Social Media Guidelines for Employees

Official Use
Use of an official departmental social media account for departmental communication purposes.

Personal Use
Use of a personal social media account for purposes not related to work.

Professional Networking Use
Use of a personal social media account for non-official communication purposes related to work, including participation in professional associations, knowledge sharing and career development.

Below, you will find guidelines on how to engage and behave in the social media sphere as a Statistics Canada and Government of Canada employee, based on the three usage categories identified above. The guidelines should be taken into consideration regardless of whether you are engaging in social media at work or at home.

1. Official Use

The official Statistics Canada social media accounts are managed by Communications Division following an official interaction protocol, which identifies standards, escalation and approval process for all comments or questions related to Statistics Canada, its activities, programs, products and services.

Employees are not allowed to reply to posts directed at Statistics Canada or speak on behalf of the Agency. Communications Division is responsible for replying to posts directed at Statistics Canada in social media venues.

For more information on how Statistics Canada is using social media, please see the Guidelines on the Use of Social Media at Statistics Canada.

2. Personal Use and Professional Networking Use

The following guidelines apply to employees when they:

use social media on Statistics Canada's computer network; or
identify themselves as Statistics Canada or Government of Canada employees in their personal or professional use of social media.

2.1 Be professional

Remember that as a public servant, your conduct online reflects upon the image of the Government of Canada at all times, not just during working hours. This is particularly true if the Government of Canada could be identified as your employer through your use of social media.

Also, every Government of Canada employee has responsibilities under the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service. The code stipulates that public service employees must ensure that “they exemplify, in all their actions and behaviours, the values of public service.”

If you have questions about an online activity in which you want to engage, or if you are unsure about whether or not a topic, post or comment is appropriate, please contact the Web2Social team in Communications Division.

2.2 Be responsible

Always keep in mind that you are personally responsible for the content you publish online through social media and can be held accountable for any inappropriate comment.

Be aware that the content you post is visible to the entire world and will remain public for a very long time. Before engaging in social media activities, be sure to understand the social media environment and its associated risks.

2.3 Take ownership

Clearly state that the content you publish is based on your personal sentiment and that you are not speaking on behalf of Statistics Canada. Consider using a disclaimer such as: “This is my personal opinion and does not necessarily represent the views of Statistics Canada.” However, it is important to note that such a disclaimer does not absolve you of your obligations as a public servant.

You must not use any Statistics Canada or Government of Canada corporate symbols (e.g. logos) or signature in your use of social media. They are for official use only.

2.4 Be respectful

Don’t engage in any conduct or use any language that would not be acceptable in the workplace. You should also show proper consideration for topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory.

Respect the opinions of others and protect their privacy. Don’t post pictures, cite, reference or share information related to other individuals (e.g. colleagues) without their explicit consent.

2.5 Protect the brand

When you express yourself in social media on issues related to, or about, Statistics Canada, you contribute to the public perception of the Agency. Never publish a post that contains profanity or abuse toward Statistics Canada or the Government of Canada.

If you publish information about Statistics Canada or the Government of Canada, ensure that the information is publicly available (e.g. published on the website) and wherever possible, clearly indicate the source.

2.6 Remember that confidentiality is important

Confidentiality is the most important value at Statistics Canada and it should be reflected in your personal use and professional networking of social media. Respect the oath that you took. Stay informed about confidentiality requirements and best practices and take the appropriate measures to ensure that confidential statistical information remains secure.

2.7 Don’t forget your day job

You should make sure that your online activities during work hours do not interfere with your job and its related commitments. To that effect, you are encouraged to use social media during your personal time (lunch and breaks).

Don’t forget that all employees have an obligation to adhere to Statistics Canada’s Network Use Policy Agreement.

Contact Information

For more information, please read the Frequently Asked Questions for Employees or contact the Web2Social team.

Rules and Responsibilities for a User Account at Statistics Canada

October 5, 2012

NOTE: The following rules and responsibilities must be acknowledged and understood by network users at Statistics Canada.

You as an authorized user are the only person who may use your account. Your password must be kept secret. If it becomes known to any other person, you must change it.
As an authorized user, you must change your password every 90 days in accordance with Statistics Canada’s password standards.
You must accept the Network Use Policy Agreement every 90 days. Failure to do so will result in suspension of your accounts.
Confidential data acquired through the use of computer facilities must not be disclosed to anyone outside Statistics Canada.
Computer services are shared among all users in Statistics Canada and must not be restricted or interfered with by software or hardware techniques. To report any abuse or misuse of Statistics Canada's informatics resources, please submit a request to Desktop Support using the SRM-GDS icon located on your desktop.
As computer resources are expensive, care should be taken that they are used efficiently and in accordance with the requirements of authorized work on Statistics Canada projects.
Upon termination of employment at Statistics Canada, you must complete an Employee Clearance notification using the Data Access Request System and select Launch application.
Upon extension of a term employment, you must provide a copy of your letter of offer to the Informatics Service Desk (Fax number: 951-3294) to have your expiry date changed.
To update your personal information (e.g., location or telephone number), please use the Personal Work Information Application.
You must ask the Informatics Service Desk to suspend your account for absences of more than two months. To do so, please submit a request to Desktop Support using the SRM-GDS icon located on your desktop.

5.4 Network Use Policy

Status: Under review

Preface

It is Treasury Board policy to encourage authorised individuals to use electronic networks for approved purposes such as conducting the business of government, communicating with other authorised individuals and with the public, gathering information relevant to their duties, and developing expertise in using networks effectively and efficiently.

Statistics Canada's electronic networks have been put in place to facilitate communication within the Agency and between the Agency and its clients, respondents, and partners, to expedite the transfer of data and information, to automate administrative transactions, and generally to improve access by employees to the information they need to do their job.

The Treasury Board policy requires institutions to develop their own policies and procedures with respect to acceptable and lawful use, monitoring of use, and employee and managerial responsibilities in the use of electronic networks. In particular, it requires institutions to exercise discretion on whether and under what conditions its employees may use government computers and electronic networks for personal use.

Statistics Canada's existing security policies prescribe the safeguards and restrictions necessary to protect data confidentiality. Because individuals who use electronic networks may inadvertently or deliberately damage a positive work environment, disclose information in an unauthorised fashion, or engage in unacceptable or unlawful activities, the Treasury Board policy helps institutions and authorised individuals get the most benefit from electronic networks and provides guidance on conduct on such networks.

Policy

It is the policy of Statistics Canada:

To encourage the approved use of its electronic networks in carrying out the business of the Agency;

To permit personal use of its electronic networks only when such use:

is on personal time;
is not for financial gain; and
does not add to Statistics Canada's costs;

To deal quickly, fairly and decisively with any violations of this policy.

The following limitations apply to all use of Statistics Canada electronic networks:

Individuals must not conduct any unlawful or unacceptable activity (for examples see appendices A and B);

Individuals must not access or download Web sites or files or send or receive electronic mail messages or other types of communication that involve documents that incite hatred against identifiable groups; or whose main focus is pornography, nudity or sexual acts.

Individuals must be careful to ensure that any personal messages sent using a Statistics Canada network are not construed to represent the views of the Agency or the Government of Canada; and do not embarrass the Agency through such things as inappropriate language; policy advocacy or criticism; negative comment about third parties including clients and respondents of the Agency.

Responsibilities

Each authorised individual is responsible for ensuring that they access and use Statistics Canada electronic networks only for authorised purposes, in a responsible and informed way, respecting the law and government policies and guidelines as set out by the Treasury Board and Statistics Canada by:

being aware that all electronic messages sent via a Statistics Canada network automatically identify the Agency;
being aware of information technology security issues and privacy concerns;
taking reasonable measures to control the use of their password, user identification or computer accounts;
following Statistics Canada policy for ensuring the security of computer networks and electronic information; and using the information technology security features provided by Statistics Canada;
taking precautions to avoid transferring computer viruses into the network;
writing communications in a professional way, so that their use of electronic networks will not reflect badly on Statistics Canada or the Government of Canada;
taking reasonable steps to ensure their communications about policies, programs and service are accurate and clear, and that they comply with the Statistics Canada's policies concerning who may act as spokespersons and the procedures to follow in making public statements;
clarifying with the Director, Data Access and Control Services Division, when in doubt whether a planned use is acceptable and lawful according to this policy.

Directors are responsible for ensuring that all authorised individuals in their division are aware of this policy.

The Director-General, Informatics Branch is responsible for providing training or information on using electronic networks effectively and efficiently; and for approving the individuals who are authorised to monitor the use of electronic networks.

The Director, Data Access and Control Services Division is responsible for providing information on this policy; for providing information on the interpretation of acceptable and lawful uses; for reviewing suspected unacceptable or unlawful use; and for determining whether investigations should be carried out.

The Assistant Chief Statistician, Management Services, is responsible for authorising the analysis of the content of individual files or electronic mail in instances of suspected unacceptable or unlawful use and for identifying to whom those authorised may disclose information about identifiable individuals.

Definitions

Access means gaining entry to an electronic network that Statistics Canada has provided. Access may be from inside or outside government premises. It may support telework and remote access situations or where authorised individuals are using such electronic networks for personal use on personal time.

Authorised individuals include employees of the federal government, contractors and other persons who have been authorised by the Chief Statistician to access Statistics Canada networks.

Authorised uses of electronic networks include the conduct of government business, professional activities, career development and personal use on personal time.

Electronic networks include the Intranet, the Internet and any other public or private network external to and provided for Statistics Canada.

Monitoring of electronic networks means any action that involves the recording and subsequent analysis of activity on, or use of, a system or electronic network. Examples include recording user accounts, user activities, sites visited, information downloaded and computer resources used to perform a routine analysis of traffic flow on networks, use patterns and sites that work groups or individuals have visited. The information recorded and subjected to analysis does not normally involve the contents of individual electronic mail, files and transmissions.

Unacceptable activity is any activity that violates Treasury Board policy or Statistics Canada policy (for examples see Appendix B).

Unlawful activity includes criminal offences, contravention of non-criminal regulatory federal and provincial statutes, and actions that make an individual or Statistics Canada liable to a civil lawsuit (for examples see Appendix A).

Monitoring of electronic networks

Statistics Canada networks are routinely monitored for operational reasons to determine whether the networks are operating efficiently; to isolate and resolve problems; and to assess compliance with the policy. In addition, periodic and random checks of the network for specific operational purposes may be undertaken. In either case, the resulting information may be analysed. Those authorised to perform these activities are the Network Control Centre, the Infrastructure Support Section and the EDP Security Section of the Informatics Technology Services Division and the Departmental Security Services Section of the Data Access and Control Services Division. Everyone should be aware that visits to Web sites and electronic mail messages normally result in records identifying the computer from which the visit or message originated. The Statistics Canada firewalls, gateways and systems record which Web sites and which electronic mail addresses were contacted and which computer and user made the visit or sent the message can be determined. This information may be accessible under the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act.

