2015 Survey of Service Industries: Real Estate Rental and Leasing and Property Management

Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

Reporting Guide

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2015 Survey of Service Industries. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

Help Line: 1-800-972-9692

Your answers are confidential.

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.

Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Table of contents

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Business activity
Reporting period information
Revenue
Expenses
Industry characteristics
Sales by type of client
International transactions
E-commerce

Text begins

Business activity

The description on file for this business comes from the North American Industrial Classifications System (NAICS). This database contains a limited number of activity classifications. The classifications on file 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.

By selecting "Yes, this is the main activity.", you indicate that the description is applicable, and it describes the main economic activity which typically generates the most revenue for this business or organization.

By selecting "No, this is secondary activity." you indicate that the description is applicable, but that there is a different economic activity which typically generates more revenue for this business or organization. You will be given a chance to describe this business or organization's main activity, and select an appropriate classification.

By selecting "No, this description is not applicable." you indicate that this description is not applicable as a main or a secondary activity of this business or organization. You will be given a chance to describe this business or organization's main activity, and provide an appropriate classification.

If none of the above activities describes your main source of revenue, please call 1-800-972-9692 for further instructions.

Reporting period information

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

  • May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015
  • June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015
  • July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015
  • August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2015
  • September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015
  • October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015
  • November 1, 2014 to October 31, 2015
  • December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015
  • January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015
  • February 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016
  • March 1, 2015 to February 28, 2016
  • April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2016

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

  • September 18, 2014 to September 15, 2015 (e.g., floating year-end)
  • June 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015 (e.g., a newly opened business)

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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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).

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Dividends

Include: Dividend income; Dividends from Canadian sources; Dividends from foreign sources; Patronage dividends.
Exclude: Equity income from investments in subsidiaries or affiliates.

  1. 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.

  1. Other revenue - specify

Include: Amounts not included in questions (1) to (7).

  1. Total revenue

The sum of sub-questions (1) to (8).

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 from question 1. These values should be included in question 2 and 3 below.

  1. Employment costs and expenses
  1. 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 these amounts at sub-question (3) - Subcontracts).

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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 sub-question (21) - All other expenses).

  1. 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 telecommunication (report at sub-question (8) - Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication); Vehicle fuel (report at sub-question (21) - All other expenses).

  1. 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 this amount at sub-question (8) - Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication).

  1. Telephone, Internet and other telecommunication

Include: Internet; Telephone and telecommunication; Cellular telephone; Fax machine; Pager.

  1. 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.

  1. 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

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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).

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Travel, meetings and conventions

Include: Travel expenses; Meeting and convention expenses, seminars; Passenger transportation (e.g., airfare, bus, train, etc.); Accommodations; Travel allowance and meals while travelling; Other travel expenses.

  1. 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 sub-question (19) - Interest expense).

  1. 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.

  1. 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

  1. 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 costs 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 (1) to (20) above.

  1. Total expenses

(sum of sub-questions 1 to 21)

Industry characteristics

Please exclude federal, provincial or territorial sales tax collected for remittance to a government agency.

  1. Rental income - residential properties

Include:

  • Apartments;
  • Single family homes;
  • Semi-detached or row houses.

Rental or leasing of residential space in houses, for use as the principal residence of a household

Houses are accommodation units in which each housing unit is separated from its neighbours by a ground-to-roof wall with no units either above or below. Includes single detached houses and attached houses such as side-by side town houses, row houses and doubles. May include additional facilities, such as parking and recreational amenities.

Exclude:

• Rental of land;
• Renting space for use as temporary accommodation, such as hotel rooms, cottages and camp sites.

Rental or leasing of residential space in apartments and similar housing units, for use as the principal residence of a household

These are units in which each housing unit is not separated from its neighbours by a ground to-roof wall and/or adjoins units constructed above or below, including apartments, duplexes, triplexes. May also include additional facilities, such as parking and recreational amenities.

Exclude:

• Rental of mobile homes, motor homes, and rooms in boarding houses and dormitories, when used as principal residences;
• Renting space for use as temporary accommodation, such as hotel rooms and camp sites.

  1. Rental income - commercial / non-residential properties

Include:

  • Shopping centres;
  • Plazas;
  • Stores;
  • Office buildings;
  • Factories;
  • Warehouses;
  • Recreational spaces;
  • Convention spaces in hotels;
  • Convention centres.

Rental or leasing of buildings or space within buildings or other facilities, for office and professional uses

Exclude:

• Rental of space for meetings, conventions and similar events;
• Rental of parking spaces.

Renting or leasing of buildings or space within buildings or other facilities, for commercial uses such as stores, restaurants, cinemas, bank branches and beauty salons

Include:

• Rental of sites on a "concession" basis at entertainment, sports and other venues and rental of commercial space in hotel and office building lobbies.

Exclude:

• Providing a location for the placement of vending machines.

Rental or leasing of buildings or space within buildings or other facilities, for use in manufacturing, storage, distribution and similar industrial activities

Include:

• Rental of space for research activities. Includes rental of space for these uses in industrial, manufacturing and research parks.

  1. Rental income mini-warehouses and self-storage units

Include:

  • Rooms;
  • Compartments;
  • Lockers;
  • Containers;
  • Outdoor spaces.
  1. Other residential real estate rental

Rental or leasing of land for residential uses

Property with buildings or other structures is treated as land if the value of the land is greater than the value of the structures. Include rental of serviced lots in trailer and mobile home parks.

Other rental of residential space (e.g., mobile homes, motor homes, houseboats, rooms in boarding houses and dormitories when used as a principal residence)

  1. Other commercial/non-residential real estate rental

Rental or leasing of land for non-residential uses

Property with buildings or other structures is treated as land if the value of the land is greater than the value of the structures. Include rent paid for the right to exploit inland surface waters for recreational or other purposes, including fishing.

Exclude:

  • Rental of non-residential buildings and other facilities, including engineering structures;
  • Rent, royalties or other payments paid for the right to explore or exploit deposits of minerals or fossil fuels;
  • Providing a location for the placement outdoors of coin-operated machines such as children's mechanical rides;
  • Rental of parking spaces.

Other rentals of non-residential/commercial space (for banquets, parties, and social events, business conventions, theatres, sports venues, auditoriums, stadiums etc.).

  1. Property management services

Please report revenue generated by managing real estate properties on behalf of the property owners.

Management of residential buildings, such as houses and apartments, on behalf of property owners

This service may comprise activities such as: negotiation of lease agreements, screening prospective tenants, collection of rental payments, tenant relationship, administration of contracts for property services (e.g., cleaning, maintenance and security), contract renewal or recovery of the building at the end of the renting contract, etc.

Management of non-residential buildings, such as office, retail and industrial space, on behalf of property owners

This service may comprise activities such as: negotiation of lease agreements, screening prospective tenants, collection of rental payments, tenant relationship, administration of contracts for property services (e.g., cleaning, maintenance and security), contract renewal or recovery of the building at the end of the renting contract, etc.

Land property management on behalf of property owners

This service may comprise activities such as: negotiation of lease agreements, screening prospective tenants, collection of rental payments, tenant relationship, administration of contracts for property services (e.g., cleaning, maintenance and security), contract renewal or recovery of the land at the end of the renting contract, etc.

  1. Revenue from goods purchased for resale as is (drinks, food, games)

Include:

  • Soft drinks;
  • Food;
  • Games;
  • Laundry detergent, etc.
  1. Other related sales

Include:

  • Coin-operated laundry services;
  • Parking;
  • Bad debt recoveries;
  • Operating subsidies;
  • Any other operating revenue not reported above.
  1. Total sales

The sum of amounts reported at question 1 to 8.

  1. Percentage of total revenue from real estate investment trusts

Please report your percentage of total revenue from real estate investment trusts.

Selected expenditure information

Please report expenses excluding the portion of federal, provincial or territorial sales tax refunded by government. If your bookkeeping practices make this impossible, please indicate which refunds are included.

  1. Property management fees paid

Please report expenses generated by hiring a property management firm to manage an owner's real estate property.

  1. Real estate commissions paid

Please report commissions paid to an agent or middleman for providing the service to the vendor or purchaser of bringing together the two parties to a transaction.

  1. Value of inducements to tenants

Includes:

  • Leasehold improvements;
  • Loan interest;
  • Free rent;
  • Paid moving expenses.

Please only report the amount of expenses you capitalized during the reporting period.

  1. Transfer taxes and lot levies paid

Please report expenses related to transfer taxes and lot levies.

  1. Property taxes paid

Please report taxes paid on vacant land and buildings.

  1. Mortgage interest paid

Please report the interest portion of the mortgage payments.

Excludes:

  • Interest expenses related to bank loans.

Property information

  1. Number of buildings owned and/or managed at year end

Please report the number of buildings you owned or managed at the end of the reporting period.

  1. Number of rental units owned and/or managed at year end

Please report the number of units you owned or managed at the end of the reporting period.

  1. Square feet rented or leased (commercial/non-residential only)

Please report the number of square feet you rented or leased at the end of the reporting period.

Sales by type of client

This section is designed to measure which sector of the economy purchases your services.

Please provide a percentage breakdown of your sales by type of client.

Please ensure that the sum of percentages reported in this section equals 100%.

  1. Clients in Canada
    1. Individuals and households

      Please report the percentage of sales to individuals and households who do not represent the business or government sector.
    2. Businesses

      Percentage of sales sold to the business sector should be reported here.

Include:

• Sales to Crown corporations.

  1. Governments, not-for-profit organizations and public institutions (e.g., hospitals, schools)

Percentage of sales to federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments should be reported here.

Include:

• Sales to hospitals, schools, universities and public utilities.

  1. Clients outside Canada

Please report the share of total percentage to customers or clients located outside Canada including foreign businesses, foreign individuals, foreign institutions and/or governments.

Include:

• Sales to foreign subsidiaries and affiliates.

International transactions

This section is intended to measure the value of international transactions on goods, services, royalties and licenses fees. It covers imported services and goods purchased outside Canada as well as the value of exported services and goods to clients/customers outside Canada. Please report also royalties, rights, licensing and franchise fees paid to and/or received from outside Canada. Services cover a variety of industrial, professional, trade and business services.

E-commerce

Mobile app

Include sales through any app, or application, that is downloaded and designed to run on a handheld device such as a smartphone or tablet (for example, places where a user may download these apps include Apple's App Store, Google Play or Blackberry App World).

Company website

Include sales through a browser-based website where your organization maintains control of the content.

Third-party website

Include sales through a browser-based website where a third-party maintains the structure of the website and control of the look and feel while your company only provides the product to be sold (for example, Amazon, Expedia, Etsy).

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

A standard format for exchanging business data. EDI is based on the use of message standards, ensuring that all participants use a common language.

