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Repurposing data supports the growing need for information

Every day, government and private-sector organizations collect data for their various needs. All levels of government are increasingly interested in maximizing the potential of administrative data to build a comprehensive and coherent statistical picture of the economy, society and the environment.

Statistics Canada is responsible for providing Canadians with reliable and comprehensive data and for giving governments, businesses, unions and not-for-profit organizations the information they need to maintain an open and democratic society.

For close to 100 years, Statistics Canada has repurposed data collected by other organizations to enhance the decision-making capability of governments and communities. These data support the creation of statistical outputs which bring evidence to policy and decision making, and save money and time.

What are the benefits of giving Statistics Canada access to your administrative data?

• brings together statistical information from many high-quality sources
• reduces the response burden on individuals and companies
• saves money
• provides a direct way to tabulate statistical outputs
• responds quickly to growing needs for quality statistical outputs
• facilitates statistical modelling based on the integration of multiple data sources
• leads to better survey design.

Your data is PROTECTED

Statistics Canada will protect the confidentiality of the information that it obtains from all data providers. The data are held in a secure environment, and the privacy of individuals is fully protected.

Contact us

For more information on confidentiality, privacy or repurposing data, contact us at infostats@statcan.gc.ca or at 1-800-263-1136.

Statistics Canada website

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Information on Canadian Government Finance Statistics Provisional Estimates

November 19, 2014

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada's makes regular updates to the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts in order to incorporate the most current information on the economy from censuses and annual surveys, and to improve estimation methods. These type of revisions are typically limited to a number of reference years.

Periodically, the Canadian macroeconomic accounts or components of the macroeconomic accounts undergo major revisions, which are much broader in scope. These are reserved for incorporating conceptual, classification, presentational, major statistical changes or due to the introduction of a new international accounting standard.

Since 2009 Statistics Canada has been working towards implementing the Government Finance Statistics standard, an international standard for reporting government revenues, expenditures, financial transactions, revaluations, assets, liabilities and net worth.

In short, Government finance statistics are:

• an economic representation of a government's financial activity;
• the International Monetary Fund's preferred basis for reporting government financial statistics;
• conceptually consistent with the balance of payment, international investment position and national account set of statistics.

Statistics Canada is now ready to release a set of provisional estimates of Government Finance Statistics for the period 2008-2009 to 2012-2013.

Government Finance Statistics allow users to analyze the financial soundness of the government and government business enterprises in the same way that financial soundness and stability is measured in the corporate or household sector. Government Finance Statistics also enable users to determine whether government decisions are sustainable over the long term, and assess government liquidity constraints as well as financing needs.

What are Government Finance Statistics?

The Canadian Government Finance Statistics will:

• Improve international comparability. Most countries around the world publish a set of government statistics according to the IMF's government finance statistics manual. The Canadian Government Finance Statistics will be compatible allowing for inter-country comparisons with respect to indicators such as government sources of revenue, expenditures and level of debt.
• Allow policy makers to study the financial position, liquidity and operations of the different levels of governments in a consistent and systematic manner;
• Incorporate the latest advances in methodology in the area of economic measurement, and;
• Integrate updated source data and statistical techniques to add detail to economic estimates to more fully reflect the role of government in the Canadian economy.

Why Provisional?

Given the degree of changes associated with the development of this new product, Statistics Canada has decided to release the data with the provisional qualifier.

The provisional qualifier signals to users that the data are fit for use but subject to revision. Over the next year these data will be integrated into the rest of the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (such as the National Accounts, Balance of Payments, International Investment Position, Input-Output Tables). The data will be revised due to this integration process as the estimates, concepts and methods are compared and adjusted to align with counterparty information and integrated into the wider national accounts framework.

