organisms.

Genetic engineering
A technique involving the transfer of specific genetic information from one organism to another.

Genetically modified seed
A seed whose genetic information has been recently altered by genetic engineering or mutagenesis.

Mutagenesis
A process by which an organism is genetically changed, resulting in a mutation, which is a change in the DNA sequence of a gene. It may occur naturally or it can happen deliberately for the purpose of increasing genetic variation of a species. Commonly used tool for plant breeding, in which researchers force the mutation of a plant's genetics, for example, by exposing seeds to chemicals or irradiation. Crops created with mutagenesis breeding are not considered GMOs and this technique is not considered genetic engineering. In fact, varieties developed using these techniques are considered to be "conventional" varieties and are allowed in organic production systems.

Plant breeding
The science of selecting and altering plants to increase their value by producing desirable traits such as increased quality or yield, virus resistance or increased tolerance to pests.

Terminator gene
A gene that renders seeds sterile.

Transgenic
A plant or animal containing one or more new genes introduced by genetic engineering.

Other terms used for genetically modified seed corn for grain
Liberty Link, Roundup Ready, HTH, Bt Corn (YieldGard, KnockOut, NatureGuard, Xtra, StarLink and Herculex).

Tame hay and forage seed

Alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures

Include alfalfa and Alfalfa mixed with varieties of clover, trefoil, bromegrass, timothy, orchardgrass, canarygrass, ryegrass, fescue, sorghum-sudan and wheatgrass.

Exclude all forage crop area harvested or to be harvested for commercial seed purposes, under-seeded areas and other field crops (e.g., barley) that will be harvested green to feed animals.

Other tame hay

Include varieties of clover, trefoil, bromegrass, timothy, orchardgrass, canarygrass, ryegrass, fescue, sorghum-sudan and wheatgrass.

Exclude alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, all forage crop area harvested or to be harvested for commercial seed purposes and other field crops (e.g., barley) that will be harvested green to feed animals.

Forage seed

Include all forage crop areas to be harvested for seed and forage crops grown commercially for seed purposes such as alfalfa and alfalfa mixtures, varieties of clover, trefoil, bromegrass, timothy, orchardgrass, canarygrass, ryegrass, fescue, sorghum-sudan and wheatgrass.

Exclude forage crops to be harvested for hay or used for pasture.

Other land areas

Summerfallow:
Land on which no crop will be grown during the year, but which may be cultivated or worked for weed control and/or moisture conservation, or it may simply be left to lay fallow in order to renew the soil.

Chemfallow:
Summerfallow where herbicides are used without working the soil.

Winterkilled land:
Crop areas sown in the previous fall that did not survive the winter conditions, which will not be reseeded or pastured to another crop in the following spring.

Land for pasture or grazing:
All land which is being used for pasture, grazing, native pasture, native hay, rangeland and grazable bush used for the grazing or feeding of livestock.

Other land:
Area of farmstead, wasteland, woodland, cut-over land, slough, swamp, marshland and irrigation ditches, fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, maple trees, Christmas trees, sod, or new broken land (land which has been cleared and prepared for cultivation but will not be cropped).

Thank you for your participation.

Statistics Canada Client Survey 2018

Consultation objectives

The purpose of the Statistics Canada Client Survey is to measure satisfaction with product and/or service quality, delivery and use.

Information is used for external reporting, internal decision making and priority setting.

Methodology

The sample for the Statistics Canada Client Survey is taken from the Statistic Canada's Client Relations Management System (CRMS). CRMS includes all clients who requested a product or service within a given year (January – December) and the results reflect these clients from January 2018 to December 2018.

Respondent Profile

Most respondents were from the Federal Government. The Independent researchers sector and private sector had the lowest representation. The majority of respondents requested a product or a service for the purpose of research and analysis with the least popular purpose being funding, followed by general interest and legislative.

Results

Overall satisfaction with Statistics Canada's products and/or service quality

  • 85% of clients were satisfied with the overall quality of the product or service received.
  • The format or medium of product received the highest level of satisfaction.
  • Areas for improvement include the timeliness, level of detail and supporting documentation.

Overall satisfaction with Statistics Canada's products and/or service delivery

  • 85% of clients were satisfied with the overall delivery of the product or service received.
  • Respect and courtesy of staff and the provision of the product or service in the official language of choice received the highest levels of satisfaction.
  • Areas of improvement include cost and amount of time to get the product or service.

Overall level of usefulness with Statistics Canada's products and/or services

  • 71% of clients considered the product or service useful.

More information

Individuals who wish to obtain more information should contact Statistics Canada by sending an email to infostats@statcan.gc.ca.

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Date modified:

Evaluation Report

December 2018

The report in short

The Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program (EASP) collects, compiles, analyzes and publishes environmental data. It provides users with consistent, comprehensive, timely and relevant statistics that allow them to better understand the relationship between human activity and the environment. The program includes nine surveys and produces four sets of accounts as well as an annual report spread across a wide range of environmental topics, including water accounts, ecosystems and emissions.

The evaluation of EASP was conducted by Statistics Canada in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada’s Policy on Results (2016) and Statistics Canada’s Risk-Based Audit and Evaluation Plan (2016/2017 to 2020/2021). This is the first-ever evaluation of the program, and it covers the period from 2012/2013 to 2016/2017. The main objective of the evaluation was to provide a neutral, evidence-based assessment of the relevance and performance of the program in support of decision making, accountability and improvement.

The evaluation methodology consisted of a document and literature review, data reviews, key informant interviews, a survey of users, a bibliometric and webometric assessment, and an international review. The triangulation of these data collection methods was used to arrive at the overall evaluation findings.

Key findings

EASP is aligned with federal roles, responsibilities and commitments. Statistical information from the program is used by federal partners to meet requirements of various acts, including the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Federal Sustainable Development Act. The program actively collaborates with partners on projects such as those under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, and it is active internationally with organizations such as the United Nations (UN) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

While the need for environmental statistical data is in constant evolution and growing steadily, EASP data users are generally satisfied with the information available. Some gaps were identified in areas such as ecosystems and water accounts; however, EASP is aware of them and is taking steps to address them. In general, users were very satisfied with the quality of the information produced by the program. However, concerns were raised regarding the timeliness and periodicity of the information.

EASP communicates regularly with data users and partners, mostly through informal mechanisms and some outreach activities. There is evidence, however, that opportunities exist to improve these activities. For example, while EASP developed an outreach plan in 2015/2016, it was only partially implemented. External interviewees noted that greater efforts could be made to promote the information produced by the program.

Although some areas of collaboration between EASP, the Transportation Statistics Program and the Energy Statistics Program were identified, there remain unexplored opportunities that could increase the overall efficiency of the Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division (EETSD). For example, EASP staff could benefit from assistance or support with dissemination activities.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1

It is recommended that EASP enhance its outreach strategy to ensure a systematic and structured approach to consultations and promotion activities. The strategy should be inclusive and cover all key stakeholders, and follow-up communications should take place. Internal discussions should take place with staff to foster engagement and the use of corporate tools to measure success and client satisfaction should be explored.

Recommendation 2

It is recommended that EASP, along with the energy and transportation programs within EETSD, identify additional areas for collaboration and implement formal mechanisms to support them. In addition, to ensure future efforts continue, EETSD should create a forum where ideas for collaboration can be discussed.

Recommendation 3

It is recommended that EASP revisit its current approach to tracking and managing client requests. The revised approach should be viewed divisionally to take into consideration the systems used by the Energy Statistics Program and the Transportation Statistics Program.

Recommendation 4

It is recommended that EASP explore opportunities to increase the frequency of its surveys and to address the identified gaps. In addition, the program should take steps to improve the timeliness of its releases in order to meet the established timeliness target.

1. What is covered

This evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada’s Policy on Results (2016) and Statistics Canada’s Risk-Based Audit and Evaluation Plan (2016/2017 to 2020/2021). The main objective of the evaluation was to provide a neutral, evidence-based assessment of the relevance and performance of the Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program (EASP) in support of decision making, accountability and improvement. This is the first time the program has been evaluated; the evaluation covered EASP activities from 2012/2013 to 2016/2017.

The program

The mandate of EASP is to collect, develop, compile, analyze and publish environmental data, emphasizing their integration with socioeconomic data. The information produced aims to provide users in government, the private sector and the public sector with consistent, comprehensive, timely and relevant statistics that allow them to better understand the relationship between human activity and the environment. The statistics and accounts are intended to assist and support decision makers, to sustain environmental research and to report to the Canadian public about the environment. Total EASP expenditures over the five-year period were approximately $35 million. EASP manages nine surveys and produces four sets of accounts as well as an annual report:

  • Industrial Water Survey (IWS, biennial)
  • Survey of Drinking Water Plants (SDWP, biennial)
  • Agricultural Water Survey (AWS, occasional)
  • Farm Management Survey (FMS, every five years, cost-recovery)
  • Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures (SEPE, biennial)
  • Waste Management Industry Survey (WMIS, biennial)—business and government sectors
  • Survey of Environmental Goods and Services (SEGS, biennial)Footnote 1
  • Households and the Environment Survey (HES, biennial)
  • Survey of Household Energy Use (SHEU, conducted every four years, as a supplement to the HES)
  • Physical Flow Accounts (PFA, annual)
  • Natural Resource Asset Accounts (NRAA, annual and quarterly)
  • Ecosystem Accounts (irregular)
  • Environmental and Clean Technology Products Economic Account (ECTPEA, annual, cost-recovery)
  • Report on Energy Supply and Demand (RESD, annual, cost-recovery).

In addition, EASP produces technical and analytical publications, such as the Environment Accounts and Statistics Analytical and Technical Paper Series (irregular), EnviroStats (irregular), and Human Activity and the Environment (HAE, annual). As is the case for other Statistics Canada programs, EASP disseminates various products derived from its surveys and accounts, such as Canadian Socioeconomic Information Management System (CANSIM) tables, summary tables, custom tabulations, Daily articles, geospatial analysis, and data layers. A more detailed description of EASP can be found in Appendix 1.

The evaluation

Following discussions with EASP and with senior management, the following nine areas were identified for review in the evaluation:

  • Relevance and responsiveness to needs
    1. Alignment with federal roles and responsibilities, government priorities, and commitments
    2. Continued need for the program and alignment with the needs of users
    3. Program consultations
  • Performance: Effectiveness
    1. Quality of information
    2. Innovative methods and releases
    3. Program reach
    4. Use of information
  • Performance: Efficiency
    1. Utilization of resources
    2. Factors impacting efficiency

Focus – International analysis

To provide additional context and information, the Evaluation Division conducted an international analysis of environmental statistics programs. The objective was to highlight good practices in environmental statistics programs abroad. The organizations selected are comparable to Canada in broad terms and have mature environmental statistics programs, where good innovative practices and models could be identified. The five programs selected were in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the United Kingdom (UK). The themes selected for the analysis were general success factors, satisfaction of user needs and measurement of success, stakeholder outreach practices, and innovation. The international analysis was planned with the collaboration of EASP officials.

Guided by a utilization-focused evaluation approach, the following quantitative and qualitative collection methods were used:Footnote 2

Administrative and financial reviews

Review of EASP administrative data on activities, outputs and results.

Review of EASP financial data.

Literature review

Review of published reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, grey literature, websites and periodicals, including evidence from similar programs in other jurisdictions (e.g., Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] countries) relating to design and delivery lessons learned and best practices.

Survey n=40

Online survey with respondents from a population of environmental accounts and statistics users, from February 7 to March 8, 2017. The response rate was 14%.

Bibliometric and webometric assessment

A bibliometric and webometric assessment of uptake of EASP releases, as well as a bibliometric assessment of EASP outputs in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Document review

Review of internal agency strategic documents.

Key informant interviews n=42

Semi-structured individual interviews of

  • subject-matter experts (n=4)
  • public sector users (n=8)
  • other users (n=7)
  • federal partners (n=9)
  • international informants (n=5)
  • EASP and other Statistics Canada officials (n=9).

International analysis

International analysis of other environmental accounts and statistics programs, which included semi-structured interviews (n=9) and a document review.
The selected programs were in

  • Australia
  • Germany
  • the Netherlands
  • the EEA
  • the UK.

The selected themes were

  • general success factors
  • satisfaction of user needs and measurement of success
  • stakeholder outreach practices
  • innovation.

2. What we learned

2.1 Alignment with federal roles and responsibilities, government priorities, and commitments

Evaluation question

To what extent did the activities of EASP align with federal roles and responsibilities, priorities, and international commitments?

In Canada, the environment is a shared responsibility between the federal government and the provincial and territorial (P/T) governments. The environment was not explicitly defined in sections 91 and 92 of the Constitution Act in 1867, as it was not identified at the time, or even considered, as something requiring governmental protection. Responsibilities for the environment are generally assigned according to the subjects that best describe the core substance of the regulation. For example, public property, criminal law, fisheries and sea coasts, navigation and shipping, and "lands reserved for Indians" are under federal responsibility. Consequently, environmental issues related to these fall under federal jurisdiction. Taking into account its domain of jurisdiction, the federal government enacts laws and regulations such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

EASP's statistical information, particularly data from the SEPE, is used by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to meet the information requirements of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Data from four other EASP surveysFootnote 3 contribute to the Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators (CESI) initiative led by ECCC. The CESI is the main instrument to measure the progress of the federal sustainability strategy governed by the Federal Sustainable Development Act.

As stipulated in the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is required to collect and produce statistical information pertaining to the social, economic and general activities and condition of the people of Canada.Footnote 4 This includes statistical information on the environment. In addition to its collection and production role, Statistics Canada notably has a duty "to collaborate with departments of government in the collection, compilation and publication of statistical information, including statistics derived from the activities of those departments"Footnote 5 and "to promote the avoidance of duplication in the information collected by departments of government."Footnote 6

The Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change is one example of collaborative work between levels of government. The Pan-Canadian Framework was developed in accordance with Canada's commitment at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21), during which the federal government agreed to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and support the transition to a global low-carbon economy. Budget 2016 noted that clean technologies will play a critical role in Canada's transformation to a low-carbon economy. Accordingly, it proposed an investment of $2.1 million over two years to enhance clean technology data, a collaborative effort between Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Statistics Canada, and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). The objective is to have comprehensive, regular up-to-date data to monitor the contribution of the clean technology sector to the Canadian economy. To respond to this new need, EASP expanded the scope of the SEGS and undertook the development of a clean technology satellite account, as well as a feasibility study on how to improve estimates of the amount of renewable energy produced in Canada.Footnote 7 The satellite account (the Environmental and Clean Technology Products Economic Account) captures all economy-wide transactions in the clean technology sector, such as clean energy and scrap metals.Footnote 8 It is currently being developed in conjunction with the National Economic Accounts Division of the Macroeconomic Accounts Branch. The data are important given the federal government's priority to expand the clean technology sector. Statistics Canada's pathfinder project—Transition to a Low-carbon Economy—addresses information needs related to the Carbon Measurement Strategy (e.g., clean technology). This work was further funded in Budget 2017—funding until 2020/2021 via cost-recovery arrangements with NRCan and ISED.

Canada is an active member of international organizations, including the UN and the OECD, which regularly require the submission of environmental statistics. For example, under the requirements of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Canada must report its GHG emissions and removals.Footnote 9 The EASP contributes to this international GHG reporting by developing the annual Report on Energy Supply and Demand, a key data source for the National Inventory Report on GHG emissions produced by ECCC. By providing data on energy, environmental protection, and natural resources, EASP allows Canada to respect its commitments and international responsibilities.Footnote 10

Overall, although there are no specific Canadian regulations mandating which environmental statistics and accounts must be produced, the evidence suggests that EASP contributes to the achievement of Canada's commitments to Canadians, as identified in Budget 2017 ("to ensure that future generations of Canadians can live in a clean and safe world") and in Budget 2016 ("leaving future generations of Canadians a sustainable and prosperous country").

Focus – International analysis

Regulatory frameworks

The international analysis found that environmental statistics programs within the European Union (EU) are subject to regulations that require mandatory environmental accounts.Footnote 11 International interviewees had mixed feelings with regard to the benefits of having such regulations. Some informants felt that their environmental accounts program would not be as well-developed without the regulations, as they provided funding to develop and test concepts and methods prior to the promulgation of the regulations, and core budget allocations for the compilation and maintenance of the accounts. On the other hand, as budgets are not unlimited, resources spent on mandatory accounts cannot be spent elsewhere (e.g., to address emerging issues and needs of national data users). Having a regulatory framework on environmental accounts is not necessarily a success factor for environmental statistics programs. Australia, which is not subject to regulations, does not appear disadvantaged by their absence: Australia's environmental statistics program, on the whole, is as successful as those of Europe.

2.2 Continued need for the program and alignment with the needs of users

Evaluation question

Does the EASP model (scope and themes of statistical information) respond to the needs of users? Are there gaps?