Aircraft Movement Statistics

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For information only


Airports with air traffic control towers – local aircraft movements

  • Field Name
  • Airport
  • Day
  • Month
  • Year
  • Hour
  • Single-engine (except jets)
  • Multi-engine (except jets)
  • Jet
  • Military
  • Description
  • Identifier Code
  • 01-31
  • 01-12
  • YYYY
  • Universal Time Co-ordinate (UTC)
  • Yes / No (count of movements within that hour)
  • Yes / No (count of movements within that hour)
  • Yes / No (count of movements within that hour)
  • Yes / No (count of movements within that hour)

Airports with air traffic control towers – itinerant aircraft movements

  • Field Name
  • Airport
  • Day
  • Month
  • Year
  • Aircraft Identifier


  • Type of Aircraft
  • From Airport
  • To Airport
  • Arrival Time
  • Departure Time
  • Flight Rule Identifier

  • Runway
  • Local Itinerant Flag
  • Description
  • Identifier Code
  • 01-31
  • 01-12
  • YYYY
  • Aircraft Registration Markings or
    Carrier Flight Number or
    Military Call Sign
  • Aircraft Designator
  • Airport Identifier
  • Airport Identifier
  • Universal Time Co-ordinate (UTC)
  • Universal Time Co-ordinate (UTC)
  • Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) or
    Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
  • Runway Identifier
  • Local / Itinerant

Airports without air traffic control towers

  • Field Name
  • Airport
  • Day
  • Month
  • Year
  • Arrivals

  • Arrival – Aircraft Type
  • Arrival – From Airport
  • Departures

  • Departure – Aircraft Type
  • Departure – To Airport
  • Civil
  • Military
  • Field Name
  • Airport Name
  • 01-31
  • 01-12
  • YYYY
  • Aircraft Registration Markings or
    Carrier Flight Number
  • Aircraft Designator
  • Airport Identifier
  • Aircraft Registration Markings or
    Carrier Flight Number
  • Aircraft Designator
  • Airport Identifier
  • Count of Movements
  • Count of Movements

Census of Trusteed Pension Funds 2010

Confidential when completed; The data reported on this questionnaire are protected under the Statistics Act and will be treated in strict confidence, used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form only.

Collected under the authority of the Statistics Act. Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S19 (22).

This is a mandatory survey.

To return completed questionnaire either:

  • Use enclosed postage paid envelope;
  • Address your own envelope to:
    Pensions and Wealth Surveys Section
    Income Statistics Division
    Statistics Canada
    170 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6
  • Fax to: (613) 951-4296
    (Note : Data sent by facsimile may be at risk of disclosure during the transmission process.)

If you have questions:

Français au verso

(Please make any necessary changes in above name or Mailing address; add the name of the fund if missing)

Please complete and return the questionnaire by May 31, 2011.

1. Does this organization operate, either by sponsoring or managing, the trusteed pension fund named at the top of this page? For a definition of a trusteed pension fund, please refer to "Definitions" on the "Notes/Instructions".

  • Yes – Please complete the remainder of the questionnaire and return it to Statistics Canada.
  • No – Please elaborate
    • Fund closed (MM-YYYY)
    • Fund is deposited in total with an insurance company under an insurance company contract
    • Other, please specify

      Please provide your name (bottom of this page), complete question 8 and return the questionnaire to Statistics Canada.

2. If this pension fund participates in a master trust fund, indicate the name of this master trust:

Please complete and return the questionnaire to Statistics Canada.

3. If it is necessary to obtain the financial data on this pension fund from a trustee outside your company, please complete the following authorization notice, as well as Section A (Administrative Data) and forward this document to the trustee or return it to Statistics Canada for forwarding.

  • Authorization Notice (to be completed only if item 3 above applies)
  • This is to authorize (contact name), (telephone number) to supply Statistics Canada with the information requested in Section B of this questionnaire. We understand that the information will be treated as strictly confidential and used only in compiling aggregates.
  • (Name of company)
  • (Date)
  • (Signature)
  • (Title)

Name of person completing questionnaire (please print)

Telephone ()

Fax ()

E-mail address

Thank you for your cooperation

Section A: Administrative Data

1. Year of Inauguration of This Fund

2. Fund Fiscal Year End (MM-DD)

3. Investment Decision made by (check one or more)

Note: If a committee is actively involved in directing the investments, indicate which of the following are represented on the committee.

  • (a) Trustee(s)
  • (b) Employer (includes investment staff of the employer and public sector funds whose investment is governed by legislation)
  • (c) Outside investment counsel
  • (d) Employee (plan members)
  • (e) Other (specify)

4. Insurance Company Holdings

Is any of the money in this pension fund invested with or managed by an insurance company?
(If part of a master trust, consider only money associated with this participant.)

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, what is the amount involved?

  • Market value $ (omit cents)

5. Members Covered

Note: Should be as of same time period as assets, preferably December 31.

Indicate if at:

  • December 31, 2010
  • Other fiscal year end occurring between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011
  • (a) Number of employed plan members (including employees on temporary lay-off)
  • (b) Number of additional persons having equity in the fund (e.g. retired persons receiving pension, persons who will receive deferred pension, etc.)

6. Contributory Status(for the majority of members)

Are the majority of members required to contribute to the pension fund?

  • Yes
  • No

7. Type of Plan (for the majority of employed members participating in the fund – check one only)

  • (a) Defined benefit / flat benefit
  • (b) Defined contribution (money purchase/profit sharing)
  • (c) Combination of above or as selected by employee
  • (d) Other (specify)

8. Plan Registration Number(s)* (of all plans included in this fund)
(If space insufficient, attach another page.)

* Number used by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Also provide the number used by the provincial pension regulatory authority or the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), if different from the Plan registration number.

Section B: Financial Information

Previous Year

9. Net Book (cost) value of assets for the year end occurring between April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010

  • $ (omit cents)

Current Year

Report for one year period ending December 31, 2010 if possible.

10. Year end used:

  • December 31, 2010
  • between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011

Note: Do not include any unrealized gains or losses

11. Total receipts and gains (if this fund is a participant in a Master Trust, please provide name of master trust):

  • name of master trust
  • $ (omit cents)

12. Total disbursements and losses (if this fund is a participant in a Master Trust, please provide name of master trust):

  • name of master trust
  • $ (omit cents)

13. Total assets

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)

Confidential when completed; The data reported on this questionnaire are protected under the Statistics Act and will be treated in strict confidence, used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form only.

Collected under the authority of the Statistics Act. Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S19 (22).

This is a mandatory survey.

To return completed questionnaire either:

  • Use enclosed postage paid envelope;
  • Address your own envelope to:
    Pensions and Wealth Surveys Section
    Income Statistics Division
    Statistics Canada
    170 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
    Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6
  • Fax to: (613) 951-4296
    (Note : Data sent by facsimile may be at risk of disclosure during the transmission process.)

If you have questions:

Français au verso

(Please make any necessary changes in above name or Mailing address; add the name of the fund if missing)

Please complete and return the questionnaire by May 31, 2011.

1. Does this organization operate, either by sponsoring or managing, the trusteed pension fund named at the top of this page? For a definition of a trusteed pension fund, please refer to "Definitions" on the "Notes/Instructions".

  • Yes – Please complete the remainder of the questionnaire and return it to Statistics Canada.
  • No – Please elaborate
    • Fund closed (MM-YYYY)
    • Fund is deposited in total with an insurance company under an insurance company contract
    • Other, please specify

      Please provide your name (bottom of this page), complete question 8 and return the questionnaire to Statistics Canada.

2. If this pension fund participates in a master trust fund, indicate the name of this master trust:

Please complete and return the questionnaire to Statistics Canada.

3. If it is necessary to obtain the financial data on this pension fund from a trustee outside your company, please complete the following authorization notice, as well as Section A (Administrative Data) and forward this document to the trustee or return it to Statistics Canada for forwarding.

  • Authorization Notice (to be completed only if item 3 above applies)
  • This is to authorize (contact name), (telephone number) to supply Statistics Canada with the information requested in Section B of this questionnaire. We understand that the information will be treated as strictly confidential and used only in compiling aggregates.
  • (Name of company)
  • (Date)
  • (Signature)
  • (Title)

Name of person completing questionnaire (please print)

Telephone ()

Fax ()

E-mail address

Thank you for your cooperation

Section A: Administrative Data

1. Year of Inauguration of This Fund

2. Fund Fiscal Year End (MM-DD)

3. Investment Decision made by (check one or more)

Note: If a committee is actively involved in directing the investments, indicate which of the following are represented on the committee.

  • (a) Trustee(s)
  • (b) Employer (includes investment staff of the employer and public sector funds whose investment is governed by legislation)
  • (c) Outside investment counsel
  • (d) Employee (plan members)
  • (e) Other (specify)

4. Insurance Company Holdings

Is any of the money in this pension fund invested with or managed by an insurance company?
(If part of a master trust, consider only money associated with this participant.)

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, what is the amount involved?

  • Market value $ (omit cents)

5. Members Covered

Note: Should be as of same time period as assets, preferably December 31.

Indicate if at:

  • December 31, 2010
  • Other fiscal year end occurring between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011
  • (a) Number of employed plan members (including employees on temporary lay-off)
  • (b) Number of additional persons having equity in the fund (e.g. retired persons receiving pension, persons who will receive deferred pension, etc.)

6. Contributory Status(for the majority of members)

Are the majority of members required to contribute to the pension fund?

  • Yes
  • No

7. Type of Plan (for the majority of employed members participating in the fund – check one only)

  • (a) Defined benefit / flat benefit
  • (b) Defined contribution (money purchase/profit sharing)
  • (c) Combination of above or as selected by employee
  • (d) Other (specify)

8. Plan Registration Number(s)* (of all plans included in this fund)
(If space insufficient, attach another page.)

* Number used by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Also provide the number used by the provincial pension regulatory authority or the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI), if different from the Plan registration number.

Section B: Financial Information

Previous Year

9. Net Book (cost) value of assets for the year end occurring between April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010

  • $ (omit cents)

Current Year

Report for one year period ending December 31, 2010 if possible.

10. Year end used:

  • December 31, 2010
  • between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011

Note: Do not include any unrealized gains or losses

11. Total receipts and gains (if this fund is a participant in a Master Trust, please provide name of master trust):

  • name of master trust
  • $ (omit cents)

12. Total disbursements and losses (if this fund is a participant in a Master Trust, please provide name of master trust):

  • name of master trust
  • $ (omit cents)

13. Total assets

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)

Census of Trusteed Pension Funds 2012

Confidential when completed;

Si vous préférez ce questionnaire en français,veuillez nous téléphoner au 1-800-678-7910.

