Information for respondents

Authority to publish

Section 17 of the Statistics Act allows for the disclosure of certain information relating to an organization. For this survey, Statistics Canada will release the names of federal departments and agencies whose science and technology (S&T) expenditures surpass 2% of the total federal S&T expenditures. This applies to departments that previously authorized publication. For each of these departments, data on expenditures and personnel will be published.

Respondent Information:

• Name of person who approved the data reported
• Signature
• Official position
• Program
• Department or agency
• E-mail address
• Telephone number

Enquiries to be directed to:

• Name
• Date
• Position title
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Fax number

Purpose

This survey collects financial and operating data on expenditures and full-time equivalent personnel on the scientific activities of Federal Government Public Administration in Canada.

Additional information

The data collected are used by federal, territorial and provincial science policy analysts, and are also part of the gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD). Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Authority

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

Completion of this questionnaire is a legal requirement under this Act.

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.

Data-sharing agreements

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

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

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to federal departments and agencies located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organizations with which you do not want to share your data.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), as well as the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) of ISED.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to federal departments and agencies located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Record linkage

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

Security of emails and faxes

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

Return procedures

Please forward the completed questionnaire and listing of extramural performers through the Electronic File Transfer service (EFT).

For further inquiries:

• Phone Number: toll free at 1-888-659-8229
• Fax number: toll free at 1-800-755-5514
• Email: statcan.fsepsurv-enqdmsf.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

Thank you for your co-operation.

FSEP - Introduction

This introduction is intended to provide an overview of the process of collecting science expenditure data; definitions of and explanatory notes on natural sciences and engineering, social sciences, humanities and the arts, scientific and technological activities, performance sectors, and other terms used are given in subsequent sections.

The collection of science expenditure data is organized by the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Enterprise Statistics (CITES) of Statistics Canada. This exercise was formerly conducted under the aegis of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat but is now solely a Statistics Canada survey.

Collection is undertaken to gather essential data describing the recent, current and proposed state of the federal resources allocated to science. Federal science expenditures data are provided to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada who in turn use the data in the development of advice to the Assistant Deputy Ministers' Steering Committee on the Management of S&T, their Minister and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, as well as in policy development and in monitoring the implementation of science policies. Statistics Canada maintains historical expenditure series in natural sciences and engineering dating back to 1963 and to 1971 in the social sciences, humanities and the arts. These data are available through the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Enterprise Statistics (CITES) or through special requests.

The basic reporting unit is the budgetary program of a department or agency. Each budgetary program forms the subject of separate scientific expenditure reports for the natural and for the social science activities within it. Both the program and the program activities within it may be scientific in whole or in part only. Only expenditures on the scientific components of a program or its activity are reported. In some programs it will be difficult to distinguish between the natural and social sciences. However, some allocation must be made and in determining this allocation, the dominant orientation of the projects and the area of expertise of the personnel involved must be considered. Detailed definitions are given on the following pages.

On the questionnaires, the identified expenditures are looked at from several different viewpoints and in various subdivisions. Expenditures on research and development (R&D) and related scientific activities (RSA) are subdivided to provide an indication of the "what" of a department's scientific effort. Expenditures in each category of scientific activity are further subdivided into "current" and "capital" segments. Current expenditures are additionally subdivided by sector, to indicate the "where" and "by whom" the activity is performed (e.g., in business enterprise, in higher education).

The human resources allocated to scientific activities are summarized in terms of the involved categories of personnel (scientific and professional, technical, etc.) and the principal focus of their efforts (R&D, RSA and, administration of extramural programs).

When completed, checked for consistency with previous reports, entered into the database and totaled along the various dimensions, these data provide snapshots of the federal resources allocated to science, supporting not only the work of central agencies but also the submissions of departments and agencies requesting resources.

Purpose

This survey collects financial and operating data on expenditures and full-time equivalent personnel on the scientific activities of Federal Government Public Administration in Canada.

Question 1: Expenditures by activity and performer

General

The social sciences, humanities and the arts consist of disciplines involving the study of human actions and conditions and the social, economic and institutional mechanisms affecting humans. Included are such disciplines as arts, economics and business, education, history and archaeology, law, language and linguistics, media and communications, philosophy, ethics and religion, psychology and cognitive sciences, social and economic geography, and sociology.

Expenditures by activity and performer

Scientific and technological (S&T) activities can be defined as all systematic activities which are closely concerned with the generation, advancement, dissemination and application of scientific and technology knowledge in all fields of science and technology, that is the natural sciences and engineering, and the social sciences, humanities and the arts.

The central activity is scientific research and experimental development (R&D). In addition there are a number of activities closely related to R&D, and are termed related scientific activities (RSA). Those identified as being appropriate for the federal government in the social sciences, humanities and the arts are: general purpose data collection, information services, special services and studies and education support.

The performer is equivalent to the sector in which the scientific activity is conducted. The basic distinction is between intramural and extramural performance. Extramural payments are classified on the basis of the performance sectors to which they are made. The appropriate extramural performers are business enterprise, higher education, Canadian non-profit institutions, provincial, territorial and municipal government, and foreign performers.

I. Performers

lntramural activities include all current expenditures incurred for scientific activities carried out by in-house personnel of units assigned to the program; the related gross fixed capital expenditures (acquisition of land, buildings, machinery and equipment for scientific activities); the administration of scientific activities by program employees; and, the purchase of goods and services to support in-house scientific activities (include royalties or licences for the use of patents and other intellectual property rights, the lease of capital goods (machinery and equipment, etc.) and the rental of buildings to support scientific activities performed by the statistical unit in the reference year).

The intramural expenditures reported for scientific activities are those direct costs, including salaries, associated with scientific programs. The costs should include that portion of a program's contribution to employee benefit plans (e.g., superannuation and compensation) which is applicable to the scientific personnel within the program. The summation of intramural R&D activity is synonymous with the performance of R&D for the entire economy (GERD).

Extramural performers are groups being funded by the federal government sector for S&T activities. In this survey the extramural performers include:

• Business enterprise – business and government enterprises including public utilities and government-owned firms. Both financial and non-financial corporations are included. Incorporated consultants or unincorporated individuals providing scientific and engineering services are also included. Industrial research institutes located at Canadian universities are considered to be in the higher education sector.
• Higher education – comprises all universities, colleges of technology and other institutes of post-secondary education, whatever their source of finance or legal status. It also includes teaching hospitals (non-teaching hospitals are in the Canadian non-profit sector), all research institutes, centers, experimental stations and clinics that have their scientific activities under the direct control of, or administered by, or associated with, the higher education establishments.
• Canadian non-profit institutions – charitable foundations, voluntary health organizations, scientific and professional societies, non-teaching hospitals (teaching hospitals are in the higher education sector) and other organizations not established to earn profits. Non-profit institutions primarily serving or controlled by another sector should be included in the controlling sector.
• Provincial, territorial and municipal governments – departments and agencies of these governments as well as provincial research organizations and self-governing First Nations and Tribal Councils. Government enterprises, such as provincial utilities are included in the business enterprise sector, and non-teaching hospitals in the Canadian non-profit institutions sector.
• Foreign performers – all foreign government agencies, foreign companies (including foreign subsidiaries of Canadian firms), international organizations, non-resident foreign nationals and Canadians studying or teaching abroad.

II. Research and experimental development (R&D)

Research and experimental development (R&D) - comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humankind, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge.

R&D activities may be aimed at achieving either specific or general objectives. R&D is always aimed at new findings, based on original concepts (and their interpretation) or hypotheses. It is largely uncertain about its final outcome (or at least about the quantity of time and resources needed to achieve it), it is planned for and budgeted (even when carried out by individuals), and it is aimed at producing results that could be either freely transferred or traded in a marketplace.

For an activity to be an R&D activity, it must satisfy five core criteria:

• To be aimed at new findings (novel);
• To be based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypothesis (creative);
• To be uncertain about the final outcome (uncertainty);
• To be planned and budgeted (systematic);
• To lead to results that could be possibly reproduced (transferable/or reproducible).

Examples of R&D:

• A review of theories on the factors determining regional disparities in economic growth.
• Understanding the fundamental dynamics of spatial interactions.
• Comparative evaluations of national education programs aimed at reducing the learning gap experienced by disadvantaged communities.
• Research studies analyzing the spatial-temporal patterns in the transmission and diffusion of an infectious disease outbreak.

Both "research" and "development" are often used with different meanings in the government. For example, it is increasingly common to hear that a person is "researching" something (i.e. the person is looking for information about something). Similarly, there are many units with either "research" or "development" or both terms in their titles which are concerned primarily with information gathering, speech writing, and preparation of position papers. These should be excluded from the scientific activity of R&D. On the other hand, a case study on unemployment in a specific region, if applying original techniques in interviewing survey respondents could include such data collection in its R&D effort. From a broad perspective, to the extent that the social sciences are using empirical data, the same guidelines have to be applied as for the natural sciences (although excluding the testing of their results on an experimental basis).

Many social scientists perform work in which they bring the established methodologies and facts of the social sciences to bear upon a particular problem, but which cannot be classified as research. The following are examples of work which might be included in this category and are not R&D: interpretative commentary on the probable economic effects of a change in the tax structure using existing economic data; forecasting future changes in the pattern of the demand for social services within a given area arising from an altered demographic structure; operations research as a contribution to decision-making, e.g. planning the optimal distribution system for a factory; the use of standard techniques in applied psychology to select and classify industrial and military personnel, students, etc., and to test children with reading or other disabilities.

1. In-house R&D – R&D performed by personnel of the reporting program. It may include R&D carried out on behalf of another program or federal government department.

2. R&D contracts – R&D contracts to an outside institution or individual to fund R&D performed by the institution or individual. The criterion is: would the performer report the R&D contract as in-house (intramural) R&D that is government-funded? If the answer is yes the activity would be an R&D contract. If no, and the funding is to provide goods and services necessary to support the in-house R&D of the federal government it should be reported as In-house R&D.

3. R&D grants, contributions and fellowships – awards to organizations or individuals for the conduct of R&D and intended to benefit the recipients rather than provide the program with goods, services or information. These funds are normally identical to that portion of the budgetary "grants, contributions and fellowships" line object of expenditure which is devoted to R&D activities.

4. Research fellowships – awards to individuals for advanced research training and experience. Awards intended primarily to support the education of the recipients should be reported as "education support".

5. Administration of extramural programs – the costs of identifiable units engaged in the administration of contracts and grants and contributions for scientific activities that are to be performed outside the federal government. These expenditures should be broken down by the type of scientific activity supported, i.e. R&D or RSA.

6. Capital expenditures – the annual gross amount paid for the acquisition of fixed assets that are used repeatedly or continuously in the performance of scientific activities for more than one year. They should be reported in full for the period when they took place, whether acquired or developed in house, and should not be registered as an element of depreciation.

The most relevant types of assets used for capital expenditures are:

• Land and buildings
• Machinery and equipment
• Capitalized computer software
• Other intellectual property products

III. Related scientific activities (RSA)

Related scientific activities (RSA) are all systematic activities which are closely concerned with the generation, advancement, dissemination and application of scientific and technological knowledge. The types of related scientific activities for the social sciences, humanities and the arts are described below.

7. In-house RSA – RSA performed by personnel of the reporting program. It may include RSA carried out on behalf of another program or federal government department.

In-house RSA activities include all current expenditures incurred for scientific activities carried out by in-house personnel of units assigned to the program; the purchase of goods and services to support in-house scientific activities (include royalties or licences for the use of patents and other intellectual property rights, and the rental of buildings to support scientific activities performed by the statistical unit in the reference year). Also include expenses of persons who provide ancillary services such as security, cleaning and maintenance work, finance and administration that are proportional to the RSA being conducted. However, the personnel providing these services are not to be included in the in-house personnel counts (see Section 2. Personnel).

The intramural expenditures reported to RSA are those direct costs, including salaries, associated with scientific programs. The cost should include that portion of a program's contribution to employee benefit plans (e.g., superannuation and compensation) which is applicable to the scientific personnel within the program. Also include the costs of self-employed individuals, consultants and researchers who are working on-site on the departments' RSA projects.

8. RSA contracts – contracts to an outside institution or individual to fund RSA performed by the institution or individual. The criterion is: would the performer report the RSA contract as in-house (intramural) RSA that is government-funded? If the answer is yes the activity would be an RSA contract. If no, and the funding is for the purchase goods and services to support the in-house RSA of the federal government department, it should be reported as In-house RSA (Item 7).
Contracts to other federal government departments should be reported as a transfer of funds in question 3A (i) and 3A (ii) of the questionnaire.

9. RSA grants and contributions – awards to organizations or individuals for the conduct of RSA and intended to benefit the recipients rather than provide the program with goods, services or information. These funds are normally identical to that portion of the budgetary "grants and contributions" line object of expenditure which is devoted to RSA.