The information recorded and subject to analysis does not normally involve reading the content of individual electronic mail or files. However, if, through routine analysis or a complaint, it is reasonably suspected that an individual is misusing the network, the matter will be referred to the Director, Data Access and Control Services Division to determine whether further investigation and action is required. This may involve special monitoring and/or reading the contents of individual electronic mail and files without notice. However, such action and/or the linkage of recorded information to individuals requires the approval of the Assistant Chief Statistician, Management Services and such approval will be given only where there are reasonable grounds to believe that unacceptable or unlawful activity is involved. Moreover, those required to read the contents of electronic communications can only carry out this activity with the approval of the Director-General, Informatics Branch and must use the information obtained only for authorised purposes and keep it confidential within the bounds of the investigation.

Disciplinary measures

Statistics Canada will report suspected illegal activity to law-enforcement authorities, where it is deemed appropriate and may take disciplinary measures, even where a formal criminal charge or civil lawsuit is not pursued.

The disciplinary measures that may be used in instances of unacceptable or unlawful use will depend on the seriousness and circumstances of the incident and may include an oral reprimand, written reprimand, limiting electronic network access, suspension or termination of employment.

Inquiries
Inquiries concerning this policy are to be directed to the Director General, Informatics Branch, 951-7114.

Appendix A - Examples of unlawful activity

For the purposes of this policy, "unlawful activity" is interpreted broadly to include actions that could result in sanctions of different kinds in a court of law.

1. Criminal offences

The following are examples of criminal activity that could take place on electronic networks:

Child pornography: possessing, downloading or distributing any child pornography.

Copyright: infringing on another person's copyright.

Defamation: causing a statement to be read by others that is likely to injure the reputation of any person by exposing them to hatred, contempt or ridicule, or that is designed to insult them.

Destroying, altering or encrypting data without authorisation and with the intent of making it inaccessible to others with a lawful need to access it.

Gaining unauthorised access to a computer system.

Hacking and other crimes related to computer security.

Harassment: sending messages that cause people to fear for their safety or the safety of anyone known to them.

Hate propaganda: disseminating messages that promote hatred or incite violence against identifiable groups in statements outside of private conversations.

Intercepting private communications or electronic mail without authorisation.

Interfering with others' lawful use of data and computers.

Obscenity: distributing, publishing or possessing for the purpose of distributing or publicly displaying any obscene material.

Spreading viruses with intent to cause harm.

Trying to defeat the security features of the electronic networks.

Various other offences: the Criminal Code (and a few other statutes) define a range of other offences that can take place in whole or in part using electronic networks such as fraud, extortion, blackmail, bribery, illegal gambling, and dealing in illegal drugs.

2. Violations of federal and provincial statutes

The following are examples of unlawful (though not criminal) activity that could take place on electronic networks:

Copyright and intellectual property: violating another person's copyright and unauthorised use of trade-marks and patents.

Destroying data: unlawfully destroying, altering or falsifying electronic records.

Disclosing business trade secrets without authorisation: revealing confidential commercial information supplied in confidence by a third party and consistently treated as confidential by them.

Disclosing personal information without authorisation.

Disclosing sensitive information without authorisation.

Harassment: discriminating against an individual on the basis of race, national or ethic origin, colour, religion, age, sexual orientation, marital status, family status, disability or conviction for which a pardon has been granted. Displaying unwelcome sexist, pornographic, racist or homophobic images or text on a video screen at work can be harassment.

Privacy infractions: for example, reading someone else's electronic mail or other personal information without authorisation; listening in on someone's private conversations; or intercepting electronic mail while it is in transit.

Use of public money without proper authority.

3. Activity that can expose individuals or the employer to civil liability

The following are examples of civil wrongs that could take place on electronic networks:

Disclosing or collecting sensitive data without authorisation. In addition to the statutory provisions mentioned above, this can result in a civil action.

Defamation: spreading false allegations or rumours that would harm a person's reputation.

Inaccurate information: posting inaccurate information, whether negligently or intentionally.

Appendix B - Examples of unacceptable activity

A number of Treasury Board and Statistics Canada policies apply whether the unacceptable activity occurs on paper, by telephone, through computer networks, in oral conversation or through any other medium. These activities are not necessarily unlawful but they violate these policies. The following are examples with a reference to the applicable policy:

Accessing, without authorisation, sensitive information held by the government. (Government Security Policy).

Allowing public access to Network A. (Statistics Canada EDP Security Policy).

Attempting to defeat information technology security features, through such means as using anti-security programs; using someone else's password, user-identification or computer account; disclosing one's password, network configuration information or access codes to others; or disabling anti-virus programs. (Government Security Policy).

Causing congestion and disruption of networks and systems, through such means as sending chain letters and receiving list server electronic mail unrelated to a work purpose. (Government Security Policy).

Communicating information provided in confidence outside of Statistics Canada using Internet mail. (Statistics Canada EDP Security Policy).

Connecting a device to Network A and Network B simultaneously. (Statistics Canada EDP Security Policy).

Failing to revoke system access rights for personnel when they leave the institution or when they lose their reliability status or security clearance. (Government Security Policy).

Making excessive public criticisms of governmental policy. (Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for the Public Service).

Processing, storing or communicating information provided in confidence on a network other than network A unless specific authorisation has been obtained from the Policy Committee. (Statistics Canada EDP Security Policy).

Providing personnel with access to systems, networks, or applications used to process sensitive information before they are properly security screened. (Government Security Policy).

Representing personal opinions as those of the institution, or otherwise failing to comply with institutional procedures concerning public statements about the government's positions. (Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for the Public Service).

Sending abusive, sexist or racist messages to other employees and other authorised individuals. (Harassment in the Workplace Policy).

Sending classified or designated information on unsecured networks, unless it is sent in encrypted form. (Government Security Policy).

Unauthorised removal or installation of hardware or software on government owned informatics devices or electronic networks. (Government Security Policy).

Using the government's electronic networks for private business, personal gain or profit or political activity. (Conflict of Interest and Post-Employment Code for the Public Service).

E-mail Phishing, Scams and Hoaxes

Overview:

Since so many people around the world depend on e-mail, it has become one of the primary methods cyber criminals use to attack others. The most frequently used methods is by Phishing.

Phishing:

Phishing is one of the most commonly used e-mail based attacks. It uses social engineering, a technique where cyber attackers attempt to fool you into taking an action. Phishing was a term originally used to describe an attack designed to steal your online banking login details. However, the term has evolved and now refers to almost any cyber attack sent by e-mail. A phishing attack begins with an e-mail pretending to be from someone or something you know or trust, such as your bank or your favorite online store. These e-mails then try to entice you into taking an action, such as clicking on a link, opening an attachment, or responding to a message. Cyber criminals craft these convincing e-mails and then send them out to thousands, if not millions, of people around the world. The criminals do not have a specific target in mind, nor do they know exactly who will fall victim. They simply know the more e-mails they send out, the more people they may be able to fool. Phishing attacks often have one of the following objectives:

Harvesting Information: The cyber attacker’s goal is to entice you into clicking on a link and taking you to a website that asks for your login and password or perhaps your favorite color or mother’s maiden name. These websites may appear legitimate with exactly the same look and feel of your online bank, but they are designed to steal information that could give them access to your online bank account.
Controlling your computer through malicious links: Once again, the cyber attacker’s goal is to have you to click on a link. However, instead of harvesting your information, the goal is to infect your computer. If you do so, you are directed to a website that silently launches an attack against your browser, and, if successful, these cyber criminals may be able to gain control over your computer.
Controlling your computer through malicious attachments: These are phishing e-mails that have infected attachments, such as infected PDF files or Microsoft Office documents. If you open these attachments, the embedded code attacks your computer, and if successful, gives complete control of your system to the attacker.

Scams:

Scams are nothing new; these are attempts by criminals to defraud you. Classic examples include notices that you’ve won the lottery, an iPad (even though you never entered it), or a dignitary needs to transfer millions of dollars into your country and would like to pay you to help with the transfer. The scammer then informs you that you have to pay a processing fee before you can get your money. After you pay these fees the criminals disappear, never to be heard from again.

Hoaxes:

Occasionally, deceitful individuals will circulate e-mail warnings about viruses that do not actually exist. Well-intentioned users may clog email systems by circulating the false reports among their peers. Even worse, hoaxes may create a "cry wolf syndrome." As users grow increasingly sceptical of hoaxes, they may ignore a legitimate warning.

A typical hoax can include such things as a warning message about a virus (or occasionally a Trojan) spreading on the Internet; a recommendation to protect yourself by deleting the so-called virus; a message all in CAPS with loads of exclamation marks; an urgent and repeated request to forward the message to everyone you know and; an attempt to seek credibility by citing some authoritative source as issuing the warning, as well as describing the virus in deceptive technical jargon.

Protecting Yourself:

In most cases simply opening an e-mail is safe. Most attacks work by getting you to do something after reading the e-mail, such as opening the attachment, clicking on the link, or responding to the request for information. If after reading an e-mail you think it is a phishing attack or scam, simply delete the message. Here are some indications if an e-mail is an attack.

Be suspicious of any e-mail that requires immediate action or creates a sense of urgency. This is a common method used to trick people.
Be suspicious of e-mails addressed to “Dear Customer” or some other generic salutation.
Be suspicious of grammar or spelling mistakes, most businesses proofread their messages very carefully.
If a link in an e-mail seems suspicious, place your mouse cursor over the link and do not click it. This will show you the true destination where you would go if you actually clicked it. The link that is written in the e-mail may be very different from the actual destination.
Do not click on links. Instead copy the URL from the email and paste it into your browser. Even better is to simply type the destination name into your browser. For example, if you get an email from UPS telling you your package is ready for delivery, do not click on the link. Instead, go to the UPS website and then copy and paste the tracking number.
Be suspicious of attachments; only open attachments that you were expecting.
Just because you got an e-mail from your friend does not mean they sent it. Your friend’s computer may have been infected or their account may have been compromised and malware is sending e-mail to all of your friend’s contacts. If you get a suspicious email from a trusted friend or colleague, call them to confirm that they sent it.

And remember “If something seems suspicious or too good to be true, it is most likely an attack. Simply delete the e-mail”.

Your simplest course of action is always to delete the offending email without opening links or attachments, or leave the website in question without navigating its content. IT Security begins with you and the choices you make.

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Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

Reporting Guide

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the Survey on Capital and Repair Expenditures Actual 2013.

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.

Data-sharing agreements
Record linkages
Reporting period information
Definition
Industry characteristics

Data sharing Agreements

Data sharing Agreements

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

Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substancially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data. For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organizations with which you do not want to share your data. For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as Natural Resources Canada, Industry, Canada, Environment Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Natural Resources, Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Manitoba Department of Innovation, Energy and Mines, British Columbia Ministry of Energy, and British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Mines and Lands. The agreements we have with these agencies require that they keep the information confidential and use it only for statistical and research purposes.