Correct pre-printed mailing address, if necessary, using the corresponding boxes below:

  • C0001 Pension plan fund name
  • C0002 Organization name
  • C0008 First name
  • C0028 Last name
  • C0004 Address / P.O. Box
  • C0005 City
  • C0006 Province / Territory / State
  • C0007 Postal code/Zip code

General Information

This information is collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

COMPLETION OF THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT UNDER THIS ACT.

Survey purpose

This survey collects financial information on the revenues, expenditures and assets of trusteed pension funds. Trusteed pension funds data are an input to Statistics Canada’s System of National Accounts. Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. For more information on this survey, please access www.statcan.gc.ca/survey-enquete/index-eng.htm.

Confidentiality

The Statistics Act protects the confidentiality of information collected by Statistics Canada. 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. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Record linkages

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

Facsimile or other electronic transmission disclosure

Statistics Canada advises you that there could be a risk of disclosure during facsimile or other electronic transmission. However, upon receipt, Statistics Canada will provide the guaranteed level of protection afforded all information collected under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Return of the questionnaire

Please return the completed questionnaire to Statistics Canada by mail, using the enclosed envelope or you can send it by facsimile to 1-888-883-7999.

Further Information

If you require assistance regarding this survey, please contact Statistics Canada by telephone at 1-800-678-7910.

PLEASE RETURN THE COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE TO STATISTICS CANADA WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIPT.

1. Does this organization operate, either by sponsoring or managing, the trusteed pension fund named at the top of this page? For a definition of a trusteed pension fund, please refer to "Definitions" on the "Notes/Instructions".

  • Yes – Please complete the remainder of the questionnaire and return it to Statistics Canada.
  • No – Please elaborate
    • Fund closed (MM-YYYY)
    • Fund is deposited in total with an insurance company under an insurance company contract
    • Other, please specify

      Please provide your name (bottom of this page), complete question 8 and return the questionnaire to Statistics Canada.

Name of person completing questionnaire (please print)

Name of organization completeing questionnaire (please print)

Telephone ()

Fax ()

E-mail address

Section A: Administrative Data

1. Year of Inauguration of This Fund

2. Fund Fiscal Year End (MM-DD)

3. Investment Decision made by (check one or more)

Note: If a committee is actively involved in directing the investments, indicate which of the following are represented on the committee.

  • (a) Trustee(s)
  • (b) Employer (includes investment staff of the employer and public sector funds whose investment is governed by legislation)
  • (c) Outside investment counsel
  • (d) Employee (plan members)
  • (e) Other (specify)

4. Insurance Company Holdings

Is any of the money in this pension fund invested with or managed by an insurance company?

  • Yes
  • No

If yes, what is the amount involved?

  • Market value $ (omit cents)

5. Members Covered

Note: Should be as of same time period as assets, preferably December 31.

  • (a) Number of employed plan members (including employees on temporary lay-off)
    Indicate year end used:
    • December 31, 2012
    • Other year end between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013
  • (b) Number of additional persons having equity in the fund (e.g. retired persons receiving pension, persons who will receive deferred pension, etc.)
    Indicate year end used:
    • December 31, 2012
    • Other year end between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013

6. Contributory Status(for the majority of members)

Are the majority of members required to contribute to the pension fund?

  • Yes
  • No

7. Type of Plan (for the majority of employed members participating in the fund – check one only)

  • (a) Defined benefit / flat benefit
  • (b) Defined contribution (money purchase/profit sharing)
  • (c) Combination of above or as selected by employee
  • (d) Other (specify)

8. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Pension Plan Registration Number(s) (of all plans included in this fund)
(If space insufficient, attach another page.)

Book (cost) value of previous year’s assets

Report the net book (cost) value of assets for the year end occurring between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012.

  • $ (omit cents)

Section B: Receipts and Disbursements

Report for one year period ending December 31, 2012 if possible.

Indicate year end used:

  • December 31, 2012
  • Other year end between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013

Receipts and Net Realized Gains

Note: Do not include any unrealized gains.

  • Contributions:
    • employee $ (omit cents)
    • employer $ (omit cents)
  • Investment income (interest, dividends, etc.) $ (omit cents)
  • Net realized profit on sale of securities $ (omit cents)
  • Transfers from other pension plans (specify) $ (omit cents)
  • Other receipts and gains (specify) $ (omit cents)
  • Total receipts and gains (total of lines 100 to 105) $ (omit cents)

Disbursements and Net Realized Losses

Note: Do not include any unrealized losses.

  • Pension payments out of fund to retirees and beneficiaries $ (omit cents)
  • Cost of pensions purchased $ (omit cents)
  • Cash withdrawals (including transfers to other plans) $ (omit cents)
  • Administration costs (if charged against fund) $ (omit cents)
  • Net realized loss on sale of securities $ (omit cents)
  • Refund of surplus in the fund $ (omit cents)
  • Other disbursements and losses (specify) $ (omit cents)
  • Total disbursements and losses (total of lines 200 to 206) $ (omit cents)

Section C: Assets

* Note: Detailed asset portfolio is essential for master trust funds (see instructions). Asset detail is not necessary for the participant accounts.

Report as of December 31, 2012 if possible.

Indicate year end used:

  • December 31, 2012
  • Other year end between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013

Pooled, mutual and investment funds:

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
    • Canadian equity fund
    • Canadian bond fund (fixed income)
    • Canadian mortgage fund
    • Canadian real estate fund
    • Canadian money market fund
    • foreign fund
    • other Canadian fund (specify)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
    • Canadian equity fund
    • Canadian bond fund (fixed income)
    • Canadian mortgage fund
    • Canadian real estate fund
    • Canadian money market fund
    • foreign fund
    • other Canadian fund (specify)

Equities:

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
    • Canadian common and preferred stocks
    • foreign common and preferred stocks:
      • United States
      • other
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
    • Canadian common and preferred stocks
    • foreign common and preferred stocks:
      • United States
      • other

Bonds/Debentures:

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
    • federal
    • provincial
    • municipal
    • other Canadian (corporate)
    • foreign
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
    • federal
    • provincial
    • municipal
    • other Canadian (corporate)
    • foreign

Mortgages:

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
    • residential
    • non-residential
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
    • residential
    • non-residential

Real estate (including petroleum and natural gas properties)

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)

Cash, deposits, short-term:

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
    • cash, deposits, GICs
    • Government of Canada t-bills
    • foreign short-term investments
    • other Canadian short-term paper
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
    • cash, deposits, GICs
    • Government of Canada t-bills
    • foreign short-term investments
    • other Canadian short-term paper

Miscellaneous:

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
    • accrued interest and dividends receivable
    • accounts receivable
    • other assets (specify)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
    • accrued interest and dividends receivable
    • accounts receivable
    • other assets (specify)

Total assets (total of lines 300 to 372)

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)

Deduct: Debts and payables

  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)
Net assets (line 380 less line 390)
  • Book (cost) value $ (omit cents)
  • Market value $ (omit cents)

Thank you for your cooperation

Inter-city indexes of price differentials, of consumer goods and services

Methodology

In order to produce optimal Inter-city indexes, product comparisons were initially made by pairing cities that are in close geographic proximity. The resulting price level comparisons were then extended to include comparisons between all of the cities, using a chaining procedure. The following initial pairings were used:

St. John’s
Charlottetown-Summerside
Saint John
Halifax
Montréal
Ottawa
Toronto
Regina
Edmonton
Vancouver

Halifax
Halifax
Halifax
Ottawa
Toronto
Toronto
Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Edmonton

 

Reliable Inter-city price comparisons require that the selected products be very similar across cities. This ensures that the variation in index levels between cities is due to pure price differences and not to differences in the attributes of the products, such as size and/or quality.

Within each city pair, product price quotes were matched on the basis of detailed descriptions. Whenever possible, products were matched by brand, quantity and with some regard for the comparability of retail outlets from which they were selected.

Additionally, the target prices for this study are final prices and as such, include all sales taxes and levies applied to consumer products within a city. This can be an important source of variation when explaining differences in inter-city price levels.

It should be noted that price data for the Inter-city indexes is drawn from the sample of monthly price data collected for the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Given that the CPI sample is optimized to produce accurate price comparisons through time, and not across regions, the number of matched price quotes between cities can be small. It should also be noted that, especially in periods when prices are highly volatile, the timing of the product price comparison can significantly affect city-to-city price relationships.

The weights used to aggregate the different product indexes within a city are based on the combined consumption expenditures of households living in the 11 cities tracked. As such, one set of weights is used for all 11 cities. Currently, 2011 expenditures are used to derive the weights. These expenditures are expressed in October 2014 prices.

The Inter-city index for a particular city is compared to the weighted average of all 11 cities, which is equal to 100. For example, an index value of 102 for a particular city means that prices for the measured commodities are 2% higher than the weighted, combined city average.

Additional Information on Shelter

Shelter prices were absent from the Inter-city index program prior to 1999 because of methodological and conceptual issues associated with their measurement. The diverse nature of shelter means that accurate matches between cities are often difficult to make.

To account for some of these difficulties, a rental equivalence approach is used to construct the Inter-city price indexes for owned accommodation. Such an approach uses market rents as an approximation to the cost of the shelter services consumed by homeowners in each city. It is important to note that this approach may not be suitable for the needs of all users. For instance, since the rental equivalence approach does not represent an out-of-pocket expenditure, the indexes should not be used for measuring differences in the purchasing power of homeowners across cities.

 

Survey of Commercial Rents Producer Prices Division

Reporting Guide

This Guide has been designed to help you complete the Survey of Commercial Rents. If you require assistance or need additional information, please contact us by telephone at 1-877-604-7828 or e-mail bsso@statcan.ca.

Text begins

Lessors of Commercial Rents
Data from this survey is used to produce an index published at the 5-digit NAICS code 53112 – Lessors of Non-Residential Property (except mini-warehouses). Lessors of non-residential buildings are defined as those establishments engaged in the provision of space to others for rent, which are not used as residences or dwellings. Mini-warehouses used by the general public for personal use are excluded from this definition.

Building Information

Question 1
Please verify the pre-filled information on the questionnaire and make any corrections where necessary in the blank section.

If the building initially selected for the survey is no longer owned or managed by the business, select another building in the same sector (e.g., if the building was initially in the retail sector, select another retail location) and in the same province as previously reported. Select the largest building in terms of gross leasing revenue that is not entirely owner occupied. In the absence of a clear choice, please select one of your largest properties, with prices you feel are representative of the market you service.

Note that in some instances, large property owners may be sampled multiple times. If multiple surveys are sent to you, buildings should be selected using the same criteria as above, with additional buildings selected from largest to smallest revenue.

Building Name: (R0100)
The name of the building that has been chosen through sampling, or chosen by the respondent as the largest gross leasing revenue or most representative. If the building does not have a name, this cell can be left blank.

Number and street: (R0101)
Street address for the chosen building.