In-house RSA, RSA Contracts and RSA grants and contributions can include the following items:

• General purpose data collection – the routine gathering, processing, collating and analyzing and publication of information on human phenomena using survey, regular and special investigations and compilations of existing records. It excludes data collected primarily for internal administrative purpose (e.g. departmental personnel statistics) as well as the collection of data as part of an R&D project.
  Data collected as part of an existing or proposed research project are charged to research. Similarly, the costs of analyzing existing data as part of a research project are R&D costs, even when the data were originally collected for some other purpose. The institutions involved are generally the statistical bureaus of Canadian governments and the statistical sections of departments and agencies. If there are units whose principal activity is R&D, their costs and personnel should be assigned to R&D; specialized libraries with separate budgets should be assigned to information services.
• Information services – all work directed to collecting, coding, analyzing, evaluating, recording, classifying, translating and disseminating scientific and technological information as well as museum services. Included are the operations of scientific and technical libraries, S&T consulting and advisory services, the Patent Office, the publication of scientific journals and monographs, and the organizing of scientific conferences. Grants for the publication of scholarly works are also included.
  General purpose information services or information services directed primarily towards the general public are excluded, as are general departmental and public libraries. When individual budgets exist, the costs of libraries which belong to institutions otherwise entirely classified to another activity, such as R&D, should be assigned to information services. The costs of printing and distributing reports from another activity, such as R&D, are normally attributed to that activity.
• Sub category under Information services:
  • Museum services – the collecting, cataloguing and displaying of specimens and representations relating to human history, social organization and creations. The activity involves a systematic attempt to preserve and display the works of human beings and to provide information on their works, history, and nature. The scientific activities of historical museums, archeological displays, and art galleries are included. In all cases the costs of providing entertainment and recreation to visitors should be excluded (e.g. restaurants, children's gardens and museums).
    When a museum also covers aspects of natural history, the museum's operations should be divided between the social and natural sciences. However, museums of science and technology, war, etc., which display synthetic or artificial objects and may also illustrate the operations of certain technologies, should be considered as engaged in museum services in social sciences.
  • Special services and studies - systematic investigations carried out in order to provide information needed for planning or policy formulation. Demonstration projects are also included.
    The work is usually carried out by specialized units in some government departments, by consultants, by royal commissions, and by task forces. The activity is similar to R&D since it may require innovative analyses and a high degree of scientific ability. However, such studies are not intended to acquire new knowledge but to provide specific answers to specific problems (generally immediate, localized and perhaps temporary). The day-to-day operations of units concerned with departmental planning, organization or management are not normally included (i.e. administrative records kept by departments of education) but special projects may be relevant.
• Sub categories under Special services and studies include:
  • Economic and feasibility studies – the investigation of the socio-economic characteristics and implications of specific situations (e.g. a study of the variability of a petrochemical complex in a certain region). Note that feasibility studies on research projects are part of R&D.
  • Operations and policy-related studies – covers a range of activities, such as the analysis and assessment of the existing programs, policies and operations of government departments and other institutions; the work of units concerned with the continuing analysis and monitoring of external phenomena (e.g. defence and security analysis); and the work of legislative commissions of inquiry concerned with general government or departmental policy or operations.
    Any activity aimed at providing close support to policy actions, as well as to legislative activity, should be included as a related scientific activity (RSA). This includes policy advice and relations with the media, legal advice, public relations or even technical support for the administrative activity (e.g. accounting).
    Research activities aimed at providing the decision makers with a thorough knowledge of social, economic or natural phenomena have to be included in R&D. These R&D activities are usually performed by skilled personnel - researchers - in small teams of experts and consultants and meet the standard academic criteria for scientific work (in addition to the R&D criteria).
  • Education support – grants to individuals or institutions on behalf of individuals which are intended to support the post-secondary education of students in technology and the social sciences. General purpose grants to educational institutions are excluded. The activity includes the support of foreign students in their studies of the social sciences at Canadian or foreign institutions. Grants intended primarily to support the research of individuals at universities are either R&D grants or research fellowships.

10. Administration of extramural programs – the costs of identifiable units engaged in the administration of contracts and grants and contributions for scientific activities that are to be performed outside the federal government. These expenditures should be broken down by the type of scientific activity supported, i.e. R&D or RSA.

11. Capital expenditures – the annual gross amount paid for the acquisition of fixed assets that are used repeatedly or continuously in the performance of scientific activities for more than one year. They should be reported in full for the period when they took place, whether acquired or developed in house, and should not be registered as an element of depreciation.

The most relevant types of assets used for capital expenditures are:

• Land and buildings
• Machinery and equipment
• Capitalized computer software
• Other intellectual property product

Question 2: Personnel

Full-time equivalent (FTE) – the ratio of working hours actually spent on scientific activities during a specific reference period divided by the total number of hours conventionally worked in the same period by an individual or a group. For example, an employee who is engaged in scientific activities for half a year has a full-time equivalence of 0.5. Personnel data reported should be consistent with expenditures data.

Scientific and professional – researchers and professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge. They conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, techniques instrumentation, software or operational methods. They require at least one academic degree or a nationally recognized professional qualification, as well as those with equivalent experience.

Technical – technicians and equivalent staff are persons whose main tasks require technical knowledge and experience in one or more fields of engineering, the physical and life sciences, or the social sciences, humanities and the arts. They perform scientific and technical tasks involving the application of concepts and operational methods and the use of research equipment, normally under the supervision of researchers.

Other – other supporting staff includes skilled and unskilled craftsmen, and administrative, secretarial and clerical staff participating in science and technology projects or directly associated with such projects.

Question 2: Personnel by gender

Gender – refers to current gender which may be different from sex assigned at birth and may be different from what is indicated on legal documents. Categories include: man, woman, and non-binary person.

Man – this category includes persons whose reported gender is male. It includes cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) men.

Woman – this category includes persons whose reported gender is female. It includes cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women.

Non-binary person – this category includes persons whose reported gender is not exclusively male or female.

Question 3: Sources of funds

Question 3A (i). Transfers for social sciences, humanities and the arts activities

Include payments and recipients for contracts, transfers and joint programs from/to other federal government departments. Please identify the amount and names of the origination and recipient programs.

Question 3A (ii). Sources of funds for total scientific and technological activities

This question identifies the sources of funds for expenditures on scientific activities reported for all three years. It will help to ensure that work funded from outside the department is not overlooked.

• Departmental S&T budget – that portion of the total departmental budget which was spent on social sciences, humanities and the arts activities.
• Revenues to / from other federal departments – money transferred from this program to another federal department or money transferred into this program from another federal department for activities in the social sciences, humanities and the arts.
• Provincial government departments – all funds from the provincial government used for social sciences, humanities and the arts activities. The funds are referred to as payments, contributions, transfers, etc. Also include provincial portions of federal-provincial cost sharing programs performed by the department program.
• Business enterprises – all funds from business enterprises used for social sciences, humanities and the arts activities performed by the department.
• Other – all funds for social sciences, humanities and the arts activities from sources not specified above.

Question 4: Socio-economic objectives

Intramural and extramural scientific and technological expenditures by socio-economic objective for the reporting year by activity (research and experimental development, related scientific activities, and total).

• 1. Exploration and exploitation of the Earth
• 2. Environment
• 3. Exploration and exploitation of space
• 4. Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures
• 5. Energy
• 6. Industrial production and technology
• 7. Health
• 8. Agriculture (include forestry and fisheries)
  • 8.1: Agriculture
  • 8.2: Fishing
  • 8.3: Forestry
• 9. Education
• 10. Culture, recreation, religion and mass media
• 11. Political and social systems, structures and processes
• 12. Defence

1. Exploration and exploitation of the Earth – scientific activities with objectives related to the exploration of the Earth's crust and mantle, seas, oceans and atmosphere, as well as on their exploitation. It also includes climatic and meteorological research, polar exploration (under various headings, as appropriate) and hydrology. It does not include scientific activities related to soil improvement (objective 4), land use or fishing (objective 8), or pollution (objective 2).

Examples:

• General scientific activities
• Mineral, oil and natural gas prospecting
• Exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed
• Earth's crust and mantle excluding sea-bed and studies of soil for agriculture (objective 8)
• Hydrology - excludes scientific activities on: water supplied and disposal (objective 4) and water pollution (objective 2)
• Sea and oceans
• Atmosphere
• Other scientific activities on the exploration and exploitation of the earth

Excludes: scientific activities on pollution (objective 2), soil improvement (objective 4), land-use and fishing (objective 8).

2. Environment - covers scientific activities aimed at improving the control of pollution, including the identification and analysis of the sources of pollution and their causes, and all pollutants, including their dispersal in the environment and the effects on humans, species (fauna, flora, micro-organisms) and the biosphere.

The development of monitoring facilities for the measurement of all kinds of pollution is included, as is scientific activities for the elimination and prevention of all forms of pollution in all types of environment.

3. Exploration and exploitation of space – covers all civil space scientific activities relating to the scientific exploration of space, space laboratories, space travel and launch systems. Although civil space scientific activities is not in general concerned with particular objectives, it frequently has a specific goal, such as the advancement of knowledge (e.g. astronomy) or relates to particular applications (e.g. telecommunications satellites or earth observation). This chapter does not include corresponding scientific activities for defence purposes.

4. Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures – Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures - covers scientific activities aimed at infrastructure and land development, including the construction of buildings. More generally, this objective covers all scientific activities relating to the general planning of land use. This includes scientific activities into protection against harmful effects in town and country planning but not research into other types of pollution (objective 2). This objective also includes scientific activities related to transport systems; telecommunication systems; general planning of land use; the construction and planning of buildings; civil engineering; and water supply.

5. Energy – covers scientific activities aimed at improving the production, storage, transportation, distribution and rational use of all forms of energy. It also includes scientific activities on processes designed to increase the efficiency of energy production and distribution, and the study of energy conservation. It does not include scientific activities related to prospecting (objective 1) or scientific activities into vehicle and engine propulsion (objective 6).

Examples:

• Fossil fuels and their derivatives
• Nuclear fission
• Radioactive waste management including decommissioning with regard to fuel/energy
• Nuclear fusion
• Renewable energy sources
• Rational utilization of energy

6. Industrial production and technology – covers scientific activities on the improvement of industrial production and technology. It includes scientific activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes except where they form an integral part of the pursuit of other objectives (e.g. defence, space, energy, agriculture).

Examples:

• Increasing economic efficiency and competitiveness
• Manufacturing and processing techniques
• Petrochemical and coal by-products
• Pharmaceutical products
• Manufacture of motor vehicles and other means of transport
• Aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing
• Electronic and related industries
• Manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus
• Manufacture of non-electronic and non-electronical machinery
• Manufacture of medical and surgical equipment and orthopaedic appliances
• Manufacture of food products and beverages
• Manufacture of clothing and textiles and leather goods
• Recycling

7. Health - covers scientific activities aimed at protecting, promoting and restoring human health broadly interpreted to include health aspects of nutrition and food hygiene. It ranges from preventive medicine, including all aspects of medical and surgical treatment, both for individuals and groups, and the provision of hospital and home care, to social medicine and paediatric and geriatric research.

Examples:

• General scientific activities
• Medical scientific activities, hospital treatment, surgery
• Preventive medicine
• Biomedical engineering and medicines
• Occupational medicine
• Nutrition and food hygiene
• Drug abuse and addition
• Social medicine
• Hospital structure and organization of medical care
• Other medical scientific activities

8. Agriculture (include forestry and fisheries) – covers all scientific activities on the promotion of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and foodstuff production, or further knowledge on chemical fertilizers, biocides, biological pest control and the mechanization of agriculture, as well as concerning the impact of agricultural and forestry activities on the environment. Also covers scientific activities on improving food productivity and technology.

8.1 Agriculture – covers scientific activities on animal products, veterinary medicine, crops, food technology and other scientific activities on agricultural production and technology.

8.2 Fishing – covers scientific activities on fishing, salting, drying, and initial freezing of products (but not on preparation and canning (objective 6)), scientific activities on fish-farming, exploration of new fishing grounds, exploration and development of new and unconventional sources of seafood.

8.3 Forestry – covers scientific activities into the ecological and economic aspects of forestry and timber production.

9. Education – covers scientific activities aimed at supporting general or special education, including training, pedagogy, didactics, and targeted methods for specially gifted persons or those with learning disabilities. Applied to all levels of education as well as to subsidiary services to education.

10. Culture, recreation, religion and mass media – covers scientific activities aimed at improving the understanding of social phenomena related to culture activities, religion and leisure activities so as to define their impact on life in society, as well as to racial and cultural integration and on socio-cultural changes in these areas. The concept of "culture" covers sociology of science, religion, art, sport and leisure, and also comprises inter alia R&D on the media, the mastery of language and social integration, libraries, archives and external cultural policy.

11. Political and social system, structures and processes – covers scientific activities aimed at improving the understanding and supporting the political structure of society, public administration issues and economic policy, regional studies and multi-level governance, social change, social processes and social conflicts, the development of social security and social assistance systems, and the social aspects of the organization of work.

12. Defence – covers scientific activities for military purposes. It also includes basic research and nuclear and space research financed by the Department of National defence. Civil scientific activities financed by ministries of defence, for example, in the fields of meteorology, telecommunications and health, should be classified in the relevant objectives.

Question 5: Expenditures and personnel by region

Scientific and technological expenditures and personnel of federal organizations for the reference year, including current and capital expenditures for intramural R&D and RSA and by scientific and professional and total personnel for R&D and RSA.

• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Quebec (excluding NCR - Quebec)
• National Capital Region (NCR) - Quebec
• Ontario (excluding NCR - Ontario)
• National Capital Region (NCR) - Ontario
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
• Canada Total

Information for respondents

Authority to publish

Section 17 of the Statistics Act allows for the disclosure of certain information relating to an organization. For this survey, Statistics Canada will release the names of federal departments and agencies whose science and technology (S&T) expenditures surpass 2% of the total federal S&T expenditures. This applies to departments that previously authorized publication. For each of these departments, data on expenditures and personnel will be published.

Respondent Information:

• Name of person who approved the data reported
• Signature
• Official position
• Program
• Department or agency
• E-mail address
• Telephone number

Enquiries to be directed to:

• Name
• Date
• Position title
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Fax number

Purpose

This survey collects financial and operating data on expenditures and full-time equivalent personnel on the scientific activities of Federal Government Public Administration in Canada.

Additional information

The data collected are used by federal, territorial and provincial science policy analysts, and are also part of the gross domestic expenditures on research and development (GERD). Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Authority

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

Completion of this questionnaire is a legal requirement under this Act.

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.

Data-sharing agreements

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

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

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to federal departments and agencies located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician and returning it with the completed questionnaire. Please specify the organizations with which you do not want to share your data.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), as well as the Office of the Chief Science Advisor (OCSA) of ISED.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to federal departments and agencies located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Record linkage

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

Security of emails and faxes

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

Return procedures

Please forward the completed questionnaire and listing of extramural performers through the Electronic File Transfer service (EFT).
For further inquiries:

• Phone Number: toll free at 1-888-659-8229
• Fax number: toll free at 1-800-755-5514
• Email: statcan.fsepsurv-enqdmsf.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

Thank you for your co-operation.