Further to the section 12 agreement with the Saskatchewan Department of Energy and Resources, Statistics Canada is collecting the information for itself pursuant to the Statistics Act and on behalf of the Saskatchewan Department of Energy and Resources pursuant to The Mineral Resources Act (Saskatchewan). In this case, respondents do not have the right to object to sharing their information since the party to the Agreement is authorized by law to require the respondent to provide the information.
For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Record linkages

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

Reporting period information

For the purpose of this survey, please report information for your 12 month fiscal period for which the final day occurs on or between April 1, 2013 — March 31, 2014.
Here are twelve common fiscal periods that fall within the targeted dates:

May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013
June 1, 2012 to May 31, 2013
July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013
August 1, 2012 to July 31, 2013
September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013
October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013
November 1, 2012 to October 31, 2013
December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013
January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013
February 1, 2013 to January 31, 2014
March 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014
April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014

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

September 18, 2012 to September 15, 2013 (e.g., floating year-end)
June 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 (e.g., a newly opened business)

Definition

Dollar amounts

all dollar amounts reported should be rounded to thousands of Canadian dollars (e.g., $6,555,444.00 should be rounded to $6,555);
percentages should be rounded (e.g., 37%, 76%, 94%);
your best estimates are acceptable when precise figures are not available;

What are Capital Expenditures?

Capital Expenditures are the gross expenditures on fixed assets for use in the operations of your organization or for lease or rent to others.

Include:

Cost of all new buildings, engineering, machinery and equipment which normally have a life of more than one year and are charged to fixed asset accounts
Modifications, acquisitions and major renovations
Capital costs such as feasibility studies, architectural, legal, installation and engineering fees
Subsidies
Capitalized interest charges on loans with which capital projects are financed
Work done by own labour force
Acquisitions to work in progress

How to Treat Leases

Include:

assets acquired as a lessee through either a capital or financial lease;
assets acquired for lease to others as an operating lease.

Exclude

assets acquired for lease to others, either as a capital or financial lease.

Information for Government Departments
The following applies to government departments only:

Include

all capital expenditures without taking into account the capitalization threshold of your department;
grants and/or subsidies to outside entities (e.g., municipalities, agencies, institutions or businesses) are not to be included;
Departments are requested to exclude from reported figures budgetary items pertaining to any departmental agency and proprietary crown corporation as they are surveyed separately;
Federal departments are to report expenditures paid for by the department, regardless of which department awarded the contract;
Provincial departments are to include any capital expenditures on construction (exclude outlays for land) or machinery and equipment, for use in Canada, financed from revolving funds, loans attached to revolving funds, other loans, the Consolidated Revenue Fund or special accounts.

Industry characteristics

Asset codes:Capital expenditures are to be reported by asset type code. The code for each main asset type is located on page 6, 7, 8 and 9 of this guide. These codes are to be used in question 2 column 1, question 3 column 1 and question 7.
• If you have purchased more than one asset in a particular asset group, report them separately if they had a different expected useful life (question 2 and 3, column 6), otherwise you may combine the data;
• The use of “Other” codes is to be avoided, if possible.
• In question 2 and 3, construction and machinery and equipment type of assets are separated. This is not necessary in question 7;
• If more lines are required for question 2, 3 or 7, please photocopy the relevant section(s) and attach to the questionnaire.
New Assets: Report Capital Expenditures for acquisitions of new assets including the portion of work in progress for the current year. Include imports of used assets since they represent newly acquired assets for the Canadian economy.

Purchase of Used Canadian Assets: The object of our survey is to measure the acquisitions of new fixed assets separately from used fixed assets in the Canadian economy as a whole. This is because the acquisition of used assets does not increase the total inventory of fixed assets, it only transfers them within the Canadian economy. Report acquisition of used assets separately in this column.

Renovation, Retrofit, Refurbishing, Overhauling and Restoration: Report Capital Expenditures for existing assets being upgraded, renovated, retrofitted, refurbished, overhauled or restored.

Expected Useful Life of Assets: Report the expected life of the asset in years.

Land: Capital expenditures for land should include all costs associated with the purchase of the land that are not amortized or depreciated. Improvements of land should be reported in Non-Residential Construction.

Residential Construction: Capital expenditures incurred during the reporting period for residential structures (on a contracted basis and/or by your own employees).

Include the housing portion of multi-purpose projects and of townsites.
Exclude buildings that have accommodation units without self contained or exclusive use of bathroom and kitchen facilities (e.g., some student and senior citizens residences) and associated expenditures on services.

Non-Residential Construction: Capital expenditures incurred during the reporting period for non-residential building and engineering construction (on a contracted basis and/or by your own employees) whether for your own use or rent to others.

Include:

Manufacturing plants, warehouses, office buildings, shopping centres, etc.;
Roads, bridges, sewers, electric power lines, underground cables, etc.;
The cost of demolition of buildings, land servicing and site preparation;
Leasehold and land improvements.
Acquisitions to work in progress;
Townsite facilities such as streets, sewers, stores and schools;
Buildings that have accommodation units without self contained or exclusive use of bathroom and kitchen facilities (e.g., some student and senior citizen residences) and associated expenditures on services;
All preconstruction planning and design costs such as engineer and consulting fees and any materials supplied to construction contractors for installation, etc.

Machinery and Equipment

Capital expenditures incurred during the reporting period for machinery and equipment, whether for your own use or for lease or rent to others.

Include:

Automobiles, trucks, professional and scientific equipment, office and store furniture and appliances;
Computers (hardware and software), broadcasting, telecommunications and other information and communication technologies equipment;
Motors, generators, transformers;
Any capitalized tooling expenses;
Acquisitions to work in progress;
Progress payments paid out before delivery in the year in which such payments are made;
Any balance owing or holdbacks should be reported in the year the cost is incurred.

Non-Capital Repair and Maintenance Expenditures: This question represents the repair and maintenance of assets in contrast to the acquisition of assets or the renovation of assets.

Include:

Gross non-capital repair and maintenance expenditures on non-residential buildings, other structures and on machinery and equipment;
Value of repair work done by your own employees as well as payments to persons outside your employ;
Building maintenance such as janitorial services, snow removal and sanding;
Equipment maintenance such as oil changes and lubrication of vehicles and other machinery.

Work in Progress: Work in progress represents accumulated costs since the start of capital projects which are intended to be capitalized upon completion.

Typically capital investment includes any expenditure on an asset in which its life is greater than one year. Capital items charged to operating expenses are defined as expenditures which could have been capitalized as part of the fixed assets, but for various reasons, have been charged to current expenses.

Cost component of expenditures

Total: These are the amounts to be divided between contractors and company’s own workers.

Value of Work Performed by Contractors: Work performed by contractors are contract billings or equivalent including holdbacks.

Value of Own Account Work: In addition to own account work, include all materials and supplies provided free to contractors and all architects, engineering and consultants fees and similar services.
Salaries and Wages: Show the total value of salaries and wages paid to your employees. Salaries and wages are gross earnings before deductions such as income tax and include incentive bonuses and vacation pay but exclude fringe benefits.

Materials and Supplies: Report total cost of materials and supplies used by your own employees and those provided free to contractors relating to the expenditures reported.

Other Charges: Examples of other charges are insurance, power, telephone and also architectural, legal, and engineering fees considered to be applicable to the expenditures reported.

Operating lease
The lessor bears the risk of ownership and retains a significant “residual” economic interest in the leased property. The lessee has the right to temporary use of the property, for a term shorter than the economic life of the property, in exchange for regular payments. At the end of the lease, the lessee has the option of purchasing the property at fair market value.

Capital or financial lease

These leases are similar in that the lessor in effect finances the “purchase” of the leased property by the lessee and retains a security interest in the leased property. The lessee retains the leased property for substantially all of its economic life. The lessee usually has the option at the end of the lease to purchase the property at a “bargain” price.

Disposal and sales of fixed assets

Selling price

The total value, or the sales of fixed assets which were disposed of or sold, even if traded in for credit in the acquisition or purchase of new fixed assets. When land and buildings are sold together, please report the selling price of the land separately, along with other land sales.

Gross book value

This value should represent total capital expenditures for an asset, at and since the time of original construction or purchase, including all subsequent capital expenditures for the purpose of modernization, expansion, etc. Any subsidies received should not be subtracted.

Age

Report the age of the fixed asset at the time of disposal.
If you have disposed of or sold similar assets of varying ages, report them separately or combine the data and provide a weighted average for the ages.

Non-residential construction

Asset description and codes

The asset items and categories listed below are groupings of fixed assets generally having a similar function which can apply to various industries.

Construction structures should be classified to an asset according to its principal use unless it is a multi-purpose structure where we would like you to separate the components. The cost of any machinery and equipment which is an integral or built-in feature of the structure (i.e. elevators, heating equipment, sprinkler systems, environmental controls, intercom systems, etc.) should be reported as part of that structure as well as landscaping, associated parking lots, etc.

Industrial building
Asset code	Description
6221121	Manufacturing plants
6221131	Industrial depots and service buildings
6221111	Farm buildings and structures
6221141	Other industrial sites and structures - specify:

Commercial Building
Asset code	Description
6222311	Industrial laboratories, research and development centres
6222321	Warehouses
6222331	Service stations
6222111	Office buildings
6222351	Hotels
6222341	Restaurants
6222211	Shopping centres, plazas, malls and stores
6222361	Theatres and halls
6222363	Indoor recreational facilities
6222372	Other collective dwellings
6222371	Student residences
6222380	Airports and other passenger terminals
6222391	Communications buildings
6222362	Sports facilities with spectator capacity
6222392	Other commercial properties, not elsewhere classified - specify:

Institutional Building
Asset code	Description
6223111	Schools, colleges, universities and other educational buildings
6223311	Religious centres and memorial sites
6223211	Hospitals
6223221	Clinics and other medical buildings
6223341	Daycare centres
6223351	Libraries
6223331	Historical sites
6223321	Museums
6223361	Public security facilities
6223222	Nursing homes, homes for the aged
6223371	Other institutional properties - specify:

Marine Engineering
Asset code	Description
6231311	Seaports
6231331	Canals and waterways
6231321	Marinas and harbours
6231399	Other marine infrastructure - specify:

Transportation Engineering
Asset code	Description
6231211	Parking lots and garages
6231111	Highway and road structures and networks
6231411	Runways (include lighting)
6231221	Railway lines
6231121	Bridges
6231131	Tunnels
6231499	Other transportation construction - specify:

Waterworks Engineering
Asset code	Description
6235111	Water filtration plants
6235121	Water supply infrastructure

Sewage Engineering
Asset code	Description
6235211	Sewage treatment plants
6235221	Sewage treatment infrastructure

Electric Power Engineering
Asset code	Description
6233111	Wind and solar power plants
6233112	Steam production plants
6233113	Nuclear production plants
6233114	Hydraulic production plants
6233121	Power transmission networks
6233131	Power distribution networks
6233119	Other electric power construction - specify:

Communication Engineering
Asset code	Description
6234112	Cables and lines - coaxial, copper, aluminum, etc (exclude optical fibre) (e.g., aerial, underground and submarine)
6234113	Optical fibre (e.g., aerial, underground and submarine)
6234114	Transmission support structures - towers, poles, conduit
6234119	Other communication construction - specify:

Oil and Gas Engineering
Asset code	Description
6232122	Oil refineries
6232123	Natural gas processing plants
6232999	Gas mains and services
6232999	Pumping stations, oil
6232999	Pumping stations, gas
6232999	Bulk storage
6232211	Pipelines
6411112	Exploration drilling
6232112	Development drilling
6232113	Production facilities in oil and gas extraction
6232114	Enhanced recovery projects
6232115	Site development and other pre-mining costs
6411113	Geological, geophysical and other exploration and evaluation costs
6232999	Other oil and gas engineering - specify:

Mining
Asset code	Description
6236112	Mine buildings including headframes, ore bins, ventilation structures, backfill plants and other surface buildings
6236113	Mine buildings for beneficiation treatment of minerals (excluding smelters and refineries)
6236114	Mine shafts, drifts, crosscuts, raises, declines, stopping, etc.
6236115	Tailing disposal systems, settling ponds
6412111	Mineral exploration
6236116	Mine-site development

Other Engineering
Asset code	Description
6236262	Pollution abatement and control
6236251	Outdoor recreational facilities
6236231	Waste disposal facilities
6236241	Irrigation networks
6112111	Improved land
6236211	Reclaimed land
6236269	Other engineering construction- specify:

Other Construction (not specified elsewhere)
Asset code	Description
6241119	Other construction (not specified elsewhere) - specify:

Machinery and equipment

Asset description and codes

The asset items and categories listed below are groupings of fixed assets generally having a similar function that can apply to various industries.
a) Machinery and equipment are generally housed in structures and can be removed or replaced without significantly altering the structure

Transportation Equipment
Asset code	Description
4121100	Medium and heavy-duty trucks
4121211	Buses
4111000	Passenger cars, light-duty trucks, vans and SUVs
4121300	Freight and utility trailers
4121221	Special-purpose vehicles
4411200	Locomotives, railway rolling stock, and rapid transit equipment
4211112	Civilian aircraft
4411112	Non-military ships, barges and platforms
4421100	Boats and personal watercraft
4123100	Motor vehicle bodies
3311100	Agricultural, lawn and garden machinery and equipment
4421259	Other transportation equipment - specify:

Processing Equipment
Asset code	Description
3453311	Water treatment equipment
3454342	Filters and strainers for fluids and fluid power systems
3454331	Packing, packaging, and bottling machinery
3411100	Metalworking machinery
3321151	Mineral crushing, screening, processing and beneficiation machinery and equipment
3321111	Logging machinery and equipment
3431100	Other industry-specific manufacturing machinery, not elsewhere classified - specify:

Computers, Computer Software and Office Equipment
Asset code	Description
3611100	Computers and computer peripheral equipment
4814000	Pre-packaged software
6431101	Custom software developed in-house/own account
6431102	Custom software design and development, contracted out
3421110	Optical and projection equipment, photocopiers, and office machines (except computers and peripherals)
3911400	Office furniture
3622100	Televisions and other audio and video equipment

Telecommunications, Cable and Broadcasting Equipment

Asset code	Description
3621200	Broadcast, studio, alarm, and signalling equipment
3621300	Navigational and guidance instruments
3621100	Telephone and data communications equipment
3621419	Other communication equipment - specify:

Production Plant
Asset code	Description
3631100	Electric motors and generators
3812300	Switchgear, switchboards, relays, and industrial control apparatus
3452111	Turbines, turbine generators, and turbine generator sets
3812211	Power and distribution transformers
3631230	Instruments for measuring electricity
3453113	Nuclear reactor steam supply systems
3453159	Other boilers, metal tanks, industrial valves and seals

Other Machinery and Equipment
Asset code	Description
3911600	Institutional and other furniture, not elsewhere classified (including furniture frames)
3451000	Engines (except gasoline and diesel engines for motor vehicles, and aircraft engines) and mechanical power transmission equipment
3453200	Pumps and compressors
3441100	Heating and cooling equipment (except household refrigerators and freezers)
3454341	Industrial furnaces and ovens, and electric industrial heating equipment
3321169	Other oil and gas field machinery and equipment
3454211	Materials handling trucks and tractors
3321170	Construction machinery and equipment
3321141	Rock drilling machinery and equipment
3321142	Other mining and quarrying machinery and equipment, not elsewhere classified
3321165	Oil and gas field production machinery and equipment
3812220	Other transformers
3631260	Scientific and technical instruments (except electromedical and irradiation equipment)
3631300	Medical and laboratory equipment (except scientific instruments)
3631269	Other measuring, control, and scientific instruments (except electromedical and irradiation equipment)
3454320	Power-driven hand tools (except welding and soldering equipment)
3455110	Industrial moulds, special dies, and patterns
4211111	Military aircraft
4411111	Military ships
4421231	Military armoured vehicles
4751100	Medical, dental and personal safety supplies
3454249	Other materials handling equipment, conveyors, and elevators
4751211	Billboards
4711321	Non-residential mobile buildings
1561111	Waste and scrap of iron and steel
1561211	Waste and scrap of aluminum and aluminum alloy
1561220	Waste and scrap of other non-ferrous metals
3421121	Commercial cooking and food-warming equipment
3421130	Commercial and service industry machinery, not elsewhere classified
3454100	Heavy-gauge metal containers (including intermodal)
3454311	Welding and soldering equipment
9999999	Other machinery and equipment - specify:

Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS) Data Element Manual

Center for Education Statistics
Statistics Canada

General description

This manual describes the data elements to be included in the Registered Apprenticeship Information System (RAIS). The survey was designed to replace the Registered Apprenticeship Training Survey for the 1991 reporting year.

The data reported should consist of one record for every individual registered in the apprenticeship system during the reporting year. All data elements should be reported for registered apprentices. The required information for trade qualifiers (challengers) include several of the data elements, however, the ones not requested include data elements 28, 33 to 36 and 39 to 57.

For each data element, which is identified by name and element number, there is a complete description of the data required for the element, definitions of terms where appropriate and a complete listing of all of the possible codes that can be used. In addition, some specific examples are included where additional clarification is required to ensure consistent interpretation of the elements.

A total of 19 data elements have been identified as mandatory elements. These are considered as being the core information needed on registered apprenticeship programs and trade qualifiers in order to enable Statistics Canada to release annual statistics on registrations, completions and certifications. These mandatory elements are the following: data elements 1 to 3, 5, 20, 21, 29 to 36, 38, 39, 41, 58 and 59.

To facilitate the processing of the input data into the RAIS system, it is best that the reported data file be sent in a flat file format with a ".txt" extension. The data file should also not contain delimiters of any sort and have a record length of 752 bytes.

In addition to the data report, it would be appreciated if a separate file with the most recent list of trade codes and their description can also be made available.

Elements reserved for Statistics Canada

A total of nine elements are reserved for Statistics Canada; these are either elements that Statistics Canada will be deriving or elements that are meant to be used internally only.

Jurisdictions are not to report information for these elements. A list of these seven elements is available in the last section of this document (p. 66).

Data Elements
Element No.	Description
Element No. 1:	Reporting year¹
Element No. 2:	Jurisdiction¹
Element No. 3:	Identification number¹
Element No. 4:	Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Element No. 5:	Apprentice or trade qualifier indicator¹
Element No. 6:	First name
Element No. 7:	Middle name
Element No. 8:	Last/Family name
Element No. 9:	Address
Element No. 10:	City name
Element No. 11:	Jurisdiction of residence
Element No. 12:	Postal code
Element No. 13:	Area code of work phone
Element No. 14:	Work phone number
Element No. 15:	Work phone number extension
Element No. 16:	Area code of home phone
Element No. 17:	Home phone number
Element No. 18:	Area code of cell phone
Element No. 19:	Cell phone number
Element No. 20:	Gender¹
Element No. 21:	Date of birth¹
Element No. 22:	Aboriginal identity
Element No. 23:	Disability or activity limitations
Element No. 24:	Highest education level
Element No. 25:	Previous apprenticeship training
Element No. 26:	Previous apprenticeship training date
Element No. 27:	Previous apprenticeship training jurisdiction
Element No. 28:	Business number (BN)²
Element No. 29:	Trade code¹
Element No. 30:	Trade code description¹
Element No. 31:	Level code¹
Element No. 32:	Level code description¹
Element No. 33:	Program duration¹^,²
Element No. 34:	Duration in hours for duration based programs¹^,²
Element No. 35:	Program duration units¹^,²
Element No. 36:	Competency or duration based program¹^,²
Element No. 37:	Compulsory or voluntary trade
Element No. 38:	Registration status¹^,²
Element No. 39:	Date of registration¹^,²
Element No. 40:	Reinstatement date²
Element No. 41:	Status at end of reporting period¹^,²
Element No. 42:	Initial credits at registration²
Element No. 43:	Type of initial credits at registration²
Element No. 44:	Technical training credits at registration²
Element No. 45:	Type of technical training credits at registration²
Element No. 46:	On-the-job training credits at registration²
Element No. 47:	Type of on-the-job training credits at registration²
Element No. 48:	On-the-job hours completed to date for duration based programs²
Element No. 49:	Competency based on-the-job levels completed to date²
Element No. 50:	Competency based on-the-job levels required²
Element No. 51:	Date of latest recording of hours completed to date²
Element No. 52:	Technical levels or courses completed to date²
Element No. 53:	Technical hours completed to date²
Element No. 54:	Number of technical levels or courses required²
Element No. 55:	Technical hours required²
Element No. 56:	Method/Mode of institutional training²
Element No. 57:	Full-time/Part-time status²
Element No. 58:	Type of certificate of qualification granted¹
Element No. 59:	Date of certification¹
Element No. 60:	Prior trade certificate
Element No. 61:	Filler

Elements reserved for Statistics Canada³
Element No.	Description
STC Element No. 1:	RAIS Trade code
STC Element No. 2:	Red Seal or non-Red Seal indicator
STC Element No. 3:	Red Seal or non-Red Seal endorsement
STC Element No. 4:	Current year or period of the program
STC Element No. 5:	Age in years
STC Element No. 6:	Input type
STC Element No. 7:	Certificate or registration indicator
STC Element No. 8:	Previous apprenticeship training - RAIS Trade code
STC Element No. 9:	Prior trade certificate - RAIS Trade code

Element No. 1: Reporting year

Description
The calendar year for which the reported data is valid and should consist of a complete calendar year from January 1 to December 31.

Report for the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 1

Length: 4 digits numeric

Coverage: All records

Code set:

YYYY (Year)

Element No. 2: Jurisdiction

Description
Using the Statistics Canada province and territory codes, identify the jurisdiction submitting the data.

