National Weighted Rates by Source and Characteristic, August 2021
Table summary
The information is grouped by Sales of goods manufactured, Raw materials and components, Goods / work in process, Finished goods manufactured, Unfilled Orders, Capacity utilization rates (appearing as row headers), and Data source as the first row of column headers, then Response or edited, and Imputed as the second row of column headers, calculated by percentage.

	Data source
	Response or edited	Imputed
	%
Sales of goods manufactured	86.3	13.7
Raw materials and components	74.9	25.1
Goods / work in process	79.0	21.0
Finished goods manufactured	68.8	31.2
Unfilled Orders	76.3	23.7
Capacity utilization rates	69.6	30.4

National Level CVs by Characteristic
Table summary
This table displays the results of Monthly Survey of Manufacturing: National Level CVs by Characteristic. The information is grouped by Month from August 2020 to August 2021 (appearing as row headers), and Sales of goods manufactured, Raw materials and components inventories, Goods / work in process inventories, Finished goods manufactured inventories and Unfilled Orders, calculated in percentage (appearing as column headers).

Month	Sales of goods manufactured	Raw materials and components inventories	Goods / work in process inventories	Finished goods manufactured inventories	Unfilled Orders
	%
August 2020	0.65	1.04	1.23	1.50	1.15
September 2020	0.67	1.02	1.18	1.55	1.15
October 2020	0.68	0.99	1.31	1.56	1.11
November 2020	0.68	1.05	1.21	1.48	1.16
December 2020	0.69	1.02	1.20	1.46	1.30
January 2021	0.80	1.00	1.24	1.59	1.42
February 2021	0.75	0.99	1.50	1.67	1.30
March 2021	0.71	1.01	1.45	1.69	1.35
April 2021	0.78	1.04	1.56	1.74	1.53
May 2021	0.79	1.04	1.48	1.58	1.45
June 2021	0.72	1.03	1.44	1.69	1.35
July 2021	0.76	1.06	1.48	1.67	1.37
August 2021	0.72	1.07	1.53	1.83	1.46

Employment services: CVs for operating revenue - 2020
Table summary
This table displays the results of Employment services: CVs for operating revenue - 2020. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), and percentage (appearing as column headers).

Geography	CVs for operating revenue
	percent
Canada	0.00
Newfoundland and Labrador	0.00
Prince Edward Island	0.00
Nova Scotia	0.00
New Brunswick	0.00
Quebec	0.01
Ontario	0.01
Manitoba	0.00
Saskatchewan	0.00
Alberta	0.00
British Columbia	0.01
Yukon	0.03
Northwest Territories	0.00
Nunavut	0.00

Retail Commodity Survey: CVs for Total Sales July 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of Retail Commodity Survey: CVs for Total Sales (July 2021). The information is grouped by NAPCS-CANADA (appearing as row headers), and Month (appearing as column headers).

NAPCS-CANADA	Month
	202104	202105	202106	202107
Total commodities, retail trade commissions and miscellaneous services	0.63	0.76	0.63	0.66
Retail Services (except commissions) [561]	0.63	0.75	0.62	0.65
Food at retail [56111]	0.65	0.64	0.58	0.60
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, at retail [56112]	0.56	0.63	0.65	0.64
Cannabis products, at retail [56113]	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Clothing at retail [56121]	1.75	1.77	1.41	1.04
Footwear at retail [56122]	1.81	2.22	1.83	1.61
Jewellery and watches, luggage and briefcases, at retail [56123]	6.63	8.17	6.36	5.28
Home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and electronics, at retail [56131]	0.81	0.62	0.70	0.59
Sporting and leisure products (except publications, audio and video recordings, and game software), at retail [56141]	3.06	3.51	2.79	2.07
Publications at retail [56142]	7.33	6.41	8.68	7.60
Audio and video recordings, and game software, at retail [56143]	4.17	4.57	3.21	2.47
Motor vehicles at retail [56151]	1.96	2.68	2.24	2.55
Recreational vehicles at retail [56152]	4.42	5.75	2.54	2.58
Motor vehicle parts, accessories and supplies, at retail [56153]	1.92	2.03	1.78	1.85
Automotive and household fuels, at retail [56161]	2.45	1.84	1.59	1.61
Home health products at retail [56171]	2.33	2.73	2.68	2.63
Infant care, personal and beauty products, at retail [56172]	2.18	1.98	2.03	2.09
Hardware, tools, renovation and lawn and garden products, at retail [56181]	1.87	1.94	2.02	1.68
Miscellaneous products at retail [56191]	2.94	3.18	3.21	3.17
Total retail trade commissions and miscellaneous services Footnote 1	1.74	2.08	2.04	1.58
Footnotes Footnote 1 1. Comprises the following North American Product Classification System (NAPCS): 51411, 51412, 53112, 56211, 57111, 58111, 58121, 58122, 58131, 58141, 72332, 833111, 841, 85131 and 851511. Return to footnote 1 referrer

Retail Commodity Survey: CVs for total sales (second quarter 2021)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Retail Commodity Survey: CVs for total sales (second quarter 2021). The information is grouped by NAPCS-CANADA (appearing as row headers), and Quarter (appearing as column headers).

NAPCS-CANADA	Quarter
	2020Q2	2020Q3	2020Q4	2021Q1	2021Q2
Total commodities, retail trade commissions and miscellaneous services	0.53	0.61	0.54	0.67	0.54
Retail Services (except commissions) [561]	0.53	0.60	0.53	0.66	0.54
Food at retail [56111]	0.69	0.66	0.71	1.16	0.63
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, at retail [56112]	0.48	0.52	0.58	0.61	0.60
Cannabis products, at retail [56113]	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Clothing at retail [56121]	1.35	0.80	1.00	0.98	1.36
Footwear at retail [56122]	2.87	1.93	1.76	1.98	1.95
Jewellery and watches, luggage and briefcases, at retail [56123]	18.57	9.67	2.02	2.53	6.65
Home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and electronics, at retail [56131]	0.57	0.55	0.56	0.58	0.63
Sporting and leisure products (except publications, audio and video recordings, and game software), at retail [56141]	1.98	3.23	2.19	1.70	2.45
Publications at retail [56142]	9.43	7.47	6.14	6.31	8.46
Audio and video recordings, and game software, at retail [56143]	3.27	5.69	5.95	4.61	3.81
Motor vehicles at retail [56151]	2.03	2.18	1.91	2.45	1.76
Recreational vehicles at retail [56152]	4.20	2.68	5.37	3.94	2.25
Motor vehicle parts, accessories and supplies, at retail [56153]	1.40	1.57	1.31	1.95	1.54
Automotive and household fuels, at retail [56161]	2.94	2.23	2.04	2.48	1.70
Home health products at retail [56171]	2.70	2.62	3.36	3.05	2.70
Infant care, personal and beauty products, at retail [56172]	2.82	2.12	2.76	2.97	1.93
Hardware, tools, renovation and lawn and garden products, at retail [56181]	1.84	1.46	1.14	1.52	1.83
Miscellaneous products at retail [56191]	2.69	2.34	2.36	1.99	3.23
Total retail trade commissions and miscellaneous services Footnotes 1	1.54	1.71	1.65	1.58	1.57
Footnotes Footnote 1 Comprises the following North American Product Classification System (NAPCS): 51411, 51412, 53112, 56211, 57111, 58111, 58121, 58122, 58131, 58141, 72332, 833111, 841, 85131 and 851511. Return to footnote 1 referrer