City: (R0102)
City for the chosen building.

Province or State: (R0103)
Province for the chosen building.

Year Constructed: (R0200)
Year Constructed for the chosen building.

Number of floors: (R0400)
The total number of above ground floors, including the main floor.

Total leasable square footage of the building: (R0500)
Total amount of square feet, for the entire building, that is available for lease to tenants, whether or not the space is currently occupied. This number does not include owner occupied square footage.

Example: A building which has 10,000 square feet available for lease, 7,000 square feet leased by tenants and 1,000 square feet owner occupied, has 9,000 square feet available for lease.

Total SQFT-Owner Occupied = Total SQFT Available
10,000-1,000=9,000

Total leasable square footage occupied by owner: (R0501)
Total amount of square feet that is considered owner occupied, which otherwise could be leased to a tenant.

Question 2
How would you classify this building based on the highest gross leasing revenue during the reference quarter? Please select only one.

Office building: (R0900–1)
This includes high-rise or low-rise office buildings, regardless of whether they are general office buildings, financial office buildings or medical office buildings.

Retail building: (R0900–2)

  • Enclosed shopping centre
    A shopping centre where the majority of individual stores are accessed from an indoor common area.
  • Open shopping centre
    A shopping centre whose stores are accessed from the outdoors and there is no indoor common area that allows access to all stores. This includes strip malls and convenience centres.
    Note: for the shopping centre configurations described above, if the majority of stores are accessed only from the outside select Open shopping centre, if most of the stores can be accessed through a common area select Enclosed shopping centre.
  • Commercial building (excluding shopping centres)
    This includes all commercial or retail buildings that do not fall under the definition of shopping centres. Examples include retail stores (e.g. big box stores not attached to a shopping centre), restaurants, car dealerships, etc.

Industrial building or Warehouse: (R0900-3)
This includes heavy manufacturing buildings, light manufacturing and assembly buildings, research and development buildings, and warehouse and distribution buildings. Mini-warehouses used by the general public for personal use, are excluded from this definition.

Other: (R0900-4)
If the building does not belong to any of the above categories, please list it.

Tenant and Rent Information

Please note Question D3 & D4 are identical to the information below and are only included if the information for the previous quarter is missing.

Question 3 (D3)

a) How many tenants occupied space in the building at the beginning of each month? C1000 C2000 C3000

This includes all tenants who occupied space in the building at the beginning of each month.

b) What was the total square footage occupied by all tenants (ft2)? C1100 C2100 C3100

This is the total square footage of occupied space for all tenants in the selected building excluding common areas and parking.

c) What was the total monthly Net Effective Rent (NER) charged ($)? C1200 C2200 C3200

For the purposes of this survey, monthly net effective rent is the rent charged monthly to tenants to physically occupy space in the building, including any inducements (e.g. rent free periods, tenant improvement allowances, lease buyout values, signing bonuses or volume) and excluding all operating costs or additional rents, etc.
Charged rent is the amount that the tenant is contractually obligated to pay, not the amount collected by the lessor in that particular month.
Operating costs and additional rents not to be included are: utilities (heat, water, electricity, etc.), insurance, taxes of all kinds, common area maintenance (cleaning, repairs, garbage disposal, janitorial services, etc.), elevator expenses, installation of communications equipment, management fees or commissions, parking and storage revenues.

Example:
Contracted Rent (per month) = $15,000
Inducements, incentives or concessions = $50,000
Lease length = 60 months

Monthly Net Effective Rent = ($15,000 x 60 months) - $50,000 (inducements) = $850,000 over the length of the lease / 60 months = $14,166.67 per month.Add the monthly NERs together to report for the entire building.

Note: Net effective rent may already include past rent free periods as well as inducements/ incentives which were amortized over the life of the lease for which they were issued.

*** Please ensure that monthly figures are reported for net effective rent. Any yearly amounts must be divided by 12 (months) to get the monthly net effective rent. ***

d) What was the dollar value of percentage rent, if applicable ($)? C1300 C2300 C3300

This type of rent charged occurs most often in retail, and is defined as a portion of a tenant’s revenue paid to the lessor from an event or the standard operation of a business. Please indicate the dollar amount (or best estimate) and not the percentage.

Example:
If a retail store in a mall must pay 2% of sales as percentage rent and had reached $100,000 in sales for a particular month, the store would be required to pay $2,000 in addition to any Net Effective Rent negotiated in the lease.

$100,000 x 0.02 = $2,000

Question 4 (D4)

Please comment on any large change(s) between the months listed above.

In order to assist Statistics Canada, please give a brief description on any change of 10% or more for each of the following questions:

Reason(s) for changes greater than approximately 10% in the number of tenants who occupied the building: R4100, C4100
For example:

  • After holidays, reduction in mall tenants.
  • Construction related issues.

Reason(s) for changes greater than approximately 10% in total square feet occupied by tenants: R4200, C4200
For example:

  • Renovation increased square footage from 1,500 to 2,000 for tenant.
  • Owner occupied 500 square feet
  • Loss of large tenant

Reason(s) for changes greater than approximately 10% in monthly net effective rent: R4300, C4300
For example:

  • Renegotiation of lease for major tenant.
  • Loss of tenant decreased NER by $1,000.

Reason(s) for changes greater than approximately 10% in percentage rent: R4400, C4400
For example:

  • High revenues during “Back-to-School” shopping.
  • Increase in percentage rents peak shopping times

The Monthly Survey of Large Retailers

The Monthly Survey of Large Retailers
Table summary
This table displays the results of The Monthly Survey of Large Retailers. The information is grouped by Legal Name (appearing as row headers), Operating Name (appearing as column headers).
Legal Name Operating Name
The Food Retailers  
Buy-Low Foods Limited Partnership Buy-Low Foods, Nesters Market
Canada Safeway Limited Safeway, Safeway - Liquor Store
Loblaw Companies Limited At the Pumps, Atlantic Gas Bars, Dominion, Extra Foods, Loblaws, Loblaws à plein gaz, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, Provigo, Real Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Liquor Store, Real Canadian Superstore, Western Gas Bars, Zehrs, pharmacies in franchised locations (Fortino's, No Frills, Save Easy, Your Independent Grocer)
Metro Inc. Drug Basics, Food Basics, Metro, Super C, The Pharmacy
Overwaitea Food Group Limited Partnership Cooper's Foods, Overwaitea Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Save-on-Foods, Save-On-Foods Gas Bar
Sobeys Group Inc. Foodland, FreshCo., IGA, IGA Extra, Lawtons Drugs, Needs Convenience, Price Chopper, Rachelle-Béry, Sobeys, Sobeys Fast Fuel, Sobeys Urban Fresh, Thrifty Foods, Western Cellars
The Department Stores (including concessions)  
Hudson's Bay Company Home Outfitters/Déco Découverte, The Bay/La Baie, Zellers
Sears Canada Inc. Sears Appliance & Mattress Store/Magasin de matelas et électroménagers, Sears Department Store/Grand magasin Sears, Sears Home Store/Magasin Sears Décor, Sears Hometown Store/Magasin Local Sears, Sears Outlet Store/Magasin de liquidation Sears
Target Canada Co. Target
Wal-Mart Canada Corp. Walmart
The Other Non-Food Retailers  
668824 Alberta Ltd. Visions Electronics
American Eagle Outfitters Canada Corporation Aerie, American Eagle Outfitters
Best Buy Canada Ltd. Best Buy, Future Shop
Boutique Marie Claire Inc. CF Sports, Claire France, Emotions, Marie Claire, Marie Claire Super Boutique, Marie Claire Weekend, San Francisco, Terra Nostra
Boutiques Tristan & Iseut Inc. Tristan, Tristan & America, Tristan & Iseut, West Coast
Canadian Tire Corporation Limited Canadian Tire Gas Bar, PartSource, Canadian Tire Corporation
Club Monaco Corp. Club Monaco
Comark Inc. Bootlegger, Cleo, Revolution, Ricki's
Costco Wholesale Canada Ltd. Costco, Costco Canada Liquor
Eddie Bauer of Canada Corporation Eddie Bauer
Fairweather Ltd. Fairweather
FGL Sports Ltd. Atmosphere, National Sports, Sport Chek
Foot Locker Canada Corporation Champ Sports, Foot Locker
Gap (Canada) Inc. Banana Republic, Gap, Gap Kids
Grafton-Fraser Inc. George Richards Big & Tall Menswear, Mr. Big & Tall Menswear, Tip Top Tailors
Groupe ATBM Inc. Ameublement Tanguay, Brault et Martineau
Groupe Bikini Village Inc. Bikini Village
Harry Rosen Inc. Harry Rosen
Holt, Renfrew & Co., Limited Holt Renfrew
Ikea Canada Limited Partnership Ikea
International Clothiers Inc. Big Steel, Brogue, INC Men's, International Boys, International Clothiers, Petrocelle, Pinstripe Menswear, Randy River, River Island, Stockhomme
La Senza Corporation La Senza, La Senza Express
Le Chateau Inc. Le Chateau
Leon's Furniture Limited Leon's Furniture/Meubles Léon, The Brick/Brick, The Brick Mattress Store, United Furniture Warehouse
Magasin Laura (P.V.) Inc. Laura, Laura Outlet, Laura Petites, Laura Plus, Melanie Lyne
Mark's Work Wearhouse Ltd. Mark's Work Wearhouse/L'Équipeur
Moores The Suit People Inc. Moores Clothing For Men
Northern Reflections Ltd. Northern Reflections
Nygard International Partnership Alia, Jay Set, Nygard, Nygard Fashion Park, Tan Jay
Old Navy (Canada) Inc. Old Navy
Pantorama Industries Inc. 1850, Fixx, Levi's, Levi's l'entrepôt, Pantorama, Pantorama l'entrepôt, Roberto, UR2B
Pharma Plus Drugmarts Ltd. Rexall, Rexall Pharma Plus
Reitmans (Canada) Limitée Addition Elle, Cassis, Penningtons, Reitmans, RW & Co., Smart Set, Thyme Maternity
Roots Canada Ltd. Roots Canada
Sony of Canada Ltd. Sony of Canada - Retail Division
Talbots Canada Corporation Talbots Canada
The Children's Place (Canada) L.P. The Children's Place
The Source (Bell) Electronics Inc. / La Source (Bell) Electronique Inc. The Source/La Source
Thrifty's Inc. Bluenotes
Winners Merchants International L.P. Homesense, Marshalls, Winners
YM Inc. (Sales) Siblings, Sirens, Stitches, Suzy Shier, Urban Planet

Activities in the natural sciences and engineering

Investment, Science and Technology Division

Text begins

Introduction

This introduction provides an overview of the process of collecting scientific expenditures data. Definitions and explanatory notes relating to natural sciences and engineering, scientific and technological activities, and other terms used are given in subsequent sections.