Report for the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 5

Length: 2 digits numeric.

Coverage: All records

Code set:

10 – Newfoundland
11 – Prince Edward Island
12 – Nova Scotia
13 – New Brunswick
24 – Quebec
35 – Ontario
46 – Manitoba
47 – Saskatchewan
48 – Alberta
59 – British Columbia
60 – Yukon
61 – Northwest Territories
62 – Nunavut
99 – Unknown

Element No. 3: Identification number

Description
A unique identifier for each individual record and representing either an apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger). It should remain consistent from reporting year to reporting year.

Consistent reporting of the same unique identifier should be maintained for the same individual, across reporting periods. However, if a change should occur in your unique identifier, ensure Statistics Canada is informed of this change, and include concordance information in your next reporting to bridge this change.

In this element, report a unique identifier, (not the Social Insurance Number, S.I.N.) used by your jurisdiction, such as a registered apprenticeship registration number, client number, etc.

If the S.I.N. is also available, report using the next data element no. 4 - Social Insurance Number.

Position: 7

Length: Maximum of 12 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A.Can be a combined character and numeric field.

Element No. 4: Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Description
The Social Insurance Number (SIN) of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 19

Length: 9 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A, 9-digit SIN

Element No. 5: Apprentice or trade qualifier indicator

Description
In this element indicate if the individual is a registered apprentice or a trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 28

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records

Code set:

1 – Registered apprentice
2 – Trade qualifier (challenger)
9 – Unknown

Element No. 6: First name

Description
First name of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Apprentice's or trade qualifier (challenger)'s first (given) name.

Position: 29

Length: Maximum of 25 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 7: Middle name

Description
Middle name of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Note: If you cannot report the first name and middle name as separate fields, enter both names in the previous element no. 6 - First name, and leave this element blank.

Position: 54

Length: Maximum of 25 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 8: Last/Family name

Description
Family or last name of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Apprentice's or trade qualifier (challenger)'s surname (last name).

Position: 79

Length: Maximum of 30 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 9: Address

Description
The address number, apartment number (if applicable), street name, PO Box or RR route (if applicable) of the current residence of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Report as one string the address information of the current residence of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger). In addition to the address number, apartment number, street name and PO Box/RR route number, also include in this element the street type and direction of street (if applicable).

For street type, the short form abbreviation can be reported, such as St. for Street, Ave. for Avenue, etc.

The direction of the street can also be in the abbreviated form of N for North, S for South, etc. (N, S, E, W, NE, NW, SE, SW).

Other address information, such as city name, province/territory of residence and postal code should be reported as separate elements in no. 10 - City name, no. 11 - Jurisdiction of residence and no. 12 - Postal code.

Position: 109

Length: Maximum of 125 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 10: City name

Description
Name of city or town of the current residence of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 234

Length: Maximum of 60 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 11: Jurisdiction of residence

Description
This element identifies the province or territory of residence of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Report using the Statistics Canada province and territory codes previously identified in the element no. 2 - Jurisdiction.

Position: 294

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: Collected for all records

Code set:

Element No. 12: Postal code

Description
Postal code of the current residence of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 296

Length: Maximum of 6 characters

Coverage: Collected for all records.

Code set: N/A. Report as one complete string without space between the digits - (CNCNCN).

Element No. 13: Area code of work phone

Description
3-digit area code of the work phone number of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 302

Length: 3 digits numeric

Coverage: collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 14: Work phone number

Description
Work phone number of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 305

Length: 7 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 15: Work phone number extension

Description
Work phone number extension (if applicable) of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 312

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 16: Area code of home phone

Description
3-digit area code of the home phone number of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 317

Length: 3 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 17: Home phone number

Description
Home phone number of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 320

Length: 7 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 18: Area code of cell phone

Description
3-digit area code of the cell phone number of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 327

Length: 3 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 19: Cell phone number

Description
Cell phone number of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 330

Length: 7 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 20: Gender

Description
The gender of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 337

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

1 – Male
2 – Female
9 – Unknown

Element No. 21: Date of birth

Description
Date of birth of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Note: For this data element do not report any empty spaces, dashes or backslashes. Each field in this data element should be filled with a character (e.g. 03061985).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 338

Length: 8 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A, DDMMYYYY (DayMonthYear)

Element No. 22: Aboriginal identity

Description
This element identifies the Aboriginal identity of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger), if applicable.

A person with Aboriginal identity includes someone who is a North American Indian/First Nations, a Métis or an Inuit. North American Indians/First Nations, which include Status Indians, as well as non-Status Indians.

A person with non-Aboriginal identity should be reported as code = 5.

Position: 346

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

1 – North American Indian / First Nations
2 – Métis
3 – Inuit
4 – Person identifying with more than one group
5 – Person who does not self-identify with one of the groups (not an Aboriginal person)
9 – Unknown

Element No. 23: Disability or activity limitations

Description
This element identifies whether the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger) has any disabilities or activity limitations because of physical or health problems.

Position: 347

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

1 – Hearing impaired
2 – Vision impaired
3 – Wheel chair access
4 – Person with a disability or activity limitation not listed in the above
5 – Person with more than one disability or activity limitation
6 – Person with no reported disabilities or activity limitations
9 – Unknown

Element No. 24: Highest education level

Description
The highest achieved level of education obtained prior to registration in the current trade program.

If information on the highest level of education is not available, please report as code = 99.

Also report for trade qualifier (challenger), if information on the highest achieved level of education is available.

Position: 348

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

01 – Completed some elementary school
02 – Completed elementary school
03 – Grade 7
04 – Grade 8
05 – Grade 9
06 – Grade 10
07 – Grade 11
08 – Grade 12
09 – Grade 13 (if applicable)
10 – High school graduation certificate or equivalency certificate
11 – Registered apprenticeship certificate
12 – Other trade certificate or diploma
13 – College, technical, CEGEP or non-university certificate or diploma (includes pre-employment/pre-apprenticeship program)
14 – College, technical, CEGEP or non-university certificate or diploma
15 – University
16 – Other
99 – Unknown

Element No. 25: Previous apprenticeship training

Description
This element identifies the trade in which the most recent previous apprenticeship training was obtained prior to the trade the apprentice is now currently registered.

The previous apprenticeship training can be in any trade, not necessarily similar to the one the apprentice is currently registered.

Note: If a certificate was obtained for the completion of previous apprenticeship training, report the information in element no. 60 – Prior trade certificate.

If applicable, also report for trade qualifier (challenger).

The identifier for this trade is the trade code used by the reporting jurisdiction.

Position: 350

Length: Maximum of 10 characters

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 26: Previous apprenticeship training date

Description
This element identifies the end date of any previous apprenticeship training if reported in element no. 25 - Previous apprenticeship training.

If applicable, also report for trade qualifier (challenger).

Note: For this data element do not report any empty spaces, dashes or backslashes. Each field in this data element should be filled with a character (e.g. 061985).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 360

Length: 6 digits numeric

Coverage: Collected for all records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A, format- MMYYYY (MonthYear)

Element No. 27: Previous apprenticeship training jurisdiction

Description
In this element, identify the province or territory in which the apprentice was registered and obtained previous apprenticeship training, if reported in element no. 25 - Previous apprenticeship training.

Report using the Statistics Canada province and territory codes previous identified in the element no. 2 - Jurisdiction. An additional code has been added to the province and territory codes to include previous training outside of Canada.

If applicable, also report for trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 366

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: All records: This data is not available for release.

Code set:

Element No. 28: Business number (BN)

Description
In this element report the Business Number (BN) of the employer that is providing the current training to the registered apprentice.

The Business Number (BN) is a unique identification number given to each enterprise/business entity by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The standard size of the Business Number is of 15-characters. However, only the first 9-characters are required by Statistics Canada; these first 9-characters identify the business and always remain unchanged.

Therefore, only the first9-characters of the Business Number (BN) are to be reported in this element.

Position: 368

Length: Maximum of 9 characters

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 29: Trade code

Description
The trade in which the apprentice is registered or trade qualifier (challenger) is certified.

The identifier for this trade is the trade code used by the jurisdiction.

If the trade code includes additional digits to identify whether the trade has a level, class, category, etc., also include these additional digits in this data element.

Position: 377

Length: Maximum of 10 characters

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 30: Trade code description

Description
The name of the trade reported as a trade code in the previous element no. 29 – Trade code.

Report the complete name of the trade and do not include short form abbreviations.

Position: 387

Length: Maximum of 80 characters

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 31: Level code

Description
If the trade code reported in element no. 29 – Trade code, includes additional digits to identify whether the trade has a level, class, category, etc., in this element just report the actual code for the level, class, category, etc.

Report for the registered apprentice and trade qualifier (challenger).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 467

Length: Maximum of 8 characters

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 32: Level code description

Description
The name of the level, class, category, etc., reported in the previous element no. 31 – Level code.

Report the complete name of the level, class, category, etc., and do not include short form abbreviations.

Report for the registered apprentice and trade qualifier (challenger).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 475

Length: Maximum of 80 characters

Coverage: All records.This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 33: Program duration

Description
This element identifies the normal length of time required to complete the entire program and is usually expressed in years, periods or skills/competency levels.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 555

Length: 3 digits numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set : N/A

Element No. 34: Duration in hours for duration based programs

Description
Identifies the total overall program duration in hours (e.g.8000) reported in the previous element no. 33 - Program duration.

Note: The hours reported apply to the normal overall program length in hours and should have the same hours for all records with the same trade reported in the previous element no. 29 – Trade code.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 558

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 35: Program duration units

Description
Identifies the type of unit used to measure the intervals over the duration of the program reported in element no. 33 - Program duration.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 563

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Years
2 – Periods
3 – Skills/Competency levels
4 – Program credits
9 – Unknown

Element No. 36: Competency or duration based program

Description
Identifies if the trade program is offered as a competency based program or a duration based program.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 564

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Duration based program
2 – Competency based program
3 – Duration and competency based program
9 – Unknown

Element No. 37: Compulsory or voluntary trade

Description
This element identifies if the trade is a compulsory certified trade or a voluntary certified trade.

Report for the registered apprentice and trade qualifier (challenger).

Position: 565

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

1 – Compulsory
2 – Voluntary
3 – Compulsory and voluntary
9 – Unknown

Element No. 38: Registration status

Description
This element identifies the registration status of the apprentice at the beginning and during the reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 566

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Already registered (beginning of report period)
2 – New registration (during report period)
3 – Reinstatement (during report period)
9 – Unknown

Element No. 39: Date of registration

Description
This element identifies the date when the current contract or agreement of understanding between an apprentice and employer was registered with the jurisdiction.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Note: For this data element do not report any empty spaces, dashes or backslashes. Each field in this data element should be filled with a character (e.g. 03061985).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 567

Length: 8 digits numeric

Coverage: Only reported for apprentice records. Only Year portion of this variable is
available for release.