Environment and Energy Statistics Division
Energy Section

Confidentiality

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

Table of contents

• A – Reporting Instructions
• B – Electricity Generation Method
• C – Combustible Fuel
• D – Receipts of Electricity from the U.S.A.
• E – Receipts of Electricity from Within Canada
• F – Total Supply
• G – Deliveries of Electricity to the U.S.A.
• H – Deliveries of Electricity within Canada
• I – Unallocated and/or losses

A – Reporting Instructions

Please report information for the month indicated on the front of the questionnaire, and return it within 10 days of receipt.

Please complete all sections as applicable.

If the information requested is unknown, please provide your best estimate.

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the Monthly Electricity Supply and Disposition Survey. If you need more information, please call 1-877-604-7828.

B – Electricity Generation Method

Combustible fuels: see section C

Nuclear: Electricity generated at an electric power plant whose turbines are driven by steam generated in a reactor by heat from the fission of nuclear fuel.

Hydro: Electric power generated from a plant in which the turbine generators are driven by flowing water.

Tidal: Electric power generated from a plant in which turbine generators are driven from tidal movements.

Wind: A power plant in which the prime mover is a wind turbine. Electric power is generated by the conversion of wind power into mechanical energy.

Solar: Electricity created using Photovoltaic (PV) technology which converts sunlight into electricity or electricity created using solar thermal technology where sunlight heats a liquid or gas to drive a turbine or engine.

Wave: Electricity generated from mechanical energy derived from wave motion.

Geothermal: Electricity generated from heat emitted from within the earth's crust, usually in the form of hot water or steam.

Other non-combustible sources: This includes fuels such as waste heat, steam, and steam purchased from another company. Specify in the space provided.

C – Combustible fuels

Coal: A readily combustible, black or brownish-black rock-like substance, whose composition, including inherent moisture, consists of more than 50% by weight and 70% by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered and metamorphosed by heat and pressure over geologic time without access to air.

Natural gas: A mixture of hydrocarbons (principally methane) and small quantities of various hydrocarbons existing in the gaseous phase or in solution with crude oil in underground reservoirs.

Petroleum: This covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude oil and petroleum products that are made up of refined crude oil and used as a fuel source (i.e., crude oil, synthetic crude oil, natural gas liquids, naphtha, kerosene, jet fuel, gasoline, diesel, and fuel oil; excludes Petroleum coke, bitumen and other oil products not specified).

Other non-renewable combustible fuels: This includes fuels such as propane, orimulsion, petroleum coke, coke oven gas, ethanol and any other type of non-renewable combustible fuels not otherwise identified on the questionnaire. Specify in the space provided.

Wood and wood waste: Wood and wood energy used as fuel, including round wood (cord wood), lignin, wood scraps from furniture and window frame manufacturing, wood chips, bark, sawdust, shavings, lumber rejects, forest residues, charcoal and pulp waste from the operation of pulp mills, sawmills and plywood mills.

Spent pulping liquor (Black liquor): A recycled by-product formed during the pulping of wood in the paper-making process. It is primarily made up of lignin and other wood constituents, and chemicals that are by-products of the manufacture of chemical pulp. It is burned as fuel or in a recovery boiler which produces steam which can be used to produce electricity.

Methane (Landfill gas): A biogas composed principally of methane and carbon dioxide produced by anaerobic digestion of landfill waste.

Municipal and other waste: Wastes (liquids or solids) produced by households, industry, hospitals and others (examples: paper, cardboard, rubber, leather, natural textiles, wood, brush, grass clippings, kitchen waste and sewage sludge).

Other type of Biomass: Any other type of biomass not otherwise identified on the questionnaire. This includes fuels such as food waste/food processing residues, used diapers, and biogases – example, gas produced from anaerobic digesters. Specify in the space provided.

D – Receipts of electricity from the U.S.A.

If applicable, please report the total quantity of electricity (MWh) and Canadian dollar value (thousands of dollars) this business imported/purchased from the United States.

E – Receipts of electricity from within Canada

If applicable, please report the total quantities of electricity (MWh) and total dollar value (thousands of dollars) purchased or received from within and/or other provinces (e.g., other utilities/producers, transmitters, distributors).

F – Total Supply

This is the sum of Total Generation, Total Receipts from United States, Total Receipts from other Provinces and Total Receipts from Within Province. The Total Supply number must equal the Total Disposition number.

G – Deliveries of electricity to the U.S.A.

If applicable, please report the total quantity of electricity (MWh) and Canadian dollar value (thousands of dollars) this business exported/sold to the United States.

H – Deliveries of electricity within Canada

If applicable, please report the total quantity of electricity (MWh) and total dollar value (thousands of dollars) your company sold to other domestic companies, by province or territory.

I – Unallocated and/or losses

Include

• transmission losses
• adjustments
• "unaccounted for" amounts which are subject to variation because of cyclical billing
• losses in the main generator transformers and the electrical energy absorbed by the generating auxiliaries

Thank you for your participation.

Business or organization information

1. Which of the following categories best describes this business or organization?

• Government agency
• Private sector business
• Non-profit organization
  • Who does this organization primarily serve?
    • Households or individuals
      e.g., child and youth services, community food services, food bank, women's shelter, community housing services, emergency relief services, religious organization, grant and giving services, social advocacy group, arts and recreation group
    • Businesses
      e.g., business association, chamber of commerce, condominium association, environment support or protection services, group benefit carriers (pensions, health, medical)
• Don't know

2. In what year was this business or organization first established?

Year business or organization was first established:

OR

Don't know

3. In the last 12 months, did this business or organization conduct any of the following international activities?

Select all that apply.