In addition there are a number of tasks that need to be completed over the next year to improve the usability of the data. These include:

• Balancing grants across levels of government: The GFS data estimate grants paid by one government to another government. Since the data are built from individual government accounting records the recording of what one level of government pays to another is not always consistent with what the receiving level of government records. For example, the Federal government may record a grant to a province valued at $100m. The provincial government may only record receipt of $95m (due to timing or approaches to classification). It is the role of the GFS compiler to determine how to balance these flows. This balancing has not been incorporated into the GFS data at this time.
• Inclusion of capital expenditures and capital stock: The current version of GFS data will not include estimates of capital spending and capital stock by government. The GFS manual recommends that government capital stock estimates be valued on a replacement cost basis. This means that the value of the government's non-financial assets need to be valued at current prices. Government accounting records are inconsistent in their valuation of non-financial assets. As such, a methodology referred to as a perpetual inventory method, needs to be adopted to properly value the government's non-financial assets. These estimates are not yet ready for dissemination. They will be ready sometime within the next year. The implication is that the provisional CGFS estimates will not include estimates of capital investment and capital stock and therefore it will not be possible to derive government net operating balance, net lending/borrowing or net worth.
• Consolidation: Consolidation is a method of presenting statistics for a set of institutional units (or entities) as if they constituted a single unit. For example, consider the following sectors within the Canadian public sector universe: Federal general government, provincial and territorial general government and local general government. Assume that we would like to analyze the overall impact of the federal, provincial/territorial and local governments on the Canadian economy. One way to do this would be to view these sectors as a single general government sector. In order to do this we could consolidate these units together and treat them as if they are a single unit. Consolidation is not simply summing together the data into a single aggregate. Consolidation involves first eliminating the transactions and debtor-creditor relationships that occur among the units being consolidated and then aggregating the remaining transactions. In other words, transactions or stock position of one unit are paired with the same transaction or stock position recorded for the second unit and then both the transaction or stock position are eliminated. The provisional GFS data will not be presented on an inter-sectoral basis. This has a number of implications. First, it makes it difficult to compare data from one province to another. For example, suppose you wanted to analyze total expenditures on health in the province of Ontario. You could not add together the health expenditures of the provincial general government, health sector and local government because you would invariably double count the expenditures. Some of the expenditures of the provincial general government on health represent grants to the health sector. The health sector then spends those same funds on hospital care, emergency care etc. Adding the two figures together results in a double counting of the information. Until the data are consolidated the only analysis that can be done using the CGFS data is a time series comparison of the data for a particular level of government.
• Aboriginal General Governments: While Statistics Canada has been producing data for the aboriginal general government sector since 2012 as part of the release of the Canadian System of National Accounts these data have not yet been incorporated into the CGFS release.

Given these limitations one could ask why the data are being released at this point in time. Statistics Canada felt it was better to release the data now rather than wait another year since there is currently a lack of data in the area of government finance statistics, especially at the provincial and local level. While some of the detailed series may change over the next year and there are some data gaps, the general story and trends found in the data will remain the same.

‘Sequence of accounts'' approach

The strength of the Government Finance Statistics framework lies in the fact that it is a set of interrelated statements that integrate flows (revenues and expenditures) and stock positions (debt) for different levels of governments and government business enterprises.

The CGFS data is presented as a “sequence of accounts.” That is, it consists of two inter-related accounts; a statement of operations and a balance sheet.

This framework allows data users to monitor the impact current government policy and spending has on its stock of assets and liabilities, examine the liquidity of governments and the sustainability of government fiscal policy.

The Canadian Government Finance Statistics are also closely linked to other macroeconomic frameworks such as the System of National Accounts, Balance of Payments and International Investment Position. This ensures the data are comparable to other macroeconomic indicators such as gross domestic product, the balance of payments, household debt and net worth positions.

Increased Detail

With the initial release of the CGFS nine new matrixes will be published from which over 100 new data tables can be constructed.

Users will be able to look at government revenues (by type of revenue) and expenditures (by type of expenditure), transactions in assets, liabilities, as well as the stock of assets and stock of liabilities by level of government (federal, provincial, local).

Information is also available for various sub-sectors of governments such as the health sector and education sector.