FSEP - Introduction

This introduction is intended to provide an overview of the process of collecting science expenditure data; definitions of and explanatory notes on natural sciences and engineering, social sciences, humanities and the arts, scientific and technological activities, performance sectors, and other terms used are given in subsequent sections.

The collection of science expenditure data is organized by the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Enterprise Statistics (CITES) of Statistics Canada. This exercise was formerly conducted under the aegis of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat but is now solely a Statistics Canada survey.

Collection is undertaken to gather essential data describing the recent, current and proposed state of the federal resources allocated to science. Federal science expenditures data are provided to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada who in turn use the data in the development of advice to the Assistant Deputy Ministers' Steering Committee on the Management of S&T, their Minister and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, as well as in policy development and in monitoring the implementation of science policies. Statistics Canada maintains historical expenditure series in natural sciences and engineering dating back to 1963 and to 1971 in the social sciences, humanities and the arts. These data are available through the Centre for Innovation, Technology and Enterprise Statistics (CITES) or through special requests.

The basic reporting unit is the budgetary program of a department or agency. Each budgetary program forms the subject of separate scientific expenditure reports for the natural and for the social science activities within it. Both the program and the program activities within it may be scientific in whole or in part only. Only expenditures on the scientific components of a program or its activity are reported. In some programs it will be difficult to distinguish between the natural and social sciences. However, some allocation must be made and in determining this allocation, the dominant orientation of the projects and the area of expertise of the personnel involved must be considered. Detailed definitions are given on the following pages.

On the questionnaires, the identified expenditures are looked at from several different viewpoints and in various subdivisions. Expenditures on research and development (R&D) and related scientific activities (RSA) are subdivided to provide an indication of the "what" of a department's scientific effort. Expenditures in each category of scientific activity are further subdivided into "current" and "capital" segments. Current expenditures are additionally subdivided by sector, to indicate the "where" and "by whom" the activity is performed (e.g., in business enterprise, in higher education).

The human resources allocated to scientific activities are summarized in terms of the involved categories of personnel (scientific and professional, technical, etc.) and the principal focus of their efforts (R&D, RSA and, administration of extramural programs).

When completed, checked for consistency with previous reports, entered into the database and totaled along the various dimensions, these data provide snapshots of the federal resources allocated to science, supporting not only the work of central agencies but also the submissions of departments and agencies requesting resources.

Purpose

This survey collects financial and operating data on expenditures and full-time equivalent personnel on the scientific activities of Federal Government Public Administration in Canada.

Question 1: Expenditures by activity and performer

General

The natural sciences and engineering consist of disciplines concerned with understanding, exploring, developing or utilizing the natural world. Included are the engineering and technology, mathematical, computer and information sciences, physical sciences, medical and health sciences, and agricultural sciences, veterinary sciences and forestry.

Expenditures by activity and performer

Scientific and technological (S&T) activities can be defined as all systematic activities which are closely concerned with the generation, advancement, dissemination and application of scientific and technology knowledge in all fields of science and technology, that is the natural sciences and engineering, and the social sciences, humanities and the arts.

The central activity is scientific research and experimental development (R&D). In addition there are a number of activities closely related to R&D, and are termed related scientific activities (RSA). Those identified as being appropriate for the federal government in the natural sciences are: scientific data collection, information services, special services and studies and education support.

The performer is equivalent to the sector in which the scientific activity is conducted. The basic distinction is between intramural and extramural performance. Extramural payments are classified on the basis of the performance sectors to which they are made. The appropriate extramural performers are business enterprise, higher education, Canadian non-profit institutions, provincial, territorial and municipal government, and foreign performers.

I. Performers

lntramural activities include all current expenditures incurred for scientific activities carried out by in-house personnel of units assigned to the program; the related gross fixed capital expenditures (acquisition of land, buildings, machinery and equipment for scientific activities); the administration of scientific activities by program employees; and, the purchase of goods and services to support in-house scientific activities (include royalties or licences for the use of patents and other intellectual property rights, the lease of capital goods (machinery and equipment, etc.) and the rental of buildings to support scientific activities performed by the statistical unit in the reference year).

The intramural expenditures reported for scientific activities are those direct costs, including salaries, associated with scientific programs. The costs should include that portion of a program's contribution to employee benefit plans (e.g., superannuation and compensation) which is applicable to the scientific personnel within the program. The summation of intramural R&D activity is synonymous with the performance of R&D for the entire economy (GERD).

Extramural performers are groups being funded by the federal government sector for S&T activities. In this survey the extramural performers include:

• Business enterprise – business and government enterprises including public utilities and government-owned firms. Both financial and non-financial corporations are included. Incorporated consultants or unincorporated individuals providing scientific and engineering services are also included. Industrial research institutes located at Canadian universities are considered to be in the higher education sector.
• Higher education – comprises all universities, colleges of technology and other institutes of post-secondary education, whatever their source of finance or legal status. It also includes teaching hospitals (non-teaching hospitals are in the Canadian non-profit sector), all research institutes, centers, experimental stations and clinics that have their scientific activities under the direct control of, or administered by, or associated with, the higher education establishments.
• Canadian non-profit institutions – charitable foundations, voluntary health organizations, scientific and professional societies, non-teaching hospitals (teaching hospitals are in the higher education sector) and other organizations not established to earn profits. Non-profit institutions primarily serving or controlled by another sector should be included in the controlling sector.
• Provincial, territorial and municipal governments – departments and agencies of these governments as well as provincial research organizations and self-governing First Nations and Tribal Councils. Government enterprises, such as provincial utilities are included in the business enterprise sector, and non-teaching hospitals in the Canadian non-profit institutions sector.
• Foreign performers – all foreign government agencies, foreign companies (including foreign subsidiaries of Canadian firms), international organizations, non-resident foreign nationals and Canadians studying or teaching abroad.

II. Research and experimental development (R&D)

Research and experimental development (R&D) - comprise creative and systematic work undertaken in order to increase the stock of knowledge - including knowledge of humankind, culture and society - and to devise new applications of available knowledge.

R&D activities may be aimed at achieving either specific or general objectives. R&D is always aimed at new findings, based on original concepts (and their interpretation) or hypotheses. It is largely uncertain about its final outcome (or at least about the quantity of time and resources needed to achieve it), it is planned for and budgeted (even when carried out by individuals), and it is aimed at producing results that could be either freely transferred or traded in a marketplace.

For an activity to be an R&D activity, it must satisfy five core criteria:

• To be aimed at new findings (novel);
• To be based on original, not obvious, concepts and hypothesis (creative);
• To be uncertain about the final outcome (uncertainty);
• To be planned and budgeted (systematic);
• To lead to results that could be possibly reproduced (transferable/or reproducible).

Examples of R&D:

• A special investigation of a particular mortality in order to establish the side effects of certain cancer treatment is R&D.
• The investigation of new methods of measuring temperature is R&D, as is the study and development of new models for weather prediction.
• Investigation on the genetics of the species of plants in a forest in an attempt to understand natural controls for disease or pest resistance.
• The development of new application software and substantial improvements to operating systems and application programs.

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

R&D may also be carried out by units normally engaged in other functions (e.g. a marine survey ship used for hydrological research, a geological survey team may be directed to work in a certain area in order to provide data for a geophysical research project). Such effort is part of an R&D project and, again, so far as is practical, the costs should be assigned to R&D expenditures.

On the other hand, R&D units may also be engaged in non R&D activities such as technical advisory services, testing, and construction of special equipment for other units. So far as is practical, the effort devoted to such operations should be included in the related scientific activities (RSA).

1. In-house R&D – R&D performed by personnel of the reporting program. It may include R&D carried out on behalf of another program or federal government department.

2. R&D contracts – contracts to an outside institution or individual to fund R&D performed by the institution or individual. The criterion is: would the performer report the R&D contract as in-house (intramural) R&D that is government-funded? If the answer is yes the activity would be an R&D contract. If no, and the funding is for the purchase of goods and services to support the in-house R&D of the federal government department, it should be reported as In-house R&D (Item 7).

3. R&D grants, contributions and fellowships – awards to organizations or individuals for the conduct of R&D and intended to benefit the recipients rather than provide the program with goods, services or information. These funds are normally identical to that portion of the budgetary "grants, contributions and fellowships" line object of expenditure which is devoted to R&D activities.

4. Research fellowships – awards to individuals for advanced research training and experience. Awards intended primarily to support the education of the recipients should be reported as "education support".

5. Administration of extramural programs – the costs of identifiable units engaged in the administration of contracts and grants and contributions for scientific activities that are to be performed outside the federal government. These expenditures should be broken down by the type of scientific activity supported, i.e. R&D or RSA.

6. Capital expenditures – the annual gross amount paid for the acquisition of fixed assets that are used repeatedly or continuously in the performance of scientific activities for more than one year. They should be reported in full for the period when they took place, whether acquired or developed in house, and should not be registered as an element of depreciation.

The most relevant types of assets used for capital expenditures are:

• Land and buildings
• Machinery and equipment
• Capitalized computer software
• Other intellectual property products

III. Related scientific activities (RSA)

Related scientific activities (RSA) are all systematic activities which are closely concerned with the generation, advancement, dissemination and application of scientific and technological knowledge. The types of related scientific activities for the natural sciences and engineering are described below.

7. In-house RSA – RSA performed by personnel of the reporting program. It may include RSA carried out on behalf of another program or federal government department.

In-house RSA activities include all current expenditures incurred for scientific activities carried out by in-house personnel of units assigned to the program; the purchase of goods and services to support in-house scientific activities (include royalties or licences for the use of patents and other intellectual property rights, and the rental of buildings to support scientific activities performed by the statistical unit in the reference year). Also include expenses of persons who provide ancillary services such as security, cleaning and maintenance work, finance and administration that are proportional to the RSA being conducted. However, the personnel providing these services are not to be included in the in-house personnel counts (see Section 2. Personnel).

The intramural expenditures reported to RSA are those direct costs, including salaries, associated with scientific programs. The cost should include that portion of a program's contribution to employee benefit plans (e.g., superannuation and compensation) which is applicable to the scientific personnel within the program. Also include the costs of self-employed individuals, consultants and researchers who are working on-site on the departments' RSA projects.

8. RSA contracts – contracts to an outside institution or individual to fund RSA performed by the institution or individual. The criterion is: would the performer report the RSA contract as in-house (intramural) RSA that is government-funded? If the answer is yes the activity would be an RSA contract. If no, and the funding is for the purchase of goods and services to support the in-house RSA of the federal government department, it should be reported as In-house RSA (Item 7).

Contracts to other federal government departments should be reported as a transfer of funds in question 3A (i) and 3A (ii) of the questionnaire.

9. RSA grants and contributions – awards to organizations or individuals for the conduct of RSA and intended to benefit the recipients rather than provide the program with goods, services or information. These funds are normally identical to that portion of the budgetary "grants and contributions" line object of expenditure which is devoted to RSA.

In-house RSA, RSA Contracts and RSA grants and contributions can include the following items:

• Scientific data collection – the gathering, processing, collating and analyzing of data on natural phenomena. These data are normally the results of surveys, routine laboratory analyses or compilations of operating records.
  Data collected as part of an existing or proposed research project are charged to research. Similarly, the costs of analyzing existing data as part of a research project are R&D costs, even when the data were originally collected for some other purpose. The development of new techniques for data collection is also to be considered a research activity. Examples of RSA scientific data collection are: routine geological, hydrographic, oceanographic and topographic surveys; routine astronomical observations; maintenance of meteorological records; and wildlife and fisheries surveys.
• Information services – all work directed to collecting, coding, analyzing, evaluating, recording, classifying, translating and disseminating scientific and technological information as well as museum services. Included are the operations of scientific and technical libraries, S&T consulting and advisory services, the Patent Office, the publication of scientific journals and monographs, and the organizing of scientific conferences. Grants for the publication of scholarly works are also included.
  General purpose information services or information services directed primarily towards the general public are excluded, as are general departmental and public libraries. When individual budgets exist, the costs of libraries which belong to institutions otherwise entirely classified to another activity, such as R&D, should be assigned to information services. The costs of printing and distributing reports from another activity, such as R&D, are normally attributed to that activity.
• Sub category under Information services:
  • Museum services – the collecting, cataloguing and displaying of specimens of the natural world or of representations of natural phenomena. The activity involves a systematic attempt to preserve and display items from the natural world; in some ways it could be considered an extension of information services. The scientific activities of natural history museums, zoological and botanical gardens, aquaria, planetaria and nature reserves are included. Parks which are not primarily restricted reserves for certain fauna or flora are excluded. In all cases the costs of providing entertainment and recreation to visitors should be excluded (e.g. restaurants, children's gardens and museums).
    When a museum also covers not only natural history but also aspects of human cultural activities, the museum's resources should be appropriated between the natural and social sciences. However, museums of science and technology, war, etc., which display synthetic or artificial objects and may also illustrate the operations of certain technologies, should be considered as engaged in museum services in social sciences.
  • Special services and studies – work directed towards the establishment of national and provincial standards for materials, devices, products and processes; the calibration of secondary standards; non-routine quality testing; feasibility studies and demonstration projects.
• Sub categories under Special services and studies include:
  • Testing and standardization – concerns the maintenance of national standards, the calibration of secondary standards and the non-routine testing and analysis of materials, components, products, processes, soils, atmosphere, etc. These activities are related scientific activities (RSA). The development of new measures for standards, or of new methods of measuring or testing, is R&D. Exclude routine testing such as monitoring radioactivity levels or soil tests before construction.
  • Feasibility studies – technical investigations of proposed engineering projects to provide additional information required to reach decisions on implementation. Besides feasibility studies, the related activity of demonstration projects are to be included. Demonstration projects involve the operation of scaled-up versions of a facility or process, or data on factors such as costs, operational characteristics, market demand and public acceptance. Projects called "demonstration projects" but which conform to the definition of R&D should be considered R&D. Once a facility or process is operated primarily to provide a service or to gain revenue, rather than as a demonstration, it should no longer be included with feasibility studies. In all demonstration projects, only the net costs should be considered.
  • Education support – grants to individuals or institutions on behalf of individuals which are intended to support the post-secondary education of students in technology and the natural sciences. General operating or capital grants are excluded. The activity includes the support of foreign students in their studies of the natural sciences at Canadian or foreign institutions. Grants intended primarily to support the research of individuals at universities are either R&D grants or research fellowships.
    Awards intended primarily to support the education of the recipients should be reported as "education support".