The statistical information produced by EASP is driven by two major guidance documents: the Framework for Environmental Statistics based on the concept of natural capital and the United Nations System of Environmental Economic Accounting (UN-SEEA).Footnote 12 The Framework was developed in 2012 by EASP following broad consultations with data users and partners. It is based on the concept of natural capital, which essentially consists of the theory that the stocks of environmental assets provide flows of goods and services that contribute to human well-being. Natural capital includes natural resources, water, land and ecosystems. The goods and services provided by natural capital do not have to be traded within the economy to be considered important to society. An example of natural capital measurement is EASP's NRAA, which captures key commercial natural resources (i.e., metallic and non-metallic minerals, fossil fuels, timber, and land) as well as the annual changes in these assets resulting from natural processes and human activity.Footnote 13 The UN-SEEA is an international guideline designed to link environmental information to the economic data storehouse that is the System of National Accounts (SNA). The UN-SEEA promotes international consistency, supports understanding of the interactions between environmental and economic issues, and adheres to the concept of natural capital.

Interviewees noted that EASP integrates major accounts from the UN-SEEA. Some key informants indicated, however, that there are possibilities for increasing the relevance of some of the accounts produced. For example, it was noted that, while protection expenditures focus on businesses, they could provide a more complete picture if governmental and household expenditures were also included. Also, data on environmental goods and services focus only on some providers, and expanding the range of providers would provide a more complete picture. It was also stated that the addition of environmental activity accounts would provide an indication of whether money is being spent to remediate environmental damage.

Over the last few years, EASP has taken steps to produce a broader set of data on environmental goods and services using funds provided through Budget 2016 and Budget 2017. By 2016/2017, work was under way to pilot an expanded version of SEGS (released in October and December 2017). EASP began developing environmental expenditure accounts that included government spending by working with the Public Sector Statistics Division on the environment component of the Classification of Functions of Government (released in January 2018Footnote 14).

Three recurrent data gaps were found in all lines of evidence:Footnote 15

  • the level of disaggregation of the data (e.g., P/T, regional, municipal, and industry or facility level)
  • data on ecosystems, including ecosystem goods and services
  • water accounts (e.g., water quality, water use, wastewater, water management and groundwater).

EASP has taken steps to address these three areas. For example, to address the need for statistics on waste water, EASP reached out to ECCC to discuss the use of its Wastewater Systems Effluent Regulations administrative data for the production of wastewater statistics, held regular discussions with the Canadian Water Network to identify options for the availability of water and wastewater data related to financing for the development of policy tools for municipalities, and is developing jointly with the University of Toronto a feasibility study to investigate EASP's capacity to produce more detailed cross-tabulations on industrial water use while adhering to confidentiality requirements. To facilitate data access and interpretability, EASP included water data in the 2016 HAE, which provided an atlas for each of Canada's drainage regions.Footnote 16

Regarding the disaggregation of data, EASP responded to provincial requests from Ontario, Alberta and Quebec to obtain provincial-level results for the PFA on energy use and GHG emissions. This led to the development of a methodology and preliminary data, which were provided to interested provinces via their focal points. Data at small geographical areas were also made available for other data products.  For instance, the HAE on land cover, land use and ecosystems made data available for each census metropolitan area. Variables for the HES were also made available for census metropolitan areas and census agglomeration areas, with CANSIM tables developed or extended in the last few years to facilitate access to these data.

On ecosystems, EASP is producing experimental ecosystem accounts and is active internationally, as these are a shared emerging priority worldwide. EASP participated in the first meetings of the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO)Footnote 17 to promote the knowledge developed in Canada about the use of remotely sensed data for measuring ecosystem services. EASP is a member of the steering committee of the United States National Capital Accounting initiative (Powell Center, United States Geological Survey) to support the creation of land, water and ecosystem accounts at the national and sub-national scales and is a part of the steering committee of the U.S.–GEO EO4EA initiative. Funding for 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 was received through the Statistics Canada Big Ideas Conference II to develop a proposal for the Census of the Environment—an interdepartmental project that would quantify all of Canada's ecosystem assets. Although other departments expressed an interest, no additional funding was obtained to further develop this initiative.

A number of other data gaps were also identified: air emissions, the impact of climate change or vulnerability to change, the green economy, waste accounts, biodiversity, and spatial analysis. Overall, however, all lines of evidence suggested that stakeholders are generally satisfied with the current availability of environmental accounts and statistics.

Over the last five years, EASP has made efforts to identify and prioritize data gaps and is now producing, or in the process of producing, statistical information on the majority of needs expressed by stakeholders: clean technology, ecosystem accounts, physical accounts, household-related data, natural resources, environmental protection, waste management, water, land use, spatial analysis and agriculture. The development of accounts for ecosystems and renewable water stocks and the implementation of the Framework for Environmental Statistics, based on the concept of natural capital and the use of ecosystems as a measurement focus, have been divisional priorities for the last three fiscal years (2014/2015 to 2016/2017). This work has continued, with EASP collaborating with the Standards Division to publish the eco-region geography as an official Statistics Canada geography.Footnote 18

Finally, while EASP is aware of existing data gaps and is adapting its priorities accordingly, it does not have a formal mechanism to measure user satisfaction. Currently, this is largely dependent on informal discussions taking place via the staff's professional networks. Given that corporate efforts are now under way at Statistics Canada to measure user satisfaction, EASP should explore how these efforts could align with their needs.

Focus – International analysis

Adapting to changes in user needs

Informants pointed out that it is important to be aware of changes in the policy landscape so that data can be adapted accordingly. This requires carefully balancing policy relevance against stability, given that policy needs change quickly and statistics usually require long-time series in order to be useful. Informants working on cutting-edge methodologies noted that the field is still developing. It remains important to maintain regular contact with policy departments to ensure that data produced are relevant to policy.

The joint project between the UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) provides a good example of a formal process for determining changes in user needs and setting out a plan to adapt to those changes. The project is split into phases, and, at the end of each phase, a review is conducted by relevant stakeholders, and a new roadmap is developed.

Measuring user satisfaction

Organizations use a mix of formal and informal methods to measure user satisfaction. The EEA, for one, has a strong formal method for measuring user satisfaction. The agency is evaluated by the European Parliament every five years. In addition, the EEA performs a review of the European Environment Information and Observation Network (EionetFootnote 19) and reports on its performance in its annual activity reports. Performance indicators used include satisfaction of member countries, relevance of output to user countries, and contributions of stakeholders beyond Eionet.

Some informants noted that, unlike the identification of user needs, the measurement of user satisfaction needs to be done at a lower level of granularity. Environmental accounts and statistics programs need to know whether specific users are satisfied with the data being produced. However, environmental accounts and statistics programs may not know all data users and, as a result, are not able to carry out comprehensive user satisfaction surveys.

2.3 Program consultations

Evaluation question

To what extent are consultation activities carried out in an effective way, aimed at supporting the development and responsiveness of EASP?

In 2011/2012, an external advisory committee—the Environment Statistics Advisory Committee (ESAC)—was created, mainly to inform EASP on the prioritization of the implementation of the Framework on Environmental Statistics. The ESAC met only a few times—it has not been active since 2012. Respondents involved in the ESAC described this approach as useful to gather different external views to help guide the statistical program. The committee was subsequently disbanded; however, the rationale for dismantling the ESAC does not seem to have been communicated to external members.

Evidence suggests that EASP opted for a different approach for gathering advice from external experts in environmental statistics: communities of practice. The communities of practice would provide a forum to share knowledge and experience for improving data quality and focus on priorities. EASP's outreach plan in 2015/2016 suggested communities of practice in several areas: environmental activities, physical flows, ecosystem goods and services, application of remote sensing to land cover change analysis, and water assets accounting. There is evidence that some of these communities were initiated by EASP through the form of ongoing consultations in areas such as clean technology, solid waste, Census of the Environment, and energy supply and demand.

The evaluation found that EASP has a close relationship with data users through formal and informal mechanisms. In 2013/2014, a formal workshop was held to obtain strategic information for the implementation of the Framework for Environmental Statistics. In 2015/2016 and 2016/2017, EASP carried out 35 consultation activities in person, by phone and by email. It consulted different stakeholders from the federal government (e.g., NRCan, ECCC, Global Affairs Canada [GAC], and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada [AAFC]), municipal and P/T governments (e.g., the Recycling Association of Alberta, the City of Toronto, the Nova Scotia Department of the Environment and Energy, the Ontario Ministry of Finance, Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education, and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment [CCME]), the business community (e.g., ECO Canada, the Electronic Products Recycling Association, Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc., Econometrica, the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, and the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers), media (e.g., StrategyCorp and Canadian Broadcasting Corporation Montréal), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) (e.g., the GLOBE Foundation and the Natural Step), and academia.Footnote 20 Although the consultation activities were identified as being carried out only once or occasionally in 2015/2016, meetings with groups such as federal departments (e.g., ECCC, NRCan) and provincial departments (e.g., CCME) were held more frequently in 2016/2017.

A number of suggestions to improve consultation activities, such as the need to increase inclusiveness and communication, were offered by interviewees. In terms of inclusiveness, some interviewees felt that important stakeholders such as researchers, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and P/T stakeholders, were not systematically included in EASP's consultation processes. In terms of communication, the importance of following up with stakeholders after consultations have concluded (e.g., outcomes of the consultation activities, decisions made) was mentioned as an area of improvement.

Focus – International analysis

Stakeholder identification and engagement

Stakeholder consultations are seen as priorities in several of the organizations reviewed. In particular, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the ONS, DEFRA and Statistics Netherlands all have major, organization-wide initiatives aimed at improving stakeholder outreach. In spite of this, stakeholder consultation practices remain largely informal, except for the EEA with its Eionet mechanism. Two main reasons were identified for adopting informal approaches: formal approaches implemented in the past did not yield positive results, and the time and effort required to manage more formal processes are too significant given the limited resources organizations have.

Project reference (or advisory) groups are used by some organizations as an approach to stakeholder engagement. Such groups are created only in some instances, however. So, while the groups themselves are formal, their application is informal.

The EEA has the most established and formal stakeholder engagement process of those reviewed, spending a total of 24 days annually on stakeholder engagement through Eionet, which allows for the creation of reference groups around specific themes and topics; however, a reference group for environmental accounts does not currently exist. The 2013 evaluation of the EEA found that the stakeholder engagement process was functioning well, but could be improved through more active engagement with member countries and national focal points. Reference groups are also used in other organizations to ensure input and support from a variety of stakeholders and allow users to take ownership of projects.

DEFRA's user-engagement strategy lists seven tools for engaging with stakeholders: user groups, user events, direct consultations, web or information technology tools, social media, newsletters and partnerships.

A number of informants emphasized the importance of informal networks and ad hoc activities, such as attendance at conferences. Some environmental accounts and statistics programs organize their own conferences.

2.4 Quality of information

Evaluation question

To what extent do Canadians and the public and private sectors have access to quality statistical information and to associated support services?

Within and outside Statistics Canada, the level of satisfaction with the quality (timeliness, accuracy, interpretability, coherence and accessibility) of EASP products is high. The level of satisfaction regarding quality is the same for the base statistical information produced and the cost-recovery products and services. The evidence suggests that there are no major issues with the quality of the outputs produced by EASP. This may be in part attributable to the use of the Framework for Environmental Statistics and the UN-SEEA, which ensure a certain level of international consistency and a stronger analytical capacity to develop EASP's outputs. Issues were identified, however, in terms of timeliness, frequency and accessibility.

Timeliness and frequency of surveys were two issues raised by many key informants from different sectors. Timeliness of statistical information refers to the delay between the end of the reference period and the date on which the information becomes available. In several cases, data were released two years after the reference period (e.g., 2015 data released towards the end of 2017). For many informants, this was problematic.

The timeliness indicator for the program was significantly below the target (90%) in both 2015/2016 (36%) and 2016/2017 (63%), although there was improvement.Footnote 21 There is evidence that EASP is somewhat addressing this issue. Meetings with provincial representatives through the CCME have led to an earlier collection date for the biennial WMIS as well as a staged release strategy that allows for earlier release of the most popular variables.

Frequency refers to how often a survey is administered. Although the HAE is published annually and future SEGS will be administered annually, most EASP surveys are biennial.Footnote 22 It was noted by interviewees that EASP's biennial surveys are unique in a negative way in comparison with other Statistics Canada statistical programs.

The issues around timeliness, coupled with the biennial nature of most of the surveys, mean that some data are quite dated, thus impacting the relevance of the information.

One of the vehicles that EASP used to disseminate its data was survey publications. More recently, however, given resource limitations, EASP moved away from survey publications to CANSIM tables, Daily articles and fact sheets. This move was viewed negatively by a number of users who noted that the publications were useful.

In terms of accessibility, EASP's dissemination approach was considered to be "middle of the pack." Interviewees were generally dissatisfied with Statistics Canada's website, which was found to be one of the main problems (e.g., "hard to navigate" and "not intuitive"). Although this is a known corporate issue being addressed through the New Dissemination Model, it nonetheless has a negative impact on the accessibility of EASP products. Statistics Canada's Policy on Privacy and Confidentiality also has an impact on the accessibility of EASP products: provincial and municipal data, which are important for some users, are often unavailable because of confidentiality requirements. Finally, the research data centres were generally viewed favourably by the handful of interviewees that used them. At the time of the evaluation, only data from the HES were available through these centres while data from the Survey of Drinking Water Treatment Plants were available via the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research.

While the most prominent issue pertaining to accessibility is corporate in nature (the website), initiatives are nonetheless being implemented by EASP to improve it (e.g., development of a product catalogue and redirection of users to the information).

2.5 Innovative methods and releases

Evaluation questions

To what extent does EASP use innovative methods or products to enhance the quality and the use of statistical information?

Are there innovative practices from other countries (particularly for innovative products and accessibility of statistical information and services)?

Survey respondents described several EASP products and services as innovative; however, there was relatively little overlap among responses, as individuals tended to name a few products with which they were familiar. Two possible approaches to dissemination were mentioned more than once by internal and external interviewees. The first approach relates to the integration of environmental and economic data. Statistics Canada is viewed as a leader in this gradual transition. Linking economic and environmental data allows users to get a bigger picture and understand the impacts of human activity on the environment.

The second approach is the publication of datasets on the Federal Geospatial Platform (FGP), a collaborative online environment consisting of geospatial data, authoritative services and applications, all deployed on a common infrastructure.Footnote 23 The FGP was considered by internal and external respondents as innovative. The FGP is not managed by EASP or Statistics Canada; rather, it is managed by NRCan. EASP contributes to it by producing data that are included in the platform. Dissemination through the FGP arises from EASP efforts to modernize its dissemination approach for the HAE. As of April 2017, EASP had published two datasets on the FGP: "Average annual runoff in Canada (1971 to 2013)" and "Drainage regions of Canada." In addition, EASP posted similar geospatial information on the Statistics Canada Website and Open Maps, the public counterpart of the FGP.

Focus – International analysis

Innovation

General support for innovation and innovation in dissemination are agency-wide priorities in a number of organizations reviewed in the international analysis, especially in Australia, the Netherlands and the UK. The statistical offices in all these countries recognize the importance of innovation to their survival and ongoing relevance, and they have put in place major policies and initiatives to encourage it. Nonetheless, it is important to note that innovation in environmental statistics programs tends to be internally driven rather than agency-driven.

A good example of program innovation is the work on ecosystem accounting taking place in Australia, at the EEA, and in the UK. All of this work is at the leading edge of environmental account development, and it is being driven largely from within the environmental statistics programs themselves. A noteworthy feature of the development of ecosystem accounts, in comparison with the development of earlier environmental accounts (such as material flow accounts), is that it is being done much more in concert with the policy community. This is particularly the case in Australia, where policy interest in the concept of ecosystem goods and services is strong, especially at the state level.

Another example is the approach taken on the dissemination of water accounts data by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, which makes use of web tools to present the data in a way that is visually engaging and informative. Other organizations also make good use of innovation in the area of dissemination. The program in Statistics Netherlands, for example, makes use of the functionality of the agency's website to present data to users in a variety of formats (tables, charts, maps and graphics) with a high degree of visual appeal and interactivity.

2.6 Program reach

Evaluation questions

Does EASP have an outreach plan or strategy to reach potential key players and potential users?

Are there good practices from other countries in terms of outreach activities?

During the evaluation period, EASP raised awareness of its products by conducting a number of activities, such as workshops, conferences (e.g., "Talking Stats: A Discussion Series with StatCan" with the topic of "Environmental statistics: Measuring natural capital for the long-term well-being of Canadians" (October 2014); conference on energy data and carbon pricing policy (October 2017)), presentations, training courses, teachers' kits (e.g., Environmental Statistics: Teacher's Kits and Educational Resources [16-507-X], and "Households and the Environment Survey – Elementary level teacher's kit" [16-507-x2015001]), social media campaigns through the official Statistics Canada Facebook and Twitter accounts (e.g., HAE and EnviroStats), Daily articles, other publications (e.g., EnviroStats) and email communications. These activities targeted mostly known users (e.g., workshops, conferences, training courses, social media, Daily articles and email communications), academic institutions (e.g., teachers' kits) and the public (e.g., social media and Daily articles). While evidence of the various activities was found, the information lacked specific details, such as information on the effectiveness of the activities.