A classification of the functions of government (COFOG) table is also available for each level of government. The COFOG tables provide an alternative view of government expenditures – focusing on the intended purpose of the expenditure. They paint a picture of the social and economic role governments play in society and the economy.

Finally a selected set of analytical tables are provided to data users. This includes tables which present government financial stability indicators and debt positions – at book and market value.

Who can use Government Finance Statistics?

Government Finance Statistics can be used by:

• Taxation analysts interested in studying tax rates and sources of revenue
• International bodies such as the OECD, IMF, UN to analyze the activities of the Canadian government relative to other countries.
• International credit agencies who need to advise on the credit worthiness of Canadian governments.
• The financial sector who need to track the governments'' demand and supply of funds in/to the economy.
• Tax payers interested in understanding how their tax dollars are spent and assessing the stewardship of the government.

Complex project

The compilation of the Canadian Government Finance Statistics is a complex project including structural, presentational, conceptual and statistical changes.

Regular users of Statistics Canada's data are urged to familiarize themselves with these changes.

Users are invited to consult the following links on our website for a more in-depth explanation of the changes.

For more information, contact Media Relations (613-951-4636); statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcafn.gc.ca.

Ce document est aussi disponible en français.

Background

In 2010, Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a moreefficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden onbusiness respondents.

The IBSP encompasses around 60 surveys covering four major sectors: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, services (including culture) and capital expenditures. By 2019/2020, the IBSP will include roughly 150 economic surveys covering all sectors of economic statistics.

The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses.

The IBSP uses a standardized approach for economic surveys conducted at Statistics Canada. This framework involves:

• Using a common Business Register as the unique frame
• Maximizing the use of administrative information to reduce business response burden
• Using electronic questionnaires as the principal mode of collection
• Harmonizing concepts and questionnaire content
• Adopting common sampling, collection and processing methodologies

What are some of the more significant changes?

• A new approach to sampling ensures businesses will only be asked those questions that are pertinent to their operations. This creates a win-win situation for Statistics Canada and respondents. Statistics Canada reduces the collection effort and has a greater likelihood of collecting the information it requires to produce official statistics relevant to Canadians. It also reduces the time needed by respondents to complete their business surveys.
• Increased use of administrative data reduces business response burden. Administrative data files (such as corporate income tax files) have been used extensively as a direct substitute for a sub-set of sampled units and for imputation of non-response. In the transition to the IBSP model, imputation methods were adapted to take full advantage of the availability of administrative data. This resulted in additional response burden reductions across survey programs. The majority of sampled businesses are no longer required to provide data for revenue and expense information that is available from tax data. The IBSP questionnaires are designed to collect information that is not available from administrative data files, such as commodities produced and business practices.
• A new coherent approach to developing provincial/territorial estimates uses existing information on Statistics Canada's business register to determine provincial/territorial shares of revenues, expenses and value added. This ensures a coherent and standardized approach that is consistent across all IBSP surveys. Previously, these data were collected directly from each respondent, contributing to response burden.
• Electronic questionnaires are now the primary mode to collect data from business respondents. Businesses complete surveys using a secure online application. The result is a more efficient and higher quality collection process. In addition, the quality of survey statistics may improve because electronic questionnaires have built-in checks designed to limit reporting errors that can occur with paper-based questionnaires.
• Increased coverage of the business population results in a more comprehensive set of business statistics. Beginning in reference year 2013, the population covered by the suite of annual economic survey programs increased to include all firms regardless of their size. In previous years, relatively small businesses (based on their sales) were not included in Statistics Canada's central business frame. However, with new self-coding technology, it became possible to classify all businesses operating in the Canadian economy onto the central business frame, regardless of the sales of the firm. As a result, with improved coverage of the population, the IBSP-based estimates better reflect the population of businesses operating in Canada.
• Questionnaires have been updated to reflect the latest business terminology and accounting practices of Canadian businesses. In addition the questionnaires apply the latest standard classifications used by Statistics Canada, such as the North American Industry Classification System and the North American Product Classification System.