Code set: N/A, format - DDMMYYYY (DayMonthYear)

Element No. 40: Reinstatement date

Description
If a reinstatement has been reported for the apprentice in element no. 38 - Registration status, in this element identify the date of the reinstatement.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Note: For this data element do not report any empty spaces, dashes or backslashes. Each field in this data element should be filled with a character (e.g. 061985).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 575

Length: 6 digits numeric

Coverage: Applies to certain apprentice record whose Registration Status is 3. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A, format - MMYYYY (MonthYear)

Element No. 41: Status at end of reporting period

Description
This element identifies the status of the apprentice during the reporting period and at the end of the reporting period.

When reporting information on apprentices that have successfully completed their programs and obtained their certificates, there can be a choice of three different types:

The first and most common, is identified below as a code = 2, and relates to the successful completion of an entire program, regardless of length, with a certificate granted after the entire program is completed.

The second and third types of successful completion are identified below by code = 3 and code = 4, and relate to certain programs which grant certificates after a segment of a longer extended program is completed. Examples of this type of completion are the Motor Vehicle Body Prepper and Motor Vehicle Body Refinisher programs, which are shorter in duration length, and designed as separate and partitioned programs of the extended Motor Vehicle Body Repairer program. These shorter programs usually allow an individual, after receiving their certificate, the choice of either continuing or not continuing their training in the extended program. Because of this choice, code = 4 is used to identify an individual who has decided to continue in the extended program of the trade, while code = 3 is used to identify an individual who has decided not to continue in the extended program of the trade.

Note: When reporting the successfully completed for programs which have been partitioned, do not relate this to the completion of an individual class or level found in some programs, which have divided their training into several classes or levels, such as the stationary engineer – 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class, etc.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 581

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Continuing and still registered
2 – Successfully completed the entire program with a certificate granted
3 – Successfully completed a segment of an entire program with a certificate granted and not continuing in the trade
4 - Successfully completed a segment of an entire program with a certificate granted and still continuing in the trade
5 – Discontinued the program (cancelled, suspended, terminated, etc.)
6 – Transferred to another program
9 – Unknown

Element No. 42: Initial credits at registration

Description
In this element report the credits (either in hours, skill/competency levels or program credits) given for combined technical (in-class) training (obtained from colleges, high schools, commission scolaire or similar postsecondary and secondary institutions, etc.) and for on-the-job (work) training, prior to starting the apprenticeship program.

In the following element no. 43 – Type of initial credits at registration, report whether the credits are in hours, skill/competency levels or program credits.

Note: Only report this element if technical (in-class) training and on-the-job (work) training information cannot be reported separately as two elements in no. 44 - Technical training credits at registration and no. 46 - On-the-job training credits at registration.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 582

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: Only reported for apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

N/A

Element No. 43: Type of initial credits at registration

Description
Report the type of credits identified in the previous element no. 42 - Initial credits at registration.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 587

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Hours
2 – Skill/competency levels
3 – Program credits
9 – Unknown

Element No. 44: Technical training credits at registration

Description
In this element report the credits (either in hours, skill/competency levels or program credits) given for technical (in-class) training or courses prior to starting the apprenticeship program.

In the following element no. 45 – Type of technical training credits at registration, report whether the credits are in hours, skill/competency levels or program credits.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 588

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 45: Type of technical training credits at registration

Description
Report the type of credits identified in the previous element no. 44 - Technical training credits at registration.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 593

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Hours
2 – Skill/competency levels
3 – Program credits
9 – Unknown

Element No. 46: On-the-job training credits at registration

Description
In this element report the credits (either in hours, skill/competency levels or program credits) given for on-the-job (work) training prior to starting the apprenticeship program.

In the following element no. 47 – Type of on-the-job training credits at registration, report whether the credits are in hours, skill/competency levels or program credits.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 594

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 47: Type of on-the-job training credits at registration

Description
Report the type of credits identified in the previous element no. 46 - On-the-job training credits at registration

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 599

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Hours
2 – Skill/competency levels
3 – Program credits
9 – Unknown

Element No. 48: On-the-job hours completed to date for duration based programs

Description
If reporting levels or competencies for competency based programs, include this information in the next element no. 49 - Competency based on-the job levels completed to date.

In this element report the number of on-the-job (work) hours accumulated since the registration date. These completed hours should not include the on-the-job hours which may have been credited prior to registration and reported in the element no. 46 - On-the-job training credits at registration.

Note: The hours completed should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 600

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 49: Competency based on-the job levels completed to date

Description
The number of accumulated on-the-job levels or competencies completed to date for competency based programs.

Note: The levels or competencies completed should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 605

Length: 3 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Element No. 50: Competency based on-the job levels required

Description
This element identifies the total number of on-the-job levels or competencies required to complete the competency based program, and is requested if element no. 49 - Competency based on-the job levels completed to date is reported.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 608

Length: 3 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentices records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 51: Date of latest recording of hours or levels completed to date

Description
In this element report the date of the latest recording of on-the-job hours completed to date, if element no. 48 - On-the-job hours completed to date for duration based programs or element no. 49 - Competency based on-the-job levels completed to date is being reported.

Note: The date of the latest recording should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Note: For this data element do not report any empty spaces, dashes or backslashes. Each field in this data element should be filled with a character (e.g. 061985).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 611

Length: 6 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A, format - MMYYYY (MonthYear)

Element No. 52: Technical levels or courses completed to date

Description
This element identifies the total number of technical (in-class) levels or courses completed by the apprentice out of the total number of levels or courses required for the program. These completed technical in-class levels or courses should not include the technical training time which may have been credited prior to registration and reported in the element no. 44 - Technical training credits at registration.

Note: These completed levels or courses apply to both duration and competency based programs and should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 617

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 53: Technical hours completed to date

Description
In this element report the equivalent hours, related to the technical levels or courses completed and reported in the previous element no. 52 - Technical levels or courses completed to date.

In this element report the total number of technical (in-class) hours completed by the apprentice out of the total number of hours required for the program.

Note: The hours completed apply to both duration and competency based programs and should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 619

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records.This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 54: Number of technical levels or courses required

Description
This element identifies the total number of technical (in-class) levels or courses required to complete the program, and requested if element no. 52 - Technical levels or courses completed to date is reported.

Note: This element applies to both duration and competency based programs and should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 624

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 55: Technical hours required

Description
Report the equivalent hours, if the number of technical levels or courses required was reported in the previous element no. 54 - Number of technical levels or courses required.

For this element report the total number of technical (in-class) hours required to complete the program.

Note: This element applies to both duration and competency based programs and, if required, should be up-dated every new reporting period.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger), leave blank.

Position: 626

Length: 5 digits numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 56: Method/Mode of institutional training

Description
This element identifies the delivery type of technical training undertaken during the apprenticeship period being reported.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "00 – Not applicable".

Position: 631

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

00 – Not applicable
01 – Block release
02 – Modular training
03 – Course based
04 – Day release
05 – Distance education
06 – Employer training
07 – Level
08 – Mobile
09 – Competency based apprenticeship training (CBAT)
10 – Weekly apprenticeship training (WATS)
11 – Other
99 – Unknown

Element No. 57: Full-time/Part-time status

Description
This element is linked to the previous element no. 56 - Method/Mode of institutional training, and identifies whether the training was either full-time or part-time.

Full-time training can be identified with an extended period of training like block release.

Do not report for trade qualifier (challenger); code as "0 – Not applicable".

Position: 633

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – Full-time
2 – Part-time
9 – Unknown

Element No. 58: Type of certificate of qualification granted

Description
This element identifies the type of certificate granted to the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

Note: If the Certificate of Apprenticeship is the final certificate granted in the trade, and the Certificate of Qualification is not being granted, then report the Certificate of Apprenticeship. The granting of these certificates usually involves the completion and passing of a final exam.

Position: 634

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records.

Code set:

0 – Not applicable
1 – No certificate granted
2 – Certificate granted with a Red Seal endorsement to an apprentice (who has completed the final exam)
3 – Certificate granted without a Red Seal endorsement to an apprentice (who has completed the final exam)
4 – Certificate granted with a Red Seal endorsement to a trade qualifier (challenger)
5 – Certificate granted without a Red Seal endorsement to a trade qualifier (challenger)
6 – Certificate granted with a Red Seal endorsement to a journeyperson who previously completed an apprenticeship program and received a certificate without a Red Seal endorsement in the same trade
7 – Certificate granted with a Red Seal endorsement to a trade qualifier (challenger) who previously received a certificate without a Red Seal endorsement in the same trade
9 – Unknown

Element No. 59: Date of certification

Description
In this element report the date the certificate was granted to an apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger), if a certificate was reported in the previous element no. 58 - Type of certificate of qualification granted.

If a jurisdiction grants both a Certificate of Qualification and a Certificate of Apprenticeship, report only the Certificate of Qualification date in this element. However, if the Certificate of Apprenticeship is the final certificate granted in the trade, and the Certificate of Qualification is not being granted, then report the date the Certificate of Apprenticeship was granted.

Note: For this data element do not report any empty spaces, dashes or backslashes. Each field in this data element should be filled with a character (e.g. 03061985).

If not available, leave blank.

Position: 635

Length: 8 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. Only the year portion of this field is available for release.

Code set: N/A, format- DDMMYYYY (DayMonthYear)

Element No. 60: Prior trade certificate

Description
This element identifies if the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger) received a certificate in a previous trade, and granted in the current reporting jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction. The previous certification must be in a trade recognized in Canada.

If the apprentice or trade qualifier was certified in more than one trade, please report the latest trade in which they were certified.

The identifier for this previous trade is the trade code used by the jurisdiction.

Position: 643

Length: Maximum of 10 characters

Coverage: All records if applicable. This data is not available for release.

Code set: N/A

Element No. 61: RAIS Trade Code

Description
This element is reserved for Statistics Canada to code and identify trades using a modified version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

The trade code reported will be converted to the National Occupational Classification NOC+3 trade code (abcd.xx.yy.zz), where:

The four digit NOC code (abcd) identifies the major occupational category;
The first extension (xx) represents a distinct and separate trade;
The second extension (yy) identifies subtrades of the distinct trade and;
The third extension (zz) is used for further level/class/category distinctions within the trade.

Position: 653

Length: 13 characters

Coverage: All records. This derived variable is available for release at the Sub-trade (NOC +2), Major Trade (NOC+1), NOC group and Major Trade groups. The most detailed level, NOC +3 will not be available for release.

Code set:

NOC+3

Element No. 62: Red Seal or non-Red Seal indicator

Description
Reserved for Statistics Canada to identify Red Seal or non-Red Seal trades.

The Red Seal trades are drawn from the list approved by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA).

Position: 666

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

0 – Without inter-provincial standards
1 – Red Seal with inter-provincial standards

Element No. 63: Red Seal or non-Red Seal endorsement

Description
Used by Statistics Canada to identify if Red Seal or non-Red Seal endorsement is being granted by the jurisdictions.