10. Administration of extramural programs – the costs of identifiable units engaged in the administration of contracts and grants and contributions for scientific activities that are to be performed outside the federal government. These expenditures should be broken down by the type of scientific activity supported, i.e. R&D or RSA.

11. Capital expenditures – the annual gross amount paid for the acquisition of fixed assets that are used repeatedly or continuously in the performance of scientific activities for more than one year. They should be reported in full for the period when they took place, whether acquired or developed in house, and should not be registered as an element of depreciation.

The most relevant types of assets used for capital expenditures are:

• Land and buildings
• Machinery and equipment
• Capitalized computer software
• Other intellectual property products

Question 2: Personnel

Full-time equivalent (FTE) – the ratio of working hours actually spent on scientific activities during a specific reference period divided by the total number of hours conventionally worked in the same period by an individual or a group. For example, an employee who is engaged in scientific activities for half a year has a full-time equivalence of 0.5. Personnel data reported should be consistent with expenditures data.

Scientific and professional – researchers and professionals engaged in the conception or creation of new knowledge. They conduct research and improve or develop concepts, theories, models, techniques instrumentation, software or operational methods. They require at least one academic degree or a nationally recognized professional qualification, as well as those with equivalent experience.

Technical – technicians and equivalent staff are persons whose main tasks require technical knowledge and experience in one or more fields of engineering, the physical and life sciences, or the social sciences, humanities and the arts. They perform scientific and technical tasks involving the application of concepts and operational methods and the use of research equipment, normally under the supervision of researchers.

Other – other supporting staff includes skilled and unskilled craftsmen, and administrative, secretarial and clerical staff participating in science and technology projects or directly associated with such projects.

Question 2: Personnel by gender

Gender – refers to current gender which may be different from sex assigned at birth and may be different from what is indicated on legal documents. Categories include: man, woman, and non-binary person.

Man – this category includes persons whose reported gender is male. It includes cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) men. 

Woman – this category includes persons whose reported gender is female. It includes cisgender (cis) and transgender (trans) women. 

Non-binary person – this category includes persons whose reported gender is not exclusively male or female.

Question 3: Sources of funds

Question 3A (i). Transfers for natural sciences and engineering activities

Include payments and recipients for contracts, transfers and joint programs from/to other federal government departments. Please identify the amount and names of the origination and recipient programs.

Question 3A (ii). Sources of funds for total scientific and technological activities

This question identifies the sources of funds for expenditures on scientific activities reported for all three years. It will help to ensure that work funded from outside the department is not overlooked.

• Departmental S&T budget – that portion of the total departmental budget which was spent on natural science and engineering activities.
• Revenues to / from other federal departments – money transferred from this program to another federal department or money transferred into this program from another federal department for activities in the natural sciences and engineering.
• Provincial government departments – all funds from the provincial government used for natural science and engineering activities. The funds are referred to as payments, contributions, transfers, etc. Also include provincial portions of federal-provincial cost sharing programs performed by the department program.
• Business enterprises – all funds from business enterprises used for natural science and engineering activities performed by the department.
• Other – all funds for natural sciences and engineering activities from other sources not specified above.

Question 4: Socio-economic objectives

Intramural and extramural scientific and technological expenditures by socio-economic objective for the reporting year by activity (research and experimental development, related scientific activities, and total).

• 1. Exploration and exploitation of the Earth
• 2. Environment 
• 3. Exploration and exploitation of space
• 4. Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures
• 5. Energy
• 6. Industrial production and technology
• 7. Health
• 8. Agriculture (include forestry and fisheries)
  • 8.1: Agriculture
  • 8.2: Fishing
  • 8.3: Forestry
• 9. Education 
• 10. Culture, recreation, religion and mass media
• 11. Political and social systems, structures and processes
• 12. Defence

1. Exploration and exploitation of the Earth – scientific activities with objectives related to the exploration of the Earth's crust and mantle, seas, oceans and atmosphere, as well as on their exploitation. It also includes climatic and meteorological research, polar exploration (under various headings, as appropriate) and hydrology. It does not include scientific activities related to soil improvement (objective 4), land use or fishing (objective 8), or pollution (objective 2).

Examples:

• General scientific activities
• Mineral, oil and natural gas prospecting
• Exploration and exploitation of the sea-bed
• Earth's crust and mantle excluding sea-bed and studies of soil for agriculture (objective 8)
• Hydrology - excludes scientific activities on: water supplied and disposal (objective 4) and water pollution (objective 2)
• Sea and oceans
• Atmosphere
• Other scientific activities on the exploration and exploitation of the earth

Excludes: scientific activities on pollution (objective 2), soil improvement (objective 4), land-use and fishing (objective 8).

2. Environment - covers scientific activities aimed at improving the control of pollution, including the identification and analysis of the sources of pollution and their causes, and all pollutants, including their dispersal in the environment and the effects on humans, species (fauna, flora, micro-organisms) and the biosphere.

The development of monitoring facilities for the measurement of all kinds of pollution is included, as is scientific activities for the elimination and prevention of all forms of pollution in all types of environment.

3. Exploration and exploitation of space – covers all civil space scientific activities relating to the scientific exploration of space, space laboratories, space travel and launch systems. Although civil space scientific activities is not in general concerned with particular objectives, it frequently has a specific goal, such as the advancement of knowledge (e.g. astronomy) or relates to particular applications (e.g. telecommunications satellites or earth observation). This chapter does not include corresponding scientific activities for defence purposes.

4. Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures – Transport, telecommunication and other infrastructures - covers scientific activities aimed at infrastructure and land development, including the construction of buildings. More generally, this objective covers all scientific activities relating to the general planning of land use. This includes scientific activities into protection against harmful effects in town and country planning but not research into other types of pollution (objective 2). This objective also includes scientific activities related to transport systems; telecommunication systems; general planning of land use; the construction and planning of buildings; civil engineering; and water supply.

5. Energy – covers scientific activities aimed at improving the production, storage, transportation, distribution and rational use of all forms of energy. It also includes scientific activities on processes designed to increase the efficiency of energy production and distribution, and the study of energy conservation. It does not include scientific activities related to prospecting (objective 1) or scientific activities into vehicle and engine propulsion (objective 6).

Examples:

• Fossil fuels and their derivatives
• Nuclear fission
• Radioactive waste management including decommissioning with regard to fuel/energy
• Nuclear fusion
• Renewable energy sources
• Rational utilization of energy

6. Industrial production and technology – covers scientific activities on the improvement of industrial production and technology. It includes scientific activities on industrial products and their manufacturing processes except where they form an integral part of the pursuit of other objectives (e.g. defence, space, energy, agriculture).

Examples:

• Increasing economic efficiency and competitiveness
• Manufacturing and processing techniques
• Petrochemical and coal by-products
• Pharmaceutical products
• Manufacture of motor vehicles and other means of transport
• Aerospace equipment manufacturing and repairing
• Electronic and related industries
• Manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus
• Manufacture of non-electronic and non-electronical machinery
• Manufacture of medical and surgical equipment and orthopaedic appliances
• Manufacture of food products and beverages
• Manufacture of clothing and textiles and leather goods
• Recycling

7. Health - covers scientific activities aimed at protecting, promoting and restoring human health broadly interpreted to include health aspects of nutrition and food hygiene. It ranges from preventive medicine, including all aspects of medical and surgical treatment, both for individuals and groups, and the provision of hospital and home care, to social medicine and paediatric and geriatric research.

Examples:

• General scientific activities
• Medical scientific activities, hospital treatment, surgery
• Preventive medicine
• Biomedical engineering and medicines
• Occupational medicine
• Nutrition and food hygiene
• Drug abuse and addition
• Social medicine
• Hospital structure and organization of medical care
• Other medical scientific activities

8. Agriculture (include forestry and fisheries) – covers all scientific activities on the promotion of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and foodstuff production, or further knowledge on chemical fertilizers, biocides, biological pest control and the mechanization of agriculture, as well as concerning the impact of agricultural and forestry activities on the environment. Also covers scientific activities on improving food productivity and technology.

8.1 Agriculture – covers scientific activities on animal products, veterinary medicine, crops, food technology and other scientific activities on agricultural production and technology.

8.2 Fishing – covers scientific activities on fishing, salting, drying, and initial freezing of products (but not on preparation and canning (objective 6)), scientific activities on fish-farming, exploration of new fishing grounds, exploration and development of new and unconventional sources of seafood.

8.3 Forestry – covers scientific activities into the ecological and economic aspects of forestry and timber production.

9. Education – covers scientific activities aimed at supporting general or special education, including training, pedagogy, didactics, and targeted methods for specially gifted persons or those with learning disabilities. Applied to all levels of education as well as to subsidiary services to education.

10. Culture, recreation, religion and mass media – covers scientific activities aimed at improving the understanding of social phenomena related to culture activities, religion and leisure activities so as to define their impact on life in society, as well as to racial and cultural integration and on socio-cultural changes in these areas. The concept of "culture" covers sociology of science, religion, art, sport and leisure, and also comprises inter alia R&D on the media, the mastery of language and social integration, libraries, archives and external cultural policy.

11. Political and social system, structures and processes – covers scientific activities aimed at improving the understanding and supporting the political structure of society, public administration issues and economic policy, regional studies and multi-level governance, social change, social processes and social conflicts, the development of social security and social assistance systems, and the social aspects of the organization of work.

12. Defence – covers scientific activities for military purposes. It also includes basic research and nuclear and space research financed by the Department of National defence. Civil scientific activities financed by ministries of defence, for example, in the fields of meteorology, telecommunications and health, should be classified in the relevant objectives.

Question 5: Expenditures and personnel by region

Scientific and technological expenditures and personnel of federal organizations for the reference year, including current and capital expenditures for intramural R&D and RSA and by scientific and professional and total personnel for R&D and RSA.

Regions include:

• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island
• Nova Scotia
• New Brunswick
• Quebec (excluding NCR - Quebec)
• National Capital Region (NCR) - Quebec
• Ontario (excluding NCR - Ontario)
• National Capital Region (NCR) - Ontario
• Manitoba
• Saskatchewan
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut
• Canada Total

Getting started

Why are we conducting this survey?

This survey collects information on how gynecological health symptoms impact women's daily lives in Canada. Symptoms may be related to menstruation, perimenopause, menopause, other health conditions or be of unknown cause.

Survey topics include menstruation, access to menstrual products, as well as symptoms related to menstruation, perimenopause and menopause. The survey also gathers information about access to a regular health care provider, pregnancy, medication use, chronic conditions and gynecological surgeries or procedures.

Survey results will help researchers, all levels of government and organizations develop equitable programs and policies to better support women's gynecological health.

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

Although voluntary, your participation is important so that the information collected is as accurate and complete as possible.

Other important information

Authorization and confidentiality

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from the Census of Population, the Longitudinal Immigration Data Base and tax data for all members of your household. Your provincial ministry of health, and the Institut de la statistique du Québec for Quebec respondents, may also combine the information you provide with other surveys or administrative data sources.

Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with other survey or administrative data sources.
Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about record linkage:

Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca

Telephone: 1-877-949-9492

Mail:
Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Centre for Population Health Data
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6

Demographics

Some questions may be sensitive. The information provided will help inform guidelines, programs and policies. Some of these questions may not apply to you, but the same questions need to be asked of everyone.

1. Are you [First name] [Last name]?

• Yes
• No
• No, my name has changed
  • What is your new name?
    • First name
    • Last name

2. What is your date of birth?

• Year
• Month
• Day

3. What is your age?

Age in years

Geographic region

4. In which province or territory do you currently live?

• Province or territory
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nova Scotia
  • Nunavut
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon
    OR
  • Outside of Canada

5. To determine which geographic region you live in, provide your postal code.

Postal Code
Example: A9A 9A9

6. Including yourself, how many people usually live in your household?

Number of people

Gender and sex at birth

The following questions are about gender and sex at birth.

7. What is your gender?

Gender refers to current gender which may be different from sex assigned at birth and may be different from what is indicated on legal documents.

Is it:

• Man
• Woman
• Or please specify
  • Specify your gender

8. What was your sex at birth?

Sex at birth refers to the sex recorded on a person's first birth certificate. It is typically observed based on a person's reproductive system and other physical characteristics.

• Male
• Female

9. Please verify that all of the information is correct.

If all the information is correct, press the Next button.
To make changes, press the Previous button.

Your Information

Gender: [Man/Woman/Information not provided]
Sex at birth: [Male/Female/Information not provided]

Marital status

10. What is your marital status?

Is it:

• Married
  For Quebec residents only, select the "Married" category if your marital status is "civil union".
• Living common law
  Two people who live together as a couple but who are not legally married to each other.
• Never married (not living common law)
• Separated (not living common law)
• Divorced (not living common law)
• Widowed (not living common law)

Sexual orientation

This question collects information on sexual orientation to inform programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone living in Canada to share in its social, cultural, and economic life.

11. What is your sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation refers to how a person describes their sexuality.

Would you say:

• Heterosexual (i.e., straight)
• Lesbian or gay
• Bisexual or pansexual
• Or please specify
  • Specify your sexual orientation

General health

The following questions are about health. By health, we mean not only the absence of disease or injury but also physical, mental and social well-being.