EASP developed an outreach plan in 2015/2016 with the objective of improving data quality and access to its products and increasing awareness. According to the plan, enhanced awareness and access would be achieved by using marketing and communication techniques. Four areas were identified as priorities: liaison with stakeholders, communities of practice, The Daily and other publications, and participation in conferences and expert meetings.

For its implementation, EASP's outreach plan proposed two phases with various activities. Phase 1 was dedicated to the initiation of the plan (e.g., preparation of materials for outreach). Phase 2 proposed activities for the ongoing implementation of the plan. In order to secure success, it also recommended that a full-time senior employee be dedicated to the implementation of the outreach plan.

Many respondents indicated that there are gaps in outreach and that promotion activities could be improved. The suggestions included improving the communication of EASP's products and services (including changes over time) within the federal government; meeting directly with users and potential users; sending more emails about publications; promoting publications through social media; doing more workshops, presentations, webinars and conferences; and extending awareness activities to municipalities, students, academics, researchers, and other organizations that are not aware of EASP's products. Gaps in EASP's promotion activities were noted by all groups interviewed, including federal partners, the public sector and NGOs. Promotion channels, such as regular newsletters, social media and webinars, were identified as having the most reach potential.

Focus – International analysis

Promotion of statistics and accounts

Promotion of data beyond standard approaches, such as press releases and product launches, is not given high priority in the statistical programs reviewed. As for stakeholder consultation processes, promotion activities are largely informal. However, a number of activities to promote statistics and accounts are carried out across the organizations studied, including media releases, conference attendance and regular newsletters. Social media is also a popular mechanism for promoting statistics, particularly Twitter and YouTube. More specifically, the ONS's website—Visual.ONS—is devoted to the promotion of its statistics through short, simple releases that tie statistics to issues of current interest in national affairs. A recent release used ONS statistics on vehicles to address the country's readiness to make the switch to electric vehicles in response to the government's announcement that it would ban gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040. As well, rather than creating standalone events to promote its data, the EEA launches its reports at events organized for other purposes. This helps reach new audiences and save resources.

Evidence suggests that outreach activities could be improved. In terms of awareness, there are opportunities to adopt a more systematic approach to promotion by using social media or other forms of regular communication. In addition, there is no evidence that an integrated approach was taken for the implementation of the 2015/2016 outreach plan. The plan was not implemented by a dedicated full-time senior employee, as recommended, but rather all staff members were deemed responsible individually for its implementation. Evidence suggests that the plan ended up being a guidance document, and that outreach activities took place informally through the staff's professional networks.

The Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division (EETSD) is currently developing a revised outreach plan, which is divided into the three programs (environment, energy and transportation). The EASP component is being designed to ensure program relevance, broaden the client base, manage cost-recovery projects, and address Canada's international obligations. According to the draft outreach plan, future outreach activities will target federal departments, P/T departments, the international community, the business community and NGOs. At the time of the evaluation, no information was available on how the plan will be implemented (e.g., by dedicated employees or by all, as the previous plan) or how its success will be measured.

Although interviewees stressed the necessity to improve EASP's approach to outreach, there are mixed feelings internally on the upcoming revised outreach plan. While senior managers underlined the utility it would have in gathering users' needs and promoting EASP's products, others mentioned that the plan would have little impact on their work.

Given that the previous outreach plan was not fully implemented as originally envisioned and that stakeholders identified opportunities for improvement, efforts should be dedicated to a more systematic, integrated approach, including processes to measure success.

2.7 Use of information

Evaluation question

To what extent do Canadians and the public and private sectors use statistical information to inform public debate, research and decision making?

All lines of evidence suggest that EASP's statistical information is used by the private and public sectors for informing debate, research and analysis, as well as for decision making and developing policy. The evaluation found more evidence of use of EASP statistical information by EASP's federal partners than by any other user.

ECCC, a key stakeholder, uses multiple datasets from EASP for specific purposes. Some examples include survey results for the CESI (a key component of the Federal Sustainable Development Strategy [FSDS] required under the Federal Sustainable Development Act), surveys and accounts to support the FSDS, the SEPE to meet the information requirements of the Environmental Protection Act, waste management surveys to inform policy decisions, the Hazardous Waste Management Industry SurveyFootnote 24 to obtain information on the quantity of hazardous waste processed by the hazardous waste management industry, and the mineral resource account in the 2010-to-2013 FSDS to show the economic importance of mineral resources to the Canadian economy.

In addition to ECCC, EASP has three other major cost-recovery clients: NRCan, ISED and AAFC. ECCC and NRCan fund the Report on Energy Supply and Demand. More recently ISED joined NRCan in providing cost-recovery funds for clean technology statistics, and AAFC funds the Farm Management Survey. Some examples of uses by these clients are detailed information on the use of home heating equipment and fuels and on energy-using equipment in the household collected in the HES, and information on livestock and crop operations collected by the FMS to measure environmental performance in the agricultural sector for AAFC. As ecosystems and clean technologies are perceived as emerging priorities at the international and national levels, interest was also found in EASP statistical information on the impacts of carbon pricing on the Canadian economy.

Statistics Canada is also the lead on Target 17Footnote 25 of Canada's 2020 targets aimed at responding to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The objective of the target is to ensure the opportunity for the diverse values of biodiversity, its contributions to maintaining ecosystem services and opportunities derived from its conservation and sustainable use, to be fully reflected in all relevant public and private decision-making frameworks.Footnote 26 EASP reports on this indicator through the HAE and EnviroStats publications.

Other examples of use of EASP data found during the evaluation include the following:

EASP data found during the evaluation
EASP component Federal department General purpose of use
Physical flow accounts Finance Canada Direct policy relevance
Energy use and GHG emissions accounts Finance Canada Analytical research in support of policy
Environmental accounts Finance Canada Environmental impact assessments
Environmental protection account Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development Reporting
Physical flow accounts (GHG emissions data) Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada Environmental impact assessments
Source: Internal documents.

Evidence also points out that EASP statistical information was used by internal partners, in some instances to validate and consolidate their own information. For example, EASP shares data from the NRAA with the Macroeconomic Accounts Branch for inclusion in the National Balance Sheet Accounts (NBSA). The integration of natural resource data into the NBSA allows for a more complete picture of Canadian wealth and facilitates the balancing of the NBSA.

EASP's statistical information is also used by provincial governments (e.g., the Quebec government used EASP's urban sprawl measures to complement its Geographic Information System, provincial accounts on GHG emissions were developed with the help of IWS data, and provincial natural capital accounts were produced by using the SEGS), municipal governments (e.g., the City of Toronto uses data from the HES), research and education organizations (e.g., the University of Toronto uses data from the IWS), NGOs (e.g., the David Suzuki Foundation published an analysis of the expansion of settlements on Canada's best agricultural land using EASP data, and natural resource stock accounts data and related indicators were used by Genuine Progress Index Atlantic and the Centre for the Study of Living Standards to analyze environment-economy linkages), international organizations (e.g., the UN-SEEA and OECD), the private sector (e.g., water accounts used for the determination of a business model's sustainability), the Canadian public and the media.

The bibliometric and webometric assessment conducted for this evaluation provided evidence that EASP products are being referenced on the Internet and in international scientific journals. The webometric assessment found 943 hyperlinks on the Internet to products released by EASP, and the bibliometric assessment found 371 bibliographic entries (or citations) in the databaseFootnote 27 citing EASP documents. The academic sector accounted for the majority of the bibliometric entries (mostly Canadian researchers), followed by the public sector (mostly AAFC and ECCC). Hyperlinks to EASP products were most often found on private sector websites (41%), followed by private non-profit websites (37%), public sector websites (20%) and academic websites (2%).

While there is evidence that environmental statistical information is being used, EASP does not have a mechanism in place to measure the impacts of such use. This was also found internationally in the other environmental statistics programs reviewed.

Focus – International analysis

Measuring the impact of data use

Most organizations have no formal method for measuring the impact of data use. Informants in several organizations indicated that tracking web statistics is a simple way to measure the impact of data use. The EEA began to monitor mentions of the organization in publications released by the European Commission, the European Council, the European Parliament, EU agencies and certain interest groups. The collection of this information provides an understanding of how EEA products are being used by policy makers and other important stakeholders.

Some informants noted that there needs to be a distinction between "impact" and "data use." Environmental accounts and statistics programs should be held to the same standard when demonstrating impact as other programs. Interest in environmental accounts and statistics is also variable; when there are droughts, interest in water accounts is high, and when oil prices drop, energy accounts become of greater interest.

2.8 Utilization of resources

Evaluation question

Have EASP's resources been used as planned?

Overall program spending over the period was approximately $35 million (see table below) (annual average of approximately $7 million).Footnote 28 Expenditures increased steadily during the five years, except in 2014/2015, with the highest expenditures being in 2016/2017, approximately $8.9 million.

EASP had an average of 67 full-time equivalents (FTEs) annually. The number of FTEs dropped from 71 in 2013/2014 to 55 in 2014/2015. However, the number of FTEs increased in the subsequent two years.

EASP was affected by budget reductions stemming from Budget 2012. For example, the three-year Measuring Ecosystem Goods and Services (MEGS) project ended one year early, and a number of experienced staff members left. An effort was made to maintain as much of the core program as possible.Footnote 29 This could explain in part the decrease in expenditures and in FTEs in 2014/2015.

The evaluation did not find other significant fluctuations in program spending, and there was no indication of over- or underspending, or an excess in resources. When asked about the adequacy of financial resources, internal interviewees agreed that they are able to meet key user needs. Nonetheless, stakeholders have noted various data needs, and, given that EASP cannot address all of them with its current resources, it has to prioritize them. It is important to note that some data needs may be attributable to the fact that environmental statistics are relatively new compared with other more established fields, such as economic or social statistics, and that the need for environmental data has been growing steadily for the last few years, in part because of international commitments and an increased policy focus on topics such as climate change. Interviewees also agreed that EASP's work on clean technology could not be carried out without the funds provided in Budgets 2016 and 2017.

Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program expenditures ($), including actual full-time equivalents, from 2012/2013 to 2016/2017
Categories Fiscal years Total
2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017
Salary ($) 3,923,405 4,881,003 4,285,930 5,679,607 6,450,902 25,220,847
Non-salary ($) 207,636 380,736 195,869 304,587 331,678 1,420,506
Employee benefits and pension ($) 784,681 976,201 857,186 1,135,921 1,290,180 5,044,169
Accommodation ($) 510,043 634,530 557,171 738,349 838,617 3,278,710
Total ($) 5,425,765 6,872,470 5,896,156 7,858,464 8,911,377 34,964,232
Full-time equivalents 50 71 55 76 84  
Source: Statistics Canada administrative financial databases, 2012/2013 to 2016/2017, and computed information.

Focus – International analysis

Financial resources

All organizations reviewed, with the exception of Germany, reported constraints on the human and financial resources available for their programs. Resources decreased substantially in Australia and the Netherlands because of broader cuts in the public service that impacted the statistical offices. In the UK and the EEA, program resources have been more or less stable, though workloads are increasing, which amounts to an effective cut in resources. In Germany, resources have increased because of additional work on sustainable development indicators. In the Netherlands, an increase in the amount of cost-recovery work has helped offset declines in core budgets, but this comes at the expense of program flexibility, as the direction is dictated by the demands of the clients paying for the cost-recovery work.

Evaluation question

Are EASP's activities sufficiently integrated and coordinated to support the achievement of results?

In 2014/2015, a decision was made to join the environment, energy and transportation statistics programs because of the links that exist between the programs. The environment and energy programs had previously each been separate divisions. The creation of EETSD was intended, in part, to increase the level of coordination between the programs. The evidence suggests that efforts were dedicated to enhancing the collaboration and integration between the programs, but that there remain opportunities.

Senior management believes that the creation of EETSD has already simplified the work of the team and will continue to do so because it allows an easier integration of data coming from different sources and a better understanding of the work of each program by the others. In addition, there is evidence that cross-cutting analysis has taken place. For example, three analytical articles were produced that looked at issues that combined the energy, transportation, and environmental perspectives. One such article examined the oil and gas sectors through the lens of the three programs. Coherence analysis and data validation have also been conducted, for instance using household energy data collected through EASP to validate electricity data collected through the Energy Statistics Program. The Transportation Statistics Program team also helped to review the HAE on freshwater.

Another example is the teamwork between EASP and the Energy Statistics Program on the integration of data on energy supply and demand into the PFA and the RESD. These two components were consolidated into EASP to build from its expertise in account compilation to benefit the development of the RESD.

While efforts have taken place to foster collaborative opportunities in terms of data production, internal interviewees were not convinced that the new division has fully taken advantage of collaboration opportunities. Suggestions for integration included opportunities on the technical aspect on their work (e.g., production of statistics and related publications) and also on the administrative aspect. For example, most EASP surveys are administered biennially, while the Energy Statistics Program and the Transportation Statistics Program publish data annually, quarterly and monthly.Footnote 30 As EASP staff undertake the dissemination process infrequently, the process can be time-consuming, as they need to relearn things, and this limits their capacity to conduct other activities. A process to share knowledge in dissemination, or even a central dissemination team within EETSD, was identified as a possible area of collaboration that would increase efficiency.

Enhanced collaboration within EETSD could support EASP in addressing the recommendations identified in the evaluation. Information exchange and sharing of best practices could help EASP administer its surveys more effectively. Increased collaboration could also strengthen EASP's outreach strategy. A coordinated outreach approach, for example, with a dedicated employee overseeing division-wide outreach activities, could secure the success of such activities. Although the energy and transportation statistical programs were not part of this evaluation, increased collaboration could benefit them as well. For example, continued collaborations in spatial analysis. Similarly, discussions about cross-cutting needs could result in the production of analysis and publications meeting the needs of multiple stakeholders simultaneously.

Although integration is one of the topics discussed at EETSD bi-weekly management meetings, no evidence was found of a dedicated divisional-level forum where these types of opportunities for greater efficiency could be discussed in an in-depth manner.

There is evidence of collaboration with subject-matter areas outside the EETSD, including a corporate approach to geospatial analysis with Agriculture Division and the Statistical Registers and Geography Division, and the Environmental Statistics Committee, which involves several different subject-matter and service provision partners. EASP also maintains a relationship with the Macroeconomic Accounts Branch; during the period of the evaluation, quarterly estimates of the Natural Resource Asset Accounts were developed and published. These estimates are directly integrated into the quarterly National Balance Sheet.

Finally, there appears to be two different systems used within EASP to manage client requests. The first system, the Client Relationship Management System (CRMS),Footnote 31 is used by some to track and address requests. The second system, the "Environ" email box, is used by others to track and manage requests. One person is responsible for monitoring the email box and dispatching the requests within EASP, and another person manages the CRMS, which also creates a record in the email box. Not all request information from the email box is recorded in CRMS. While there is no indication that requests were being mishandled, there is a risk that requests could be lost and that duplication of work may occur, particularly as requests are growing steadily. In addition, the benefits of having a corporate-level system, such as a comprehensive client view, are lost. EASP should consider revising its approach to tracking and managing client requests.

2.9 Factors impacting efficiency

Evaluation question

Is governance of EASP working effectively and are partnerships being fostered and maintained?

EASP collaborates and maintains partnerships with its key stakeholders, both external and internal. Key partnerships have been established with federal departments, including ECCC and NRCan. For example, EASP is a member of the CESI Steering Committee along with ECCC and Health Canada, and of the FSDS Steering Committee with ECCC and multiple other federal departments. EASP is also part of the trilateral Climate Change Committee at the assistant deputy minister (ADM) level,Footnote 32 which includes NRCan and ECCC. Finally, along with NRCan, ISED, GAC, ECCC, AAFC, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Transport Canada and the Privy Council Office, EASP is part of the Clean Technology Working Group.

EASP has data sharing agreements with different organizations at the federal and provincial levels (such as ECCC, NRCan, AAFC, the DFO, the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l'Occupation du territoire [Quebec], and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry [Alberta]) and Interdepartmental Letters of Co-operation with several federal organizations. For example, EASP has an agreement with a number of departments that governs the use of microdata from the Census of Mines administered by NRCan. The data are central for the PFA and the natural resource stock accounts. In 2016/2017, efforts were made to increase data sharing agreements, including Section 11 and Section 12 agreements for the SEGS and the WMIS.

Many key informants had positive comments on the effectiveness of EASP's involvement in partnerships. These included being responsive, open and willing to work with stakeholders.

Interviewees also noted that governance in environmental data and statistics could be made more inclusive, and some suggested that informal partnerships should be formalized. Some respondents identified the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics or the CCME as a model (or, in the latter case, as a potential platform) for incorporating the views and expertise of organizations and bodies that do not, at present, play a significant role in governance. Other suggestions were to develop a mechanism that would operate in parallel to the mechanisms in place to support government collaboration in activities relating to biodiversity, or to establish a senior steering group that would incorporate representatives at the deputy minister or ADM level.

EASP is currently not leading any of the interdepartmental committees or working groups, but rather is a member. In that sense, relatively few stakeholders were positioned to comment on the effectiveness of EASP's current governance mechanisms, although several reported that EASP is currently developing or refining mechanisms to manage the generation of environmental statistical information, including the Census of the Environment and a "community of practice" emerging from the governance structure implemented for the MEGS initiative ("MEGS-Plus").