Since 1973, Statistics Canada has been collecting detailed expenditure and full-time equivalent data on scientific activities of provincial research organizations. These data, coupled with data from other surveys, have been used by policy analysts in federal and provincial governments, research managers and the media to elaborate on the provincial scientific activities.

Intramural research and development expenditures are a direct input into the Canadian gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD) indicators.

Expenditures on research and development (R&D) and related scientific activities (RSA) are subdivided into “current expenditures” and “capital expenditures”. Current expenditures indicate the “where” and “by whom” the activities are performed. (e.g., internally by the organization or by external performers).

Personnel are allocated to research and development or related scientific activities, and distributed into the following categories: scientific and professional personnel, supporting personnel, and other.

1. Total scientific and technological expenditures by activity in the natural sciences and engineering.

Definitions and explanations of terms

Natural sciences and engineering includes disciplines concerned with understanding, exploring, developing or utilizing the natural world. Included are such disciplines as the engineering, mathematical, life and physical sciences.

The questionnaire covers two consecutive fiscal years and the headings for both years are identical. One set of definitions/explanations therefore suffices.

Actual and preliminary expenditures on scientific and technological activities are to be classified according to the type of scientific activity and who performed or will perform the scientific activity (intramural or extramural).

Scientific and technological (S&T) activities are required for the generation, dissemination or initial application of the new S&T knowledge. The central activity is scientific research and experimental development (R&D). In addition there are a number of activities closely related to R&D , and are termed related scientific activities (RSA). The RSA identified as being appropriate for the provincial research organization in the natural sciences and engineering are: scientific data collection, information services, and special services and studies.

  1. Research and development (R&D)

Research and experimental development – creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.

In this survey, the term research and development (R&D ) is synonymous with research and experimental development.

The basic criterion for distinguishing R&D from related scientific activities is the presence in R&D of an appreciable element of novelty and the resolution of scientific and/or technological uncertainty. New knowledge, products or processes are sought. The work is normally performed by, or under the supervision of, persons with postgraduate degrees in the natural sciences and engineering.

An R&D project generally has three characteristics:

  • a substantial element of uncertainty, novelty and innovation;
  • a well-defined project design; and
  • a report on the procedures and results of the project.

Examples:

  • Special investigation of a particular mortality in order to establish the side effects of certain medical treatments.
  • The investigation of new methods of measuring temperature is research as is the study and development of new systems and techniques for interpreting the data.
  • The development of new methods of identifying tree species and determining if they are diseased.
  • The creation of a new transportation system as a prototype and the technical evaluation of its operations.

R&D is generally carried out by specialized R&D units. However, an R&D project may also involve the use of non R&D facilities (e.g., testing grounds), the purchase or construction of specialized equipment and materials, and the assistance of other units. Costs of such items, attributable to the project, are to be considered R&D costs.

R&D units may also be engaged in non R&D activities such as technical advisory services, testing, or construction of special equipment for other units. So far as is practical, the effort devoted to such operations should be excluded from R&D .

Intramural (internal) R&D

Intramural (internal) R&D is defined as all expenditures for R&D performed within your organization by your personnel during a specific period, whatever the source of funds.

Current expenditures - includes costs (expenditures) incurred for scientific activities carried out by in-house personnel including salaries and contributions to employee benefit plans (e.g. pension); materials and supplies; contract payments to contractors working on site within your organization’s premises; as well as costs for personnel engaged in the administration of extramural (external) R&D contracts, grants and contributions.

Capital expenditures – expenditures on construction, acquisition or preparation of land, buildings, machinery and equipment are capital expenditures. All other expenditures are current expenditures.

Extramural (external) R&D

Extramural (external) payments are made by the provincial research organizations for R&D activities performed by extramural sectors and these sectors are defined as follows:

Business enterprise – business and government enterprises including public utilities and government-owned firms. Incorporated consultants providing scientific and engineering services are also included. Industrial research institutes located at Canadian universities are considered to be in the higher education sector.

Higher education – composed of all universities, colleges of technology and other institutes of post-secondary education, whatever their source of finance or legal status. It also includes all research institutes, experimental stations and clinics operating under the direct control of, or administered by, or associated with, the higher education establishments.

Hospitals and health organizations – Canadian hospitals and health organizations which are not part of university medical schools.

Federal, provincial and municipal governments – departments and agencies of these governments. Government enterprises, such as provincial utilities are included in the business enterprise sector.

Other Canadian performers – include Canadian non-profit institutions that are not serving the health field or business enterprise sector; individuals or organizations in Canada not belonging to any of the above sectors, and all foreign government agencies, foreign companies (including foreign subsidiaries of Canadian firms), international organizations, non-resident foreign nationals and Canadians studying or teaching abroad.

Extramural expenditures include:

Contract payments to an outside institution or individual performing R&D .

R&D grants and contributions – awards to organizations or individuals for the conduct of R&D and intended to benefit the recipients.

  1. Related scientific activities (RSA)

Related scientific activities involve the generation, dissemination and application of scientific and technological knowledge. The kinds of related scientific activities for the natural sciences and engineering are described below.

Related scientific activities include:

Scientific data collection – the gathering, processing, collating and analyzing of data on natural phenomena. These data are normally the results of surveys, routine laboratory analyses or compilations of operating records.

Data collected as part of an existing or proposed research project are charged to R&D . Similarly, the costs of analyzing existing data as part of a research project are R&D costs, even when the data were originally collected for some other purpose. The development of new techniques for data collection is also to be considered an R&D activity.

Examples of scientific data collection are: routine geological, hydrographic, oceanographic and topographic surveys; routine astronomical observations; maintenance of meteorological records; and wildlife and fisheries surveys.

Information services – all work directed to recording, classifying, translating and disseminating scientific and technological information as well as museum services. Included are the operations of scientific and technical libraries, S&T consulting and advisory services, the Patent Office, the publication of scientific journals and monographs, and the organizing of scientific conferences. Grants for the publication of scholarly works are also included.

General purpose information services or information services directed primarily towards the general public are excluded, as are general departmental and public libraries. When individual budgets exist, the costs of libraries which belong to institutions otherwise entirely classified to another activity, such as R&D , should be assigned to information services. The costs of printing and distributing reports from another activity, such as R&D , are normally attributable to that activity.

Special services and studies – work directed towards the establishment of national and provincial standards for materials, devices, products and processes; the calibration of secondary standards; non-routine quality testing; feasibility studies and demonstration projects.

Sub categories under Special services and studies include:

Testing and standardization – work directed towards the establishment of national and international standards for materials, devices, products and processes, the calibration of secondary standards and non-routine quality testing. The development of new measures for standards, or of new methods of measuring or testing, is R&D and should be reported as such. Exclude routine testing such as monitoring radioactivity levels or soil tests before construction.

Feasibility studies – technical investigations of proposed engineering projects to provide additional information required to reach decisions on implementation. Besides feasibility studies per se, the related activity of demonstration projects are to be included. Demonstration projects involve the operation of scaled-up versions of a facility or process, or data on factors such as costs, operational characteristics, market demand and public acceptance. Projects called “demonstration projects” but which conform to the definition of R&D should be considered R&D . Once a facility or process is operated primarily to provide a service or to gain revenue, rather than as a demonstration, it should no longer be included with feasibility studies. In all demonstration projects, only the net costs should be considered.

Administration of extramural RSA programs – the costs, including salaries, of personnel engaged in the administration of contracts and grants and contributions for related scientific activities that are to be performed outside the provincial research organizations.

NOTE: If any of these activities are performed in direct support of an R&D project or program, include the expenditures in the R&D section above.

Intramural (internal) RSA expenditures

Current expenditures – includes costs (expenditures) incurred for related scientific activities carried out by in-house personnel including salaries and contributions to employee benefit plans (e.g. pension); materials and supplies; contract payments to contractors working on site within your organization’s premises; as well as costs for personnel engaged in the administration of extramural (external) R&D contracts, grants and contributions.

Capital expenditures – expenditures on construction, acquisition or preparation of land, buildings, machinery and equipment are capital expenditures. All other expenditures are current expenditures.

Extramural RSA expenditures include:

Contract payments to an outside institution or individual performing RSA.

RSA grants and contributions – awards to organizations or individuals for the conduct of RSA and intended to benefit the recipients.

2. Source of funds for intramural (internal) research and development (R&D) in the natural sciences and engineering

This question identifies the sources of funds for expenditures on research and development performed by your organization. It will help to ensure that work funded from outside the provincial research organization is not overlooked.

R&D budget of the provincial research organization (operating capital, and grants and contributions) – that portion of the total provincial research organizational budget which was spent on natural science and engineering R&D activities.

Federal government – all R&D funds from the departments and agencies of the federal government used for natural science and engineering activities.

Provincial/Territorial government – all R&D funds from the provincial/territorial government used for natural science and engineering activities.

Canadian business enterprises – all R&D funds from business enterprises used for natural science and engineering activities.

Other Canadian sources – all R&D funds for natural science and engineering activities from sources not specified above for example, higher education, hospitals and private non-profit organizations.

Foreign sources – all R&D funds from sources located outside the jurisdictional boundary of Canada.

3. Personnel in full-time equivalent (FTE) engaged in scientific and technological activities in the natural sciences and engineering

Full-time equivalent (FTE) – a measure of the time actually devoted to the conduct of scientific activities. Example calculation: an employee who is engaged in scientific activities for half a year has a full-time equivalence of 0.5. If, out of five scientists engaged in R&D work, one works solely on R&D projects and the remaining four devote only one quarter of their working time to R&D , then: FTE = 1 + ¼ + ¼ + ¼ + ¼ = 2.0.

Scientific and professional personnel - FTE in jobs that require at least one academic degree or nationally recognized professional qualification (e.g. professional engineers) as well as those with equivalent experience.

Supporting personnel (technicians and technologists) – personnel in jobs that require specialized vocational or technical training beyond the secondary education level (e.g., community colleges and technical institutes) as well as those with experience equivalent to this training.

Other – clerical, secretarial, administrative, operational and other support personnel.

Enquiries should be directed to:
Capital Investments,
Investment, Science and Technology Division
Statistics Canada
150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Room 1306
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6
Fax: 613-951-9920
E-mail: istd-dist.information@statcan.gc.ca

Census of Agriculture FAQS

1. Who needs to complete a Census of Agriculture questionnaire?

Any of the persons responsible for operating a farm or an agricultural operation should fill in a Census of Agriculture questionnaire.

2. What is the definition of an agricultural operator?

The Census of Agriculture uses the word operator to define a person responsible for the management and/or financial decisions made in the production of agricultural commodities. An agricultural operation can have more than one operator, such as a husband and wife, a father and son, two sisters, or two neighbours.