• Export goods outside of Canada
  Include both intermediate and final goods.
• Export services outside of Canada
  Include services delivered virtually and in person.
  e.g., cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
• Make investments outside of Canada
• Sell goods to businesses or organizations in Canada who then resold them outside of Canada
• Import goods from outside of Canada
  Include both intermediate and final goods.
• Import services from outside of Canada
  Include services received virtually and in person.
  e.g., cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
• Relocate any business or organizational activities or employees from another country into Canada
  Exclude temporary foreign workers.
• Engage in other international business or organizational activities
  OR
• None of the above

4. Over the next three months, how are each of the following expected to change for this business or organization?

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

• Number of employees
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Vacant positions
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Sales of goods and services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Selling price of goods and services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Demand for goods and services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Imports
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Exports
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Operating income
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Operating expenses
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Profitability
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Cash reserves
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Capital expenditures
  e.g., machinery, equipment
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Training expenditures
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Marketing and advertising budget
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know

Business or organization obstacles

5. Over the next three months, which of the following are expected to be obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

• Shortage of labour force
• Recruiting skilled employees
• Retaining skilled employees
• Shortage of space or equipment
• Rising cost of inputs
  An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
  e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
• Cost of personal protective equipment (PPE), additional cleaning or implementing distancing requirements
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
• Maintaining inventory levels
• Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
• Fluctuations in consumer demand
• Attracting new or returning customers
• Cost of insurance
• Transportation costs
• Obtaining financing
• Government regulations
• Travel restrictions and travel bans
• Increasing competition
• Challenges related to exporting goods and services
• Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
• Speed of internet connection
• Other
  • Specify other:
  OR
• None of the above

Flow condition: If “Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada”, “Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad”, or “Maintaining inventory levels” is selected in Q5, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q7.

6. How long does this business or organization expect the following to continue to be an obstacle?

• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
  • Less than 3 month
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months to less than 12 months
  • 12 months or more
  • Don't know
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
  • Less than 3 month
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months to less than 12 months
  • 12 months or more
  • Don't know
• Maintaining inventory levels
  • Less than 3 month
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months to less than 12 months
  • 12 months or more
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business or non-profit organization, go to Q7. Otherwise, go to Q8.

Expectations for the next year

7. In the next 12 months, are there any plans to expand or restructure this business or organization, or acquire or invest in other businesses or organizations?

Restructuring involves changing the financial, operational, legal or other structures of a business or organization to make it more efficient or more profitable.

• Yes
  • Does this business plan to:
    Select all that apply.
    • Expand current location of this business
    • Expand this business or organization to other locations
    • Expand this business or organization without increasing physical space
      i.e., hiring more staff who will work remotely
    • Restructure this business or organizations
    • Acquire other businesses, organizations or franchises
    • Invest in other businesses or organizations
    • Merge with other businesses or organizations
• No
• Don't know

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business, go to Q8. Otherwise, go to Q9.

8. In the next 12 months, are there any plans to transfer, sell or close this business?

• Yes
  • Does this business plan to:
    • Transfer to family members without money changing hands
    • Sell to family members
    • Sell to employees
    • Sell to external parties
    • Close the business
    • Don't know
• No
• Don't know

Trade agreements

9. Is this business or organization aware of the existence of any of the following trade agreements?

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
  Previously the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
  • Not aware of existence of agreement
  • Aware of existence but not familiar with details of agreement
  • Familiar with details of agreement
• Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
  • Not aware of existence of agreement
  • Aware of existence but not familiar with details of agreement
  • Familiar with details of agreement
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
  • Not aware of existence of agreement
  • Aware of existence but not familiar with details of agreement
  • Familiar with details of agreement

Flow condition: If “Export or sell goods outside of Canada”, “Export or sell services outside of Canada”, “Import or buy goods outside of Canada” or “Import or buy services outside of Canada” is selected in Q3, go to Q10. Otherwise, go to Q11.

10. Which of the following trade agreements does this business or organization currently carry out trade under?

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)
  Previously the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
  • Currently carry out trade under this agreement
  • Does not currently carry out trade under this agreement
  • Don’t know
• Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
  • Currently carry out trade under this agreement
  • Does not currently carry out trade under this agreement
  • Don’t know
• Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)
  • Currently carry out trade under this agreement
  • Does not currently carry out trade under this agreement
  • Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Does not currently carry out trade under this agreement” for “Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)” is selected in Q10, go to Q11. Otherwise, go to Q12.

11. What is the primary reason this business or organization does not carry out trade under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)?

• This business or organization does not trade with the United States or Mexico
• Do not understand the process
• Documents are too complicated
• Benefits of using are too small
• Products do not qualify for Rules of Origin (ROO)
• Too difficult to prove that products qualify for Rules of Origin (ROO)
• Importer chooses not to claim
• Other
  • Specify other:

Flow condition: If “Does not currently carry out trade under this agreement” for “Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)” is selected in Q10, go to Q12. Otherwise, go to Q13.

12. What is the primary reason this business or organization does not carry out trade under the Canadian-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)?

• This business or organization does not trade with the European Union
  The European Union includes Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
• Do not understand the process
• Documents are too complicated
• Benefits of using are too small
• Products do not qualify for Rules of Origin (ROO)
• Too difficult to prove that products qualify for Rules of Origin (ROO)
• Importer chooses not to claim
• Other
  • Specify other:

Flow condition: If “Does not currently carry out trade under this agreement” for “Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)” is selected in Q10, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q14.

13. What is the primary reason this business or organization does not carry out trade under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)?

• This business or organization does not trade with the Trans-Pacific countries
  Trans-Pacific countries includes Australia, Brunei, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.
• Do not understand the process
• Documents are too complicated
• Benefits of using are too small
• Products do not qualify for Rules of Origin (ROO)
• Too difficult to prove that products qualify for Rules of Origin (ROO)
• Importer chooses not to claim
• Other
  • Specify other:

Flow condition: If “Import or buy goods outside of Canada” or “Import or buy services outside of Canada” is selected in Q3, go to Q14. Otherwise, go to Q19.

Digital ordering

Extranet:
A closed network that uses internet protocols to securely share enterprise's information with suppliers, vendors, customers or other businesses partners. It can take the form of a secure extension of an Intranet that allows external users to access some parts of the enterprise's Intranet. It can also be a private part of the enterprise's website, where business partners can navigate after being authenticated in a login page.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI):
The electronic transmission of data suitable for automated processing between businesses or organisations. Generally, EDI allows for the sending or receiving of messages (e.g., payment transactions, tax declarations, orders) in an agreed or standard format suitable for automated processing, and does not require an individual to type a message manually.

14. It was reported in a previous question that in the last 12 months, this business or organization imported goods or services from outside of Canada. What percentage of these import purchases were digitally ordered?

Include all purchases of goods and services by this business or organization where the order was placed, and the commitment to purchase was received over the Internet, including through web pages, applications, platforms, extranet or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

Exclude orders placed by telephone, facsimile and email.