EASP participates in international organizations, such as the London Group, which provides a forum in which national and international expertise can be shared. By encouraging the adoption of statistical standards and best practices, the London Group contributes to the constant improvement of EASP. EASP is an active member of the OECD's Working Party on Environmental Information, whose purpose is "to exchange information, to further the development of high-quality and internationally comparable data on environmental conditions and trends, and to further the development of indicators relating to the environment and sustainable development."Footnote 33 Finally, staff at various levels participate in events to help develop and implement the UN-SEEA, including assistant chief statistician level participation in the UN Committee of Experts on Environmental Accounting.

Some key informants at the international level noted a lack of coordination, guidance, coherence and collaboration globally. This could affect the coherence of environmental statistical information available. Another challenge mentioned by some key informants was the limited capacity of various organizations in environmental accounting, since the international community of experts in this area is relatively small. According to some interviewees, global coordination and collaboration are essential to help the practice of environmental accounting at the international level. Canada's international collaboration and partnerships may help foster this. EASP's international collaboration and partnerships were viewed positively by key informants. No key informants viewed them as ineffective.

Focus – International analysis

Partnerships

Informants from several organizations emphasized the need to align the development of environmental accounts and statistics with the needs of policy departments. Not only is it important for environmental accounts and statistics to help inform policy development, it is also important to garner broader acceptance of environmental accounts and statistics, particularly new and experimental accounts such as ecosystem accounts. Having a close relationship to policy makers has been a key success factor in the development of environmental accounts in Australia, especially at the subnational level where environmental accounts are being developed within policy departments.

In the UK, the partnership between DEFRA and ONS in the development of ecosystem accounts is another example of strong interdepartmental support. The project steering committee includes senior managers from both ONS and DEFRA, as well as from other policy departments and the UK's devolved administrations. Developing environmental accounts along with policy departments ensures that the accounts will be relevant for policy; that is, it ensures that there is both an "information push" and a "policy pull." Resource constraints are a common issue confronting the development of environmental accounts and statistics. Working jointly on projects allows for resources to be pooled. Interdisciplinary knowledge has been pointed to as an important success factor by a number of informants. Working jointly ensures that there is a wide array of expertise available.

In the Netherlands, other government departments partnered with Statistics Netherlands in the past primarily to get access to data. In recent years, Statistics Netherlands has made a conscious effort to increase its value as a partner by developing new work units staffed with specialists in research. These units focus on projects that are fully cost-recoverable, allowing Statistics Netherlands to market itself to potential clients as more than just a data provider.

Partnerships (beyond those with other government departments) contribute to the success of environmental accounts and statistics in a number of ways. Informants noted that working on a project with a large number of partners gives political weight to the results and ensures they will be published and noticed by policy makers and the public. Partnerships can also help with the dissemination of environmental accounts and statistics products, as the networks maintained by partner organizations reach a broader spectrum of stakeholders than statistical organizations themselves. Partnerships with organizations outside government are important for the access to expertise they provide. Many environmental accounts and statistics programs work with academics and research institutes, including Statistics Netherlands' partnership with Wageningen University on its environmental data compendium.Footnote 34 The ONS in the UK has an important relationship with the private company Ricardo-AEA, which produces data on GHG emissions and energy and has extensive expertise in the field.

International partnerships are another element of success. For example, the ABS works with partners at the UN Statistics Division and the World Bank. The EEA similarly works with the OECD, the International Energy Agency, the UN (and its agencies) and the World Meteorological Organization.

3. How to improve the program

Evidence suggests that EASP is aligned with federal roles, responsibilities and commitments, and that the information produced by the program is of high quality. Given that the production of many parts of EASP is relatively recent, that the needs related to environmental accounts and statistics are in constant evolution, and that environmental concerns have been growing steadily for the last few years, there remain statistical gaps in the program. Because of its close relationship with key users and partners, EASP is aware of these gaps and is taking steps where possible to address them.

Outreach

Given the rapid evolution taking place in the domain of environmental statistics, it is vital that EASP maintain strong relationships with users and actively promote its statistical information. The outreach plan developed by EASP in 2015/2016 was implemented only in part. Although several activities took place during the period, evidence suggests that the plan ended up being a guidance document, and that outreach activities took place informally through the staff's professional networks.

Evidence of the outcomes of consultations is documented in the end-of-year reports, showing that changes to the program took place as a result of various consultations. However, external interviewees noted that the inclusiveness of stakeholders and the communication approach, could be improved.

Recommendation 1

It is recommended that EASP enhance its outreach strategy to ensure a systematic and structured approach to consultations and promotion activities. The strategy should be inclusive and cover all key stakeholders, and follow-up communications should take place. Internal discussions should take place with staff to foster engagement and the use of corporate tools to measure success and client satisfaction should be explored.

Integration

Evidence suggests that EASP has started to take advantage of the integration of the environment, energy and transportation programs. There still remains however untapped opportunities for integration. These collaboration opportunities were identified on both the technical level (e.g., production of statistics and related publications) and the operational level (e.g., dissemination). Collaboration could also support a more integrated, strategic approach to outreach.

Recommendation 2

It is recommended that EASP, along with the energy and transportation programs within EETSD, identify additional areas for collaboration and implement formal mechanisms to support them. In addition, to ensure future efforts continue, EETSD should create a forum where ideas for collaboration can be discussed.

Management of client requests

Evidence suggests that EASP is using two different systems to manage client requests: CRMS and the "Environ" email box. While there are no indications of mishandled requests, the use of two systems, managed by two different employees, poses a risk of requests being forgotten and work duplicated. The risk will grow, as requests for environmental statistical data have been increasing steadily.

Recommendation 3

It is recommended that EASP revisit its current approach to tracking and managing client requests. The revised approach should be viewed divisionally to take into consideration the systems used by the Energy Statistics Program and the Transportation Statistics Program.

Timeliness and scope of the program

Overall, while EASP data users are satisfied with the environmental statistical information available and its quality; they noted several data gaps, highlighted the infrequent nature of many of the surveys, and commented on the late release times. All these factors impact the relevance and usefulness of the information.

Recommendation 4

It is recommended that EASP explore opportunities to increase the frequency of its surveys and to address the identified gaps. In addition, the program should take steps to improve the timeliness of its releases in order to meet the established timeliness target.

Focus – International analysis

The international analysis showed that environmental statistics programs abroad are also evolving. Support from government departments, key strategic partnerships, and sufficient levels of human and financial resources were identified as some of the key success factors. Although broad initiatives were being implemented with regard to the identification of users' needs, the measurement of satisfaction, innovation and dissemination, as well as the implementation of outreach activities, the programs reviewed mainly adopted informal approaches in these areas. Nonetheless, the evidence suggests that all programs reviewed were being proactive in their quest to address growing demands in terms of environmental statistical information. To have a leading international role in the domain, EASP needs to stay abreast of new developments and emerging trends. Its continued effective international involvement, combined with an improved outreach strategy and capitalization on synergy opportunities within EETSD, will support this leading role.

4. Management response and action plan

Recommendation #1

It is recommended that EASP enhance its outreach strategy to ensure a systematic and structured approach to consultations and promotion activities. The strategy should be inclusive and cover all key stakeholders, and follow-up communications should take place. Internal discussions should take place with staff to foster engagement and the use of corporate tools to measure success and client satisfaction should be explored.

Statement of agreement or disagreement

EETSD agrees with the recommendation.

Management response

EETSD will develop an outreach plan for 2018 that will take a systematic and divisional approach to consulting on data gaps and data needs. The plan will focus on key stakeholder groups such as provinces, territories, industry associations and not-for-profit organizations.

Strategic audiences for the outreach plan include:

  • Provincial and territorial governments - establish and where existing, strengthen the relationship
  • Municipal and regional governments
  • Partnerships in key academic networks
  • Business and not-for profit sectors - regional workshops to identify data gaps and provide updates on modernization initiatives.

The expanded plan will also include participating in outreach efforts related to initiatives that have a strong environmental component.

From an ongoing perspective, a divisional approach to outreach will be developed that will balance international and domestic connections. Once available, this work will be led through outreach funds that will be made available to EETSD in 2020/2021.

A basic suite of standard corporate tools to measure success and client satisfaction will be developed and will supplement those already used for each significant EASP release, such as the Physical Flow Accounts, the Human Activity and the Environment publication, the Industrial Water Survey, and the Households and the Environment Survey. An emphasis will be place on using corporate indicators and tools. This will include working with the Financial Reporting Division to set 2018/2019 targets on Departmental Plan and Departmental Results Indicators, which include an indicator on percent of users satisfied with statistical information (R3, indicator 3).

Specific work objectives related to outreach will be developed for all EASP employees, starting in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, and will form part of mid-year and end of year reviews.

Recommendation 1 deliverables
Timeline Deliverable(s) Responsible party
First quarter of 2018/2019 Hold workshops with some key data user types – such as academia and environmental not-for-profit organizations. Director EETSD
Include specific work objectives on outreach in the work objectives of all EASP staff. Director EETSD
Second quarter of 2018/2019 Hold meetings with representatives of the provincial governments to discuss strategic data partnerships and the use of data from environmental-economic accounts. Director EETSD
Develop a plan for systematically contacting other key data users and partners as detailed above. Director EETSD
Work with the Financial Reporting Division to collect data on corporate indicators related to client satisfaction. Director EETSD
Third quarter 2018/2019 Report on consultation outcomes through the Divisional Consultation Outcomes report in December 2018. Director EETSD

Recommendation #2

It is recommended that EASP, along with the energy and transportation programs within EETSD, identify additional areas for collaboration and implement formal mechanisms to support them. In addition, to ensure future efforts continue, EETSD should create a forum where ideas for collaboration can be discussed.

Statement of agreement or disagreement

EETSD agrees with the recommendation.

Management response

EETSD will create additional opportunities for divisional staff to learn about all three subject matter areas in EETSD by reviving its divisional seminar series.

EETSD will also regularly convene its management team to continue to develop ideas on integrating the three programs, both from an operational and a subject-matter perspective.

A number of planned EETSD initiatives will continue existing work to integrate analytical and data work from the transportation, environment and energy areas:

  • Proposed improvements to the accessibility of divisional data. This will include possible new data hubs on energy, transitioning to a low-carbon economy and on the relationships between human activity and the environment. Care would be taken to create useful links between these and the existing transportation data hub. These initiatives will also feature the participation of key data partners, such as ECCC and NRCan.
Recommendation 2 deliverables
Timeline Deliverable(s) Responsible party
First quarter of 2018/2019 Begin work scoping out the energy data hub and one for Human Activity and the Environment (completion data is dependent on capacity outside EETSD, so a completion date cannot be provided). Director EETSD (working with the Communications Division)
Third quarter of 2018/2019 Relaunch divisional seminar series. Director EETSD
Fourth quarter of 2018/2019 Short report documenting implemented, and proposed divisional integration activities. Director EETSD

Recommendation #3

It is recommended that EASP revisit its current approach to tracking and managing client requests. The revised approach should be viewed divisionally to take into consideration the systems used by the Energy Statistics Program and the Transportation Statistics Program.

Statement of agreement or disagreement

EETSD agrees with the recommendation.

Management response

An alternative approach will be developed to integrate the EASP's tracking and management of client requests. This approach will use corporate tools.

Recommendation 3 deliverables
Timeline Deliverable(s) Responsible party
Third quarter of 2018/2019 Modified process to tracking and managing client requests. Director EETSD

Recommendation #4

It is recommended that EASP explore opportunities to increase the frequency of its surveys and to address the identified gaps. In addition, the program should take steps to improve the timeliness of its releases in order to meet the established timeliness target.

Statement of agreement or disagreement

EETSD agrees with the recommendation.

Management response

EETSD will examine the need for any improvements to its program through the consultation exercise noted in Recommendation 1.

Regarding timeliness, EETSD will continue its current efforts to make improvements in this area.  Also, subject to budget, it will examine new methods to do so such as the use of modelling to create more timely estimates.

Recommendation 4 deliverables
Timeline Deliverable(s) Responsible party
Third quarter of 2018/2019 Incorporate elements of improving timeliness into the AEETS modernization plan. Director EETSD
Fourth quarter of 2018/2019 Presentation to senior management on data gaps as identified through the consultation process noted in Recommendation 1, as well as proposals for filling these data gaps using modern methods. Director EETSD

Appendix 1: Program description

The environmental statistics program at Statistics Canada began in the early 1970s under the direction of the Senior Advisor on Integration. The main product was Human Activity and the Environment, the first edition of which was released in 1978. A year later, Statistics Canada released the publication Towards a Comprehensive Framework for Environmental Statistics: A Stress-Response Approach.Footnote 35 The framework has gone on to form the basis of environment statistics in the UN (Framework for the Development of Environment Statistics), the OECD and several national statistical agencies.

The EETSD, within the Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Transportation Statistics Branch (Economic Statistics Field), is responsible for EASP. EASP's mandate is to collect, develop, compile, analyze and publish environmental data, emphasizing their integration with socioeconomic data. The objective is to provide users in government, business and the public at large with consistent, comprehensive, timely and relevant statistics with which to study the relationship between the environment and human activity. To fulfill EASP's mandate and objectives, four main activities are carried out:

  • environmental accounts: the integration of environmental data (those collected both within Statistics Canada and outside Statistics Canada) with socioeconomic data in the form of consistent, comprehensive databases that employ a variety of organizational frameworks
  • environmental statistics: the collection of environmental data directly from businesses, households and governments through ongoing and occasional surveys, as well as the integration of administrative data from other sources
  • spatial analysis: the research and development of environmental statistics (e.g., ecosystem stocks, and flows of ecosystem goods and services) for geographic areas that reflect features of the land rather than political or administrative boundaries
  • dissemination: dissemination of environmental statistics through a variety of catalogued products presenting descriptive analysis and statistics in electronic format.

EASP is under the responsibility of the Assistant Chief Statistician for the Economic Statistics Field, and its activities are overseen by the Director General of the Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Transportation Statistics Branch and the Director of EETSD. The operational management of EASP is led by an assistant director who is supported by five chiefs. The statistical program comprises three major elements around A-based and cost-recovery programming:

  • Environmental accounts:
    • Natural Resource Asset Accounts (NRAA)
    • Physical Flow Accounts (PFA)
    • Environmental and Clean Technology Products Economic Account (ECTPEA)
    • Ecosystem Accounts.
  • Environmental surveys (between 2011 and 2018):
    • Waste Management Industry Survey (WMIS)
    • Survey of Environmental Goods and Services (SEGS)
    • Survey of Environmental Protection Expenditures (SEPE)
    • Industrial Water Survey (IWS)
    • Agricultural Water Survey (AWS)
    • Survey of Drinking Water Plants (SDWP)
    • Households and the Environment Survey (HES)
    • Survey of Household Energy Use (SHEU)
    • Farm Management Survey (FMS)
    • Report on Energy Supply and Demand (RESD).
  • Technical and analytical publications:
    • The Environment Accounts and Statistics Analytical and Technical Paper Series
    • EnviroStats
    • Human Activity and the Environment (HAE).

Expected outcomes

EASP is part of the Economic and Environmental Statistics Program Activity (Sub-program 1.4, Environmental Statistics) in Statistics Canada's Program Alignment Architecture. It contributes to Statistics Canada's Strategic Outcome 1: Canadians have access to timely, relevant and quality statistical information on Canada's changing economy and society for informed debate, research and decision making on social and economic issues. To achieve EASP's objectives, EETSD identified the following key strategic priorities:Footnote 36

  • maintain ongoing production of existing environment statistics products
  • continue moving business environmental surveys to the Integrated Business Statistics Program
  • implement the Framework for Environmental Statistics in the identified priority areas
  • complete long-term planning, continuity and quality maintenance, and self-funded projects.

The following logic model describes EASP's key activities, outputs and outcomes. It is based on Statistics Canada's Quality Assurance Framework,Footnote 37 which describes the six dimensions for quality management (accessibility, timeliness, accuracy, interpretability, coherence and relevanceFootnote 38) and which is applied to all statistical data and products.

Figure 1 - Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program Logic Model

Figure 1.	Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program Logic Model
Description for Figure 1 - Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program Logic Model

This figure depicts the Logic Model for the Environmental Accounts and Statistics Program. It is divided into six layers and shows how each layer contributes upwards to achieve the ultimate outcome. The six layers are from top to bottom: ultimate outcome, intermediate outcome, immediate outcome, outputs, activities, and inputs.

The ultimate outcome is that “Canadians, public and private sectors use environmental statistical information to inform public debate, research and decision-making”. It is at the top of the model.

The intermediate outcome is that “Canadians, public and private sectors information needs are met by environmental statistical information”.

The immediate outcome is that “Canadians, public and private sectors have access to quality environmental statistical information and to associated support services”.

There are two outputs: statistical products which includes datasets, analytical products, research, advice and expertise; and, customized products and services.

There are two activities: program specific core activities according to the GSBPM which includes specify needs, design, build, collect, process, analyse, disseminate and evaluate; and, cost-recovery activities according to GSBPM.

The inputs are program specific data and infrastructure inputs. It includes subject matter input, tools, IT infrastructure, resources, standards, methodology principles and guidelines. The inputs are the lowest layer.