The terms "agricultural operator" and "operation" are used in the census because they are broader in scope than "farmer" and "farm", and better reflect the range of agricultural businesses from which the Census of Agriculture collects data. For example, the term farm would not usually be associated with operations such as maple sugar bushes, mushroom houses, ranches or feedlots.

3. How is an agricultural operation defined?

An agricultural operation is defined as a farm, ranch or other operation that produces agricultural products intended for sale.

The Census of Agriculture considers an agricultural operation to be:

Any operation that grows or produces any of the agricultural products listed below with the intent to sell these products (it is not necessary to have had sales of the products, only that they are being produced with the intent of selling them).

Crops:

  • hay and field crops (hay, grains, field peas, beans, potatoes, coriander and other spices, etc.)
  • vegetables (all vegetables, herbs, rhubarb, melons, garlic, gourds, etc.)
  • sod, nursery products and Christmas trees
  • fruits, berries or nuts (apples, other fruit trees, grapes, blueberries and other berries, saskatoons, hazelnuts, etc.)
  • seed

Poultry:

  • laying hens and pullets
  • layer and broiler breeders
  • broilers, roasters and Cornish
  • turkeys
  • other poultry (geese, ducks, roosters, ostriches, emus, pheasants, quail, pigeons, etc.)
  • commercial poultry hatcheries

Livestock:

  • cattle and calves
  • pigs
  • sheep and lambs
  • other livestock (horses, goats, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, bison, elk, deer, wild boars, mink, fox, donkeys, mules, chinchillas, etc.)

Animal products:

  • milk or cream
  • eggs
  • wool
  • fur
  • meat

Other agricultural products:

  • greenhouse products
  • mushrooms
  • maple products
  • bees owned (for honey or pollination)

Other products or activities considered agricultural operations according to the Census of Agriculture are:

  • harvesting wild rice
  • sprouting alfalfa or beans
  • growing legal cannabis
  • growing mushrooms on logs in a controlled environment
  • wineries, if they grow any grapes or fruit
  • garden centres if they grow any of their products
  • hay processing or dehydration plants if they grow hay on land they own or lease
  • horse operations that do not sell agricultural products but offer boarding, riding or training services.

The following are NOT considered agricultural operations according to the Census of Agriculture:
Operations that harvest or grow only:

  • peat moss
  • top soil
  • gravel
  • fish (wild or aquaculture)
  • silviculture products
  • wild cones, wild Christmas trees, logs, firewood, pulpwood, evergreen boughs, etc.
  • wild berries, wild plants, wild mushrooms, etc.
  • all wild animals
  • racing pigeons
  • worms
  • crickets, rats, mice, etc. for pet stores
  • laboratory animal production
  • all pets (dogs, cats, pot-bellied pigs, guinea pigs, finches, budgies, etc.), including kennels for pets.

For the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories only, the following activities qualify as an agricultural operation for the Census of Agriculture:

  • herding wild animals (such as caribou and muskox)
  • breeding sled dogs
  • horse outfitting and rigging
  • harvesting indigenous plants and berries.

4. Are hobby farms included in the Census of Agriculture?

Yes. Farms with very low farm revenues—commonly called "hobby" farms—are included as long as the agricultural products produced are intended for sale.

5. Why do operators of very small operations have to fill in the Census of Agriculture questionnaire?

The Census of Agriculture enumerates small operations because it is important that the total farm area and the total inventory of all crops, livestock and other agricultural products in Canada be counted. There are many small agricultural operations that as a group contribute significantly to agricultural inventories.

6. How does the Census of Agriculture benefit operators?

When an agricultural operator fills out and sends back his or her census questionnaire, it adds another voice to the quarter of a million answers that are reflected in census data. In combination they provide the only definitive statistical picture of Canada's farm sector available to farmers' own organizations and to agriculture policy-makers. The media also interpret census data, bringing current issues to the forefront of public attention.

Although there are other agriculture surveys, only the Census of Agriculture gives data at the local level. Its community-level data ensure that the issues affecting farmers, farm communities and agricultural operations are included when making decisions that affect them and their livelihood.

Operators can use census data to make production, marketing and investment decisions.Producer groups and marketing agencies use census data in their non-government organizations to tell Canadians and government how they are doing economically.

Companies supplying agricultural products and services use the data to determine locations for their service centres.

Government policy advisors use the data to help develop programs related to safety nets and agricultural workers for the agriculture sector.

Operators can keep abreast of trends through the analysis of Census of Agriculture data published by the agriculture media.

Agriculture websites can target their information based on current trends and needs in the sector identified by census data.

Governments and farm organizations use census data to evaluate the impact of natural disasters on agriculture (such as floods, drought and storms) and react quickly.

7. What is the legal authority for the Census of Agriculture?

The mandate to conduct the Census of Agriculture every 10 years comes from the Constitution Act–1867 (formerly the British North America Act [BNA]).

Over the decades the mandate to conduct a census in the Constitution Act–1867 was augmented by the Statistics Act–1970, which stipulates that
"A census of agriculture of Canada shall be taken by Statistics Canada

  1. in the year 1971 and in every tenth year thereafter; and
  2. in the year 1976 and in every tenth year thereafter, unless the Governor in Council otherwise directs in respect of any such year, 1970-71-72, c. 15, s. 19."

8. Is it mandatory to answer and return the questionnaire?

Yes. Under the Statistics Act, agricultural operators are required to complete a Census of Agriculture form.

9. Can a person be identified by the information they provide?

No. All published data are subject to confidentiality restrictions, and any data in which an individual or agricultural operation could be identified are suppressed.

10. Why does Statistics Canada conduct the Census of Agriculture?

The Census of Agriculture collects a wide range of data on the agriculture industry such as number of farms and farm operators, farm area, business operating arrangements, land management practices, livestock inventories and crop area, total operating expenses and receipts, farm capital and farm machinery and equipment.

These data provide a comprehensive picture of the agriculture industry across Canada every five years at the national, provincial and sub-provincial levels.

11. Why doesn't the Census of Agriculture use sampling?

The Statistics Act requires that a census of all farm operations in Canada be conducted every five years. Since a census includes, by definition, every farm operation, sampling only a portion of operations would not honour the Act nor would it provide the complete picture a census can.

The Census of Agriculture is the primary source for small-area data and for survey sampling and it is important that each agricultural operation complete a Census of Agriculture questionnaire, regardless of size or geographic location. Samples are used for making agriculture estimates between census years.

12. Why aren't there different questionnaires for different types of agricultural operations?

The Census of Agriculture uses a generalized form for operators across Canada, since all respondents need to answer some questions. Using one form nation-wide ensures consistency across Canada, while tick boxes and different sections for specific types of operations allow operators to answer only those questions pertinent to their type of operation. A single form also keeps development costs down. Every effort is made to keep the questionnaire as concise as possible to minimize respondent burden.

13. How much does the Census of Agriculture cost?

The projected total cost for the 2016 Census of Agriculture over the six-year cycle is $46.9 million. An independently conducted Census of Agriculture would cost at least $13 million more in total than it does by combining it with the Census of Population.

14. Why is the Census of Agriculture taken in May, such a busy time for farmers?

In this particularly busy and stressful period the arrival of the 2016 Census of Agriculture questionnaire in May might seem ill-timed. But by working with the Census of Population, the Census of Agriculture is afforded an opportunity to save millions of taxpayers' dollars by sharing many aspects of collection, including postal costs and the processing centre. The timing of the larger Census of Population is driven by the need to maximize the number of Canadians who are home during enumeration. During the winter our retired “snowbirds” migrate south, and the moment school lets out many Canadian families with school children go on vacation. These factors have led the Census of Population to decide that May 10 will be Census Day. While it may take farm operators away from their work, filling in the questionnaire yields its own benefits.

15. Is Statistics Canada conducting a Farm Financial Survey in addition to the Census of Agriculture?

The Farm Financial Survey is conducted every two years. In 2016, the collection period is in July and August and coincides with the census collection period. To lighten the burden on respondents, overlap with other agriculture surveys is minimized and the sample size is reduced. In 2016 the sample size will be approximately 10,200 farms nationally.

16. What about my income tax return? The census seems to be asking for exactly the same information that I've already given the government.

In 2016 respondents must provide only total operating expenses and total sales for their agricultural operation on the Census of Agriculture questionnaire. In order to reduce the response burden for farmers the detailed expense questions were removed from the 2016 Census of Agriculture questionnaire.

17. Why are other agriculture surveys taken at the same time as the census?

Because timely information on the agriculture industry is required by governments and other users, it is necessary to conduct sample surveys with a shorter time frame than the census. The Census of Agriculture is a national activity that involves collecting information from every agricultural operation in Canada. The collection, follow-up, quality checks, tabulation and publication of data from such an extensive operation take about one year. The census could not replace small-scale surveys, which have a much more rapid turnaround time. It is also more economical to collect certain types of information on a sample basis, especially if the required data are only for specific provinces or population groups. Once available, Census of Agriculture data are used to benchmark farm surveys.

18. What other agriculture surveys are being conducted during the 2016 Census window?

Between mid-April and the end of June Statistics Canada conducts these agriculture surveys:

  • the Maple Survey (sample size approximately 600 in Ontario and New Brunswick)
  • the National Potato Area and Yield Survey (sample size approximately 250 in the Atlantic Region, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia)
  • the Fur Farm Report – Mink and Foxes (sample size approximately 300 nationally)
  • the June Farm Survey (Field Crop Reporting Series) (sample size approximately 24,500 nationally)
  • the July Livestock Survey (sample size approximately 11,000 nationally)
  • the Hay and Straw Prices Survey (Ontario only, sample size approximately 125).

19. How is response burden being reduced?

During the Census of Agriculture collection period, the Agriculture Division cancels some smaller surveys, reduces the sample size for others, and minimizes the overlap with big surveys like the Farm Financial Survey.

Offering farm operators choices in the way they respond to the Census of Agriculture—on paper with return by mail, online, or by telephone—can also make responding easier and faster. A toll-free help line to answer respondents' questions about the Census of Agriculture is also available.

20. How many agricultural operations were counted in the last Census of Agriculture?

The 2011 Census of Agriculture recorded 205,730 census farms.

The 2011 Census of Agriculture
Table summary
This table displays the results of The 2011 Census of Agriculture . The information is grouped by Province (appearing as row headers), 2011 (appearing as column headers).
Province 2011
Newfoundland and Labrador 510
Prince Edward Island 1,495
Nova Scotia 3,905
New Brunswick 2,611
Quebec 29,437
Ontario 51,950
Manitoba 15,877
Saskatchewan 36,952
Alberta 43,234
British Columbia 19,759
Canada 205,730

21. How are Census of Agriculture data used?

Census of Agriculture data are used by:

  • farm operators, to formulate production, marketing and investment decisions
  • agricultural producer groups, to inform their members about industry trends and developments, to put the viewpoint of operators before legislators and the Canadian public, and to defend their interests in international trade negotiations
  • governments, to make policy decisions concerning agricultural credit, crop insurance, farm support, transportation, market services and international trade
  • Statistics Canada, to produce annual estimates between censuses for the agriculture sector
  • businesses, to market products and services and to make production and investment decisions
  • academics, to conduct research on the agriculture sector
  • the media, to portray the agriculture sector to the broader Canadian public.