This element will be derived by Statistics Canada using a combination of information from the data elements reported by the jurisdictions:

STC Element no. 1 – RAIS Trade code
Element no. 58 – Type of certificate of qualification granted

Position: 667

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

1 – Only Red Seal endorsement granted
2 – Red Seal and non-Red Seal endorsement granted
3 – Only non-Red Seal endorsement granted
9 – Unknown

Element No. 64: Current year or period of the program

Description
Only for duration based programs, the current year or period of the program in which the apprentice is registered, based on the total accumulated technical and on-the-job training hours.

This element will be derived by Statistics Canada using a combination of information from the data elements reported by the jurisdictions:

Element no. 33 - Program duration (DURPGM)
Element no. 34 - Duration in hours for duration based program (DURHOURS)
Element no. 35 - Program duration units (DURUNITS)
Element no. 42 - Initial credits at registration (INICREDR)
Element no. 48 - On-the-job hours completed to date for duration based program (JOBHCOMP)
Element no. 53 - Technical hours completed to date (TECHCOMP)

Current year or period of the program =

[DURPGM] – [DURHOURS – INICREDR – JOBHCOMP – TECHCOMP] * DURPGM / DURHOURS

Position: 668

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All apprentice records. The maximum acceptable value is 5 years.

Code set:

N/A

Element No. 65: Age in years

Description
Used by Statistics Canada to derive the age in years of the apprentice or trade qualifier (challenger).

This element will be derived by Statistics Canada using information reported by the jurisdictions:

Element no. 1 - Reporting year (REPYR)
Birth year (BIRTHY) from element no. 21 – Date of birth

Age in years = REPYR – BIRTHY

Position: 670

Length: 2 digits numeric

Coverage: All records. This variable creates single years of age. Acceptable values for this variable are from age 13 to 75. A 5 year age group variable also can be derived.

Code set:

N/A

Element No. 66: Input type

Description
Used by Statistics Canada to identify whether the jurisdiction is reporting individual record data or aggregate information.

Position: 672

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

1 – Individual
2 – Aggregate

Element No. 67: Certificate or registration indicator

Description
Used by Statistics Canada to identify whether a registration file or a certificate file.

Position: 673

Length: 1 digit numeric

Coverage: All records. This data is not available for release.

Code set:

1 – Registration
2 – Certificate

Element No. 68: Previous apprenticeship training - RAIS Trade code

Description
This element is reserved for Statistics Canada to code and identify trades using a modified version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

The trade code reported will be converted to the National Occupational Classification NOC+3 trade code (abcd.xx.yy.zz), where:

The four digit NOC code (abcd) identifies the major occupational category;
The first extension (xx) represents a distinct and separate trade;
The second extension (yy) identifies subtrades of the distinct trade and;
The third extension (zz) is used for further level/class/category distinctions within the trade.

Position: 674

Length: 13 characters

Code set:

NOC+3

Element No. 69: Prior trade certificate - RAIS Trade code

Description
This element is reserved for Statistics Canada to code and identify trades using a modified version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

The trade code reported will be converted to the National Occupational Classification NOC+3 trade code (abcd.xx.yy.zz), where:

The four digit NOC code (abcd) identifies the major occupational category;
The first extension (xx) represents a distinct and separate trade;
The second extension (yy) identifies subtrades of the distinct trade and;
The third extension (zz) is used for further level/class/category distinctions within the trade.

Position: 687

Length: 13 characters

Code set:

NOC+3

Notes

Mandatory elements
Do not report for trade qualifiers (challengers)
Jurisdictions are not asked to report these elements – reserved for Statistics Canada
Element no. 42 – Initial credits at registration (INICREDR) will be substituted by both, element no. 44 - Technical training credits at registration
(TECCREDR) and element no. 46 - On-the-job training credits at registration (JOBCREDR), if technical and on-the-job credits at registration can be reported separately by the jurisdictions.

Response Burden Reduction Efforts

Statistics Canada has a long history of working to reduce burden for its respondents, both businesses and individuals. We recognize that the goodwill of survey respondents is one of our most valuable assets, since it is the continued co-operation of Canadians that enables us to turn survey results into reliable information. This information enables decision-makers to work with more clarity, which, in turn, helps to provide better service to all Canadians.

Statistics Canada is taking action to make it easier for businesses to respond

Statistics Canada aims to reduce the time businesses spend responding to surveys: either by reducing the number of surveys or questions, limiting the time that a business can be part of a sample, or by using more friendly data collection methods. It is also working to better its communications tools to improve its relations with respondents.

The individual initiatives, outcomes and benefits to respondents are detailed below.

Reduce redundancy of data requests across government departments

Description

1. Description of the Initiative

In response to the recommendation to reduce redundancy of data requests across government departments, Statistics Canada will reduce redundancy in its requests for financial and/or payroll information by different federal departments or agencies, by:

Collaborating with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to further substitute survey data with tax data based on information provided by businesses;
Assessing the feasibility of substituting survey data with data from other sources (federal, provincial, municipal, or others);
Working with departments, in particular Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, to rationalize data needs and seek opportunities to substitute surveys with existing or new administrative data, or other types of data (such as remote sensing, traceability, etc.);
Collaborating with other federal government departments to align and coordinate information needs, regardless of purpose.

2. How will Red Tape be reduced?

In all cases where data from other sources can be used (taking into account quality, coverage, and timeliness), Statistics Canada will not collect certain financial data through respondent surveys. This will result in time saved for surveyed companies from reduced information requirements or certain respondents no longer being surveyed for those specific statistical programs.

3. How will business benefit?

Many businesses will benefit from reduced compliance costs through fewer duplicate data demands.

4. Who are the participating departments?

Lead department: Statistics Canada
Supporting departments: Canada Revenue Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Finance Canada

5. What are the implementation milestones?

2012-2013: Report on revised data requirements completed and recommendations made from review of Agriculture Statistics Program.
2013-2014: Conduct and evaluate feasibility studies on substitution of administrative data for survey data; discussions with other government departments; identify opportunities for any further data requirement reductions.

Results (June 2014)

StatCan – Update on initiatives to reduce redundancy of data requests to businesses and organizations

In response to the Red Tape Reduction Commission's recommendation to reduce redundancy of data requests across government departments, Statistics Canada has undertaken a number of initiatives. The agency is working to reduce demands for duplicate data from businesses and organizations by negotiating the use of information collected by other organizations and by participating in several interdepartmental initiatives.

Collaborating with the Canada Revenue Agency

Statistics Canada is collaborating with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) to identify opportunities to further substitute survey data with tax data based on information supplied by businesses. Many businesses will benefit from reduced compliance costs through fewer duplicate data demands. These initiatives can also benefit Statistics Canada statistical programs by providing efficient access to more detailed industry data.

Among the key initiatives:

Accessing supplementary information

Statistics Canada is in the process of negotiating access to supplementary information already being collected by CRA, in a number of areas, including obtaining more information on pension plans, trusts and partnerships. CRA has committed to adding several new schedules to its line of data products provided to Statistics Canada in fiscal year 2014–2015.

Simplifying reporting

Statistics Canada is working with the CRA and Finance Canada to simplify the process of providing financial statements when corporations file their annual tax returns. Statistics Canada has proposed a change to the CRA tax reporting requirements to automatically select the applicable financial accounts based on the industry code of the corporation.

Statistics Canada is participating in discussions with the CRA to identify efficiencies in the reporting requirements for charitable organizations. The intent is to reduce the time required, especially for small and medium charitable organizations, to provide the required information.

Expanding the use of tax data

In response to new demands, Statistics Canada always contemplates using tax data and other non-survey data as a solution before launching a survey. Statistics Canada also attempts to expand the use of tax data for existing programs, as reflected in the following examples.

Statistics Canada has taken steps to further reduce the burden imposed on businesses through its Integrated Business Surveys Program. The use of tax data to estimate for smaller enterprises has been in place for many years. Testing has now proven that the agency will be able to reliably estimate for enterprises that have more complicated structures, resulting in an increased number of companies being eligible for replacement of survey data by tax data for reference year 2013.

Statistics Canada has also improved the production of statistical information by using tax instead of survey data to estimate household investment and dividend income and corporate profits.

The 2013 Farm Financial Survey will use information from tax records instead of survey questions. For the first time, the Census of Agriculture will include the collection of a Business Number. In the future, this will permit certain financial information to be retrieved from the tax system, rather than asking respondents to provide it on the questionnaire.

Assessing the feasibility of substituting survey data with data from other sources

Statistics Canada is investigating how data from external sources can be used to support and/or replace survey data collected from businesses.

Investment data

Statistics Canada's Quarterly Survey of Financial Statements' Investment Funds questionnaire was replaced by non-survey data, saving businesses close to 10,000 reporting hours in 2013 while improving the coverage of the investment funds industry.

Big Data

The potential of using Big Data is another initiative that Statistics Canada is exploring. Pilot projects and collaboration with federal government departments, national statistical institutes and international organizations are underway with a view to exploiting shared resources and expertise, and finding opportunities to translate large collections of data into useful statistical measurement.

Initiatives with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Statistics Canada works closely with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), collecting data to meet AAFC's statistical and policy program needs. Statistics Canada has identified ways to reduce the burden placed on Canadian farmers without compromising the statistical information produced. Strategies under consideration include gaining access to data already collected though administrative files, such as those created for business risk management programs, like AgriStability, AgriInvest and AgriInsurance.

Reducing burden on small farms

Statistics Canada extended sampling practices to agriculture surveys that will save farmers operating smaller farms an estimated total of 12,000 reporting hours. Statistics Canada is planning further reductions by the end of 2014.

Reducing number of questions of Census of Agriculture

Statistics Canada is looking at ways to reduce the burden placed on Canadian farmers every five years when the Census of Agriculture is conducted by using non-survey data to complement or replace some of the census questions, thus reducing the number of questions without losing any relevance.

Exploring other methods to reduce time imposed on farmers

Statistics Canada has been investigating the use of remote sensing and administrative data to estimate crop yields. It has been determined that the method is sound; however, further work is needed to investigate the reliability of the outcomes. If the estimates are of acceptable quality, this method could be used in the future to replace a survey.

Collaborating with other government departments

In addition to its work with CRA, Finance Canada and AAFC, Statistics Canada has identified opportunities to partner with other federal departments and with provincial and territorial governments to reduce burden on the business community. Many of these opportunities are still in the proof-of-concept or feasibility study stage. As an example, Statistics Canada is collaborating with Service Canada on its e-payroll project. In addition to streamlining business reporting, this project will increase the number and quality of variables available for statistical use.

Communication improvements

Description

1. Description of the Initiative

In response to the recommendation to reduce business frustration and provide stakeholders with pertinent information, Statistics Canada will:

Review and update its communication methods with survey respondents, to assist their understanding of the links between the information collected and the benefits of its uses;
Better convey the importance and use of business surveys to participants;
Enhance its website and improve the visibility and content of information tailored to inform survey participants;
Engage small business associations to communicate benefits of surveys.