GSBPM referred to under activities is the Generic Statistical Business Process Model.

For quality as is referred to under the immediate outcome, Statistics Canada defines the quality of information in terms of its fitness for use. This is a multidimensional concept embracing both the relevance of information to users' needs, and characteristics of the information such as accuracy, timeliness, accessibility, interpretability and coherence that affect how it can be used.

Program resources

The expenditures for EASP over the last five fiscal years totalled $34,964,232.

Appendix 2: Evaluation limitations and mitigation strategies

Three main limitations were identified, and a set of mitigation strategies was employed.

Limitations:

  1. Given the scope of the evaluation, it was not possible to assess in detail specific surveys or accounts, nor was it possible to assess quality dimensions.
  2. Because of the large number of partners and users covering a wide variety of areas, not all stakeholders could be included for interviews.
  3. EASP conducted limited ongoing data collection on EASP client satisfaction.

Mitigation Strategies:

  1. The use of a general inductive approach allowed the evaluation team to conduct an assessment at a broader level, while keeping the possibility of conducting in-depth analysis if specific issues arose.
  2. The use of other lines of evidence, such as a survey of key users, allowed the evaluation team to validate interview findings.
  3. The evaluation collected data on client satisfaction through key informant interviews and the survey of key users. Data were limited particularly for satisfaction with older products (e.g., more than three years).

Why do we conduct this survey?

This survey is conducted by Statistics Canada in order to collect the necessary information to support the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). This program combines various survey and administrative data to develop comprehensive measures of the Canadian economy.

The statistical information from the IBSP serves many purposes, including:

  • calculating each province and territory's fair share of federal-provincial transfer payments for health, education and social programs
  • establishing government programs to assist businesses
  • assisting the business community in negotiating contracts and collective agreements
  • supporting the government in making informed decisions about fiscal, monetary and foreign exchange policies
  • indexing social benefit programs and determining tax brackets
  • enabling academics and economists to analyze the economic performance of Canadian industries and to better understand rapidly evolving business environments.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Enterprise Statistics Division
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at statcan.esdhelpdesk-dsebureaudedepannage.statcan@statcan.gc.ca or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut and with Natural Resources Canada.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Additional information

In cases where information is reported on an amalgamated basis and relates to operations in more than one province or territory, Statistics Canada may allocate a portion of the reported information to these provincial or territorial operations. The allocated information will be shared in accordance with the Section 11 or 12 agreements of the Statistics Act, as described above.

In cases where there is a separate head office, Statistics Canada may adjust the reported revenues of that head office so that those revenues more fully reflect the value of the services the head office provides. In such cases, there will be a corresponding adjustment to the reported expenses of the units served. The adjusted information will be shared in accordance with the Section 11 or 12 agreements of the Statistics Act, as described above.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name modifications should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

  • Legal name
  • Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Preferred language of communication
    • English
    • French
  • Mailing address (number and street)
  • City
  • Province, territory or state
  • Postal code or ZIP code
  • Country
    • Canada
    • United States
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
    The maximum number of characters is 10.
  • Fax number (including area code)

3. Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

  • Operational
  • Not currently operational
    Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
    • Seasonal operations
      • When did this business or organization close for the season?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
    • Ceased operations
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Bankruptcy
        • Liquidation
        • Dissolution
        • Other - Specify the other reasons for ceased operations
    • Sold operations
      • When was this business or organization sold?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the buyer?
    • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
      • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
      • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
    • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
      • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
      • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
    • No longer operating due to other reasons
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

  • This is the current main activity
    Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity
    • e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
  • This is not the current main activity

Main activity

5. You indicated that is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as: ?

  • Yes
    When did the main activity change?
    • Date
  • No

6. Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

  • Farming or logging operation
  • Construction company or general contractor
  • Manufacturer
  • Wholesaler
  • Retailer
  • Provider of passenger or freight transportation
  • Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
  • Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
  • Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
  • Provider of health care or social services
  • Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
  • Other sector

7. You have indicated that the current main activity of this business or organization is:

Main activity

Are there any other activities that contribute significantly (at least 10%) to this business or organization's revenue?

  • Yes, there are other activities
    Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's secondary activity
    • e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
  • No, that is the only significant activity

8. Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?

When precise figures are not available, provide your best estimates.

Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?
  Percentage of revenue
Main activity  
Secondary activity  
All other activities  
Total percentage  

Reporting period information

1. What are the start and end dates of this business's or organization's most recently completed fiscal year?

For this survey, the end date should fall between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019.

Here are twelve common fiscal periods that fall within the targeted dates:

  • May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018
  • June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018
  • July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018
  • August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018
  • September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018
  • October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018
  • November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018
  • December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018
  • January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018
  • February 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019
  • March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019
  • April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019.

Here are other examples of fiscal periods that fall within the required dates:

  • September 18, 2017 to September 15, 2018 (e.g., floating year-end)
  • June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (e.g., a newly opened business).
  • Fiscal year start date
  • Fiscal year-end date

2. What is the reason the reporting period does not cover a full year?

Select all that apply.

  • Seasonal operations
  • New business
  • Change of ownership
  • Temporarily inactive
  • Change of fiscal year
  • Ceased operations
  • Other
    Specify reason the reporting period does not cover a full year

Additional reporting instructions

1. Throughout this questionnaire, please report financial information in thousands of Canadian dollars.

For example, an amount of $763,880.25 should be reported as:

CAN$ '000: $764,000

I will report in the format above

Revenue

1. For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD, what was this business's revenue from each of the following sources?

Notes:

  • a detailed breakdown may be requested in other sections
  • these questions are asked of many different industries. Some questions may not apply to this business

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

Revenue

  1. Sales of goods and services (e.g., fees, commissions, services revenue)
    • Report net of returns and allowances.
    • Sales of goods and services are defined as amounts derived from the sale of goods and services (cash or credit), falling within a business's ordinary activities. Sales should be reported net of trade discount, value added tax and other taxes based on sales.
    • Include:
      • sales from Canadian locations (domestic and export sales)
      • transfers to other business units or a head office of your firm.
    • Exclude:
      • transfers into inventory and consignment sales
      • federal, provincial and territorial sales taxes and excise duties and taxes
      • intercompany sales in consolidated financial statements.
  2. Rental and leasing
    • Include rental or leasing of apartments, commercial buildings, land, office space, residential housing, investments in co-tenancies and co-ownerships, hotel or motel rooms, long and short term vehicle leasing, machinery or equipment, storage lockers, etc.
  3. Commissions
    • Include commissions earned on the sale of products or services by businesses such as advertising agencies, brokers, insurance agents, lottery ticket sales, sales representatives and travel agencies - compensation could also be reported under this item (for example, compensation for collecting sales tax).
  4. Subsidies (including grants, donations, fundraising and sponsorships)
    • Include:
      • non-repayable grants, contributions and subsidies from all levels of government
      • revenue from private sector (corporate and individual) sponsorships, donations and fundraising.
  5. Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees
    • A royalty is defined as a payment received by the holder of a copyright, trademark or patent.
    • Include revenue received from the sale or use of all intellectual property rights of copyrighted materials such as musical, literary, artistic or dramatic works, sound recordings or the broadcasting of communication signals.
  6. Dividends
    • Include:
      • dividend income
      • dividends from Canadian sources
      • dividends from foreign sources
      • patronage dividends.
    • Exclude equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.
  7. Interest
    • Include:
      • investment revenue
      • interest from foreign sources
      • interest from Canadian bonds and debentures
      • interest from Canadian mortgage loans
      • interest from other Canadian sources.
    • Exclude equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.
  8. All other revenue (Include intracompany transfers)
    • Include amounts not included in questions a. to g.
    Total revenue
    • The sum of sub-questions a. to h.
For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD, what was this business's revenue from each of the following sources?
  CAN$ '000
a. Sales of goods and services
Include sales, commissions, rental and leasing revenue if they are this business's primary revenue source.
 
b. Rental and leasing
Report only if this is a secondary revenue source. If rental and leasing are your primary revenue source, report at question a.
 
c. Commissions
Report only if this is a secondary revenue source. If commissions are your primary revenue source, report at question a.
 
d. Subsidies
Include grants, donations, fundraising and sponsorships.
 
e. Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees  
f. Dividends  
g. Interest  
h. Other
Include intracompany transfers.
Specify all other revenue:
 
Total revenue  

Expenses

1. For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD, what were this business's expenses for the following items?

Notes:

  • a detailed breakdown may be requested in other sections
  • these questions are asked of many different industries. Some questions may not apply to this business

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

Expenses

  1. Cost of goods sold
    • Many business units distinguish their costs of materials from their other business expenses (selling, general and administrative). This item is included to allow you to easily record your costs/expenses according to your normal accounting practices.
    • Include:
      • cost of raw materials and/or goods purchased for resale - net of discounts earned on purchases
      • freight in and duty.
    • Exclude all costs associated with salaries, wages, benefits, commissions and subcontracts (report at Employment costs and expenses, and Subcontracts).
  2. Employment costs and expenses
    • b1. Salaries, wages and commissions
      Please report all salaries and wages (including taxable allowances and employment commissions as defined on the T4 - Statement of Remuneration Paid) before deductions for this reporting period.
    • Include:
      • vacation pay
      • bonuses (including profit sharing)
      • employee commissions
      • taxable allowances (e.g., room and board, vehicle allowances, gifts such as airline tickets for holidays)
      • severance pay.
    • Exclude all payments and expenses associated with casual labour and outside contract workers (report at Subcontracts).
    • b2. Employee benefits
    • Include contributions to:
      • health plans
      • insurance plans
      • employment insurance
      • pension plans
      • workers' compensation
      • association dues
      • contributions to any other employee benefits such as child care and supplementary unemployment benefit (SUB) plans
      • contributions to provincial and territorial health and education payroll taxes.
  3. Subcontracts
    • Subcontract expense refers to the purchasing of services from outside of the company rather than providing them in-house.
    • Include:
      • hired casual labour and outside contract workers
      • custom work and contract work
      • subcontract and outside labour
      • hired labour.
  4. Research and development fees
    • Expenses from activities conducted with the intention of making a discovery that could either lead to the development of new products or procedures, or to the improvement of existing products or procedures.
  5. Professional and business fees
    • Include:
      • legal services
      • accounting and auditing fees
      • consulting fees
      • education and training fees
      • appraisal fees
      • management and administration fees
      • property management fees
      • information technology (IT) consulting and service fees (purchased)
      • architectural fees
      • engineering fees
      • scientific and technical service fees
      • other consulting fees (management, technical and scientific)
      • veterinary fees
      • fees for human health services
      • payroll preparation fees
      • all other professional and business service fees.
    • Exclude service fees paid to Head Office (report at All other costs and expenses).
  6. Utilities
    • Utility expenses related to operating your business unit such as water, electricity, gas, heating and hydro.
    • Include:
      • diesel, fuel, wood, natural gas, oil and propane
      • sewage.
    • Exclude:
      • energy expenses covered in your rental and leasing contracts
      • telephone, Internet and other telecommunications
      • vehicle fuel (report at All other costs and expenses).
  7. Office and computer related expenses
    • Include:
      • office stationery and supplies, paper and other supplies for photocopiers, printers and fax machines
      • postage and courier (used in the day to day office business activity)
      • computer and peripherals upgrade expenses
      • data processing.
    • Exclude telephone, Internet and other telecommunication expenses (report at Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication).
  8. Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication
    • Include:
      • internet
      • telephone and telecommunications
      • cellular telephone
      • fax machine
      • pager.
  9. Business taxes, licenses and permits
    • Include:
      • property taxes paid directly and property transfer taxes
      • vehicle license fees
      • beverage taxes and business taxes
      • trade license fees
      • membership fees and professional license fees
      • provincial capital tax.
  10. Royalties, franchise fees and memberships
    • Include:
      • amounts paid to holders of patents, copyrights, performing rights and trademarks
      • gross overriding royalty expenses and direct royalty costs
      • resident and non-resident royalty expenses
      • franchise fees.
    • Exclude Crown royalties
  11. Crown charges
    • Federal or Provincial royalty, tax, lease or rental payments made in relation to the acquisition, development or ownership of Canadian resource properties.
    • Include:
      • Crown royalties
      • Crown leases and rentals
      • oil sand leases
      • stumpage fees.
  12. Rental and leasing
    • Include:
      • lease rental expenses, real estate rental expenses, condominium fees and equipment rental expenses
      • motor vehicle rental and leasing expenses
      • studio lighting and scaffolding
      • machinery and equipment rental expenses
      • storage expenses
      • road and construction equipment rental
      • fuel and other utility costs covered in your rental and leasing contracts.
  13. Repair and maintenance
    • Include:
      • buildings and structures
      • machinery and equipment
      • security equipment
      • vehicles
      • costs related to materials, parts and external labour associated with these expenses
      • janitorial and cleaning services and garbage removal.
  14. Amortization and depreciation
    • Include:
      • direct cost depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of leasehold improvements
      • amortization of intangible assets (e.g., amortization of goodwill, patents, franchises, copyrights, trademarks, deferred charges, organizational costs).
  15. Insurance
    • Insurance recovery income should be deducted from insurance expenses.
    • Include:
      • professional and other liability insurance
      • motor vehicle and property insurance
      • executive life insurance
      • bonding, business interruption insurance and fire insurance.
  16. Advertising, marketing, promotion, meals and entertainment
    • Include:
      • newspaper advertising and media expenses
      • catalogues, presentations and displays
      • tickets for theatre, concerts and sporting events for business promotion
      • fundraising expenses
      • meals, entertainment and hospitality purchases for clients.
  17. Travel, meetings and conventions
    • Include:
      • travel expenses
      • meeting and convention expenses, seminars
      • passenger transportation (e.g., airfare, bus, train)
      • accommodations
      • travel allowance and meals while travelling
      • other travel expenses.
  18. Financial services
    • Include:
      • explicit service charges for financial services
      • credit and debit card commissions and charges
      • collection expenses and transfer fees
      • registrar and transfer agent fees
      • security and exchange commission fees
      • other financial service fees.
    • Exclude interest expenses (report at Interest expense).
  19. Interest expense
    • Report the cost of servicing your company's debt.
    • Include:
      • interest
      • bank charges
      • finance charges
      • interest payments on capital leases
      • amortization of bond discounts
      • interest on short-term and long-term debt, mortgages, bonds and debentures.
  20. Other non-production-related costs and expenses
    • Include:
      • charitable donations and political contributions
      • bad debt expense
      • loan losses
      • provisions for loan losses (minus bad debt recoveries)
      • inventory adjustments.
  21. All other costs and expenses (including intracompany expenses)
    • Include:
      • production costs
      • pipeline operations, drilling, site restoration
      • gross overriding royalty
      • other producing property rentals
      • well operating, fuel and equipment
      • other lease rentals
      • other direct costs
      • equipment hire and operation
      • log yard expense, forestry costs, logging road costs
      • freight in and duty
      • overhead expenses allocated to cost of sales
      • other expenses
      • cash over/short (negative expense)
      • reimbursement of parent company expense
      • warranty expense
      • recruiting expenses
      • general and administrative expenses
      • interdivisional expenses
      • interfund transfer (minus expense recoveries)
      • exploration and development (including prospect/geological, well abandonment and dry holes, exploration expenses, development expenses)
      • amounts not included in sub-questions a. to t. above.
    Total expenses
    • The sum of sub-questions a. to u.
For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD, what were this business's expenses for the following items?
  CAN$ '000
a. Cost of goods sold  
a1. Opening inventories  
a2. Purchases
Include raw materials, goods purchased for resale and non-returnable containers.
Exclude change in inventories.
 
a3. Closing inventories  
a4. Cost of goods sold
Opening inventories plus purchases minus closing inventories.
 
b. Employment costs and expenses
Include all employees who were issued a T4.
Exclude commissions to be paid to non-employees, report at sub-question c.
 
b1. Salaries, wages and commissions  
b2. Employee benefits  
c. Subcontracts
Include commisions to non-employees.
Exclude research and development.
 
d. Research and development fees.
Exclude in-house research and development.
 
e. Professional and business fees
e.g., legal, accounting, consulting, scientific and property management fees
 
f. Utilities
e.g., electricity, water, gas
 
g. Office and computer related expenses
e.g., office supplies, postage, computer upgrades
 
h. Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication  
i. Business taxes, licenses and permits
e.g., beverage tax, business tax, license fees, property taxes
 
j. Royalties, franchise fees and memberships
Exclude Crown royalties.
 
k. Crown charges
(for logging, mining and energy industries only)
 
l. Rental and leasing
Include land buildings, equipment, vehicles.
 
m. Repair and maintenance
Include buildings, equipment, vehicles.
 
n. Amortization and depreciation  
o. Insurance  
p. Advertising, marketing, promotion, meals and entertainment  
q. Travel, meetings and conventions  
r. Financial services
e.g., bank charges, transaction fees
 
s. Interest expense  
t. Other non-production-related costs and expenses
Include bad debts, loan losses, donations, political contributions and inventory write-down.
 
u. All other costs and expenses
Include intracompany expenses.
Specify all other costs and expenses:
 
Total expenses  

Industry characteristics

1. What percentage of the revenue, at this head office only, is generated from:

Revenue

Revenue is divided into two main categories: revenue from transactions with external clients and revenue from transactions with internal clients. Please report accordingly.