22. What is different about the 2016 Census of Agriculture from 2011?

The 2016 Census of Agriculture questionnaire contains questions asked in 2011 as well as new ones. Some questions remain unchanged to maintain consistency and comparability of data over time. Other questions have been added or deleted to reflect changes in the agriculture industry. For example:

  • Technology: A new step (section) was added to request the different technologies used on the farm.
  • Direct Marketing: A new step was added to collect information on direct marketing practices farms may have.
  • Succession Planning: A new step (section) was added on whether the farm has a formal, written succession plan, and if so, who the successor would be in that plan.
  • On-farm practices and land features: Several response categories were eliminated to reduce burden on respondents and to simplify the questions on manure, irrigation and land practices
  • Land inputs: A new response category was added: Trace minerals and nutrients (copper, manganese, etc.)
  • Organic: This category was simplified to reduce burden on respondents and to allow for emerging issues, such as succession planning, to be added to the questionnaire.
  • Renewable energy producing systems: A new step was added to collect information on which renewable energy producing systems, if any, are being used on farms.
  • Farm operating expenses: Only the total farm operating expenses is requested in 2016. All the detailed expenses have been removed from the questionnaire.

A detailed explanation of other changes, deletions or additions to the 2016 questionnaire is available by step in the order they appear on the 2016 questionnaire. Please consult “The 2016 Census of Agriculture in detail ”. These changes are a result of user consultations and testing as well as the goal of reducing respondent burden for 2016. Some questions were slightly re-worded in response to suggestions that doing so would make these questions more understandable and easier to answer.

23. Does the Census of Agriculture ask any questions that could be used to assess farming's impact on the environment?

Many of the questions on the census can contribute in some way to forming a picture of Canadian farms and the manner in which they shape the environment.

The Census of Agriculture asks questions about farming practices that conserve soil fertility and prevent erosion, pesticide and fertilizer use, and the land features used to prevent wind or water damage. There is a section on manure use, another on irrigation, one on tillage practices and one on baling crop residue. Data from these questions present a picture of farmers' relationship with the environment and, by evaluating and comparing the data over time, analysts can assess how operators are adapting their methods and fulfilling their role as stewards of the land.

24. Where will Census of Agriculture data be processed?

Once completed paper questionnaires are received by Canada Post, they go to a central processing centre in the National Capital Region where they are scanned and electronically imaged for data capture. Questionnaires submitted online to Statistics Canada are captured automatically. Processing Census of Agriculture questionnaires includes many checks and balances to ensure high quality data. Its many steps—including several kinds of edits (clerical, subject-matter, geographic), matching and unduplicating individual farms, adjusting for missing data, validating data by comparing them to several benchmarks, and providing estimates—have evolved into a sophisticated system that ensures high-quality data. The data that emerge at the other end are stored on a database and used to generate publications and users' custom requests.

25. What steps are taken to ensure that all agricultural operations are counted?

In 2016, Canada Post delivers an invitation letter to fill out a Census of Agriculture questionnaire on the internet to addresses where it is believed a farm operator lives. The addresses are determined from Statistics Canada’s business register, populated from the previous census and other agriculture surveys. Census of Population questionnaires were delivered by Canada Post as well, but may have been delivered by an enumerator in rural areas.

On the Census of Population questionnaire respondents are asked if there is a farm operator living in the household. This question triggers a follow-up from Head Office to help ensure that new farms are identified and counted.

Respondents were able to complete their questionnaires on paper, by telephone or via the Internet. Telephone follow-up will be conducted with those respondents who received invitation letters or questionnaires but did not return them.

In addition, the data processing sequence includes several safeguards that can find “missing” farms that were counted in 2011 but did not return a questionnaire in 2016 or, conversely, farms that did not exist in 2011 but have been identified on subsequent agriculture surveys since then.

26. When will the 2016 Census of Agriculture data be available to the public, and how can I keep track of releases?

First release: May 10, 2017 from the Census of Agriculture database.

Statistics Canada's official release bulletin, The Daily, lists the full range of census data with highlights on major trends and findings.

Data from both the Census of Population and Census of Agriculture will appear in the general media and farm media. Users may also contact Statistics Canada general enquiries toll free number at 1-800-263-1136.

27. Why does it take a year to release results from the Census of Agriculture?

The Census of Agriculture is a national activity that involves collecting information from every agricultural operation in Canada. The collection, follow-up, quality checks, processing, tabulation and publication of data from such an extensive operation take about one year.

All of these steps must be made to assure that data are accurate, even at very low levels of geography. This is critical since census data are used to benchmark estimates and draw survey samples between censuses.

28. For what geographic areas are Census of Agriculture data available?

Census of Agriculture data are available for Canada, the provinces and territories, and for areas corresponding to counties, crop districts and rural municipalities. User-defined areas are also available by calling Statistics Canada general enquiries toll free number at 1-800-263-1136. All tabulated data are subjected to confidentiality restrictions, and any data that could result in the disclosure of information concerning any particular individual or agricultural operation are suppressed.

Changes, additions or deletions from the 2011 questionnaire by topic in the order they appear on the 2016 questionnaire.

Text begins

Cover page and Step 1: Business information and contact information for the person completing the questionnaire

  • In 2011, some of the information requested in Step 1 was asked in Step 4 (business number, farm and corporation name) whereas the name and contact information of the person completing the questionnaire is new. By requesting the contact information for the person completing the questionnaire, it is no longer necessary to request the contact information for each operator as was done in Step 2 in 2011.
  • The email address of the person completing the questionnaire is being asked for the first time in 2016. In 2006, the email address of the first operator was requested. In 2011, this question was replaced with an alternate telephone number question for the first operator instead of the email address.
  • Instructions for completing the paper questionnaire and via the Internet were removed as this information is now included in the invitation letter, which is sent to all respondents. In 2011, a paper questionnaire was sent to all respondents. This is the first time a paper questionnaire will not be sent to all respondents and instead they will receive an invitation letter with a Secure Access Code inviting them to complete the questionnaire electronically.

Step 2. Operator identification for up to three operators per farm

  • The information requested in Step 2 is a combination of information requested in Step 2 and Step 3 in 2011 with some response categories removed and some questions revised:
    • Residence on the farm is no longer requested.
    • The address of each operator is no longer requested in 2016 (however, the postal code question remains).
    • The wording of the questions regarding on-farm and off-farm work was revised to improve comprehension of these questions.

Step 3. Main farm location

  • Formerly Step 5.
  • Postal code was added to the civic address question.
  • To ease reporting for Western producers and to include respondents in the Peace River region of British Columbia, the following instruction was added to the first question of this section: "For the Prairies and parts of British Columbia, report in question 8." Question 8 provides space for the respondent to report the farm location in terms of Quarter, Section, Township, Range and Meridian rather than civic address.
  • On the French questionnaire, further precision was required: the term "the Prairies" was replaced with "Prairie provinces" to further clarify who could respond to question 8.

Step 4. Unit of measure

  • Formerly Step 6.
  • No content changes.

Step 5. Workable and non-workable land (land tenure)

  • Formerly Step 7.
  • Wording and spatial changes were made to the explanation of non-workable land to visually split it out into definitions of idle land and the land that buildings are located on. The following explanation was added:
    • Workable land includes all cropland, nursery, sod, summerfallow, pasture, etc.
    • Non-workable land includes:
      • All idle land: woodlots, bush, ponds, bogs, marshes, buffer zones, etc.
      • All land buildings are located on: greenhouses, mushroom houses, farm house, barns, etc.
  • There is no change in the response categories from 2011.
  • For the net area of the operation, the instruction to report on this area throughout the questionnaire was revised and the parentheses removed to increase the visibility and understanding of this instruction.

Step 6. Hay and field crops

  • Formerly Step 8.
  • In an effort to discourage respondents from reporting production on land that they are not themselves operating (which introduces double counting of land), the following instruction was added to all the steps on which land based production occurs:
    • Do not include land used by others.
  • "Caraway seed" was removed as a separate response category (formerly question 46) and was added to "Other field crops."

Step 7. Vegetables

  • Formerly Step 9.
  • In an effort to discourage respondents from reporting production on land that they are not themselves operating (which introduces double counting of land), the following instruction was added to all the steps on which land based production occurs:
    • Do not include land used by others.
  • The number of lines to report "Other vegetables" was reduced from four spaces to three.

Step 8. Fruits, berries or nuts

  • Formerly Step 11.
  • In an effort to discourage respondents from reporting production on land that they are not themselves operating (which introduces double counting of land), the following instruction was added to all the steps on which land based production occurs:
    • Do not include land used by others.

Step 9. Sod, nursery products and Christmas trees

  • Formerly Step 10.
  • Further clarification was added to the question on the total area of nursery products grown for sale to include products also grown "in cold frames or tunnels."
  • The English questionnaire was revised to match the French questionnaire for the instruction on calculating the total area of Christmas trees.

Step 10. Land use

  • Formerly Step 12.
  • Further clarification was added to the question on summerfallow area. In 2011, the instruction was to "include chemfallow." In 2016, this was expanded to say "include cropland on which no crops will be grown during the year but that will have weeds controlled by tillage or chemical application."

Step 11. Weed control on summerfallow land

  • Formerly Step 13.
  • No content changes.

Step 12. Tillage practices for land seeded or to be seeded

  • Formerly Step 15.
  • No content changes.

Step 13. Practices and land features

  • Formerly Step 14.
  • The wording of the question was revised to ease reporting.
  • "No / Yes" responses are now required for each practice listed.
  • Three practices were removed from the response categories:
    • crop rotation
    • nutrient management planning
    • buffer zones around water bodies.
  • Examples for "winter cover crops" now include "fall rye, winter wheat, red clover, etc." which should improve reporting of this question.

Step 14. Area from which crop residue was baled

  • Formerly Step 16.
  • To reduce the number of respondents reporting for baled residue that they have taken off someone else's land, further precision was included in the instruction to include only area "of this operation" from which crop residue was baled for bedding or sale.

Step 15. Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, commercial fertilizers, lime, trace minerals and nutrients (copper, manganese, etc.)

  • Formerly Step 17.
  • A new instruction was added to exclude treated seed from being reported in this step.
  • The question was revised to include one new response category: Trace minerals and nutrients (copper, manganese, etc.)