• 100%
• 50% to less than 100%
• 1% to less than 50%
• None

Flow condition: If “Import or buy goods outside of Canada” is selected in Q3 and “100%”, “50% to less than 100%” or “1% to less than 50%” is selected in Q14, go to Q15. Otherwise, go to the next flow.

Digital ordering of goods and services

15. In the last 12 months, which digital methods were used by this business or organization to order goods from suppliers in other countries?

Select all that apply.

• Electronic data interchange (EDI)
  The electronic transmission of data suitable for automated processing between businesses or organizations. Generally, EDI allows for the sending or receiving of messages (e.g., payment transactions, tax declarations, orders) in an agreed or standard format suitable for automated processing, and does not require an individual to type a message manually.
• E-commerce, through the supplier’s website, application or platform
• E-commerce, through a third-party website, application or platform
• Extranet
  A closed network that uses internet protocols to securely share enterprise's information with suppliers, vendors, customers or other businesses partners. It can take the form of a secure extension of an Intranet that allows external users to access some parts of the enterprise's Intranet. It can also be a private part of the enterprise's website, where business partners can navigate after being authenticated in a login page.
• Email
  OR
• Goods were not digitally ordered from suppliers in other countries by this business or organization

Flow condition: If “Import or buy services outside of Canada” is selected in Q3 and “100%”, “50% to less than 100%” or “1% to less than 50%” is selected in Q14, go to Q16. Otherwise, go to Q19.

16. In the last 12 months, which digital methods were used by this business or organization to order services from suppliers in other countries?

Select all that apply.

• Electronic data interchange (EDI)
  The electronic transmission of data suitable for automated processing between businesses or organizations. Generally, EDI allows for the sending or receiving of messages (e.g., payment transactions, tax declarations, orders) in an agreed or standard format suitable for automated processing, and does not require an individual to type a message manually.
• E-commerce, through the supplier’s website, application or platform
• E-commerce, through a third-party website, application or platform
• Extranet
  A closed network that uses internet protocols to securely share enterprise's information with suppliers, vendors, customers or other businesses partners. It can take the form of a secure extension of an Intranet that allows external users to access some parts of the enterprise's Intranet. It can also be a private part of the enterprise's website, where business partners can navigate after being authenticated in a login page.
• Email
  OR
• Services were not digitally ordered from suppliers in other countries by this business or organization

Flow condition: If any digital method to order services was selected in Q16, go to Q17. Otherwise, go to Q19.

Digital ordering of services

17. In the last 12 months, for services digitally ordered from suppliers in other countries, what percentage of these import purchases of services were digitally delivered to this business or organization?

Include services delivered digitally.

e.g., service provider and client remain in their respective countries with services delivered to Canada via electronic data interchange (EDI), video conferencing with clients, file sharing, websites, applications or platforms, or extranet

Exclude services delivered in person through a subsidiary or sub-contractor in Canada, or travel of service provider or supplier to have service delivered in-person.

e.g., services related to the installation of goods, on-site environmental assessments

• None
• 1% to less than 50%
• 50% to less than 100%
• 100%

Flow condition: If “1% to less than 50%”, “50% to less than 100%” or “100%” is selected in Q17, go to Q18. Otherwise, go to Q19.

18. In the last 12 months, how have purchases of digitally delivered services made by this business or organization from suppliers in other countries changed?

e.g., Service provider and client remain in their respective countries with services delivered to Canada via electronic data interchange (EDI), video conferencing with clients, file sharing, websites, applications or platforms, or extranet

• Increased
• Remained stable
• Decreased
• Don’t know

Ransomware

19. In the last 12 months, was this business or organization impacted by ransomware incidents?

Ransomware is a type of malware that restricts access to your computer or your files and displays a message that demands payment in order for the restriction to be removed.

• Yes
  • Did this business or organization pay the ransom?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don't know
• No
• Don't know

Flow condition: If “Yes, this business or organization was impacted by ransomware incidents” is selected in Q19, go to Q20. Otherwise, go to Q21.

20. In the last 12 months, has this business or organization reported a ransomware attack to an insurance company?

Ransomware is a type of malware that restricts access to your computer or your files and displays a message that demands payment in order for the restriction to be removed.

• Yes
• No
• Don't know

Recruitment, retention and training

21. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to do any of the following?

Select all that apply.

• Increase wages offered to new employees
• Increase wages offered to existing employees
• Increase benefits offered to new employees
• Increase benefits offered to existing employees
• Offer signing bonuses or incentives to new employees
• Apply for learning and development programs provided by governments in order to upskill or reskill current employees
• Work with education and training institutions to offer work-integrated learning programs such as co-ops, internships, and apprenticeships
• Provide tuition support to employees to take courses or programs
• Provide employees with paid time to engage in learning and development programs
• Encourage employees to participate in on-the-job training
• Encourage employees to acquire micro-credentials which help individuals develop job-related competencies
  Micro-credentials are short, concentrated groups of courses that are based on industry needs. They are generally offered in shorter or more flexible timespans and tend to be more narrowly focused in comparison with traditional degrees and certificates. Some micro-credentials may be stackable and can be combined to form a part of a larger credential.
  OR
• None of the above

Funding or credit

22. Over the next 12 months, how would the absence of government support programs impact the survival of this business or organization?

Examples of government support programs include the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA), the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), and the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS).

• No impact
• Low impact
• Medium impact
• High impact
• Don’t know

23. Over the next 12 months, to what extent does this business or organization foresee challenges in repaying funding received from repayable government support programs put in place because of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Examples of repayable government support programs include the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) or the Indigenous Business Initiative (sometimes referred to as the Emergency Loan Program (ELP), issued through an Aboriginal Financial Institutions (AFI) or Métis Capital Corporations (MCCs)).

• Not a challenge
• A minor challenge
• A major challenge
• Don’t know
• This business or organization did not receive any repayable funding from government support programs related to the COVID-19 pandemic

Liquidity and debt

24. Does this business or organization have the cash or liquid assets required to operate for the next three months?

• Yes
• No
  • Will this business or organization be able to acquire the cash or liquid assets required?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don't know
• Don't know

25. Does this business or organization have the ability to take on debt?

• Yes
• No
  • For which of the following reasons is this business or organization unable to take on debt?
    Select all that apply.
    • Cash flow
    • Lack of confidence or uncertainty in future sales
    • Request would be turned down
    • Too difficult or time consuming to apply
    • Terms and conditions are unfavourable
      e.g., interest rate, payment period
    • Credit rating
    • Other
      • Specify other:
• Don't know

Teleworking

26. Over the next three months, what percentage of the employees of this business or organization is anticipated to do each of the following?