2. How will Red Tape be reduced?

This initiative will not directly reduce red tape but rather allow survey respondents to have a better understanding and buy-in on the importance of the survey data and their participation. To do so:

New sections will be created providing better information and posted on the website;
Printed communications materials will be improved or created;
Social media venues will be utilized;
Industry associations will be contacted and engaged.

3. How will business benefit?

Business will benefit in the following ways:

Better understanding of the use and benefits of the survey data;
Better access to information;
Reduced frustration.

4. Who are the participating Departments?

Statistics Canada

5. What are the implementation milestones?

2013-2014: Improve Statistics Canada website; create or improve printed materials; contact various industry associations.

Results (October 2013)

Update on communications methods to better convey the importance of business surveys

In response to the recommendation to reduce business burden and provide stakeholders with pertinent information, Statistics Canada has undertaken a number of communications initiatives. These initiatives will allow survey respondents to have a better understanding of the importance and use of survey data and to express their information needs.

Improve the website

New sections have been created and posted on the website providing additional and relevant information.

In summer 2012, videos emphasizing the importance of responding to surveys were posted on Statistics Canada's website and YouTube channel.

In September 2012, new components for businesses were added to the website, including questions and answers and key facts about business surveys, as well as a description of the Red Tape Reduction initiatives undertaken by Statistics Canada to reduce response burden. As well, more specific information was provided to help respondents understand the role of Statistics Canada's ombudsman for businesses.

Recognizing that business entrepreneurs have specific information needs, Statistics Canada has been publishing a monthly newsletter dedicated to small and medium-sized businesses since October 2012. The objectives are to provide business owners, managers and entrepreneurs with the latest releases about the economy and society, and to share important information about upcoming events and activities that will help them get the most from Statistics Canada data. So far, over 1200 businesses receive monthly newsletter.

Links to the individual Red Tape Reduction initiatives, outcomes and benefits to respondents were made available on the website. The module also presents the long-term commitments to reduce burden by offering links to the Government of Canada's Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative website and Statistics Canada's Paperwork Burden Reduction Initiative Report: Baseline Count and Complementary Measures.

In May 2013, a tutorial for businesses was launched in the newsletter and posted online to help businesses easily and efficiently access data that are of interest to them.

Improve printed and other materials

Letters inviting respondents to participate in surveys and communications to follow up with them were reviewed to ensure that they focus on relevance and uses of the data, and clearly explain the purpose of surveys. This is an ongoing task.

Nine blogs entries were posted on the CanadaBusiness.ca website hosted by Industry Canada. Blogs topics included The Daily, the business survey video, the tutorial for businesses, Statistics Canada's Business Register and CANSIM.

An article about CANSIM and Entrepreneurs was published in November 2012 in a magazine for business reaching 30,000 senior executives leading Canadian companies.

Statistics Canada is also making strides to help small businesses in using data from the Agency. This information is critical for businesses to choose data sources with confidence, knowing that their decisions are based on solid information. Specifically, tools have been developed to assist them in assessing the quality of surveys, whether from Statistics Canada or some other source.

Increase the visibility of the website and engage with business on social media

The agency contacted webmasters of 750 sites that cater to Canadian businesses to invite them to post links from their sites to relevant data and analysis on the Statistics Canada website. As a result, more business-relevant sites provide direct access to Statistics Canada information.

The web traffic on the Survey participants section of the website has increased by 5% between 2012 and 2013.

According to Statistics Canada's web evaluation survey conducted in 2013, 72% of respondents to the survey were satisfied or fully satisfied with the website, compared with 68% in 2012 and 2011, and 65% in 2010.

To increase the visibility of the website and to engage public awareness on social media, a crowdsourcing initiative will be implemented in fall 2013. Statistics Canada will use its Twitter account to engage the public online. The objective is to consult with this community to seek their feedback on how communications with respondents could be improved. A series of monthly questions will be posted and comments and feedback will be collected for review, consideration and implementation.

Administrative burden reduction of Statistics Canada business surveys

Description

1. Description of the Initiative

In response to recommendations to reduce the administrative burden of business surveys—and thereby reduce the time required to respond—Statistics Canada will implement measures to reduce the number of questions on surveys, cut back on the number of questionnaires sent to small businesses, and limit the period in which a small business must remain in a survey sample.

2. How will Red Tape be reduced?

Red Tape will be reduced in the following ways:

For Statistics Canada's annual Unified Enterprise Survey (UES), starting in 2014, sample size will be optimized and survey content will be reduced by 20% making survey response easier and less time consuming for many small businesses.
Beginning in 2013, other business surveys will be reviewed to eliminate redundancies, as well as questions for which information is available from other data sources.
Feasibility studies will be conducted on limiting the number of surveys that a small business receives as well as on the amount of time a small business must remain in a survey sample.
A web-based collection alternative (E-Questionnaire) will be developed for 100 business surveys which should reduce the number of follow-up calls and provide respondents with more flexibility.

3. How will business benefit?

Business will benefit in the following ways:

Business respondents to the annual UES will benefit from reduced compliance costs (in total, an estimated reduction in administrative burden of $640,000 per year as of 2014).
Depending on the conclusions of the feasibility studies, some small businesses may benefit from further compliance cost reductions.
All businesses participating in any of the 100 surveys moving to a web-based collection alternative will benefit from a respondent-oriented collection methodology and the potential for reduced follow-up calls.

4. Who are the participating departments?

Statistics Canada

5. What are the implementation milestones?

2012-2013: Determine UES sampling strategy; determine UES revised content; 30 business surveys will offer a web-based collection alternative (E-Questionnaire).
2013-2014: Revise UES surveys; complete feasibility studies; another 50 surveys will offer an E-Questionnaire alternative.
2014-2015: 20 more business surveys will offer an E-Questionnaire alternative.

Questions and answers

1. Description of the initiative

In response to recommendations to reduce the administrative burden of business surveys—and thereby reduce the time required to respond—Statistics Canada will implement measures to reduce the number of questions on surveys, cut back on the number of questionnaires sent to small businesses, limit the period in which a small business must remain in a survey sample and reduce the excessive accumulation of response burden on business by exempting businesses for a calendar year collection.

2. How will red tape be reduced?

Red tape will be reduced by providing small businesses whose response burden limits were exceeded during the last three years with a one-year exemption from reporting.

3. What business or types of businesses are included in the exemption? How are they chosen?

The reduction strategy is applied to small businesses only—which represent approximately 96% of all businesses—namely businesses with only one location or in one industry.

The accumulated response burden is defined as the time, measured in hours, a given business needs to take to respond to all questionnaires sent by Statistics Canada over a three-year period.

4. Why is it only a one-year exemption? Why do they have to go back in the survey after a year?

A one-year exemption is sufficient time for a business to be relieved with a minimal impact on the quality of the statistical outputs.

5. How will business benefit?

The identified businesses will be excluded from collection for the next calendar year.

6. How many small businesses are there in total? How many businesses were exempt from responding in 2015?

As of December 2012, there were 1,087,803 small businesses in Canada. Only a small fraction of these businesses are selected to complete a survey. The strategy provides relief to some of these selected businesses whose response burden limits were exceeded. The removal of these businesses from some surveys for a year have a minimal impact on the quality of the statistical outputs..

7. Will the data not be less accurate?

The strategy to reduce the excessive accumulation of response burden on businesses has been developed by Statistics Canada with minimal impact on the quality of the statistical outputs.

8. When did Statistics Canada start exempting businesses to reduce their response burden?

Statistics Canada began exempting businesses as part of the strategy of reducing response burden for businesses in January 1, 2015.

9. Why do you need all this information?

The small business data is the source of some of the government's key economic measures. This data is used to gauge economic growth and provide governments and the private sector with a number of important economic indicators on which to base decisions.

Respondent burden reduction: An on-going concern

Statistics Canada's role in reducing respondent burden is part of government-wide initiatives that have been in place since 2007. Their collective goal is to eliminate excessive regulation, unnecessary adherence to outmoded processes, and duplication.

RDC proposals requesting Longitudinal and International Study of Adults (LISA) data

Researchers must specify if they need access to the LISA survey data or the LISA linked to the administrative data. Once access has been granted, researchers should contact their RDC analyst to review the vetting guidelines associated with each option.

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Date modified:: 2021-06-15

Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

In an effort to meet Government of Canada initiatives in the reduction of paper use, the reporting guides for these surveys are available in electronic format.

If you have any questions regarding a survey or are unable to consult our guides on-line, please call 1-800-972-9692 or email us at business.surveys.unit.oid@statcan.gc.ca.

1. Official Use

2. Personal Use and Professional Networking Use

2.1 Be professional

2.2 Be responsible

2.3 Take ownership

2.4 Be respectful

2.5 Protect the brand

2.6 Remember that confidentiality is important

2.7 Don’t forget your day job

Contact Information

Preface

Policy

Responsibilities

Definitions

Monitoring of electronic networks

Disciplinary measures

Appendix A - Examples of unlawful activity

1. Criminal offences

2. Violations of federal and provincial statutes

3. Activity that can expose individuals or the employer to civil liability

Appendix B - Examples of unacceptable activity

Overview:

Phishing:

Scams:

Hoaxes:

Protecting Yourself:

Social media

Digital media and events

Other

Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

Reporting Guide

Table of contents

Data sharing Agreements

Record linkages

Reporting period information

Definition

Dollar amounts

What are Capital Expenditures?

How to Treat Leases

Industry characteristics

Machinery and Equipment

Cost component of expenditures

Disposal and sales of fixed assets

Non-residential construction

Machinery and equipment

General description

Elements reserved for Statistics Canada

Element No. 1: Reporting year

Element No. 2: Jurisdiction

Element No. 3: Identification number

Element No. 4: Social Insurance Number (SIN)

Element No. 5: Apprentice or trade qualifier indicator

Element No. 6: First name

Element No. 7: Middle name

Element No. 8: Last/Family name

Element No. 9: Address

Element No. 10: City name

Element No. 11: Jurisdiction of residence

Element No. 12: Postal code

Element No. 13: Area code of work phone

Element No. 14: Work phone number

Element No. 15: Work phone number extension

Element No. 16: Area code of home phone

Element No. 17: Home phone number

Element No. 18: Area code of cell phone

Element No. 19: Cell phone number

Element No. 20: Gender

Element No. 21: Date of birth

Element No. 22: Aboriginal identity

Element No. 23: Disability or activity limitations

Element No. 24: Highest education level

Element No. 25: Previous apprenticeship training

Element No. 26: Previous apprenticeship training date

Element No. 27: Previous apprenticeship training jurisdiction

Element No. 28: Business number (BN)

Element No. 29: Trade code

Element No. 30: Trade code description

Element No. 31: Level code

Element No. 32: Level code description

Element No. 33: Program duration