What percentage of the revenue, at this head office only, is generated from:
  Percentage
a. External clients  
b. Internal clients  

2. For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD, what is the average number of people employed at this head office only?

Include full-time, part-time and temporary employees and employees absent with pay.

Exclude contract and subcontract workers who are not part of your payroll.

Employment at this head office

To calculate the average number of people employed, add the number of people employed in the last pay period of each month and divide this sum by the number of months in the reporting period (usually 12).

Exclude:

  • contract and subcontract workers who are not part of your payroll
  • company pensioners
  • persons working on a full commission basis for whom you are not making Canada Pension Fund (CPP) or Quebec Pension Fund (le Régime des rentes du Québec) or employment insurance (EI) contributions
  • outside directors of incorporated companies.

Number

Changes or events

1. Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.

Select all that apply.

  • Strike or lock-out
  • Exchange rate impact
  • Price changes in goods or services sold
  • Contracting out
  • Organisational change
  • Price changes in labour or raw materials
  • Natural disaster
  • Recession
  • Change in product line
  • Sold business units
  • Expansion
  • New or lost contract
  • Plant closures
  • Acquisition of business units
  • Other
    Specify the other changes or events
  • No changes or events

Contact person

2. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.

Is the best person to contact?

  • Yes
  • No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
    The maximum number of characters is 5.
  • Fax number (including area code)

Feedback

3. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

  • Hours
  • Minutes

4. We invite your comments about this questionnaire.

Annual Mineral Production Survey – Establishment Schedule – Reporting Guide

Introduction

This guide is designed to provide additional information as you work through your questionnaire. If further assistance is required, please call us. A Statistics Canada employee will be happy to assist you.

Telephone: 1-877-949-9492
TTY: 1-800-363-7629

General Information

Report on selected items relevant to your Canadian operations (i.e., mining and non-mining activities) that comprise this accounting entity. Under the present reporting system, each establishment report should cover all operational activities carried out within the accounting boundaries of the establishment except income from investments, such as interest and dividends, rent, or professional fees.

Please report for the 12 months ended December 31. In the event that your accounting records do not provide the detail required, your best estimate will be acceptable.

The information you are submitting will be kept confidential.

Confidentiality

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.

Key Definition

The operating unit (mine, mine/mill, quarry, and pit or bog) is designated as the "establishment," and an understanding of this term is essential.

Establishments are, for statistical purposes, defined as:

The smallest unit that is a separate operating entity capable of reporting the following:

  • Materials and supplies used
  • Goods purchased for resale in the same condition as purchased,
  • Fuel and power consumed,
  • Number of employees and salaries and wages,
  • Person-hours for employees,
  • Inventories,
  • Shipments or sales.

The establishment is to be distinguished from smaller sub-divisions or departments that do not have records that permit them to report all the items required of an establishment.

Many firms have more than one mining establishment. Such firms are requested to submit a separate census of mining report for each mining unit that can meet the reporting requirements described above unless special arrangements have been made with Statistics Canada.

Inventory of This Establishment

The data reported here reflect the activities falling within the accounting boundaries of the mining establishment.

2.1.5 Goods in process

Goods in process of a mine/mill establishment would consist of items such as broken ore in stopes, bins, ore pockets, stockpiles and pulp, and solutions in the mill. Report to the extent that these assets are recorded in the Book of Accounts.

2.1.6 Finished products

The inventory of finished products includes the book value of all ores, concentrates, bullion, metals, sand and gravel, stone, nonmetals, etc. (i.e., final shipping product from mining/milling/screening, etc., operations) ready for shipment but still on hand at the shipping point and at preceding locations. Products reported as shipments under Section 8 are not reported as inventory here. Finished products reported on the establishment schedule should match the amount reported on the commodity schedule.

(For a non-integrated multi-establishment company, the finished shipping product from this location might be further processed at another company owned plant and would appear as an input cost of the other reporting establishment.)

Do not include:

(a) Products (that are later sold in the same physical condition as shipped from this plant) which are in transit to, or in storage at, a warehouse at another location in Canada.

(b) Final products that are shipped from this location, after further processing by a smelter, refinery or other treatment plant and for which ownership is retained by you (e.g., metals contained in concentrates in transit and metals held at a smelter or refinery).

2.2 Goods purchased for resale

Inventories include any products or materials purchased for resale in the same condition as purchased and not processed in the establishment. Please note that the purchases and shipments of such goods are reported at lines 7.1 and 9.1, respectively.

2.3 Other inventory

This inventory is intended to cover, for example, materials and supplies used in new construction by own labour force or in the production of machinery and equipment for own use by own labour force. Inventory should relate to materials reported at lines 7.2, 7.3, 9.2 and 9.3.

Consumption of Fuel and Electricity

This section is designed to obtain information on all fuel and electricity consumed by the establishment both in its mining and non-mining operations. Answers to the detailed questions should cover amounts consumed by the establishment in vehicles of all descriptions, plant and office operations, and any auxiliary units that comprise this accounting entity. Values reported should INCLUDE transportation, duties, etc., that form part of the laid-down cost at the establishment door.

If consumption figures are not available, please supply purchases and indicate that you have done so. Inventories should be reported at line 2.1.2.

Selected Mining Inputs (Used in Operations)

Report on the total activity within the accounting boundaries of this establishment. In addition to supplies used in the mining and milling operations, data are requested on ancillary operations such as materials and products purchased for resale and materials used in new construction. The total cost of lines 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 7.4 and 7.5 should represent the cost of physical supplies or commodity items that are charged to operating costs (excluding fuel and electricity which are reported in Section 5).

Discounts on purchases are deducted from the cost of supplies at the appropriate lines. Costs to be reported at lines 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, 7.4 and 7.5.

Do not include (a) allowances for returnable containers, (b) purchases chargeable to the Fixed Assets Account, (c) the cost of services done by outside contractors, and (d) overhead charges such as various insurances, pensions, depreciation, rents, royalties, compensation, advertising, municipal taxes, medical examinations and X-rays, and legal, audit, telephone and postage costs, etc. These last-mentioned items are, for statistical purposes, not considered as part of the establishment statistics. In reporting the cost of various items used, give the laid-down value at the establishment, i.e., the amounts (after discounts) actually paid or payable. Any transportation and handling charges paid by this establishment to common or contract carriers in acquiring the materials, etc., should be included. Federal and provincial sales taxes on purchases or supplies fabricated in company-operated machine shops are considered part of the cost of operating supplies.

6.2 Raw materials, including semi-processed materials

The cost requested here applies to ore and semi-processed material purchased by the establishment and used in its mining/milling, crushing or screening operations. The value of these materials, when further processed by this establishment, is included in Section 8. The volume and value will also be reported in the annexed Commodity Schedule.

6.4 Containers and other shipping and packaging materials

Report the cost of selected containers and other shipping and packaging materials used in the shipment of your products and in your processing operations. The cost of clamps, pallets and other shipping material is to be included with that of containers.

6.5.1 to 6.5.99 Supplies

Supplies comprise those used by the establishment in the mining, quarrying, crushing, milling and processing operations and for the maintenance and repair of machinery, equipment and buildings that are not chargeable to the Fixed Assets Account. Only commodity items or physical goods should be included, and not the cost of services or overhead charges. Machinery-lubricating oils and greases are included, but not fuel, which is reported separately in Section 5, nor is the cost of repairs or other types of maintenance done by outside contractors included. Do not duplicate items entered elsewhere in Sections 6 or 7.

6.8.1.1 Amount paid to domestic smelters and/or refineries (metal mines only)

Line 6.8.1.1 plus line 6.8.1.2 from the establishment schedule should equal the total values of column 1 in each of lines 8.1.19, 8.1.29, 8.1.39 and 8.1.49 from the commodity schedule.

6.8.1.2 Amount paid to foreign smelters and/or refineries (metal mines only)

Record at Section 6.8.1 the actual or anticipated charges for smelting, refining and related treatment charges, when the mine product (e.g., crude bullion from gold mines, and ores or concentrates from base-metal mines) is further treated at a smelter and/or refinery to produce a marketable metal product. If a product is sold prior to smelting and refining, then an estimated value for such charges is declared in Section 6.8.1 and added to the value at line 8.1.170. Do not include in Section 6.8.1 any transportation costs, if by common or contract carrier, done after milling, and do not include any duty costs.

6.8.1.9 Amount paid out to others for work done on materials owned by this establishment

Costs reported at line 6.8.1.9 cover charges from contractors for other work performed for your mining, milling and processing operations such as: (a) drilling for breaking ore or waste, (b) trucking ore to own mill, (c) custom milling, (d) diamond drilling (excluding off-property exploratory drilling), (e) contract mining and development, (f) transportation costs paid to common carriers for internal haulage of supplies or mine/mill products and by-products, (g) screening of gravel, (h) washing of crushed stone or gravel, etc.

6.8.4 Amount paid out to others for non-capitalized repairs and maintenance

Include payments to outside contractors for repairs to buildings, machinery and equipment. Supplies furnished without charge to contractors for use at the mining operation are included in lines 6.5.1 to 6.5.99.

Selected Non-Mining Inputs

Many establishments, in addition to their actual mining operations, engage in ancillary non-mining activities such as the purchase and sale of goods not of own manufacture, the construction of buildings or equipment by own employees for the use of the establishment, the operation of cafeterias and laboratories, etc. This section is designed to cover all non-mining activities engaged in by this establishment's employees. Data reported in Section 7 should not be included in Section 6.

7.1 Purchases of goods from other establishments for resale in same condition as purchased

If an establishment undertakes a merchandising function, the laid down cost at the establishment is required. Provision is made at line 2.2 for any inventories involved and at line 9.1 for the sale of such items.

7.2 Materials and supplies used in new construction produced by own labour force for own use

If construction activities (including major repairs or alterations) are carried out by your own employees for your own use, and such costs are charged to the Fixed Assets Account, include at this line the laid-down cost of physical supplies and materials used in such activities. Do not include the cost of such work carried out by outside contractors, as this should be reported at lines 13.8.1 and/or 13.8.2.

The total capitalized value of such work is to be reported at line 9.2 and the employment (if a separate work force) is to be reported at line 14.1.3.1, or otherwise at line 14.1.1.2 or line 14.1.1.3. The inventory of these materials is reported at line 2.3.

7.3 Materials and supplies used in the production and/or installation of any machinery/equipment by own labour force for own use

If the establishment produces equipment or machinery, or installs purchased equipment or machinery with its own labour force for its own use, and such costs are charged to the Fixed Assets Account, include here the laid-down cost of physical supplies and materials used in such activities.

The total capitalized value of such work (excluding the value of purchased equipment or machinery in the case of installation by own labour force) is to be reported at line 9.3, and the employment (if a separate work force) is to be reported at line 14.1.3.1 or otherwise at line 14.1.1.2 or line 14.1.1.3. The inventory of these materials is reported at line 2.3.

7.4 Office supplies purchased and used

This question accounts for all office supplies used by the establishment. Do not include supplies chargeable to the Fixed Assets Account or service charges such as postage meter expenses and office equipment rentals.

7.5 All other purchased materials and supplies used by this establishment

This item covers all other non-specified commodity items that are used in the non-mining activities of the establishment. It includes such items as food, beverages and supplies for cafeterias or lunch counters, first aid and medical supplies, laboratory supplies, etc.

Include materials and supplies used in the operation of town sites or in construction activity such as the building or maintenance of roads if these are not operated on a self-accounting basis. Do not duplicate any items reported in other areas of Sections 6 or 7. Do not include service charges such as postage.

Shipments of Goods of Own Production

8.1.170 Total revenue

Include in the appropriate parts of Section 8 shipments of all products and by-products produced by this establishment or by others for your account on the basis of a charge for work done. All shipments, including those to government departments, should be accounted for. All shipments to foreign countries requiring the preparation of Form B13A - Export Declaration, from the Canada Border Services Agency, are to be reported. All transfers to warehouses serving several establishments are also included as shipments. Inventories of these central warehouses are to be reported separately. Swaps are to be considered as shipments when shipped, rather than when paid. Include the value of containers unless returnable. Goods reported as shipped are not included in the inventory at line 2.1.6.

When reporting shipments for the calendar year, give the quantity when required and the selling value of all products and by products in Canadian dollars. Values may include adjustments for prior years' shipments, the final value of some shipments made during the current year, and estimates of values for some shipments in the current year. The values reported are net of returned sales, sales allowances, sales discounts, sales taxes, excise duties and taxes, and charges for outward transportation by common or contract carriers. If the accounting records of the establishment do not provide the value of shipments by individual commodity net of the above items, please report these in total. Outward transportation charges or delivery expenses incurred by the establishment's own carriers (providing they do not constitute separate establishments) and the value of non-returnable containers are not deducted from the value of shipments. Line 8.1.170 from the establishment schedule should equal the total value of shipments reported on the commodity schedule.

8.1.171 Other Products Shipped

The general question covering "all other products" is designed to pick up any associated mining or non-mining activities not applicable under Section 9 or line 8.1.170. Include here manufactured products such as concrete products (ready-mixed concrete, blocks, etc.), asphalt mix, etc. Revenue from activities such as road maintenance or other types of construction activity performed by own employees (other than for own use), if the latter cannot be reported separately from those reported at lines 14.1.1.2 and 14.1.1.3, is included at this line. If a separate work force is maintained for these activities, report revenue from same at line 9.6 and report employees at line 14.1.3.2.

Special to Metal Mine

Other revenues are to be reported in Section 9 (excluding investment income such as interest and dividends, and revenue from the sale of used fixed assets). Revenues from these last three sources are not included in any part of this survey.

For most operators, shipments are measured and reported (for both the monthly and annual census surveys) as they are made from the mine site.

Report the concentrate production as a net figure. Do not report ore as being shipped when the ore is being custom milled on your behalf; the product shipped would likely be some form of concentrate produced on your behalf by the custom mill.

Sales commissions paid to a sales agency are considered an overhead cost which, for statistical purposes, is not considered part of the establishment statistics. Consequently, such costs are not deducted from the value of shipments nor are they reported as an input cost.

Revenue data include the value of containers and outward transportation charges or delivery expenses incurred by the establishment's own carriers and are reported on the basis of "Gross Settlement Value" of the metal elements actually paid for, i.e., inclusive of smelting and refining treatment charges.

Include any revenue from any custom work such as mining, milling, etc., at line 8.6. Do not include revenue from smelting and/or refining custom concentrates, or bullion, etc., for which a toll is charged. Such revenue should be reported on the accompanying smelter and refinery survey. All shipments, including those to government departments, should be accounted for.

To permit interprovincial comparisons, the values to be reported under "Value of Shipments" should include any smelting and refining charges that are being reported as an input cost at line 6.8.1.1.

See first line of label for NAICS code.

212220.1 - Gold Mines:

Line 8.1.170 would include crude bullion and gold concentrates. Line 8.1.171 might include sand and gravel or arsenic products.

212210 - Iron Ore Mines:

Line 8.1.170 would include ore, concentrate, pellets and agglomerates. Line 8.1.171 might include sand and gravel.

212299 - Other Metal Mines:

All metallic concentrates are reported at line 8.1.170, whereas other products such as rock waste or sand and gravel would be included at line 8.1.171. Smelter by-products (i.e., slags, sulphur, sulphuric acid) are not reported on the mine survey.

Special to Nonmetal Mines

Many companies are requested to submit monthly surveys setting out the quantities and values of various products (and commodity content) shipped. The totals of various products (and commodity content) shipped reported in Section 8 should equal or closely approximate the amounts reported in the twelve monthly surveys.

See first line of label for NAICS Code.

212394 - Asbestos Mines:

Line 8.1.170 would normally include graded asbestos products while line 8.1.171 could include jade, sand and gravel, or stone.

212397 - Peat Bogs:

Shipments of crude or baled peat would be reported at line 8.1.170 while shipments of vermiculite or fertilizers would be listed at line 8.1.171.

212395 - Gypsum Mines:

Lump, crushed or fine anhydrite or gypsum products would be included at line 8.1.170 while limestone or sand and gravel would be reported at line 8.1.171.

212396 - Potash Mines:

Shipments of crude ore, standard, coarse, granular, fine or soluble grades would be reported at line 8.1.170 while salt, potassium sulphate, etc., would be included at line 8.1.171.

212393 - Salt Mines:

Fine vacuum, brine and rock salt shipments would be reported at line 8.1.170, whereas sand and gravel shipments would be reported at line 8.1.171.

212398 - Other Nonmetal Mines:

Main products (i.e., gemstones, nepheline syenite, barite, sodium sulphate, talc, diatomite, graphite) would be reported at line 8.1.170 while secondary products (i.e., dolomite, soapstone, rock debris, stone, sand and gravel) would be reported at line 8.1.171.

Special to Quarries and Sand Pits

See first line of label for NAICS Code.