Exclude staff that are primarily engaged in providing driving or delivery services or staff that primarily work at client premises.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
If the percentages are unknown, leave the question blank.

1. Work exclusively on-site
   Percentage of employees:
2. Telework exclusively
   Percentage of employees:
3. Have a hybrid telework and on-site work arrangement
   Percentage of employees:

Flow condition: If 1% or more of this business’s or organization’s workforce is anticipated to telework exclusively in Q26, go to Q27. Otherwise, go to Q28.

27. It was indicated that at least some of the employees of this business or organization are anticipated to telework exclusively. What percentage of these employees are based in a different province or territory than this business or organization?

Include employees that will be working outside of Canada.
Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage of employees based in a different province or territory as employer:

OR

Don't know

Flow condition: If 100% of this business’s or organization’s workforce is anticipated to work exclusively on-site in Q26, go to Q29. Otherwise, go to Q28.

Cybersecurity

28. In the last 12 months, did this business or organization review its cybersecurity policies in response to employees working remotely?

• Yes
• No
• Not applicable
• Don't know

Future outlook

29. Over the next 12 months, what is the future outlook for this business or organization?

• Very optimistic
• Somewhat optimistic
• Somewhat pessimistic
• Very pessimistic
• Don’t know

30. Compared to sales from October to December 2019, how does this business or organization expect sales from October to December 2021 to change?

• Sales are expected to be lower
  • How long is it expected to take for sales to return to their pre-pandemic levels?
    • 3 to 6 months
    • 6 to 12 months
    • More than 12 months
    • Unlikely to return to pre-pandemic level
    • Don’t know
• Sales are expected to be about the sameo
• Sales are expected to be higher
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business, go to Q31. Otherwise, go to “Contact person”.

Ownership

(i) The groups identified within the following questions are included in order to gain a better understanding of businesses owned by members of various communities across Canada.

31. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by women?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

32. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

33. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by immigrants to Canada?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

34. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by persons with a disability?

Include visible and non-visible disabilities.
Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

35. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by LGBTQ2 individuals?

The term LGBTQ2 refers to persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or two-spirited.
Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

36. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities?

A member of a visible minority in Canada may be defined as someone (other than an Indigenous person) who is non-white in colour or race, regardless of place of birth.
Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

Flow condition: If more than 50% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities, go to Q37. Otherwise, go to “Contact person”.

37. It was indicated that at least 51% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities. Please select the categories that describe the owner or owners.

Select all that apply.

• South Asian
  e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
• Chinese
• Black
• Filipino
• Latin American
• Arab
• Southeast Asian
  e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
• West Asian
  e.g., Afghan, Iranian
• Korean
• Japanese
• Other group
  • Specify other group:
  OR
• Prefer not to say

1.0 Description

The survey series Portrait of Canadian Society (PCS) is a new Statistics Canada initiative. It is a probabilistic web panel that involves asking the same group of participants to complete four brief online surveys over a one-year period. For now, this is an experimental project which is part of a larger effort to modernize our data collection methods and activities. The goal is to collect important data on Canadian society more efficiently, more rapidly and at a lower cost compared to traditional survey methods. We will be able to test this collection method and refine it over time.

The experimental nature of this project and its high degree of non-response have an impact on which estimates should be produced using the web panel. Survey weights were adjusted to minimise potential bias that could arise from panel non-response; non-response adjustments and calibration using available auxiliary information were applied and are reflected in the survey weights provided with the data file. Despite these adjustments, the high degree of non-response to the panel increases the risk of remaining bias, which may impact estimates produced using the panel data. More information about the weighting methods used to adjust for non-response can be found in Section 5. Data quality guidelines and considerations are outlined in Section 6.

Each survey in the series is administered to a sub-sample of General Social Survey - Social Identity (GSS-SI) respondents who agreed to participate in additional surveys when completing the GSS-SI.

From July 19 to August 1, 2021, Statistics Canada conducted the Portrait of Canadian Society: Experiences During the Pandemic (PCS-EP). This survey was the second wave of the PCS.

The purpose of this survey is to help us better understand various aspects of Canadian's life during the pandemic, including access to health care services, perceptions of safety and community. The PCS is designed to produce data at a national level.

This manual has been produced to facilitate the manipulation of the microdata file of the PCS-EP survey results.

Any questions about the data set or its use should be directed to:

Statistics Canada

Client Services
Centre for Social Data Integration and Development
Telephone: 613-951-3321 or call toll-free 1-800-461-9050
Fax: 613-951-4527
E-mail: csdid-info-cidds@canada.ca

2.0 Survey methodology

2.1 Target and survey population

The PCS-EP is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design. Each survey in the series is administered to a sub-sample of General Social Survey - Social Identity (GSS-SI) respondents who agreed to participate in additional surveys when completing the GSS-SI.

The target population for the Portrait of Canadian Society (PCS) is the same as that of the GSS-SI, The target population includes all persons 15 years of age and older in Canada, excluding:

1. Residents of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut;
2. Full-time residents of institutions;
3. Residents of reserves.

The frame used for GSS-SI, as well as the sampling strategy, are described in section 5 of the 2020 GSS-SI User Guide.

2.2 Sample Design and Size

To recruit the sample for Portrait of Canadian Society (PCS), recruitment questions were added at the end of General Social Survey – Social Identity (GSS-SI). Approximately 22% of GSS-SI respondents agreed to be approached for future surveys. They formed the sample for PCS.

The table below provides the number of respondents at each stage of the PCS-EP design.

Stages of the Sample	n
Dwellings selected for GSS-SI.	86,804
Individuals who responded to GSS-SI	34,044
Individuals who agreed to be approached for further surveys	7,502
Raw sample for surveys of the PCS	7,502
Panelists who participated in PCS-EP	3,330

The table below provides the number of respondents for PCS-EP by region, age group, and sex.

Area	Domain	n
Geography	Canada	3,330
	Atlantic provinces	502
	Quebec	635
	Ontario	1,125
	Prairies	645
	British-Columbia	423
Age Group	All	3,330
	15-24	131
	25-34	459
	35-44	699
	45-54	671
	55-64	621
	65-74	558
	75+	191
Sex	All	3,330
	Male	1,720
	Female	1,610

3.0 Data collection

PCS: Recruitment

The recruitment for PCS was done by adding two recruitment questions at the end of the GSS-SI questionnaire. GSS-SI was administered from August 17, 2020 to February 8, 2021. The first question asked if respondents would like to participate in a series of short, 15-20 minute surveys about important social topics. The respondents who answered "yes" to this question were asked to provide their email address and cellular phone number. This sub-sample of GSS-SI formed the sample for PCS.