Does this impact the comparability of data through time?

The extent of the changes in the business statistics program introduced by the IBSP means that some series may no longer be consistent with estimates from previous periods. For example, the increase in the business population alone means that the estimates will tend to be higher than those previously ublished.

For some series, data changes will be small and comparisons with estimates to previous reference periods will be consistent. In other cases, the impacts can be significant, leading to breaks in the current estimates when compared to past estimates.

Recognizing the importance of data continuity, Statistics Canada will continue to use several assessmenttechniques in order to examine whether current estimates will be directly comparable to past estimates.Some of the techniques that may be used include:

• Evaluating survey estimates at all levels of detail (national, sub-national, NAICS)
• Comparing estimates obtained from sub-annual surveys (where applicable)
• Comparing tax information
• Analysing the results for common respondents in 2012 and 2013
• Comparing historical movements by respondent and by the industry in general.

In all cases, users are aware that breaks can exist and that any comparisons with previousdata should be made at their own discretion.

Once the estimates for the current reference year are available, revisions will be made to the previous year's data.

Who will use the new IBSP estimates?

• Businesses use the estimates to better understand their performance within their given industry relative to the industry average.
• Industry analysts and associations use the IBSP estimates to analyze the performance of given industries in the Canadian economy both nationally and regionally.
• Federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and authorities, the press, survey respondents, and the general public use estimates to assess trends in the Canadian economy.

The IBSP data are a main input into the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. They are first adjusted to macroeconomic accounting concepts and definitions and are then integrated into the macroeconomic accounting frameworks. This integration involves adjusting the data to adhere to the macroeconomic accounting identities as well as ensuring consistency through time. These data are thebuilding blocks for Statistics Canada's benchmark measure of gross domestic product and a key input into the estimates used to determine equalization payments and the allocation of harmonized sales tax revenue.

Periodically, Statistics Canada undertakes large scale changes as part of its survey renewal process.The new IBSP data will be integrated into the Macroeconomic Accounts. Although the new data may leadto some changes/revisions to the national accounts, the System of National Accounts framework ensuresthat the national account estimates are robust and coherent.

Have any other survey releases taken place under the new IBSP schedule?

Yes. The first survey released under IBSP was the 2013 Survey of Aquaculture that was published in theDaily on November 14, 2014. Since then, several other annual surveys have been released, and a number of monthly surveys will soon be made available.

Further Information

For a more detailed explanation of the changes, please consult the Integrated Business Statistics Program Overview on the Statistics Canada website .

More information on the technical aspects on sampling and estimation is available upon request.

For more information, contact Media Relations (613-951-4636); statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

Ce document est aussi disponible en français.

Changes to the Passenger Bus and Urban Transit Survey

Starting in May 2015, Statistics Canada rolled out a re-designed survey related to public bus and urbantransit in Canada. All companies engaged in public bus and urban transit in Canada are included in thisredesigned survey.

The changes starting for 2014 include:

• Increasing the coverage of the estimates from 95% to 100%
• Combining urban transit services with commuter services and para-transit
• Eliminating the publication of CANSIM Table 408-0011 – Canadian passenger bus and urban transit industries, maintenance cost, by type of vehicle

Data comparability and accessibility

Data for this survey is published in CANSIM tables. Direct comparisons of data between the new CANSIM table and the previously published tables may not be possible. However, previous tables will remain available for reference purposes.

How can I obtain for more information on changes to the survey?

This document highlights key changes to the survey and its impacts for end users. For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this survey, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).

Background

In 2010, Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a more efficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden on business respondents.

The IBSP encompasses around 60 surveys covering four major sectors: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, services (including culture) and capital expenditures. By 2019/2020, the IBSP will include roughly 150 economic surveys covering all sectors of economic statistics. The list of surveys currently included in IBSP is available online.

The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses.