212314; 212315; 212316.1; 212316.2; 212317 and 212326.1 - Stone Quarries:

Line 8.1.170 is for the principal type of stone produced and should include crushed, chemical, dimensional or pulverized stone sold and stone consumed internally without further processing. Line 8.1.171 might include, for example, concrete products or other types of stone shipments, sand and gravel shipments, and topsoil deliveries.

212323 - Sand and Gravel Pits:

Line 8.1.170 would include sand, natural gravel, crushed gravel or quartz, whereas line 8.1.171 would include asphalt, concrete or stone products, and topsoil. Snow removal revenues are reported at line 9.6.

8.3.1 Total payments for outward transportation charges by common or contract carriers

Transportation costs that are paid to a common or contract carrier are reported specifically at line 8.3.1 and are then deducted from the "value of shipments." Outward transportation from the establishment schedule for metals should equal the total values of column 2 from each of lines 8.1.19, 8.1.29, 8.1.39, and 8.1.49 of the commodity schedule, for sand and gravel it should be line 13.1.18 and for stone, line 13.3.3.96.

8.3.2 Total payments of sales taxes, excise duties and taxes

Any duties paid that relate to products going to export markets are reported specifically at line 8.3.2 and are then also deducted from the "value of shipments."

8.3.3 Total amounts of discounts, sales allowances and returned sales

Total amounts of discounts, sales allowances and returned sales are reported at line 8.3.3. Do not include adjustments to prior year settlement values. These are to be included at line 8.1.170.

8.6 Amount received in payments for work done on materials and products owned by other establishments

This line covers only those revenues originating from work done on material from another establishment. Include revenue from custom milling, screening and crushing. Revenue from activities such as machinery leasing or snow removal is reported in Section 9.

Selected Non-mining Outputs

This section covers selected outputs of the establishment resulting from activities such as the purchase and sale of goods, the operation of cafeterias, laboratories, etc. The corresponding inputs are to be reported in Section 7. Do not report revenues such as interest, dividends, or the sale of used fixed assets.

9.1 Value of shipments of goods purchased and sold in same condition as purchased

Provide only the total value of shipments of goods that have been purchased and resold in the same condition. The net selling value in Canadian dollars is to be reported, i.e., net of returned sales, discounts, sales allowances, sales taxes, excise duties and taxes, and charges for outward transportation by common or contract carriers (see Section 8).

Such shipments also include any products transferred from other establishments of your company for sale in the same condition as transferred and all sales of consignment goods from abroad.

Note Include capital work done by outside contractors and all purchases of machinery and equipment at line 13.8.1 and/or line 13.8.2.

9.2 Book value of new construction by own labour force for own use

Report the total book value of fixed assets produced by own employees for own use for which depreciation accounts are maintained. This value INCLUDES capitalized modifications or alterations by own employees but EXCLUDES any work done by outside contractors. The value of such assets should at least reflect the cost of materials and labour that went into such items. Please note that line 7.2 provides for the reporting of materials used in new construction, and line 14.1.3.1 provides for the employment involved.

9.3 Book value of machinery and equipment manufactured by own labour force for own use

The book value reported should only reflect that for machinery and equipment (including major repairs and improvements) produced for your own use by your own employees and which is chargeable to the Fixed Assets Account. It EXCLUDES the purchases of machinery and equipment chargeable to the Fixed Assets Account, but INCLUDES the capitalized value of any installation or assembly work on such machinery and equipment undertaken by your own employees. Line 7.3 provides for materials used in manufacturing this machinery or equipment.

Note Include capital work done by outside contractors and all purchases of machinery and equipment at line 13.8.1 and/or line 13.8.2.

9.4 Revenue from sale of electricity

Revenue from the sale of electricity and wind turbine, whether generated by the establishment or purchased from a public utility and resold to other establishments of the same or other firms or for public use, should be reported here.

9.5 Revenue from lease or rental of machinery and equipment manufactured by this establishment

Report revenue from the renting or leasing of machinery and equipment that has been manufactured by your own establishment. Rental of equipment not manufactured by your own establishment is reported at line 12.

9.6 All other revenue from products and services

Operating revenues (i.e., all revenues from other products and services) not reported elsewhere are included here. These comprise those from operations performed by your own labour force such as servicing revenues, commissions on sales (except in the case of goods handled on consignment from abroad when commissions are included in the sales values reported in 9.1), snow removal revenues, the operation of cafeterias and lunch counters, outside installation or construction work not related to your own products, the sale of used materials(excluding the sale of fixed assets), research and development work, gross rental of town site dwellings (if these are not operated on a self-accounting basis), tax refunds, etc.

9.6.1 Deductions from payroll for board and/or lodging

9.6.2 Value of board and lodging

When provided in lieu of salaries and wages include total payroll deductions for board and/or lodging for own operated cookery when the cost of food provisions has been reported at line 7.5 or under Section 6.

Report the value of board and/or lodging when provided in lieu of salaries and wages. Any amount reported here is also included in gross earnings in the appropriate part of Section 14.

Revenue from lease or rental property (Lands, buildings, offices, etc.)

Provide the amount of any revenue accruing from the rental or lease of real property, whether or not any buildings involved have been produced by this establishment.

Revenue from lease or rental of machinery or equipment other than that included in 9.5

Some establishments purchase machinery and equipment that is subsequently leased or rented to other establishments (including those of own firm) or to the general public. Include such revenue here, excluding any revenue from machinery or equipment produced by own establishment. (The latter is to be reported at line 9.5.)

Fixed Assets Expenditures

The gross value of all additions to fixed assets during the reporting period is represented by values reported at lines 13.8.1 and 13.8.2 (additions built by or purchased from outside contractors or suppliers) plus values reported at lines 9.2 and 9.3 (additions by own labour force).

Payroll, Employment and Person-Hours

The information requested is designed to account for all personnel (excluding company pensioners) on the payroll of a mining establishment. This includes those working in ancillary units that form part of the mining establishment.

Single-establishment firms include employees of a head, executive, administrative or sales office and any ancillary units such as warehouses or other service units located at this address or in this municipality. If an establishment has employees other than those in head or administrative offices at locations outside that in which the establishment is located, then such employees are included in the plant report if the records of those other locations are treated as extensions of the plant operations.

If the head or administrative office is not in the same municipality as the establishment, then the head office activity and employees at locations other than the establishment are reported in a separate "Head Office" survey unless special arrangements have been made to report otherwise.

If this establishment is part of a multi-establishment firm, then the statistics of head offices and ancillary units, etc., are not included in the establishment report unless such office or unit serves only one establishment and is located in the same municipality as that establishment.

When reporting salaries, wages, etc., these are gross salaries and wages (including severance pay) before any deductions from employees for income tax and for sickness, accident, pension, insurance, etc., benefits. Include all bonuses, profits shared with employees, the value of room and board where provided, as well as any other allowance forming part of the employee's earnings. Payments for overtime are also included. Under "Hours Worked" report the actual hours worked by employees in the appropriate category, whether at regular, shift differential or overtime rates. Hours reported in the column headed "Total Hours Paid" are composed of the actual hours worked plus equivalent hours paid for covering statutory holidays, annual vacation, sick leave, etc. If accurate records are not available for the latter categories, include a reasonable estimate.

14.1.1 Administrative, etc., employees

The employees included under this general heading are all employees other than production and related workers above the working foreperson level. This would include the clerical and support staff of such employees. The employees reported here comprise all executive and supervisory officials such as presidents, vice-presidents, controllers, secretaries, treasurers, managers, etc., and their staff, together with employees of this establishment engaged in activities such as advertising, credit collections, purchasing, legal, medical, etc.

The employees reported here also include office personnel whose salaries are charged to selling expenses, travelling salespersons, driver salespersons, etc., and sales personnel attached to sales outlets at this location.

Do not include persons working on a commission basis who are not considered regular employees of this establishment.

14.1.1.2 Mine, quarry, etc.

14.1.1.3 Mill and plant, kiln, etc.

Employees to be included under these general headings are all workers engaged in the production process, whether such production is for sale or for own use. This includes those normally paid on an hourly rate or piecework basis such as "production line" employees, inspection, warehousing, maintenance, janitorial staff, etc.

In addition to workers engaged in mining, milling, screening or crushing operations (underground and surface), include those employed in storing, inspecting (including quality control), handling, packing, warehousing, etc. Also include employees in related activities such as truck drivers and their helpers, maintenance, repair, janitorial and watchperson services, and working forepersons doing similar work to that of the employees they supervise.

Employees of service departments (electrical, mechanical, etc.) are considered "production" employees and are included under lines 14.1.1.2 and/or 14.1.1.3.

14.1.3.1 Employees in new construction

Employees engaged in new construction for the use of the establishment and recognized for accounting purposes as a separate work force are reported here. Include workers on the payroll of the establishment engaged in new construction, major repairs or alterations when such work is chargeable to the Fixed Assets Account. The value of such work is reported at line 9.2, the materials used at line 7.2, and any inventories of such materials at line 2.3. Those employees engaged in erection, installation or other construction activity (such as road maintenance) for customers are included with plant personnel (line 14.1.1.2 or 14.1.1.3) when such work is carried out as an extension of plant operations and does not constitute a separate work force.

14.1.3.2 Other production and related workers

Exclude those plant employees for whom information is requested separately in the various parts of Section 14 but include employees in cafeterias or restaurant counters operated by this establishment, etc. Also include non-office workers in head, administrative, sales or service offices that form part of this establishment's report.

14.2 Employees at other locations

Include employees in sales offices, warehouses, etc., that are treated as extensions of this establishment for accounting purposes. Do not include employment in any other mining, manufacturing or processing establishment of your firm since this should be reported in a separate survey.

Thank you for completing this questionnaire.

Please retain a copy for your records.

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Where does data come from?

Statistics Canada collects data directly from individuals and businesses, and when possible, uses existing data from government and private sector organizations. Data can also be combined from different sources to provide additional insight into a specific subject. Data collection is done in the most timely and cost-efficient manner, ensuring that data quality and accuracy are high, and that response burden is lessened where possible.

We collect data directly

Statistics Canada employs several direct collection methods to compile data essential to researchers and policy makers in order to provide them with insight into our society and economy – creating a statistical portrait of our country. Direct survey-taking methods include collection by paper, by telephone, in person, as well as with online and crowdsourcing surveys.

We use existing data sources

Statistics Canada has been turning existing data into official statistics for about 100 years. Government agencies and private sector organizations collect data as part of their ongoing operations, and once received, we turn them into official statistics. Using existing data reduces time and effort in data collection, and helps to improve data quality, accuracy and timeliness of results.

Why do we conduct this survey?

This survey is conducted by Statistics Canada in order to collect the necessary information to support the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP). This program combines various survey and administrative data to develop comprehensive measures of the Canadian economy.

The statistical information from the IBSP serves many purposes, including:

  • Calculating each province and territory's fair share of federal-provincial transfer payments for health, education and social programs
  • Establishing government programs to assist businesses
  • Assisting the business community in negotiating contracts and collective agreements
  • Supporting the government in making informed decisions about fiscal, monetary and foreign exchange policies
  • Indexing social benefit programs and determining tax brackets
  • Enabling academics and economists to analyze the economic performance of Canadian industries and to better understand rapidly evolving business environments.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality

By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Enterprise Statistics Division
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at statcan.esdhelpdesk-dsebureaudedepannage.statcan@statcan.gc.ca or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Business or organization and contact information

1. Please verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name and correct where needed.

Note: Legal name modifications should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

Legal Name

The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name

The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

  • Legal name
  • Operating name (if applicable)

2. Please verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Preferred language of communication
    • English
    • French
  • Mailing address (number and street)
  • City
  • Province, territory or state
  • Postal code or ZIP code
  • Country
    • Canada
    • United States
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
    The maximum number of characters is 5.
  • Fax number (including area code)

3. Please verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

  • Operational
  • Not currently operational
    Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
    • Seasonal operations
      • When did this business or organization close for the season?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
    • Ceased operations
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Bankruptcy
        • Liquidation
        • Dissolution
        • Other - Specify the other reasons for ceased operations
    • Sold operations
      • When was this business or organization sold?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the buyer?
    • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
      • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
        • Date
      • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
      • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
    • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
      • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
        • Date
      • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
        • Date
      • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
    • No longer operating due to other reasons
      • When did this business or organization cease operations?
        • Date
      • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

4. Please verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

  • This is the current main activity.
    Please provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity.
    • e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
  • This is not the current main activity.

Main activity

5. You indicated that is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as: ?

  • Yes
    When did the main activity change?
    • Date
  • No

6. Please search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.

Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

  • Farming or logging operation
  • Construction company or general contractor
  • Manufacturer
  • Wholesaler
  • Retailer
  • Provider of passenger or freight transportation
  • Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
  • Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
  • Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
  • Provider of health care or social services
  • Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
  • Other sector

7. You have indicated that the current main activity of this business or organization is:

Main activity

Are there any other activities that contribute significantly (at least 10%) to this business or organization's revenue?

  • Yes, there are other activities.
    Please provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's secondary activity.
    • e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development
  • No, that is the only significant activity.

8. Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?

When precise figures are not available, please provide your best estimates.

Approximately what percentage of this business or organization's revenue is generated by each of the following activities?
  Percentage of revenue
Main activity  
Secondary activity  
All other activities  
Total percentage  

Reporting period information

1. What are the start and end dates of this business's or organization's most recently completed fiscal year?

Note: For the survey, the end date should fall between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 .

Here are twelve common fiscal periods that fall within the targeted dates:

  • May 1, 2017 to April 30, 2018
  • June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018
  • July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018
  • August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018
  • September 1, 2017 to August 31, 2018
  • October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018
  • November 1, 2017 to October 31, 2018
  • December 1, 2017 to November 30, 2018
  • January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018
  • February 1, 2018 to January 31, 2019
  • March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019
  • April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2019 .

Here are other examples of fiscal periods that fall within the required dates:

  • September 18, 2017 to September 15, 2018 (e.g., floating year-end)
  • June 1, 2018 to December 31, 2018 (e.g., a newly opened business)
  • Fiscal Year Start date
  • Fiscal Year-End date

2. What is the reason the reporting period does not cover a full year?

Select all that apply.

  • Seasonal operations
  • New business
  • Change of ownership
  • Temporarily inactive
  • Change of fiscal year
  • Ceased operations
  • Other
    Specify reason the reporting period does not cover a full year

Additional reporting instructions

1. Throughout this questionnaire, please report financial information in thousands of Canadian dollars.

For example, an amount of $763,880.25 should be reported as:

CAN$ '000: $764,000

I will report in the format above

Revenue

1. For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD 2018, what was this business's revenue from each of the following sources?

Notes:

  • a detailed breakdown may be requested in other sections
  • these questions are asked of many different industries. Some questions may not apply to this business

Please report all amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

Revenue

  1. Sales of goods and services (e.g., fees, commissions, services revenue)
    • Report net of returns and allowances.
    • Sales of goods and services are defined as amounts derived from the sale of goods and services (cash or credit), falling within a business's ordinary activities. Sales should be reported net of trade discount, value added tax and other taxes based on sales.
    • Include:
      • sales from Canadian locations (domestic and export sales)
      • transfers to other business units or a head office of your firm.
    • Exclude:
      • transfers into inventory and consignment sales
      • federal, provincial and territorial sales taxes and excise duties and taxes
      • intercompany sales in consolidated financial statements.
  2. Rental and leasing
    • Include: rental or leasing of apartments, commercial buildings, land, office space, residential housing, investments in co-tenancies and co-ownerships, hotel or motel rooms, long and short term vehicle leasing, machinery or equipment, storage lockers, etc.
  3. Commissions
    • Include: commissions earned on the sale of products or services by businesses such as advertising agencies, brokers, insurance agents, lottery ticket sales, sales representatives and travel agencies - compensation could also be reported under this item (for example, compensation for collecting sales tax)
  4. Subsidies (including grants, donations, fundraising and sponsorships)
    • Include:
      • non-repayable grants, contributions and subsidies from all levels of government
      • revenue from private sector (corporate and individual) sponsorships, donations and fundraising.
  5. Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees
    • A royalty is defined as a payment received by the holder of a copyright, trademark or patent.
    • Include revenue received from the sale or use of all intellectual property rights of copyrighted materials such as musical, literary, artistic or dramatic works, sound recordings or the broadcasting of communication signals.
  6. Dividends
    • Include:
      • dividend income
      • dividends from Canadian sources
      • dividends from foreign sources
      • patronage dividends.
    • Exclude equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.
  7. Interest
    • Include:
      • investment revenue
      • interest from foreign sources
      • interest from Canadian bonds and debentures
      • interest from Canadian mortgage loans
      • interest from other Canadian sources.
    • Exclude equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.
  8. All other revenue (Include intracompany transfers)
    • Include amounts not included in questions a. to g.
    Total revenue
    • The sum of sub-questions a. to h.
  CAN$ '000
a. Sales of goods and services
Include sales, commissions, rental and leasing revenue if they are this business's primary revenue source.
 
b. Rental and leasing
Report only if this is a secondary revenue source. If rental and leasing are your primary revenue source, report at question a.
 
c. Commissions
Report only if this is a secondary revenue source. If commissions are your primary revenue source, report at question a.
 
d. Subsidies
Include grants, donations, fundraising and sponsorships.
 
e. Royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees  
f. Dividends  
g. Interest  
h. Other
Include intracompany transfers.
Specify all other revenue:
 
Total revenue  

Expenses

1. For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD 2018, what were this business's expenses for the following items?