PCS-EP – Experiences During the Pandemic

All respondents from GSS-SI who answered "yes" to the recruitment questions were sent an email invitation with a link to the PCS-EP and a Secure Access Code (SAC) to complete the survey online. Collection for the survey began July 19th, 2021.

There were two collection strategies for PCS-EP. The sample was divided into two groups and each group was part of one of the two collection strategies. All potential respondents were sent the invitation email on July 19th. For the first group, the reminder emails were sent on July 20th, July 22nd and July 24th. For the second group, the reminder emails were sent on July 22nd, July 26th, and July 29th. The application remained open until August 1, 2021.

Record Linkage:

To enhance the data from PCS-EP and reduce the response burden, information provided by respondents was combined with information from the General Social Survey - Social Identity. The GSS-SI is the source of socio-demographic variables available on the PCS-EP.

3.1 Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data is suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

4.0 Data quality

Survey errors come from a variety of different sources. They can be classified into two main categories: non-sampling errors and sampling errors.

4.1 Non-sampling errors

Non-sampling errors can be defined as errors arising during the course of virtually all survey activities, apart from sampling. They are present in both sample surveys and censuses (unlike sampling error, which is only present in sample surveys). Non-sampling errors arise primarily from the following sources: non-response, coverage, measurement and processing.

4.1.1 Non-response

Non-response is both a source of non-sampling error and sampling error. Non-response result from a failure to collect complete information from all units in the selected sample. Non-response is a source of non-sampling error in the sense that non-respondents often have different characteristics from respondents, which can result in biased survey estimates if non-response bias is not fully eliminated through weighting adjustments. The lower the response rate, the higher the risk of bias. Non-response is also a source of sampling error; this is discussed further in Section 6.2.

The PCS-EP survey design is carried out in multiple stages, each of which results in some non-response. The table below summarizes the response rate at each of these stages and the resulting cumulative response rate for PCS-EP.

Survey stage	Number of respondents	Response rate
GSS-SI	34,044	40.3%
Opt-in to additional surveys among GSS-SI respondents	7,502	22.0%
Response to PCS-EP among panel participants	3,330	44.4%
Cumulative response rate		3.8%

4.1.2 Coverage errors

Coverage errors consist of omissions, erroneous inclusions, duplications and misclassifications of units in the survey frame. Since they affect every estimate produced by the survey, they are one of the most important types of error. Coverage errors may cause a bias in the estimates and the effect can vary for different sub-groups of the population. This is a very difficult error to measure or quantify accurately.

The PCS-EP data is collected from people aged 15 years and over living in private dwellings within the 10 provinces. Excluded from the survey's coverage are: residents of Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut; full-time residents of institutions, and residents of reserves. These groups together represent an exclusion of less than 2% of the Canadian population aged 15 and over.

Since PCS-EP uses the GSS-SI sample and was collected from July 19 to August 1, 2021, there is an undercoverage of residents of the 10 provinces that turned 15 since August 17, 2020, the beginning of GSS-SI collection. There is also undercoverage of those without internet access, since PCS-EP was collected entirely online. This undercoverage is greater amongst those age 65 years and older.

4.1.3 Measurement errors

Measurement errors (or sometimes referred to as response errors) occur when the response provided differs from the real value; such errors may be attributable to the respondent, the questionnaire, the collection method or the respondent's record-keeping system. Such errors may be random or they may result in a systematic bias if they are not random.

4.1.4 Processing errors

Processing errors are the errors associated with activities conducted once survey responses have been received. They include all data handling activities after collection and prior to estimation. Like all other errors, they can be random in nature, and inflate the variance of the survey's estimates, or systematic, and introduce bias. It is difficult to obtain direct measures of processing errors and their impact on data quality especially since they are mixed in with other types of errors (nonresponse, measurement and coverage).

4.2 Sampling errors

Sampling error is defined as the error that results from estimating a population characteristic by measuring a portion of the population rather than the entire population. For probability sample surveys, methods exist to calculate sampling error. These methods derive directly from the sample design and method of estimation used by the survey.

The most commonly used measure to quantify sampling error is sampling variance. Sampling variance measures the extent to which the estimate of a characteristic from different possible samples of the same size and the same design differ from one another. For sample designs that use probability sampling, the magnitude of an estimate's sampling variance can be estimated.

Factors affecting the magnitude of the sampling variance include:

1. The variability of the characteristic of interest in the population: the more variable the characteristic in the population, the larger the sampling variance.
2. The size of the population: in general, the size of the population only has an impact on the sampling variance for small to moderate sized populations.
3. The response rate: the sampling variance increases as the sample size decreases. Since non-respondents effectively decrease the size of the sample, non-response increases the sampling variance.
4. The sample design and method of estimation: some sample designs are more efficient than others in the sense that, for the same sample size and method of estimation, one design can lead to smaller sampling variance than another.

The standard error of an estimator is the square root of its sampling variance. This measure provides an indication of sampling error using the same scale as the estimate whereas the variance is based on squared differences.

The coefficient of variation (CV) of an estimate is a relative measure of the sampling error. It is defined as the estimate of the standard error divided by the estimate itself. It is very useful for measuring and comparing the sampling error of quantitative variables with large positive values. However, it is not recommended for estimates such as proportions, estimates of change or differences, and variables that can have negative values.

It is considered a best practice at Statistics Canada to report the sampling error of an estimate through its 95% confidence interval. The 95% confidence interval of an estimate means that if the survey were repeated over and over again, , the confidence interval would cover the true population value 95% of the time (or 19 times out of 20).

5.0 Weighting

The principle behind estimation in a probability sample is that each unit selected in the sample represents, besides itself, other units that were not selected in the sample. For example, if a simple random sample of size 100 is selected from a population of size 5,000, then each unit in the sample represents 50 units in the population. The number of units represented by a unit in the sample is called the survey weight of the sampled unit.

The weighting phase is a step that calculates, for each person, an associated sampling weight. This weight appears on the microdata file, and must be used to derive estimates representative of the target population from the survey. For example, if the number of individuals who smoke daily is to be estimated, it is done by selecting the records referring to those individuals in the sample having that characteristic and summing the weights entered on those records. The weighting phase is a step which calculates, for each record, what this number is. This section provides the details of the method used to calculate sampling weights for the PCS-EP.

The weighting of the sample for the PCS-EP has multiple stages to reflect the stages of sampling, participation and response to get the final set of respondents. The following sections cover the weighting steps to create the survey weights for PCS-EP.

5.1 Design weights

The initial panel weights are the final calibrated GSS-SI weights. These are the GSS-SI design weights adjusted for out-of-scope units and GSS-SI nonresponse, and then calibrated to population control totals. More information on these weights is available in section 8.1 of the GSS-SI user guide.