12. In general, how is your health?

Would you say:

• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

13. In general, how is your mental health?

Would you say:

• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

Disability

14. Do you identify as a person with a disability?

A person with a disability is a person who has a long-term difficulty or condition, such as vision, hearing, mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain, learning, developmental, memory or mental health-related impairments, that limit their daily activities inside or outside the home such as at school, work, or in the community in general.

• Yes
• No

Regular health care provider

Now, here are some questions about primary health care. This type of health care is often delivered by family doctors or nurse practitioners.

15. Do you have a regular health care provider? By this, we mean a primary health care professional that you can consult with when you need care or advice for your health.

Select "Yes, another health professional" if you receive regular care from locums.

• Yes, a family doctor
• Yes, a nurse practitioner
• Yes, another health professional
  • Specify the other health professional
• No

Menstruation, perimenopause and menopause

The next questions are about menstruation, perimenopause and menopause.

Menstruation is often referred to as your "period".

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. Symptoms of perimenopause, such as more or less frequent periods, heavier or lighter periods or hot flashes, often start before the last menstrual period.

Menopause represents the end of menstruation. This can happen naturally when menstrual periods have stopped for 12 consecutive months. Menopause can also be a result of a procedure or surgery where both ovaries are removed or as a result of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Menstruation can be an indication of reproductive health. Some questions may be sensitive. The information provided will help inform guidelines, programs and policies. Some of these questions may not apply to you, but the same questions need to be asked of everyone.

16. At what age did you have your first menstrual period?

Menstruation is when blood and tissue from your uterus comes out of your vagina.

If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.

• Age in years
  OR
• I have never had a menstrual period

17. In the past 12 months, have you had a menstrual period?

Select "Yes" if you have had at least one menstrual period.

Exclude bleedings caused by medical conditions, hormone therapy, or surgeries.

• Yes
• No

18. What is the main reason you have not had a menstrual period in the past 12 months?

Was it:

• Hormonal birth control
  e.g., birth control pill, hormonal intrauterine device (IUD), injection
• Removal of the uterus, also known as a partial or complete hysterectomy
• Removal of both ovaries
• Natural menopause
  i.e., not the result of a surgery or medical treatment
• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• Medication, hormones, or drugs
  Exclude birth control
• Radiation or chemotherapy
• Endometrial or uterine ablation
• Other
  • Specify the other reason
• I don't know

19. Have you had your ovaries removed?

• Yes, one ovary removed
• Yes, both ovaries removed
• No, I have not had my ovaries removed

20. You indicated that your menstrual periods stopped. Since then, have you reached menopause?

Menopause represents the end of menstruation. This can happen naturally when menstrual periods have stopped for 12 consecutive months. Menopause can also be a result of a procedure or surgery where both ovaries are removed or as a result of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Would you say:

• Yes, natural menopause
• Yes, result of a procedure, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy
• No, I have not reached menopause
• I don't know

21. [At what age did you have your second ovary removed?/At what age did you reach menopause?/At what age did you have your first procedure, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy?/If menopause was a result of a procedure, surgery, radiation or chemotherapy: At what age did you have your first procedure, surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy?]

Menopause represents the end of menstruation. This can happen naturally when menstrual periods have stopped for 12 consecutive months. Menopause can also be a result of a procedure or surgery where both ovaries are removed or as a result of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

Report age

If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.

Age in years

22. In the past 12 months, did you have [any unusual or abnormal vaginal bleeding?/any vaginal bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods?]

There are different reasons why someone may experience vaginal bleeding outside their usual period or when they no longer have periods. Some causes are harmless and temporary, while others may indicate underlying health issues.

• Yes
• No

23. In the past 12 months, how many days did your menstrual period (bleeding) usually last?

Exclude times your menstrual period stopped due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or using a form of birth control that stopped your menstrual bleeding.

Was it:

• 1 day
• 2 to 7 days
• More than 7 days
• Changes from cycle to cycle
• I don't know

24. In the past 12 months, how long were your menstrual cycles?

The length of a menstrual cycle is the number of days between the first day of a menstrual period (the first day of bleeding) to the first day of the next menstrual period.

Exclude times your menstrual period stopped due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or using a form of birth control that stopped your menstrual bleeding.

Was it:

• Less than 21 days
• 21 to 35 days
• More than 35 days
• Irregular, changes from cycle to cycle
• I don't know

25. At any time in the past 12 months, did your menstrual periods stop for 3 consecutive months or more?

Exclude times your menstrual period stopped due to pregnancy, breastfeeding, or using a form of birth control that stopped your menstrual bleeding.

• Yes
• No

26. In the past 12 months, have you had any of the following experiences related to your menstrual bleeding?

Select all that apply.

Have you:

• Soaked through a pad or tampon every hour for several hours
• Needed to empty a menstrual cup more often than recommended
• Needed to wear more than one menstrual product at a time
  e.g., two pads, a tampon and a pad
• Needed to change menstrual products during the night
• Passed blood clots larger than a quarter or 25 cent coin
  OR
• None of the above

People may experience difficulties accessing menstrual products due to cost or availability.

27. How often in the past 12 months did you experience any of the following situations?

a. Unable to buy menstrual products because of cost

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

b. Relied on menstrual products from community resource centre

e.g., food bank, charity

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

c. Used free menstrual products available in public washrooms

e.g., at school, work, another public place

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

d. Unexpectedly needed to use toilet paper

e.g., menstrual period started unexpectedly, no menstrual products available

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

28. In the past 12 months, have you had menstrual pain, sometimes called "cramps"?

Menstrual pain or "cramps" can happen when your menstrual period starts a day or two earlier.

Would you say:

• No pain
• Mild discomfort or dull ache
• Moderate cramping
• Intense pain
• Unbearable pain

29. In the past 12 months, have you taken any medication to help with your menstrual pain, sometimes called "cramps"?

Select all that apply.

Have you taken:

• Non-prescription over-the-counter medication
  e.g., ibuprofen such as Advil®, acetaminophen also known as paracetamol such as Tylenol®, or Midol®
• Hormonal birth control
  e.g., birth control pill, patch, or ring
• Prescription medication, excluding hormonal birth control
  e.g., Mefenamic Acid such as Ponstan®, Celecoxib such as Celebrex®

• Other

  • Specify other

  
  OR

• Did not use any medication to help with menstrual pain

30. Have you consulted a health care provider about menstrual pain sometimes called "cramps"?

Would you say:

• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago
• No

31. Have you consulted a health care provider about your menstrual bleeding?

Would you say:

• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago
• No

32. In the past 12 months, thinking about your physical, mental and social well-being, how often has menstruation limited your ability to do your work, attend school, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?

Would you say:

• Never
• Rarely
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause. Symptoms of perimenopause, such as more or less frequent periods, heavier or lighter periods or hot flashes, often start before the last menstrual period.

33. Are you in perimenopause?

Would you say:

• Yes, I have been told by a health care provider that I am in perimenopause
• Yes, I think I am in perimenopause but have not been told by a health care provider
• No, I am not in perimenopause
• I don't know

Pregnancy

To better understand menstruation, perimenopause and menopause and how this may affect your health, it is important to know if you are pregnant or have been pregnant.

Please be assured that, like all other information you have provided, these answers will be kept strictly confidential.

34. Have you ever been pregnant?

Select "Yes" if you are currently pregnant or have had a live birth, abortion, stillbirth, miscarriage, ectopic or tubal pregnancy.

• Yes
• No

35. Have you been pregnant in the past 12 months?

Include pregnancies that resulted in a live birth, stillbirth, abortion, miscarriage, ectopic or tubal pregnancy.

• Yes
  • Are you currently pregnant?
    • Yes
    • No
• No

36. Have you ever given birth?

Include live births and stillbirths.

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Yes, vaginal
  • Did you have an episiotomy? An episiotomy is a cut made by a health care provider during childbirth to enlarge the vaginal opening and facilitate delivery.
    • Yes
    • No
• Yes, caesarean
  OR
• No, I have not given birth

37. How many births have you had?

Include live births and stillbirths.

Exclude miscarriages.

• Number of births
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15 or more

38. Have you ever breastfed?

Select "Yes" if you have ever breastfed, expressed or pumped breastmilk.

• Yes
  • Are you currently breastfeeding or have you breastfed in the past 12 months?
    • Yes, I am currently breastfeeding
    • Yes, I have breastfed in the past 12 months
    • No, I have not breastfed in the past 12 months
• No

Fertility

Sometimes people have difficulty becoming pregnant and need help such as getting medical advice, fertility counselling and testing, fertility drugs or medical procedures to become pregnant.

39. Have you ever consulted with a health care provider because you have had difficulty getting pregnant?

• Yes
• No

Medications

The following questions are about medications. Some types of medications may affect menstruation or perimenopause.

40. Birth control can be used for pregnancy prevention or for other health reasons.

Are you currently using any of the following types of birth control?

Select all that apply.

Are you using:

• Birth control pills
  • Which type of birth control pill do you use?
    • Combination pill (estrogen and progestin)
      e.g., Alesse®, Yaz®, Tri-Cyclen®
    • Progestin-only pill
      e.g., Slynd®, Micronor®, Movisse®
    • I don't know
• Injection
  e.g., Depo-Provera®
• Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD)
  e.g., Mirena® or Kyleena®
• Copper intrauterine device (IUD) also called a "Coil" or "Copper T"
• Hormonal implant such as NEXPLANON®
• Contraceptive patch or vaginal contraceptive ring
  e.g., EVRA® patch, NuvaRing®
  OR
• None of the above

41. Are you using your current birth control for any of the following reasons?

Select all that apply.

Are you using it to:

• Prevent pregnancy
• Regulate, lighten or stop menstrual bleeding
• Reduce menstrual pain or "cramps"
• Help with migraines
• Help with acne
• Reduce the risk of cancer
  e.g., ovarian, endometrial
• Management of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
  PCOS is also known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
• Improve mood or energy
• Reduce excess hair growth or hair loss

• Other

  • Specify other

  OR

• None of the above

This question is about prescription medication you may be taking for any reason.

42. In the past 12 months, have you used any of the following prescription medications?

Exclude nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals, fibre supplements, antacids, and fish oils.

a. Antidepressants

e.g., fluoxetine, sertraline, bupropion

• Yes
• No

b. Antianxiety medications

e.g., lorazepam, diazepam, buspirone

• Yes
• No

c. Blood pressure medication

e.g., ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blocker

• Yes
• No

d. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) other than birth control

Can be in the form of pills, patches, sprays, gels, or vaginal rings

• Yes
• No

e. Thyroid medication

e.g., levothyroxine

• Yes
• No

f. Fertility enhancing drugs

e.g., gonadotropins, clomiphene citrate or letrozole may be used to enhance fertility when trying to become pregnant

• Yes
• No

g. Antiseizure medication

e.g., carbamazepine, valproate

• Yes
• No

h. Antipsychotics

e.g., risperidone, olanzapine

• Yes
• No

i. Weight loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists

Include medication even if prescribed for diabetes or other conditions

e.g., GLP-1 receptor agonists semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®), tirzepatide (Mounjaro®, Zepbound®), liraglutide (Saxenda®, Victoza®)

• Yes
• No

j. Sleeping pills or sedatives

e.g., trazodone, zolpidem, temazepam

• Yes
• No

k. Diabetes medications

e.g., Insulin™, metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors

• Yes
• No

l. Other

• Yes
• No

43. Please specify what other types of prescription medications you have used in the past 12 months.

Specify other medications.

Symptoms

The next questions are about symptoms that you may have experienced. They may be related to menstruation, perimenopause, menopause, another health condition or be of unknown cause. Experiences can be different for everyone and can affect physical, mental and emotional health.

44. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following changes in your hair or skin? ?

a. Increase in unwanted facial hair

• Yes
• No

b. Hair thinning, loss or balding

• Yes
• No

c. Thinning or slack skin

• Yes
• No

d. Moderate or severe acne

• Yes
• No

45. In the past 12 months, how often have you experienced the following symptoms?

Exclude hot flashes or night sweats that occur after childbirth or are due to medication, illness, room temperature or clothing.

a. Hot flashes

• Most days or nights
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely
• Never

b. Night sweats

• Most days or nights
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely
• Never

46. In the past 12 months, how often have hot flashes or night sweats limited your ability to do your work, take care of things at home, or get along with other people?

Would you say:

• Never
• Rarely
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

47. Have you consulted a health care provider about your [hot flashes and night sweats/hot flashes/night sweats]?

Would you say:

• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago
• No

The next question is about long-term health symptoms. These are symptoms which are expected to last or have already lasted 3 months or more. They may be related to a health condition you have or be of unknown cause.