The IBSP uses a standardized approach for economic surveys conducted at Statistics Canada. This framework involves:

• Using a common Business Register as the unique frame
• Maximizing the use of administrative information to reduce business response burden
• Using electronic questionnaires as the principal mode of collection
• Harmonizing concepts and questionnaire content
• Adopting common sampling, collection and processing methodologies

What are some of the more significant changes?

• A new approach to sampling ensures businesses will only be asked those questions that are pertinent to their operations. This creates a win-win situation for Statistics Canada and respondents. Statistics Canada reduces the collection effort and has a greater likelihood of collecting the information it requires to produce official statistics relevant to Canadians. It also reduces the time needed by respondents to complete their business surveys.
• Increased use of administrative data reduces business response burden. Administrative data files (such as corporate income tax files) have been used extensively as a direct substitute for a sub-set of sampled units and for imputation of non-response. In the transition to the IBSP model, imputation methods were adapted to take full advantage of the availability of administrative data. This resulted in additional response burden reductions across survey programs. The majority of sampled businesses are no longer required to provide data for revenue and expense information that is available from tax data. The IBSP questionnaires are designed to collect information that is not available from administrative data files, such as commodities produced and business practices.
• A new coherent approach to developing provincial/territorial estimates uses existing information on Statistics Canada's business register to determine provincial/territorial shares of revenues, expenses and value added. This ensures a coherent and standardized approach that is consistent across all IBSP surveys. Previously, these data were collected directly from each respondent, contributing to response burden.
• Electronic questionnaires are now the primary mode to collect data from business respondents. Businesses complete surveys using a secure online application. The result is a more efficient and higher quality collection process. In addition, the quality of survey statistics may improve because electronic questionnaires have built-in checks designed to limit reporting errors that can occur with paper-based questionnaires.
• Increased coverage of the business population results in a more comprehensive set of business statistics. Beginning in reference year 2013, the population covered by the suite of annual economic survey programs increased to include all firms regardless of their size. In previous years, relatively small businesses (based on their sales) were not included in Statistics Canada's central business frame. However, with new self-coding technology, it became possible to classify all businesses operating in the Canadian economy onto the central business frame, regardless of the sales of the firm. As a result, with improved coverage of the population, the IBSP-based estimates better reflect the population of businesses operating in Canada.
• Questionnaires have been updated to reflect the latest business terminology and accounting practices of Canadian businesses. In addition the questionnaires apply the latest standard classifications used by Statistics Canada, such as the North American Industry Classification System and the North American Product Classification System.

Does this impact the comparability of data through time?

The extent of the changes in the business statistics program introduced by the IBSP means that some series may no longer be consistent with estimates from previous periods. For example, the increase in the business population alone means that the estimates will tend to be higher than those previously published.

For some series, data changes will be small and comparisons with estimates to previous reference periods will be consistent. In other cases, the impacts can be significant, leading to breaks in the current estimates when compared to past estimates.

Recognizing the importance of data continuity, Statistics Canada will continue to use several assessment techniques in order to examine whether current estimates will be directly comparable to past estimates. Among the techniques that may be used include:

• Evaluating survey estimates at all levels of detail (national, sub-national, NAICS)
• Comparing estimates obtained from sub-annual surveys (where applicable)
• Comparing tax information
• Analysing the results for common respondents in 2012 and 2013
• Comparing historical movements by respondent and by the industry in general.

In all cases, users are aware that breaks can exist and that any comparisons with previous data should be made at their own discretion.

Once the estimates for the current reference year are available, revisions will be made to the previous year`s data.

Who will use the new IBSP estimates?

• Businesses use the estimates to better understand their performance within their given industry relative to the industry average.
• Industry analysts and associations use the IBSP estimates to analyze the performance of given industries in the Canadian economy both nationally and regionally.
• Federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and authorities, the press, survey respondents, and the general public use estimates to assess trends in the Canadian economy.