5.2 Nonresponse/Nonparticipation Adjustment

During collection of the PCS-EP, responses are obtained only from a proportion of sampled units. Individuals who responded to GSS-SI may decide not to opt-in to additional surveys and therefore not participate in the panel. Additionally, some individuals who opted into the panel, do not respond during PCS-EP collection. Weights of the nonresponding and nonparticipating units were redistributed to participating units. Units that did not participate in the panel had their weights redistributed to the participating units with similar characteristics within response homogeneity groups (RHGs).

The variables available for building the RHGs were available for both responding and non-responding units. These included personal characteristics (such as age, gender, education, population group, sexual orientation, employment information, voting behaviour, and personal income), household characteristics (such as home ownership and household income), and variables related to GSS-SI collection (such as the month of GSS response and whether response was online or interviewer-assisted). An adjustment factor was calculated within each response group as follows:

[ Sum of weights of respondents and nonrespondents / Sum of weights of respondents ]

The weights of the respondents were multiplied by this factor to produce the non-response adjusted weights. The nonparticipating units were dropped from the weighting process at this point.

5.3 Calibration

Control totals were computed using demography projection data. During calibration, an adjustment factor is calculated and applied to the survey weights. This adjustment is made such that the weighted sums match the control totals. Three sets of population control totals were used for PCS-EP:

1. Geographic region, age group, and sex. The geography and age groupings selected for calibration took into account the sometimes small number of respondents in different categories. The five geographic regions used for calibration were the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, the Prairie Provinces, and British Columbia. The age groups used were 15-34 year olds, 35-64 year olds, and those aged 65 years or more.
2. Sub-regional geographies. Respondent weights were also calibrated so that the sum within each province, as well as within the CMAs of Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver, match population control in those sub-regional geographies.
3. Age group at a national level. Respondent weights were calibrated to population totals (nationally) within more granular age groupings. These groupings were defined as 15-24 year olds, 25-34 year olds, etc. up to respondents aged 75 years or more.

5.4 Bootstrap weights

Bootstrap weights were generated for the PCS-EP survey respondents. Each bootstrap replicate was generated based on the initial PCS-EP design weights, and then adjusted for non-response and calibrated as described above.

6.0 Guidelines for tabulation, analysis and release

This chapter of the documentation outlines the guidelines to be adhered to by users tabulating, analyzing, publishing or otherwise releasing any data derived from the survey microdata files. With the aid of these guidelines, users of microdata should be able to produce the same figures as those produced by Statistics Canada and, at the same time, will be able to develop currently unpublished figures in a manner consistent with these established guidelines.

6.1 Rounding guidelines

Users are urged to adhere to the following rounding guidelines when producing estimates and statistical tables computed from these microdata files:

1. Estimates in the main body of a statistical table are to be rounded using the normal rounding technique. In normal rounding, if the first or only digit to be dropped is 0 to 4, the last digit to be retained is not changed. If the first or only digit to be dropped is 5 to 9, the last digit to be retained is raised by one.
2. Marginal sub-totals and totals in statistical tables are to be derived from their corresponding unrounded components and then are to be rounded themselves using normal rounding. Averages, rates, percentages, proportions and ratios are to be computed from unrounded components (i.e. numerators and/or denominators) and then are to be rounded themselves using normal rounding. Sums and differences are to be derived from their corresponding unrounded components and then are to be rounded themselves using normal rounding.
3. In instances where, due to technical or other limitations, a rounding technique other than normal rounding is used resulting in estimates to be published or otherwise released which differ from corresponding estimates published by Statistics Canada, users are urged to note the reason for such differences in the publication or release document(s).
4. Under no circumstances are unrounded estimates to be published or otherwise released by users. Unrounded estimates imply greater precision than actually exists.

6.2 Sample weighting guidelines for tabulation

The PCS-EP uses a complex sample design and estimation method, and the survey weights are therefore not equal for all the sampled units. When producing estimates and statistical tables, users must apply the proper survey weights. If proper weights are not used, the estimates derived from the microdata files cannot be considered to be representative of the survey population, and will not correspond to those produced by Statistics Canada.

6.3 Release guidelines for quality

While data quality is affected by both sampling and non-sampling errors, this section covers quality in terms of sampling error. It is considered a best practice at Statistics Canada to report the sampling error of an estimate through its 95% confidence interval (CI). The confidence interval should be released with the estimate, in the same table as the estimate. In addition to the confidence intervals, PCS-EP estimates are categorized into one of two release categories:

Category E

The estimate and confidence interval should be flagged with the letter E (or some similar identifier) and accompanied by a quality warning to use the estimate with caution. Data users should use the 95% confidence interval to assess whether the quality of the estimate is sufficient.

Category F

The estimate and confidence interval are not recommended for release. They are deemed of such poor quality, that they are not fit for any use; they contain a very high level of instability, making them unreliable and potentially misleading. If analysts insist on releasing estimates of poor quality, even after being advised of their accuracy, the estimates should be accompanied by a disclaimer. Analysts should acknowledge the warnings given and undertake not to disseminate, present or report the estimates, directly or indirectly, without this disclaimer. The estimates should be flagged with the letter F (or some similar identifier) and the following warning should accompany the estimates and confidence intervals: "Please be warned that these estimates and confidence intervals [flagged with the letter F] do not meet Statistics Canada's quality standards. Conclusions based on these data will be unreliable, and may be invalid."

The rules for assigning an estimate to a release category depends on the type of estimate.

Release Rules for Estimated Proportions and Estimated Counts

Estimated proportions and estimated counts are computed from binary variables. Estimated counts are estimates of the total number of persons/households with a characteristic of interest; in other words, they are the weighted sum of a binary variable (e.g., estimated number of immigrants). Estimated proportions are estimates of the proportion of persons/households with a characteristic of interest (e.g., estimated proportion of immigrants in the general population). Estimated counts and proportions can also be computed from categorical variables: that is, estimates of the number or proportion of persons/household who belong to a category.

The release rules for estimated proportions and estimated counts are based on sample size. Table 1 provides the release rules for the PCS-EP, for all estimated proportions and counts except estimates for visible minorities.

Table 1: General rules for proportions and counts, expect visible minority estimates

Sample Size (n)	Release Category	Action
n ≥ 200	E	Release with quality warning; users should use CI as quality indicator
n < 200	F	Suppress the estimate and its CI for quality reasons

For estimated proportions, n is defined as the unweighted count of the number of respondents in the denominator (not the numerator) of the proportion. For estimated counts, n is defined as the unweighted count of the number of respondents with nonzero values that contribute to the estimate.