48. In the past 12 months, have you experienced any of the following symptoms for 3 consecutive months or more?

a. Breast pain or tenderness

• Yes
• No

b. Heart pounding or racing

Exclude times exercising

• Yes
• No

c. Migraines

• Yes
• No

d. Aches or pain in muscles or joints

• Yes
• No

e. Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Yes
• No

f. Fatigue, weakness or fainting

• Yes
• No

g. Feeling bloated, having gas pains, diarrhea or constipation

• Yes
• No

h. Leaking urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending or walking

• Yes
• No

i. Rushing to the bathroom or leaking urine because of a sudden, strong need to urinate

• Yes
• No

j. Vaginal dryness

• Yes
• No

k. Pelvic pain occurring in the lowest part of the abdomen or in the genital area

• Yes
• No

l. Memory lapses or forgetfulness

• Yes
• No

m. Mood changes, mood swings or crying easily

• Yes
• No

n. Brain fog, difficulty thinking or problem-solving

• Yes
• No

o. Feeling anxious or nervous

• Yes
• No

p. Cannot stop worrying about things

• Yes
• No

q. Little interest or enjoyment in things I usually like

• Yes
• No

r. Feeling depressed or hopeless

• Yes
• No

s. Easily annoyed or frustrated

• Yes
• No

t. Loss of sexual pleasure

• Yes
• No

49. Have you consulted with a health care provider about these symptoms?

If you have consulted with a health care provider on more than one occasion, report the most recent.

a. Breast pain or tenderness

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

b. Heart pounding or racing

Exclude times exercising

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

c. Migraines

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

d. Aches or pain in muscles or joints

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

e. Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

f. Fatigue, weakness or fainting

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

g. Feeling bloated, having gas pains, diarrhea or constipation

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

h. Leaking urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending or walking

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

i. Rushing to the bathroom or leaking urine because of a sudden, strong need to urinate

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

j. Vaginal dryness

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

k. Pelvic pain occurring in the lowest part of the abdomen or in the genital area

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

l. Memory lapses or forgetfulness

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

m. Mood changes, mood swings or crying easily

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

n. Brain fog, difficulty thinking or problem-solving

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

o. Feeling anxious or nervous

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

p. Cannot stop worrying about things

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

q. Little interest or enjoyment in things I usually like

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

r. Feeling depressed or hopeless

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

s. Easily annoyed or frustrated

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

t. Loss of sexual pleasure

• No
• Yes, within the past 12 months
• Yes, more than 12 months ago

50. In the past 12 months, how often have you experienced the following symptoms?

a. Breast pain or tenderness

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

b. Heart pounding or racing

Exclude times exercising

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

c. Migraines

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

d. Aches or pain in muscles or joints

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

e. Difficulty falling or staying asleep

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

f. Fatigue, weakness or fainting

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

g. Feeling bloated, having gas pains, diarrhea or constipation

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

h. Leaking urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending or walking

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

i. Rushing to the bathroom or leaking urine because of a sudden, strong need to urinate

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

j. Vaginal dryness

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

k. Pelvic pain occurring in the lowest part of the abdomen or in the genital area

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

l. Memory lapses or forgetfulness

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

m. Mood changes, mood swings or crying easily

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

n. Brain fog, difficulty thinking or problem-solving

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

o. Feeling anxious or nervous

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

p. Cannot stop worrying about things

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

q. Little interest or enjoyment in things I usually like

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

r. Feeling depressed or hopeless

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

s. Easily annoyed or frustrated

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

t. Loss of sexual pleasure

• Most days
• More than once a week
• About once a week
• About once a month
• Rarely

The next few questions are about the symptoms you reported experiencing in the past 12 months. The symptoms may be related to a health condition you have or be of unknown cause. They may be related to menstruation, perimenopause or menopause.

The following were reported in previous questions:

• Menstrual bleeding
• Menstrual pain or cramps
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Heart pounding or racing
• Migraines
• Aches or pain in muscles or joints
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Fatigue, weakness or fainting
• Feeling bloated, having gas pains, diarrhea or constipation
• Leaking urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending or walking
• Rushing to the bathroom or leaking urine because of a sudden, strong need to urinate
• Vaginal dryness
• Pelvic pain occurring in the lowest part of the abdomen or in the genital area
• Memory lapses or forgetfulness
• Mood changes, mood swings or crying easily
• Brain fog, difficulty thinking or problem-solving
• Feeling anxious or nervous
• Cannot stop worrying about things
• Little interest or enjoyment in things I usually like
• Feeling depressed or hopeless
• Easily annoyed or frustrated
• Loss of sexual pleasure

51. In the past 12 months, how often have these symptoms limited the following activities?

a. Your home or family responsibilities

e.g., cleaning, shopping, taking care of children, other home responsibilities

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never
• Not applicable

b. Your ability to work at a job or business or attend school

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never
• Not applicable

c. Your ability to be physically active

e.g., walking or hiking, playing sports, going to the gym

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never
• Not applicable

d. Your social activities

e.g., getting together with friends, going to concerts, volunteering, hobbies

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never
• Not applicable

52. Thinking about the symptoms you reported experiencing in the past 12 months, indicate the answer that most applies to you.

a. I felt that my symptoms were normal for women.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

b. I thought the symptoms would resolve on their own.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

c. I thought my symptoms were manageable on my own.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

d. I was not comfortable talking about my symptoms because of my values or beliefs.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

e. I was embarrassed or afraid to seek care.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

f. I was afraid of the results, treatments or medication.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

g. I thought health care providers would dismiss or not take my symptoms seriously.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

h. I didn't have time to see a health care provider.

• Strongly agree
• Agree
• Disagree
• Strongly disagree

Health care experiences

53. During the past 12 months, was there ever a time when you felt that you needed health care for [your menstruation/your menstrual bleeding/your menstrual bleeding and symptoms/your menstruation and symptoms/your symptoms], but you did not receive it?

• Yes
• No

The next questions are about the symptoms you reported experiencing in the previous questions and consulted with a health care provider about in the past 12 months. The symptoms may be related to a health condition you have or be of unknown cause. They may be related to menstruation, perimenopause or menopause.

You reported consulting with a health care provider about the following in the past 12 months:

• Menstrual bleeding
• Menstrual pain or cramps
• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Breast pain or tenderness
• Heart pounding or racing
• Migraines
• Aches or pain in muscles or joints
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Fatigue, weakness or fainting
• Feeling bloated, having gas pains, diarrhea or constipation
• Leaking urine when laughing, coughing, sneezing, bending or walking
• Rushing to the bathroom or leaking urine because of a sudden, strong need to urinate
• Vaginal dryness
• Pelvic pain occurring in the lowest part of the abdomen or in the genital area
• Memory lapses or forgetfulness
• Mood changes, mood swings or crying easily
• Brain fog, difficulty thinking or problem-solving
• Feeling anxious or nervous
• Cannot stop worrying about things
• Little interest or enjoyment in things I usually like
• Feeling depressed or hopeless
• Easily annoyed or frustrated
• Loss of sexual pleasure

54. In the past 12 months, how many times have you consulted a health care provider for your symptoms?

Include both in-person and virtual consultations such as over the telephone, by video, or written correspondence.

• Once
• 2 to 4 times
• 5 to 9 times
• 10 or more times

55. In the past 12 months, did you have to pay out-of-pocket for the health care you sought for your symptoms previously reported?

Include all costs for any care from regulated health professionals, such as tests, blood work, prescriptions including birth control, and other medications.

Regulated health professionals include but are not limited to, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, registered dieticians and psychologists.

Exclude amounts for which you have been or will be reimbursed by any insurance or government program.

Exclude care from unregulated health or wellness providers such as wellness coaches, holistic nutritionist and reflexologist, etc.

• Yes
  • Approximately how much did you have to pay? 
    Was it:
    • $1 to $249
    • $250 to $499
    • $500 to $999
    • $1,000 to $4,999
    • $5,000 to $9,999
    • $10,000 or more
    • I don't know
• No

The following statements are about your experiences with the health care services you received for symptoms in the past 12 months.

56. Thinking about all of these health care services, how often did you have the following experiences with a health care provider?

a. Treated you with courtesy and respect

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

b. Spent enough time with you

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

c. Explained things in a way that was easy to understand

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

d. Involved you in care and treatment decisions

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

e. Listened carefully to you

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

f. Gave you an opportunity to ask questions or raise concerns

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

g. Took into consideration your needs and personal situation

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

h. Had all medical information they needed about you

• Never
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always

Infections

The next questions are about urinary tract infections (UTIs) and vaginal yeast infections.

57. In the past 12 months, have you had a urinary tract infection (UTI) or bladder infection?

Would you say:

• Yes
  • In the past 12 months, how many urinary tract infections (UTIs) or bladder infections have you had?
    • One infection
    • Two to three infections
    • More than three infections
• No
• I don't know

58. In the past 12 months, have you had a vaginal yeast infection?

Would you say:

• Yes
  • In the past 12 months, how many yeast infections have you had?
    • One infection
    • Two to three infections
    • More than three infections
• No
• I don't know

The next question is about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs).

59. Have you ever had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, genital warts, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or syphilis?

Only report cases where you have been told by a health care provider that you have had the infection.

• Yes
• No

Chronic conditions

The following questions are about conditions you may have had during your life.

60. Have you ever been diagnosed by a health care professional with any of the following conditions?

Select all that apply.

Was it:

• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Fibroids
• Endometrial or uterine polyps
• Ovarian, paraovarian or cervical cysts
  OR
• None of the above

The next questions are about long-term health conditions. These are conditions which are expected to last or have already lasted 6 months or more and that have been diagnosed by a health care professional.

61. Have you been diagnosed by a health care professional with any of the following long-term health conditions?

Include only conditions that have lasted or are expected to last six months or more.

Select all that apply.

Do you have:

• Chronic mental health problem or condition
  e.g., mood disorder, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorder
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If more than one diagnosis, report the age at the first diagnosis. If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• High Blood Pressure
  Select even if controlled by medication.
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Anemia
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Thyroid condition
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) 
  PCOS is also known as polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).
  • How old were you when the first symptoms appeared?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Chronic kidney disease
  Exclude kidney stones or infection
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Diabetes
  Select even if controlled by medication.
  Include type 1 and type 2 diabetes
  Exclude prediabetes and gestational diabetes
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Bowel disorder 
  e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, bowel incontinence
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Endometriosis
  • How old were you when the first symptoms appeared?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Fibromyalgia
  • How old were you when the first symptoms appeared?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Blood clotting condition
  e.g., haemophilia, Von Willebrand disease
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years

• Other long-term health condition

  • Specify the type of condition
  • How old were you when first diagnosed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years

  OR

• None of the above

62. Have you ever been diagnosed with cancer?

Exclude basal cell carcinoma

• Yes
• No

63. Other than surgery, have you ever received treatment for cancer?

Exclude treatment for basal cell carcinoma

• Yes
  • Which of the following cancer treatments did you receive?
    Select all that apply.
    Was it:
    • Chemotherapy
    • Radiation therapy to the pelvis
    • Radiation therapy to another area
    • Hormone suppression therapy
    • Other
      Exclude surgeries
• No

Height and weight

The next questions on height and weight are asked to support analysis of differences in reported health care experiences.

64. How tall are you without shoes on?

Report the height to the nearest inch or centimetre.

• Feet
• Inches
  OR
• Centimetres

65. How much do you weigh?

Report the weight to the nearest pound or kilogram.

• Weight
• Unit of measure
  • pounds
  • kilograms

Surgeries and procedures

The following questions are about surgeries or procedures you may have had.

66. Have you ever had any of the following surgeries or procedures?

Select all that apply.

Was it:

• Removal of uterus
  • At what age did you have your uterus removed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Endometrial or uterine ablation or surgical excision
• Removal of fibroids
• Removal of one fallopian tube
• Removal of both fallopian tubes
  • At what age did you have your second fallopian tube removed?
    If exact age is not known, provide your best estimate.
    • Age in years
• Tubal ligation, also known as having your "tubes tied"
• Removal of thyroid, partial or complete
  OR
• None of the above

Indigenous Identity

67. Are you First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)?

First Nations (North American Indian) includes Status and Non-Status Indians.

If "Yes", select the responses that best describes this person now.

• No, not First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)
  OR
• Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)
• Yes, Métis
• Yes, Inuk (Inuit)

Sociodemographic characteristics

The following question collects information to support programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural and economic life of Canada.

68. Which population group or groups best describe you?

Select all groups that apply, or specify another group, if applicable.

Are you:

• White
• South Asian
  For example, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
• Chinese
• Black
• Filipino
• Arab
• Latin American
• Southeast Asian
  For example, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
• West Asian
  For example, Iranian, Afghan
• Korean
• Japanese
• Or please specify
  • Specify another group

Main activity

69. During the past 12 months, was your main activity working at a job or business, looking for paid work, going to school, caring for children, household work, retired or something else?

If the main activity was "sickness" or "short-term illness", indicate the usual main activity.

Was it:

• Working at a job or business
• Looking for paid work
• Going to school
• Caring for your children
• Household work
• Retired
• Maternity, paternity or parental leave
• Long-term illness
• Volunteering or care-giving other than for your children
• Other
  • Specify the main activity

Education

70. What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree that you have completed?

• Less than high school diploma or its equivalent
• High school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate
• Trades certificate or diploma
• College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (other than trades certificates or diplomas)
• University certificate or diploma below the bachelor's level
• Bachelor's degree
  e.g., B.A., B.A. (Hons), B.Sc., B.Ed., LL.B.
• University certificate, diploma or degree above the bachelor's level

Administrative information

To enhance the data from this survey and to minimize the reporting burden for respondents, Statistics Canada will combine your responses with information from the Census of Population, the Longitudinal Immigration Database and tax data of all members of your household. [Statistics Canada, the provincial ministry of health and the Institut de la statistique du Québec/Statistics Canada and the provincial ministry of health] may also add information from other surveys or administrative sources.

72. Having a provincial or territorial health number will assist us in linking to this other information. Do you have a provincial or territorial health number?

• Yes
• No
  • For which province or territory is your health number?
    If you do not have a Canadian health number, select "Does not have a Canadian health number" from the drop-down list.
    • Province or territory
      • Alberta
      • British Columbia
      • Manitoba
      • New Brunswick
      • Newfoundland and Labrador
      • Northwest Territories
      • Nova Scotia
      • Nunavut
      • Ontario
      • Prince Edward Island
      • Quebec
      • Saskatchewan
      • Yukon
      • Does not have a Canadian health number

73. What is your health number?

Enter a health number for [Newfoundland and Labrador / Prince Edward Island / Nova Scotia / New Brunswick / Quebec / Ontario / Manitoba / Saskatchewan / Alberta / British Columbia / Yukon / the Northwest Territories / Nunavut]. In [Newfoundland and Labrador/Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia/New Brunswick/Quebec/Ontario/Manitoba/Saskatchewan/Alberta/British Columbia/Yukon/the Northwest Territories/Nunavut], the health number is made up of [twelve numbers/eight numbers/ten numbers/nine numbers/four letters followed by eight numbers/ten numbers. Do not include the two letters at the end for green health cards/nine numbers, beginning with 002 or 003/one letter followed by seven numbers]. Do not insert blanks, hyphens or commas between the numbers.