Step 16. Manure

  • Formerly Step 19.
  • In 2011, this step consisted of two questions. For 2016, one question with five response categories was removed:

Which of the following apply to the manure used or produced on this operation in 2010?

  • Applied on this operation
  • Applied on land that was rented TO others
  • Sold or given to others
  • Bought or received FROM others
  • Other (composted, processed, dried, stored, etc.)
    Specify:
  • In the second question, one of the response categories was also removed (there are now four response categories instead of five):
    • Manure spread naturally by grazing livestock

Step 17. Irrigation

  • Formerly Step 18.
  • The instruction to exclude the area of land where only manure was applied by irrigation was removed to improve comprehension of this question.
  • The heading on the response box was revised to include the word "irrigated" (i.e. "Area irrigated in 2015" rather than "Area in 2015") to help improve reporting.
  • For 2016, the following five response categories were replaced with "total area of land irrigated":
    Report the area of land irrigated for each of the following in 2010:
    • Irrigated alfalfa, hay and pasture
    • Irrigated field crops
    • Irrigated vegetables
    • Irrigated fruits
    • Other irrigated areas (nursery, sod, etc.)
      Specify:

Step 18. Organic products

  • Formerly Step 35.
  • A new instruction to include certified products or those in the process of becoming certified was added.
  • In 2011, this step consisted of three questions with nine response categories. In 2016, one question with six response categories was removed following consultations with data users:
    Report the status in 2011 for the organic products produced for sale.
    (Fill in all applicable circles.)
    • Field crops (grains, oilseeds, etc.) or hay
    • Fruits, vegetables or greenhouse products
    • Animals or animal products (meat, dairy products, eggs, etc.)
    • Maple products
    • Herbs, spices or garlic
    • Other - Specify:

Step 19. Greenhouse products

  • Formerly step 20.
  • To improve reporting of this step an instruction was added: "For unheated cold frames or tunnels, report these areas in Step 7 or Step 8."

Step 20. Mushrooms

  • Formerly Step 21.
  • No content changes.

Step 21. Maple tree taps

  • Formerly Step 22.
  • No content changes.

Step 22. Bees

  • Formerly Step 23.
  • No content changes in the English questionnaire.
  • A minor wording change was made to the question in French to improve comprehension; the Census only wants respondents to report for the bees they own. Therefore, the words "is the owner of bees" was added to the French question because the verb to own (possède) does not necessarily imply one is the owner of the bees.

Step 23. Technology used on the operation

  • This step is new for 2016. It expands on a previous question that asked if a computer, the Internet and high-speed Internet were used for the farm business. This new step consists of one question with 11 response categories:

    In 2015, which of the following TECHNOLOGIES were used on this operation?

    Include work done by others on this operation.
    (Fill in all applicable circles.)
    • Computers/laptops for farm management
    • Smart phones/tablets for farm management
    • Automated steering (auto-steer)
    • GPS technology
    • GIS mapping (e.g., soil mapping)
    • Greenhouse automation
    • Robotic milking
    • Automated environmental controls for animal housing
    • Automated animal feeding
    • Other technology — Specify:
    • None of the above

Step 24. Poultry inventories

  • No content changes.

Step 25. Chicken and turkey production

  • No content changes.

Step 26. Eggs

  • No content changes.

Step 27. Commercial hatcheries

  • No content changes.

Step 28. Livestock

  • Minor changes were made to this step:
    • The four headings on the response box columns were revised to include the census date. They now read: "Number on May 16, 2016" instead of "Number."
    • The order the animals are listed was revised in the "Other livestock" category.
    • "Wild boars" was removed as a separate response category and was added to the examples in the response category: "Other livestock—Specify."
    • On the French questionnaire, the word "chevreuils" was changed to "cerfs" as this is the proper French term.

Step 29. Market value of land and buildings

  • No content changes.

Step 30. Farm machinery and equipment

  • Some changes were made to the inclusion instructions to clarify what is to be reported where:
    • The "include" instruction was revised to specify that equipment "owned or leased by this operation" as well as machinery owned jointly with a different operation should be included.
    • An additional instruction was added to "Report fixed equipment in STEP 29" instead of in Step 30.
  • The dollar amounts used in the example were updated.
  • Some changes were made to this step to combine response categories to simplify reporting
    • In 2011, the number of response categories for tractors was four. This has been reduced to three response categories for 2016.
    • In 2016, the two response categories for pick-up trucks and farm passenger vehicles were amalgamated into one response category.
    • In 2016, the "combines" response category became "grain combines" to add more precision. In addition, the four response categories: "Combines," "Swathers and mower-conditioners," "Balers," and "Forage harvesters" were combined into two response categories as follows:
      • "Grain combines and swathers"
      • "Forage harvesters, balers, mower-conditioners, etc."
    • In 2016, the "All other farm machinery and equipment" response category was revised to include "other harvesting equipment and Christmas tree balers." The example of "workshop equipment" was removed.

Step 31. Total gross farm receipts and total farm operating expenses

  • Formerly Step 31 and Step 32; these two steps have been combined into one for 2016.
  • For the gross farm receipts, the following instructions were removed:
    • Account books or completed income tax forms, if available, are useful in completing this page.
  • For the gross farm receipts and farm operating expenses, the following instructions were revised:
    • Do not include "the sale of any goods purchased only for retail sales" was replaced with "the sale of any goods purchased only for resale."
    • The instruction to report for the calendar year "In 2015" replaces the instruction "in 2010 (calendar year) or for the last complete accounting (fiscal) year."
  • Only the total farm operating expenses is requested in 2016. All the detailed expenses have been removed from the questionnaire:
    • Fertilizer and lime
    • Herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.
    • Seeds and plants (Do not include materials purchased for resale.)
    • Feed, supplements and hay
    • Livestock and poultry purchases
    • Veterinary services, drugs, semen, breeding fees, etc.
    • Custom work, contract work and hired trucking
    • "Wages and salaries (including all employee benefits):
      • paid to family members
      • paid to all other persons
    • All fuel (diesel, gasoline, oil, wood, natural gas, propane, etc.)
    • Repairs and maintenance to farm machinery, equipment and vehicles
    • Repairs and maintenance to farm buildings and fences
    • Rental and leasing of land and buildings (including community pasture and grazing fees)
    • Rental and leasing of farm machinery, equipment and vehicles
    • Electricity, telephone and all other telecommunications services
    • Farm interest expenses (Do not include payment of principal or amount of debt outstanding.)
    • All other farm business operating expenses not reported above, such as property taxes, packaging materials, farm and crop insurance premiums, irrigation levies, legal and accounting fees, etc. (Do not include depreciation or capital cost allowance.)

Step 32. Paid employees

  • Formerly Step 33
  • This step was completely modified in its structure. In 2011, there was a table to be completed; in 2016, there are a series of questions similar in layout to the rest of the steps on the questionnaire.
  • A specific instruction to include family and non-family members was also added.

Step 33. Direct marketing

  • This step is new. It consists of two questions with six response categories:
    In 2015, did this operation SELL any agricultural products DIRECTLY TO CONSUMERS for human consumption?
    Do not include the sale of any goods purchased only for resale
    • No Go to STEP 34
    • Yes
  • In 2015, which of the following products were sold directly to consumers for human consumption?
    (Fill in all applicable circles.)
    • Unprocessed agricultural products (such as fruits, vegetables, meat cuts, poultry, eggs, maple syrup, honey, etc.)
    • Value added products (such as jellies, sausages, wine, cheese, etc.)
  • In 2015, which of the following methods were used to sell directly to consumers for human consumption? (Fill in all applicable circles.)
    • Farm gate sales, stands, kiosks, U-pick
    • Farmers' markets
    • Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)
    • Other methods—Specify:

Step 34. Operating arrangement

  • Formerly Step 4.
  • No content changes were made to the English questionnaire.
  • To clarify the meaning of "Société de personnes avec contrat écrit (incluant les sociétés en nom collectif," the acronym "SENC") was added.

Step 35. Succession plan

  • This step is new. It consists of one question with two response categories:
    As of May 10, 2016 did this operation have a WRITTEN SUCCESSION PLAN?
    A succession plan is more extensive than a will. It is a formalized plan that ensures the future continuity of this farm business.
    It contains three elements: transfer of management and control; transfer of assets and ownership; and transfer of labour.
    • No Go to STEP 36
    • Yes
    In your written succession plan, will the successor(s) for this operation be:
    (Fill in all applicable circles.)
    • Family member(s)
    • Non-family member(s)

Back page

Step 36. Renewable energy producing systems

  • This step is new. It consists of one question with seven response categories.
    In 2015, were there any renewable energy producing systems, regardless of ownership, on this operation?
    Include systems that produce energy for this operation or for sale.
    • No End of questionnaire, thank you.
    • Yes
  • In 2015, which of the following renewable energy producing systems were on this operation?
    (Fill in all applicable circles.)
    • Solar panels
    • Wind turbines
    • Anaerobic biodigester (biogas or methane)
    • Biodiesel production systems
    • Geothermal electric power generator
    • Hydro electric power generator
    • Other renewable energy producing systems — Specify:
  • The information provided on the back page was simplified.
  • The first paragraph includes the following two new statements:
    • The data are needed to make informed decisions about business management strategies, agricultural policies, programs and services that directly affect farmers and rural communities.
    • Census data provide a reliable source of information to farm organizations, government departments, agriculture suppliers and service providers, and researchers that help them to understand and respond to changes in agriculture.
  • The following three bullets were removed:
    • Census information on livestock counts, crop area and types of crops planted give a historical picture of the changes in Canadian agriculture over time.
    • The census collects information on minimum and no-till seeding, organic products, new crops or livestock and other innovations in agriculture.
    • It tracks partnerships and corporations, computer use and major farm expenses to paint a statistical picture of the business of farming."
  • The answer to "But why in May" was reduced from two paragraphs to one and now reads:
    • Statistics Canada recognizes that mid-May is one of the busiest times of the year for farmers. However, collecting the data at the same time as the Census of Population streamlines procedures and saves millions of dollars.
  • Information on the "Use of record linkages" replaces the information on "Why not use tax data instead of asking financial questions?" and now reads:
    • To enhance the data from this census and to minimize the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.
  • Information on "The law protects what you tell us" was reduced from two paragraphs to one and now reads:
    • The confidentiality of your census responses is protected by law. All Statistics Canada employees have taken an oath of secrecy. Your personal census information cannot be given to anyone outside Statistics Canada without your consent. This is your right.
  • Information on fax or e-mail transmission disclosure is new and reads as follows:
    • Statistics Canada advises you that there could be a risk of disclosure during facsimile or other electronic transmission. However, upon receipt, Statistics Canada will provide the guaranteed level of protection afforded all information collected under the authority of the Statistics Act.