Special rules for estimates by visible minority

Table 2 provides special release rules that are to be used whenever estimates are produced for a visible minority group (i.e., using VISMIN or VISMINFL). Special rules are required because of the GSS-SI sample design that included an oversample of certain visible minority groups.

Table 2: Special rules for proportions and counts for visible minority estimates

Sample Size (n)	Release Category	Action
n ≥ 350	E	Release with quality warning; users should use CI as quality indicator
n < 350	F	Suppress the estimate and its CI for quality reasons

Given the number of respondents to the PCS-EP, these rules imply that individual visible minority groups cannot be used as domains for analysis based on the PCS-EP but that analysis by VISMINFL is permissible. On the other hand, given that the experiences of different visible minority groups can be very different from each other, it may not be suitable to produce an estimate for all visible minority groups together (VISMINFL = 1). It is therefore recommended that, even though these estimates should not be disseminated, estimates by the more disaggregated VISMIN categories be compared between them before deciding to group all visible minority groups together.

Release Rules for Means and Totals of Quantitative Variables

The release rules for the estimated means and totals of quantitative variables or amounts are based on the sample size and on the CV of the estimate. Table 3 provides the release rules for the PCS-EP, except visible minority estimates.

Table 3: General rules for means and totals

Sample Size (n)	Release Category	Action
n ≥ 200 and CV ≤ 50%	E	Release with quality warning; users should use CI as quality indicator
n < 200 or CV>50%	F	Suppress the estimate and its CI for quality reasons

For estimated means, n is defined as the unweighted count of the number of respondents that contribute to the estimate including values of zero. For estimated totals, n is defined as the unweighted count of the number respondents with nonzero values that contribute to the estimate.

Special rules for estimates by visible minority

Table 4 provides special release rules that are to be used whenever estimates are produced for a visible minority group (i.e., using VISMIN or VISMINFL). Special rules are required because of the GSS-SI sample design that included an oversample of certain visible minority groups.

Table 4: Special rules for means and totals for visible minority estimates

Sample Size (n)	Release Category	Action
n ≥ 350 and CV ≤ 50%	E	Release with quality warning; users should use CI as quality indicator
n < 350 or CV>50%	F	Suppress the estimate and its CI for quality reasons

Given the number of respondents to the PCS-EP, these rules imply that individual visible minority groups cannot be used as domains for analysis based on the PCS-EP but that analysis by VISMINFL is permissible. On the other hand, given that the experiences of different visible minority groups can be very different from each other, it may not be suitable to produce an estimate for all visible minority groups together (VISMINFL = 1). It is therefore recommended that, even though these estimates should not be disseminated, estimates by the more disaggregated VISMIN categories be compared between them before deciding to group all visible minority groups together.

Release Rules for Differences

In order to assign a release category for an estimated difference between two estimates, the analyst must first determine the release category of each of the two estimates using the rules described above. Next, the release category of the estimated difference or the estimate of change is assigned the lower release category of the two estimates; this can be specified as follows:

• If one or both estimates are category F estimates, then assign the estimated difference to category F and suppress it.
• Otherwise, assign the estimated difference to category E and release with a quality warning.

Additional Rules Regarding Confidence intervals

The above release rules should suppress most estimates and confidence intervals of poor quality. There are also two additional conditions that indicate that a confidence interval is of poor quality. An estimate and its confidence interval should be assigned to release category F if either of the following two conditions are true:

• The lower bound of the 95% confidence interval is equal to the upper bound of the interval; in other words, the confidence interval is of length zero. (Exceptions are if the estimate corresponds to a calibration control total.)
• The lower bound or upper bound of the 95% confidence interval is not a plausible value for the estimate. For example, the lower bound for an estimated proportion is negative.

CVs for Total sales by geography
This table displays the results of Annual Retail Trade Survey: CVs for Total sales by geography - July 2021. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Month and Percent (appearing as column headers)

Geography	Month
	202107
	%
Canada	0.7
Newfoundland and Labrador	1.2
Prince Edward Island	1.1
Nova Scotia	1.5
New Brunswick	1.2
Quebec	1.2
Ontario	1.5
Manitoba	0.9
Saskatchewan	2.1
Alberta	0.9
British Columbia	1.3
Yukon Territory	1.5
Northwest Territories	0.7
Nunavut	2.4

Monthly Survey of Food Services and Drinking Places: CVs for Total Sales by Geography - July 2021
Table summary
This table displays the results of CVs for Total sales by Geography. The information is grouped by Geography (appearing as row headers), Month and percentage (appearing as column headers).

Geography	Month
	202007	202008	202009	202010	202011	202012	202101	202102	202103	202104	202105	202106	202107
	percentage
Canada	0.35	0.19	0.21	0.21	0.20	0.25	0.20	0.19	0.47	1.44	1.59	1.36	3.35
Newfoundland and Labrador	0.82	0.36	0.62	1.53	0.30	0.48	1.08	0.48	2.16	2.05	2.53	0.53	1.00
Prince Edward Island	8.73	0.95	0.63	0.84	1.08	1.81	1.63	1.04	1.29	16.69	1.05	0.91	1.39
Nova Scotia	1.50	1.39	0.37	0.77	0.36	1.03	0.91	0.40	0.87	2.76	3.16	1.02	0.81
New Brunswick	0.60	2.28	0.50	0.33	0.39	0.49	0.98	0.50	0.39	1.08	1.75	0.50	0.81
Quebec	0.77	0.48	0.56	0.65	0.55	0.79	0.68	0.67	1.11	5.08	4.52	4.41	16.17
Ontario	0.70	0.26	0.31	0.25	0.28	0.45	0.34	0.24	0.99	2.56	2.99	2.76	0.74
Manitoba	0.70	0.34	0.34	0.72	0.93	0.78	0.89	0.46	0.45	1.21	2.59	0.69	0.77
Saskatchewan	1.55	0.67	0.99	0.91	1.04	0.75	0.91	0.52	0.46	1.22	0.88	0.65	11.15
Alberta	0.53	0.23	0.55	0.33	0.36	0.54	0.52	0.33	0.81	3.06	4.31	0.48	0.50
British Columbia	0.83	0.67	0.58	0.72	0.68	0.39	0.33	0.56	0.99	1.88	2.78	0.79	1.74
Yukon Territory	1.41	1.57	1.64	1.72	1.71	4.34	5.07	1.96	3.01	65.36	2.72	1.76	3.36
Northwest Territories	1.43	1.94	2.14	2.10	2.04	1.97	6.05	1.83	2.93	74.26	3.73	2.03	4.45
Nunavut	1.82	0.56	2.60	2.45	67.48	2.75	2.54	2.39	2.67	3.88	4.83	1.32	4.13