[Note: In Manitoba, health numbers of a family's members can be listed on the same card. Be sure to capture your health number if there is more than one on the card./Note: In British Columbia, residents may have a combined driver's license and health card. If you have a combined card, the health number is on the back above the barcode.]

Health number

To avoid duplication of surveys, Statistics Canada has signed agreements to share the data from this survey with provincial ministries of health [and the Institut de la statistique du Québec]. [The Institut de la statistique du Québec and provincial ministries of health/Provincial ministries of health] may make this data available to local health authorities.

Data shared with your ministry of health [and the Institut de la statistique du Québec] may also include identifiers such as name, address, telephone number and health number. Local health authorities would receive only survey responses and the postal code.

74. These organizations have agreed to keep the data confidential and use it only for statistical purposes.

Do you agree to share the data you provided?

• Yes
• No

To reduce the number of questions in this questionnaire, Statistics Canada will use information from the Census of Population, the Longitudinal Immigration Database, and your tax forms submitted to the Canada Revenue Agency. With your consent, Statistics Canada will share the information from your tax forms with provincial ministries of health [and the Institut de la statistique du Québec].

75. These organizations have agreed to keep the information confidential and to use it only for statistical and research purposes.

Do you agree to share the data you provided?

• Yes
• No

Future Surveys

Statistics Canada is planning a series of short, fifteen to twenty minute surveys about important social topics. These surveys will be sent out in the near future and will ask about a wide variety of issues that affect Canadian society. By participating in this survey series, you will be able to share your opinions and thoughts on these issues and compare your ideas with those of other Canadians.

76. Would you like to sign-up for future surveys?

Please provide the following information so we can email or call you to participate in this survey series.

• Email address
  Example: user@example.gov.ca
• Phone number
  Example: 123-123-1234

Resources

Thank you for completing the Canadian Gynecological Health Survey (CGHS).

Some resources are provided that may help support you or someone you know.

While you may wish to use these services, please note Statistics Canada is not affiliated with any of these organizations.

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is a national specialty organization focused on women's health. It supports health care for women through education, clinical practice, and research, and promotes equitable, high-quality care and professional collaboration in Canada and internationally.

Baby's Breath
Provides support for parents experiencing all sudden and unexpected infant deaths and stillbirth.
Telephone: 1-800-363-7437

Parents Orphelins (Quebec residents)
Provides support for parents grieving due to pregnancy and infant loss.
Telephone: 514-686-4880

Access line for Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
The Access Line is a 7-day a week toll-free, confidential phone and text line. It is available for questions about sexual health, pregnancy options, abortion, and safer sex. They provide information and make referrals to sexual health providers.
Telephone: 1-888-642-2725

Canadian Mental Health Association (National)
Provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses and support recovery and resilience.
Telephone: 1-833-456-4566
Telephone: 1-866-277-3553 (in Quebec)

Government of Canada (Family violence resources and services in your area)
Links for family violence resources and services in your area.

Suicide Crisis Helpline
A national network of existing distress, crisis and suicide prevention line services.
Telephone: 9-8-8
Text: 9-8-8

Feedback

77. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Enter your comments
200 characters available

September 14, 2026 | Ottawa

Collection for the 2026 Census of Population is now complete. Thanks to outstanding participation across the country, the final response rate is among the highest ever recorded for the Canadian census.

The overall response rate for the 2026 Census of population reached 98.4% nationally. This is above the 98% recorded in 2021 and equal to the rate that was achieved in 2016. The online response rate increased as well from 84.1% in 2021 to 88.6% in 2026, with more Canadians completing their census online than ever before.

The self-response rate also reached a new record of 91.2%. This means more Canadians completed their questionnaire without assistance from census staff.  It reflects a strong engagement with the Census and a good understanding of its importance.  
Statistics Canada is now turning its attention towards census results. They will be published in a series of data releases throughout 2027 that will provide Canadians with new insights on a wide variety of topics.

The first of seven releases of 2026 Census of population results is scheduled for February 10, 2027. It will provide new data on the population and dwelling counts.

The full release schedule is available on Statistics Canada's 2026 Census dissemination planning web page.

A more detailed analysis of census participation across the country, including statistics by province and territory, will also be published later this year.

Collection for the 2026 Census of Agriculture is also complete. Thanks to the participation of farm operators across Canada, as well as the community supporters and stakeholders who helped raise awareness of the census, the new data will provide a detailed statistical portrait of Canadian agriculture. The first results will be published in May 2027. The response rate for the Census of Agriculture will be provided as the data are published. For more information about the Census of Agriculture, visit the Census of Agriculture web page.

Quote

"On behalf of Statistics Canada, I thank all respondents for making the 2026 Census a success. I also want to extend our gratitude to the many partners and stakeholders who helped promote and support participation within their communities. Our overall response rate for the Census of Population is one of the highest in the world for such an exercise, making the data it provides as accurate and reliable as can be. The information obtained from the census provides invaluable insights into the evolving characteristics of our country that are needed to make well-informed, fact-based decisions. We look forward to sharing the results with all Canadians."

André Loranger, Chief Statistician of Canada

Contact for media inquiries

Statistics Canada Media Relations
statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

Why are we conducting this survey?

The Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada aims to better understand patient access to care in Canada. The survey focuses on private health clinics that offer medical and diagnostic tests and medically necessary services offered by nurse practitioners. The survey is being conducted in partnership with Health Canada, who is the survey sponsor.

The questions focus on the number of medically necessary services provided in the previous fiscal year and whether these services were charged directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan. The survey also collects information on the total amount charged directly to patients for these services.

Data on operating revenue and expenses will be used to maintain the Canadian Business Register which lists all active businesses in Canada.

Responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will remain confidential.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

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

Confidentiality

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

Record linkages

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

Data sharing agreements

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

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

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory. Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data, and mailing it to the following address:

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

You may also contact us by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca or by fax at 1-514-496-4879.

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

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

For this questionnaire

Please report for your Canadian operation(s)

Reporting instructions

• Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.
• When precise figures are not available, provide your best estimates.
• Percentages should be rounded to whole numbers.
• Enter "0" if there is no value to report.

Who should complete this questionnaire?

This questionnaire should be completed by the person most knowledgeable of the day-to-day activities of this business.

How do we protect your information?

Statistics Canada is committed to respecting the privacy of consultation survey participants. All personal information created, held or collected by the agency is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act.

Deadline for completing this questionnaire

Please complete this questionnaire and submit it within 21 days of receipt.

Printing your completed questionnaire

You can print this questionnaire once you have completed and submitted it.

Business or organization and contact information

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

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

• Legal name
• Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information for the designated contact person for the business or organization's, and correct information if needed.

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

• First name
• Last name
• Title
• Preferred language of communication
• Mailing address (number and street)
• City
• Province, territory or state
• Postal code or ZIP code (Format: Letter digit letter space digit letter digit or 5 digits dash 4 digits) Example: A9A 9A9 or 12345-1234
• Country
• Email address Example: user@example.gov.ca
• Telephone number (including area code) Example: 123-123-1234
• Extension number (if applicable)
• Fax number (including area code) Example: 123-123-1234

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

• Operational
• Not currently operational e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership
  • Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
• Seasonal operations
  • When did this business or organization close for the season?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
• Ceased operations
  • When did this business or organization cease operations?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
    • Bankruptcy
    • Liquidation
    • Dissolution
    • Other
      • Specify the other reasons why operations ceased
• Sold operations
  • When was this business or organization sold?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • What is the legal name of the buyer?
• Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
  • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
  • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
• Temporarily inactive but expected to reopen
  • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
• No longer operating because of other reasons
  • When did this business or organization cease operations?
    Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
  • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

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

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

NAICS description text

Description and examples

NAICS description text

Examples and inclusions/exclusion text

• This is the current main activity
• This is not the current main activity

Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that NAICS description text is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as NAICS description text.

• Yes
  • When did the main activity change?
    • Date Example: YYYY-MM-DD
• No

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

How to search:

• if desired, you can filter the search results by first selecting the business or organization's activity sector
• enter keywords or a brief description that best describe the business or organization's main activity
• press the Search button to search the database for an activity that best matches the keywords or description you provided
• select an activity from the list.

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

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

Reporting period information

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

For this survey, the end date should fall between April 1st, 2025 and March 31st, 2026.

Fiscal Year Start date
Example: YYYY-MM-DD

Fiscal Year End date
Example: YYYY-MM-DD

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

Select all that apply.

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

Main Business Activity

3. Is this business either a nurse practitioners-led clinic or a nurse practitioner working as a sole proprietor?

A nurse practitioners-led clinic is defined as a clinic where one or more nurse practitioners are the lead providers of health care to patients, working either independently or as part of a team.

• Yes
• No

Reporting instructions

For this survey, please report based on how your business is structured: 

Sole proprietor, clinic or practice owner 

If you are the sole owner of the clinic (i.e., the business is registered in your name as a sole proprietorship), please report for the entire clinic. This includes services provided by yourself, your employees, and any subcontractors.

Registered Partnership 

If the clinic is registered as a formal partnership, please report on behalf of the entire business as registered under the partnership name.

Individual healthcare professional registered as a business 

If you are registered as a business in your own name and work in a shared clinic with other independently registered professionals (such as other physicians or nurse practitioners), please report only your own share of the clinic’s operations. Exclude any financial or operational data that pertains to the other providers. 

For example, if you are one of five doctors or nurse practitioners working in a clinic where each doctor or nurse practitioner is registered as their own business, please exclude the part of the answers relating to the other four doctors or nurse practitioners. 

Exclude all activities done outside a private clinic setting (e.g., hospital).

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential. Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial or territorial health ministries.

Operating Revenue and Expenses

4. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, what was this business's total operating revenue?

Include :

• Revenue from business activities, such as revenue from the sale of products and services (including those paid directly by patients and through insurance), and rental revenue
• Revenue from any level of government, including from contracts, grants and other contributions (e.g., from a provincial or territorial ministry of health or from other government department) 
• Non-government grants, donations, and subsidies
• all other operating revenue such as fundraising activities or other revenue relevant to the operation of the business. 

Exclude dividends, revenue from interest, revenue from intracompany transfers.

When precise figure is not available, please provide your best estimate.

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

Total operating revenue (CAN$'000)

5. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, what was this business's total operating expenses?

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

When precises figure is not available, please provide your best estimate.

Total operating expenses (CAN$'000)

Health clinics and services offered

The next section of this survey is to better understand Canadians' access to certain categories of health services provided by physicians or nurse practitioners.

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential.

Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial and territorial ministries of health.

6. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many physicians worked at this business?

Include: 

• if you are an owner and work at this business, please include yourself in the count below 
• all physicians working for the business whether they are full-time, part-time, subcontracted or casual.
  • Number of physicians
    OR
  • No physicians worked at this business

7. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many nurse practitioners worked at this business?

Include: 

• if you are an owner and work at this business, please include yourself in the count below 
• all nurse practitioners working for the business whether they are full-time, part-time, subcontracted or casual.
  • Number of nurse practitioners
    OR
  • No nurse practitioners worked at this business

8. Which of the following services does this business offer directly to patients?

Select all that apply

• Diagnostic imaging
  • Which of the following services does this business offer?
    For this survey, we are looking at a subset of diagnostic imaging services.
    Select all that apply
    • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
    • Computed tomography (CT) Scan
    • Ultrasounds
      Include ultrasounds referred by a physician or a nurse practitioner.
      Exclude: elective 3D and 4D ultrasounds, FibroScans.
      OR
    • None of the above
• Subscription, membership or enrollment fee
  A subscription-based model where patients pay a regular fee to access certain medical services
  • Does this business provide access to a physician (directly or through referral)?
    • Yes
    • No
  • Does this business provide access to a nurse practitioner (directly or through referral)?
    • Yes
    • No
• Virtual health care services
  Services provided virtually (e.g., video or over the phone) such as consultation, referral, etc.
• Surgical services and procedures
  Surgical services and procedures (e.g., joint replacements, cataract surgery), or services related to surgeries including consultations.
  OR
• None of the above

Diagnostic imaging

9. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many diagnostic tests, referred by a physician or nurse practitioner, were received by patients insured by a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include only patients with a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner.

Exclude:

• any diagnostic tests that are not considered medically necessary by the province or territory in which your business operates, and would not be covered by the provincial or territorial health care insurance plan even when provided in a hospital or other publicly-funded setting (e.g., elective 3D or 4D ultrasounds, FibroScans). 
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • MRI
   • CT scans
   • Ultrasounds
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • MRI
   • CT scans
   • Ultrasounds
3. Total number of diagnostic tests
   • Sum of a + b.
   • MRI
   • CT scans
   • Ultrasounds

The next section of this survey is to better understand Canadians' access to MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds at medical and diagnostic laboratories, and whether the patient had to pay to access the service.

Please note medical and diagnostic laboratories may be charging insured residents for these services, as there are a variety of circumstances when provincial and territorial health care insurance plans may not cover the costs of these scans when they are performed outside of a hospital.

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential. Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial and territorial ministries of health.

10. Of the diagnostic tests reported in question 9, were any billed directly to a patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance) ?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

• Yes, some patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan paid for diagnostic tests.
• No, patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan did not pay for diagnostic tests.

11. Of the total number of diagnostic tests reported in question 9, how many tests were billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include only patients with a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner.

Exclude:

• any diagnostic tests that are not considered medically necessary by the province or territory in which your business operates, and would not be covered by the provincial or territorial health care insurance plan even when provided in a hospital or other publicly-funded setting (e.g., elective 3D or 4D ultrasounds, FibroScans). 
• Workers Compensation Board claimants (WCB), federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada).
• services provided under contract or paid by a province, a territory or a provincial or territorial health authority.

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • MRI
   • CT scans
   • Ultrasounds
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • MRI
   • CT scans
   • Ultrasounds
3. Total number of diagnostic tests billed
   Sum of a + b.
   • MRI
   • CT scans
   • Ultrasounds

12. For the number of diagnostic tests reported in question 11, what was the total amount billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include only amount charged:

• for patients with a referral from a physician or nurse practitioner
• associated with diagnostic tests such as MRI, CT scans and ultrasounds.