Notes:

  • a detailed breakdown may be requested in other sections
  • these questions are asked of many different industries. Some questions may not apply to this business

Please report all amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

Expenses

  1. Cost of goods sold
    • Many business units distinguish their costs of materials from their other business expenses (selling, general and administrative). This item is included to allow you to easily record your costs/expenses according to your normal accounting practices.
    • Include:
      • cost of raw materials and/or goods purchased for resale - net of discounts earned on purchases
      • freight in and duty.
    • Exclude all costs associated with salaries, wages, benefits, commissions and subcontracts (report at Employment costs and expenses, and Subcontracts).
  2. Employment costs and expenses
    • b1. Salaries, wages and commissions
    • Please report all salaries and wages (including taxable allowances and employment commissions as defined on the T4 - Statement of Remuneration Paid) before deductions for this reporting period.
    • Include:
      • vacation pay
      • bonuses (including profit sharing)
      • employee commissions
      • taxable allowances (e.g., room and board, vehicle allowances, gifts such as airline tickets for holidays)
      • severance pay.
    • Exclude all payments and expenses associated with casual labour and outside contract workers (report at Subcontracts).
    • b2. Employee benefits
    • Include contributions to:
      • health plans
      • insurance plans
      • employment insurance
      • pension plans
      • workers' compensation
      • association dues
      • contributions to any other employee benefits such as child care and supplementary unemployment benefit (SUB) plans
      • contributions to provincial and territorial health and education payroll taxes.
  3. Subcontracts
    • Subcontract expense refers to the purchasing of services from outside of the company rather than providing them in-house.
    • Include:
      • hired casual labour and outside contract workers
      • custom work and contract work
      • subcontract and outside labour
      • hired labour.
  4. Research and development fees
    • Expenses from activities conducted with the intention of making a discovery that could either lead to the development of new products or procedures, or to the improvement of existing products or procedures.
  5. Professional and business fees
    • Include:
      • legal services
      • accounting and auditing fees
      • consulting fees
      • education and training fees
      • appraisal fees
      • management and administration fees
      • property management fees
      • information technology (IT) consulting and service fees (purchased)
      • architectural fees
      • engineering fees
      • scientific and technical service fees
      • other consulting fees (management, technical and scientific)
      • veterinary fees
      • fees for human health services
      • payroll preparation fees
      • all other professional and business service fees.
    • Exclude service fees paid to Head Office (report at All other costs and expenses).
  6. Utilities
    • Utility expenses related to operating your business unit such as water, electricity, gas, heating and hydro.
    • Include:
      • diesel, fuel wood, natural gas, oil and propane
      • sewage.
    • Exclude:
      • energy expenses covered in your rental and leasing contracts
      • telephone, Internet and other telecommunications
      • vehicle fuel (report at All other costs and expenses).
  7. Office and computer related expenses
    • Include:
      • office stationery and supplies, paper and other supplies for photocopiers, printers and fax machines
      • postage and courier (used in the day to day office business activity)
      • computer and peripherals upgrade expenses
      • data processing.
    • Exclude telephone, Internet and other telecommunication expenses (report at Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication).
  8. Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication
    • Include:
      • internet
      • telephone and telecommunications
      • cellular telephone
      • fax machine
      • pager.
  9. Business taxes, licenses and permits
    • Include:
      • property taxes paid directly and property transfer taxes
      • vehicle license fees
      • beverage taxes and business taxes
      • trade license fees
      • membership fees and professional license fees
      • provincial capital tax.
  10. Royalties, franchise fees and memberships
    • Include:
      • amounts paid to holders of patents, copyrights, performing rights and trademarks
      • gross overriding royalty expenses and direct royalty costs
      • resident and non-resident royalty expenses
      • franchise fees.
    • Exclude Crown royalties
  11. Crown charges
    • Federal or Provincial royalty, tax, lease or rental payments made in relation to the acquisition, development or ownership of Canadian resource properties.
    • Include:
      • Crown royalties
      • Crown leases and rentals
      • oil sand leases
      • stumpage fees.
  12. Rental and leasing
    • Include:
      • lease rental expenses, real estate rental expenses, condominium fees and equipment rental expenses
      • motor vehicle rental and leasing expenses
      • studio lighting and scaffolding
      • machinery and equipment rental expenses
      • storage expenses
      • road and construction equipment rental
      • fuel and other utility costs covered in your rental and leasing contracts.
  13. Repair and maintenance
    • Include:
      • buildings and structures
      • machinery and equipment
      • security equipment
      • vehicles
      • costs related to materials, parts and external labour associated with these expenses
      • janitorial and cleaning services and garbage removal.
  14. Amortization and depreciation
    • Include:
      • direct cost depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of leasehold improvements
      • amortization of intangible assets (e.g., amortization of goodwill, patents, franchises, copyrights, trademarks, deferred charges, organizational costs).
  15. Insurance
    • Insurance recovery income should be deducted from insurance expenses.
    • Include:
      • professional and other liability insurance
      • motor vehicle and property insurance
      • executive life insurance
      • bonding, business interruption insurance and fire insurance.
  16. Advertising, marketing, promotion, meals and entertainment
    • Include:
      • newspaper advertising and media expenses
      • catalogues, presentations and displays
      • tickets for theatre, concerts and sporting events for business promotion
      • fundraising expenses
      • meals, entertainment and hospitality purchases for clients.
  17. Travel, meetings and conventions
    • Include:
      • travel expenses
      • meeting and convention expenses, seminars
      • passenger transportation (e.g., airfare, bus, train)
      • accommodations
      • travel allowance and meals while travelling
      • other travel expenses.
  18. Financial services
    • Include:
      • explicit service charges for financial services
      • credit and debit card commissions and charges
      • collection expenses and transfer fees
      • registrar and transfer agent fees
      • security and exchange commission fees
      • other financial service fees.
    • Exclude interest expenses (report at Interest expense).
  19. Interest expense
    • Report the cost of servicing your company's debt.
    • Include:
      • interest
      • bank charges
      • finance charges
      • interest payments on capital leases
      • amortization of bond discounts
      • interest on short-term and long-term debt, mortgages, bonds and debentures.
  20. Other non-production-related costs and expenses
    • Include:
      • charitable donations and political contributions
      • bad debt expense
      • loan losses
      • provisions for loan losses (minus bad debt recoveries)
      • inventory adjustments.
  21. All other costs and expenses (including intracompany expenses)
    • Include:
      • production costs
      • pipeline operations, drilling, site restoration
      • gross overriding royalty
      • other producing property rentals
      • well operating, fuel and equipment
      • other lease rentals
      • other direct costs
      • equipment hire and operation
      • log yard expense, forestry costs, logging road costs
      • freight in and duty
      • overhead expenses allocated to cost of sales
      • other expenses
      • cash over/short (negative expense)
      • reimbursement of parent company expense
      • warranty expense
      • recruiting expenses
      • general and administrative expenses
      • interdivisional expenses
      • interfund transfer (minus expense recoveries)
      • exploration and development (including prospect/geological, well abandonment & dry holes, exploration expenses, development expenses)
      • amounts not included in sub-questions a. to t. above.
    Total expenses
    • The sum of sub-questions a. to u.
For the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD 2018, what were this business's expenses for the following items?
  CAN$ '000
a. Cost of goods sold  
a1. Opening inventories  
a2. Purchases
Include raw materials, goods purchased for resale and non-returnable containers.
Exclude change in inventories.
 
a3. Closing inventories  
a4. Cost of goods sold
Opening inventories plus purchases minus closing inventories.
 
b. Employment costs and expenses
Include all employees who were issued a T4.
Exclude commissions to be paid to non-employees, report at sub-question c.
 
b1. Salaries, wages and commissions  
b2. Employee benefits  
c. Subcontracts
Include commisions to non-employees.
Exclude research and development.
 
d. Research and development fees.
Exclude in-house research and development.
 
e. Professional and business fees
e.g., legal, accounting, consulting, scientific and property management fees
 
f. Utilities
e.g., electricity, water, gas
 
g. Office and computer related expenses
e.g., office supplies, postage, computer upgrades
 
h. Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication  
i. Business taxes, licenses and permits
e.g., beverage tax, business tax, license fees, property taxes
 
j. Royalties, franchise fees and memberships
Exclude Crown royalties.
 
k. Crown charges
(for logging, mining and energy industries only)
 
l. Rental and leasing
Include land buildings, equipment, vehicles.
 
m. Repair and maintenance
Include buildings, equipment, vehicles.
 
n. Amortization and depreciation  
o. Insurance  
p. Advertising, marketing, promotion, meals and entertainment  
q. Travel, meetings and conventions  
r. Financial services
e.g., bank charges, transaction fees
 
s. Interest expense  
t. Other non-production-related costs and expenses
Include bad debts, loan losses, donations, political contributions and inventory write-down.
 
u. All other costs and expenses
Include intracompany expenses.
Specify all other costs and expenses:
 
Total expenses  

Industry characteristics

1. What were this business's sales for each of the following goods and services?

Please report all amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

Sales

  1. Commissions earned from the sale of real estate and lots
    • Include commissions and fees earned from:
      • assisting buyers and sellers with the sale or re-sale of homes, buildings, businesses, lands and properties (include in trust amounts), while acting in an agency capacity
      • assisting owners of real estate to rent buildings, units, land and other types of real estate, while acting in an agency capacity
      • providing real estate auction services.
    • Exclude:
      • advising clients on property matters, but not acting in an agency capacity (report at Revenue from real estate consulting services)
      • handling rentals for an owner as part of an ongoing property management service (report at Other).
  2. Revenue received from independent real estate associates
    • Include commissions, fees and other revenues that are paid by independent real estate salespersons to this surveyed business. Some examples of these are desk fees, deal fees, charges for office space/use, publicity and advertising.
  3. Revenue from real estate consulting services
    • Providing advice and guidance to clients regarding real estate. Includes advice on real estate-related accountancy, financing and similar matters that are provided to the client independently of the actual provision of accountancy, financial and similar services.
    • Include:
      • expert witness services related to real estate
      • commercial and industrial location finding services.
    • Exclude advising clients on property matters, while acting in an agency capacity (report at Commissions earned from real estate and lots).
  4. Revenue from real estate appraisal services
    • Providing assessments of the value of real estate, in order to assist clients in buying, selling or financing the purchase of real estate or in dealing with tax matters.
    • Include:
      • conducting general real estate appraisals
      • reviewing of others' appraisals
      • conducting appraisals for taxation purposes.
    • Exclude providing advice about real estate and property matters, not associated with providing an appraisal (report at Revenue from real estate consulting services).
  5. Revenue from real estate listing services
    • Providing a register of real estate offered for sale in an area, in a printed directory, electronic database or other format.
  6. Revenue from rental or leasing of property directly owned by this business
    • Include the revenue received from the rental or leasing of property owned by this business only if it is earned as part of the normal real estate broker operations of the business.
    • Exclude income generated from the rental or leasing of properties that are owned or partially owned by the business as investment properties or other types of operations that are not related to the real estate broker operations.
  7. Other sales of goods and services - specify
    • Include:
      • ongoing property management services
      • referral fees (i.e. from mortgage brokers, financial institutions, etc.)
      • bad debt recoveries
      • miscellaneous sales and service revenue.
    Total sales of goods and services
    • The sum of questions 1a. to 1g.
What were this business's sales for each of the following goods and services?
  CAN$ '000
a. Commissions earned from the sale of real estate and lots
Include in trust amount.
 
b. Revenue received from independent real estate associates
e.g., desk fees, publicity and advertising
 
c. Revenue from real estate consulting services
e.g., expert witness services, commercial location finding services
 
d. Revenue from real estate appraisal services  
e. Revenue from real estate listing services  
f. Revenue from rental or leasing of property directly owned by this business  
g. Other
Specify all other sales of goods and services:
 
Total sales of goods and services  

2. What was the percentage breakdown of this business's commissions earned from the sale of real estate and lots (amount) for the following items?

Commercial property refers to all types of non-residential (including industrial and agricultural) real estate.

Percentage breakdown of the total reported at question 1a.

What was the percentage breakdown of this business's commissions earned from the sale of real estate and lots (amount) for the following items?
  Percentage
a. Sales of residential real estate and lots  
b. Rental of residential real estate and lots  
c. Sales of commercial real estate and lots  
d. Rental of commercial real estate and lots  
Total percentage  

3. What was the percentage breakdown of this business's revenue from rental or leasing of property directly owned by this business (amount) for the following?

Commercial property refers to all types of non-residential (including industrial and agricultural) real estate.

Percentage breakdown of the total reported at question 1f.

What was the percentage breakdown of this business's revenue from rental or leasing of property directly owned by this business (amount) for the following?
  Percentage
a. Revenue from rental and leasing of residential properties  
b. Revenue from rental and leasing of commercial properties  
Total percentage  

Industry characteristics

4. What were this business's expenses for each of the following types of commissions?

Please report all amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

  1. Commissions and fees paid to independent real estate salespersons
    • Include all commissions and fees paid to independent real estate salespersons if they are by some means contracted to you.
    • Exclude commissions paid to your employees (reported in Expenses section at question 1b. - Salaries and wages).
  2. Commissions and fees paid to other real estate brokers / real estate agencies
    • Include all commissions and fees paid to other real estate brokers for their actions in assisting in real estate transactions.
    Total commissions paid to non-employees
    • The sum of questions 4(a) and 4(b).
What were this business's expenses for each of the following types of commissions?
  CAN$ '000
a. Commissions and fees paid to independent real estate salespersons  
b. Commissions and fees paid to other real estate brokers / real estate agencies  
Total commissions paid to non-employees  

5. During the reporting period of YYYY-MM-DD to YYYY-MM-DD 2018 how many independent real estate salespersons were there?

  • Number of independent real estate salespersons during this reference period

Include persons that are licensed to sell or trade in real estate and are contracted to work for your enterprise; these independents may themselves be licensed or registered as brokers but if they are contracted to work as an independent salesperson, they are treated as such.

  • Number

Changes or events

1. Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.

Select all that apply.

  • Strike or lock-out
  • Exchange rate impact
  • Price changes in goods or services sold
  • Contracting out
  • Organisational change
  • Price changes in labour or raw materials
  • Natural disaster
  • Recession
  • Change in product line
  • Sold business units
  • Expansion
  • New or lost contract
  • Plant closures
  • Acquisition of business units
  • Other
    Specify the other changes or events
  • No changes or events

Contact person

2. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.

Is the best person to contact?

  • Yes
  • No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Title
  • Email address
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)
    The maximum number of characters is 5.
  • Fax number (including area code)

Feedback

3. How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

  • Hours
  • Minutes

4. We invite your comments about this questionnaire.

Interactive Data Visualization Products

Consultation objectives

Every year, Statistics Canada collects data through hundreds of surveys and numerous administrative data sources. To complement the ongoing work of various Agency programs, interactive data visualization products are being created to help users obtain data in an easy, attractive and modern manner. These products include hubs, dashboards and interactive graphics.

As the use of this model increases, it is important to ensure that it provides a positive user experience and allows users to obtain the desired data efficiently.

This consultation ensured that the interactive self-serve products are compliant with a set of usability principles and identified any potential usability problems so that improvements can be made going forward.

This is the first of a series of consultations on Statistics Canada’s interactive data visualization products.

Consultation methodology

Statistics Canada conducted in-person usability consultations in Ottawa, Ontario. Participants were asked to complete a series of tasks and to provide feedback on the products.

How participants got involved

This consultation is now closed.

Individuals who wished to obtain more information or to take part in a consultation were requested to contact Statistics Canada by sending an email to statcan.consultations-consultations.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

It was noted that Statistics Canada selects participants for each consultation to ensure feedback is sought from a representative sample of the target population for the study. Not all applicants were asked to participate in a given consultation.

Statistics Canada is committed to respecting the privacy of consultation participants. All personal information created, held or collected by the Agency is protected by the Privacy Act. For more information on Statistics Canada's privacy policies, please consult the Privacy notice.

Results

What worked

Three interactive data visualization products were used to test various layouts and functionalities of these types of products. Most participants were able to complete the majority of tasks on all tested interactive data visualization products. Overall, each of the products was well received by participants; they found them to be useful and captivating. Participants also thought that they were fairly easy to use and contained useful features.

Areas of improvement

  • Some of the interactive features were challenging to use.
  • Participants experienced some difficulty in identifying which information would be found under the different sections of the products.
  • Multiple participants found some of the labels and terms to be unclear.

Recommendations

  • The functionality of interactive components should be clear and intuitive.
  • Labels and section titles should be made clearer and more concise.
  • Additional functions should be clearly indicated and instructions should be more visible.
  • A section for definitions of the terminology used throughout the products should be added.

Statistics Canada would like to thank participants for their participation in this consultation. Their insights will guide the agency's web development and ensure that the final products meet users' expectations.

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