The IBSP data are a main input in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. They are first adjusted to macroeconomic accounting concepts and definitions and are then integrated into the macroeconomic accounting frameworks. This integration involves adjusting the data to adhere to the macroeconomic accounting identities as well as ensuring consistency through time. These data are the building blocks for Statistics Canada's benchmark measure of gross domestic product and a key input into the estimates used to determine equalization payments and the allocation of harmonized sales tax revenue.

Periodically, Statistics Canada undertakes large scale changes as part of its survey renewal process. The new IBSP data will be integrated into the Macroeconomic Accounts. Although the new data may lead to some changes/revisions to the national accounts, the System of National Accounts framework ensures that the national account estimates are robust and coherent.

Have any other survey releases taken place under the new IBSP schedule?

Yes. The first survey released under IBSP was the 2013 Survey of Aquaculture that was published in the Daily on November 14, 2014. Since then, several other annual surveys have been released, and a number of monthly surveys will soon be made available.

Further Information

For a more detailed explanation of the changes, please consult the Integrated Business Statistics Program Overview on the Statistics Canada website.

More information on the technical aspects on sampling and estimation is available upon request.

For more information, contact Media Relations (613-951-4636); mediahotline@statcan.gc.ca.

Ce document est aussi disponible en français.

Changes to how natural gas storage information is produced

New Product

Starting January 2016, Statistics Canada will begin surveying the natural gas storage industry in order to examine its characteristics related to inventories and flows. Companies whose principal activities relate to distribution and transmission of natural gas but who also have storage operations will be part of this new survey.

The creation of the survey will provide more detailed and complete data to end users as it will expand on the relatively small storage content previously requested on natural gas distribution and transmission surveys.

Among the information that will be released to end users are national and provincial storage data related to the following:

• Opening inventories
• Closing inventories
• Inventory change (i.e., the difference between total opening and closing inventories)
• Injections to storage
• Withdrawals from storage
• Other adjustments (i.e., includes discrepancies due to meter inaccuracies and/or leakage or other losses)

Data availability

Gas storage data will be made available on the volume of gas stored in both thousands of cubic metres and gigajoules.

Data comparability and accessibility

As a result of the content changes for the survey, natural gas storage information previously found in CANSIM tables 129-0001, 129-0002, 129-0003 and 129-0004 will no longer be directly comparable with data that will be published under IBSP.

In place of these tables, gas distribution data will now be published solely under table 129-0005. By centralizing the data in one table, users will more easily be able to access survey results.

How can I obtain for more information on the monthly gas storage survey?

This document highlights key changes to the survey and its impacts for end users. For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this survey, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).

Starting with the release of January 2016 reference month data, the basket of goods used to calculate the EPSPI was updated to reflect the sales revenues in 2014. This update is to better reflect important changes in the consumption of electricity by non-residential customers in Canada.

The update, which occurs periodically, is designed to ensure the EPSPI reliability for two key purposes: a measure of inflation for the distribution of electricity; and a tool for analysis of price formation and behaviour as well as for contract escalation.

The update includes two major changes: the weights of various items in the basket of goods used to calculate the index, which was based on 2009 data, will now be based on 2014 data; and the EPSPI base year (the period for which the value 100 is assigned to the index) has changed from 2009 to 2014. As a result of rebasing, CANSIM table 329-0073 has been replaced by the new table 329-0079. This new CANSIM table contains historical and current data. A vector number concordance table between the new and old tables is available below.

Although the EPSPI base year has changed to 2014=100 in the new CANSIM table, the rates of change measured for periods prior to 2014 remain unchanged for both of the 2009=100 and the 2014=100 tables, barring rounding. From 2014 onwards, the same lower-level or elemental price movements are used, but updated 2014 weights will be used to aggregate these movements. Therefore, at the lower level, the movements will be the same, but the aggregate movements will change due to the updated weights. This means that with the implementation of the new 2014 weights, the index movements from January 2014 to December 2015 were revised.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or for the Media unit: 613-951-INFO (613-951-4636);STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@statcan.gc.ca.