Exclude:

• any amount billed to patients for diagnostic tests that are not considered medically necessary by the province or territory in which your business operates, and would not be covered by the provincial or territorial health care insurance plan even when provided in a hospital or other publicly-funded setting (e.g., elective 3D or 4D ultrasounds, FibroScans). 
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority.

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Amount billed to the patient in CAN$ '000
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Amount billed to the patient in CAN$ '000

Total amount billed for diagnostic tests
Sum of a + b.

13. For the total amount billed for diagnostic tests reported in question 12, what is the percentage distribution of diagnostic tests referred by physicians or nurse practitioners?

Percentage distribution of diagnostic tests

1. Referred by physicians in percentage
2. Referred by nurse practitioners in percentage

Total percentage of billed diagnostic tests 
Sum of a + b.

Subscription, membership or enrollment fees

The next section of this survey is to better understand Canadians' access to physicians or nurse practitioners at locations where a patient may have to pay, or have someone else pay on their behalf, a subscription fee, membership fee or enrollment fee.

Please note membership clinics often charge patients a subscription, membership, or enrollment fees while providing access to a physician, and may charge additional fees for uninsured services, such as dietary advice or massage therapy.

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential.

Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial and territorial ministries of health.

14. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many patients, insured under provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, paid for, or had another organization pay on their behalf, a subscription, membership or enrollment fee to this business?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include:

• patients whose care is paid for by an organization other than a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)
• each patient registered under a family plan (e.g., if the fees cover three family members, please report as three patients).

Exclude:

• patients with a subscription, membership or enrollment fees where access to a physician or a nurse practitioner is not available
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• patients who paid subscription, membership or enrollment fees whom only had access to a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Number of patients
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Number of patients

Total number of patients
Sum of a + b.

15. What was the total amount billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to another organization, such as their employee benefits plan or private insurance, for subscription, membership or enrollment fees?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include all subscription, membership or enrollment fees:

• where a physician or nurse practitioner are available (directly or through referral from the business)
• paid for by the patient or an organization other than a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance).

Exclude:

• patients with a subscription, membership or enrollment fees where access to a physician or a nurse practitioner is not available
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided by a physician who is not enrolled with a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan (i.e., the physician does not and cannot bill the public plan).

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Amount billed to the patient in CAN$ '000
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Amount billed to the patient in CAN$ '000

Total amount billed for subscription, membership or enrollment fees
Sum of a + b.

Virtual health care services

16. Does this business offer virtual health care for medically necessary services covered by a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan? Medically necessary virtual health care services are defined as any services provided virtually (e.g., video or over the phone) that would be insured by a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician. 

• Yes, this business offers medically necessary virtual health care services
• No, this business does not offer medically necessary virtual health care services

17. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, in which province or territory were this business's patients located?

Select all that apply

1. Newfoundland and Labrador
2. Prince Edward Island
3. Nova Scotia
4. New Brunswick
5. Quebec
6. Ontario
7. Manitoba
8. Saskatchewan
9. Alberta
10. British Columbia
11. Yukon
12. Northwest Territories
13. Nunavut

18. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many medically necessary virtual health care services did this business provide to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan?

Medically necessary virtual health care services are defined as any services provided virtually (e.g., video or over the phone) that would be insured by a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician.

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Exclude:

• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services rendered by a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

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

Patients' location

1. Newfoundland and Labrador
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
2. Prince Edward Island
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
3. Nova Scotia
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
4. New Brunswick
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
5. Quebec
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
6. Ontario
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
7. Manitoba
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
8. Saskatchewan
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
9. Alberta
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
10. British Columbia
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
11. Yukon
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
12. Northwest Territories
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
13. Nunavut
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services

Total number of medically necessary virtual health care services
Sum of a to m

The next section of this survey is to better understand Canadians' access to physicians or nurse practitioner through virtual care and whether the patient had to pay to access these services, or have an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan pay on their behalf.

Please note virtual clinics may be charging insured residents for access to a physician or nurse practitioner, as some provincial and territorial health care insurance plans may only cover certain ways of connecting with a physician (e.g., telephone, video messaging) or access under certain circumstances. The virtual care provider may also be located outside of the province or territory where the patient is located.

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential. Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial or territorial ministries of health.

19. Of the number of medically necessary virtual health care services reported in question 18, were any billed directly to a patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

• Yes, some patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan paid for medically necessary virtual health care services.
• No, patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan did not pay for medically necessary virtual health care services.

20. Of the total number of virtual health care services reported at question 18, how many were billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Medically necessary virtual health care services are defined as any services provided virtually (e.g., video or over the phone) that would be insured by a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician. Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Exclude:

• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority
• services rendered by a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

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

Patients' location

1. Newfoundland and Labrador
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
2. Prince Edward Island
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
3. Nova Scotia
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
4. New Brunswick
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
5. Quebec
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
6. Ontario
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
7. Manitoba
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
8. Saskatchewan
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
9. Alberta
   • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
10. British Columbia
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
11. Yukon
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
12. Northwest Territories
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services
13. Nunavut
    • Number of medically necessary virtual health care services

Total number of medically necessary virtual health care services
Sum of a to m

21. For the number of virtual care services reported in question 20, what was the total amount billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Medically necessary virtual health care services are defined as any services provided virtually (e.g., video or over the phone) that would be insured by a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician. Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Exclude:

• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority
• services rendered by a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

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

Patients' location

1. Newfoundland and Labrador
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
2. Prince Edward Island
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
3. Nova Scotia
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
4. New Brunswick
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
5. Quebec
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
6. Ontario
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
7. Manitoba
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
8. Saskatchewan
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
9. Alberta
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
10. British Columbia
    • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
11. Yukon
    • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
12. Northwest Territories
    • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
13. Nunavut
    • Amount billed in CAN$ '000

Total amount billed for virtual health care services in CAN$ '000
Sum of a to m

22. For the total amount billed for virtual services reported in question 21, what is the percentage distribution of virtual services provided by physicians or nurse practitioners?

Percentage distribution of virtual services

1. Provided by physicians in percentage
2. Provided by nurse practitioners in percentage

Total percentage of billed virtual health care services
Sum of a + b.

23. For the total amount billed for virtual services reported in question 21, what is the percentage distribution of virtual services by modality?

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

Percentage distribution of virtual services

1. Provided by phone or video in percentage
2. Provided by synchronous or asynchronous messaging
   e.g., text messaging, online chat, email
3. Other
   e.g., artificial intelligence diagnosis

Total percentage of billed virtual health care services
Sum of a + b + c

Surgical services and procedures

24. Are any of the surgical services and procedures this business offers medically necessary services ?

Medically necessary surgical services and procedures are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if performed in a hospital or publicly-funded setting, including the services provided by a physician or nurse practitioner in relation to the surgical service or procedure.

Exclude all surgeries that are solely for cosmetic purposes.

• Yes, this business offers medically necessary surgical services and procedures.
• No, this business does not offer medically necessary surgical services and procedures.

25. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many medically necessary surgical services and procedures did this business provide to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan?

Medically necessary surgical services and procedures are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if performed in a hospital or publicly-funded setting, including the services provided by a physician or nurse practitioner in relation to the surgical service or procedure.

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include:

• consultations with a physician or nurse practitioner, even if a surgery was not performed
• all of the individual treatments or procedures associated with a surgery or consultation should be reported as one complete service.

Exclude:

• all surgeries that are solely for cosmetic purposes
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services rendered by a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Number of surgical services and procedures
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Number of surgical services and procedures

Total number of surgical services and procedures
Sum of a + b.

The next section of this survey is to better understand Canadians' access to medically necessary surgical services and procedures, and whether the patient had to pay to access these services, or have an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan pay on their behalf.

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential.

Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial and territorial ministries of health.

26. Of the number of surgical services reported at question 25, were any billed directly to a patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

• Yes, some patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan paid for medically necessary surgical services and procedures.
• No, patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan did not pay for medically necessary surgical services and procedures.

27. Of the total number of surgical services and procedures reported at question 25, how many were billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Medically necessary surgical services and procedures are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if performed in a hospital or publicly-funded setting, including the services provided by a physician or nurse practitioner in relation to the surgical service or procedure.

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include:

• consultations with a physician or nurse practitioner, even if a surgery was not performed
• all of the individual treatments or procedures associated with a surgery or consultation should be reported as one complete service.

Exclude:

• all surgeries that are solely for cosmetic purposes
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority
• services rendered by a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

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

1. a. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Number of surgical services and procedures billed
2. b. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Number of surgical services and procedures billed

Total number of surgical services and procedures billed
Sum of a + b.

28. For the number of surgical services reported in question 27, what was the total amount billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Medically necessary surgical services and procedures are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if performed in a hospital or publicly-funded setting, including the services provided by a physician or nurse practitioner in relation to the surgical service or procedure.

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include:

• consultations with a physician or nurse practitioner, even if a surgery was not performed
• all of the individual treatments or procedures associated with a surgery or consultation should be reported as one complete service.

Exclude:

• all surgeries that are solely for cosmetic purposes
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority
• services rendered by a non-participating physician. A non-participating physician is a physician who does not have a billing number for the provincial or territorial public health care insurance plan and therefore is unable to bill the plan for any services provided to patients.

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

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

1. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000
2. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Amount billed in CAN$ '000

Total amount billed for surgical services and procedures
Sum of a + b.

29. For the total amount billed for surgical services reported in question 28, what is the percentage distribution of surgical services provided by physicians or nurse practitioners?

Percentage distribution of surgical services and procedures

1. Provided by physicians in percentage
2. Provided by nurse practitioners in percentage

Total percentage of billed surgical services in percentage
Sum of a + b.

Services provided by nurse practitioners

30. Are any of the services offered by the nurse practitioners medically necessary ?

Medically necessary services are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician (e.g., diagnosing, treating, prescribing, referring, requisitioning).

Note: Please do not report medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners already captured in previous sections of this survey

• Yes, nurse practitioners in this business offer medically necessary services.
• No, nurse practitioners in this business do not offer medically necessary services.

31. For the reporting period ending between April 1st, 2025 to March 31st, 2026, how many medically necessary services did nurse practitioners in this business provide to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan?

Note: Please do not report medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners already captured in previous sections of this survey

Medically necessary services are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician (e.g., diagnosing, treating, prescribing, referring, requisitioning).

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan

Include only services provided by nurse practitioners.

Exclude:

• services such as dietary advice, life coaching, physiotherapy, psychological counselling
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada).

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

1. a. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Number of medically necessary services
2. b. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Number of medically necessary services

Total number of medically necessary services
Sum of a + b.

The next section of this survey is to better understand Canadians' access to medically necessary services, and whether the patient had to pay to access these services.

As a reminder, your responses to this survey will remain confidential.

Individual responses to the Survey on Health Care Clinics in Canada will not be shared with Health Canada or provincial or territorial ministries of health.

32. Of the number of medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners reported in question 31, were any billed directly to a patient insured under provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

• Yes, some patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan paid for medically necessary services
• No, patients or organizations other than the provincial or territorial health care plan did not pay for medically necessary services.

33. Of the total number of medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners reported in question 31, how many were billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Medically necessary services are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician (e.g., diagnosing, treating, prescribing, referring, requisitioning).

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include only services provided by nurse practitioners.

Exclude:

• services such as dietary advice, life coaching, physiotherapy, psychological counselling
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority.

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

1. a. Patients insured within the province or territory
   A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
   • Number of medically necessary services billed
2. b. Patients insured in another province or territory
   A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
   • Number of medically necessary services billed

Total number of medically necessary services billed
Sum of a + b.

34. For the number of medically necessary services provided by nurse practitioners reported in question 33, what was the total amount billed directly to patients insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan, or billed to an organization other than the provincial or territorial health care plan (e.g., employee benefits plan, private insurance)?

Medically necessary services are defined as services that would be insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan if provided in-person by a physician (e.g., diagnosing, treating, prescribing, referring, requisitioning).

Patient insured under a provincial or territorial health care insurance plan is defined as a patient who has a valid provincial or territorial health care card, even if the service provided to the patient by this business was not paid for by the public plan.

Include only services provided by nurse practitioners.

Exclude:

• services such as dietary advice, life coaching, physiotherapy, psychological counselling
• Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claimants, federally insured persons (e.g., insured by the Canadian Armed Forces, Correctional Services Canada, Veterans Affairs Canada, Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada)
• services provided under contract or paid by a province or territory or a provincial or territorial health authority.

Report dollar amounts in thousands of Canadian dollars.

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

• a. Patients insured within the province or territory
  A patient insured within the province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from the province or territory where the service is delivered.
  • Amount billed to the patient in CAN$ '000
• b. Patients insured in another province or territory
  A patient insured in another province or territory means someone who has a valid health card from a different province or territory from where the service is delivered.
  • Amount billed to the patient in CAN$ '000

Total amount billed for medically necessary services
Sum of a + b.

Changes or events

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

Select all that apply.

• Strike or lock-out
• Contracting out
• Organizational change
• Price changes in labour or raw materials
• Natural disaster
• Sold business or business units
• Expansion
• Acquisition of business or business units
• Merger of business or business units
• Vacation or maintenance periods
• Equipment failure
• Increased or decreased market demand
• Dissolution
• Change in accounting or basis of reporting
• Liquidation
• End of business activities
• Change in business activities

• Other

  • Specify the other change or event

  OR

• No changes or events

Contact person

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

Is the designated contact person for the business or organization the best person to contact?

• Yes
• No
  • Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?
    • First Name
    • Last Name
    • Title
    • Email address
      Example: user@example.gov.ca
    • Telephone number (including are code)
      Example: 123-123-1234
    • Extension number (if applicable)
    • Fax number (including area code)
      Example: 123-123-1234

Feedback

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

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

Hours

Minutes

38. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Enter your comments.