Getting started

Why are we conducting this survey?

The Survey on the Use of Digital Technologies by Health Care Providers (SUDTHCP) collects data from health care providers on their use of digital health systems, including whether they send and receive patient clinical information electronically and barriers to using digital health tools. The SUDTHCP also collects information on health care providers’ knowledge of digital health systems to measure their digital health literacy.

Results from this survey will be used to identify areas of improvement in modernizing the health care system and improving health care services for Canadians as set out in the Working Together to Improve Health Care for Canadians plan.

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 may 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

Are you [First name] [Last name]?

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

What is [your] date of birth?

• Year
  • Min: 1897; Max: 2018
• Month
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
• Day
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

What is [your] age?

• Age in years

What is [your] gender?

Gender refers to an individual’s personal and social identity as a man (or a boy), a woman (or a girl) or a person who is not exclusively a man (or a boy) or a woman (or a girl), for example, non-binary, agender, gender fluid, queer or Two-Spirit.

Is it:

• Man/Boy
• Woman/Girl
• Or please specify
  • Specify [your] gender

Employment

Were you a health care worker in Canada at any time between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]

Select "Yes" if you worked at least one day between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]:
* for pay (wages, salary, etc.)
* in self-employment.

Select "No" if you:
* were away from work for the entire period for retirement, sick leave, parental leave, training, sabbatical, etc.
* did not have a job and were not self-employed

• Yes
• No

What was your occupation during the period between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]?

If you had multiple occupations, select the occupation in health care for which you worked for the most time between [January 1 and December 31, 2025].

• Nurse practitioner
• Registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, or nursing coordinator or supervisor
  e.g., nurse clinician, public health nurse, clinical nurse specialist, etc.
• Physician: family physician or general practitioner
  Include residents in training to become a family physician or a general practitioner; or family physicians with advanced training
• Physician: specialist
  Include residents in training to become a specialist physician
  • What is your specialty?
    Specify your medical specialty
• Pharmacist
• None of the above

As [a nurse practitioner/a nurse/a general practitioner or family physician/a specialist physician/a pharmacist], did you provide direct patient care at any time between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]?

Direct patient care is to have physical or virtual contact with patients for the purpose of prevention, assessment, diagnosis, monitoring of their physical and mental health and treatment, including dispensing medication.

• Yes
• No

Job environment

The following questions refer to your experiences as [a nurse practitioner/a nurse/a general practitioner or family physician/a specialist physician/a pharmacist] at your primary practice setting between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]. Your primary practice setting is the specific health care facility where you worked the most hours between [January 1 and December 31, 2025].

Between [January 1 and December 31, 2025], what was your primary practice setting?

* if you worked at multiple settings as [a nurse practitioner/a nurse/a general practitioner or family physician/a specialist physician/a pharmacist], please think of the setting at which you worked the most hours and provided patient care

* if you practiced at multiple settings equally, please think of the practice setting you provided patient care on the last working day you had

* if you worked virtually for most of your practice, select the corresponding virtual practice.

• Primary care or family medicine office or clinic
  Include nurse practitioner-led office or clinic
• Specialist office or clinic
  Exclude offices or clinics located in a hospital
• Hospital setting
  Include in-patient care or ambulatory clinics in a hospital or specialized medical or health facility that has in-patient care, e.g., rehabilitation centre, mental health or addictions treatment centre, cancer centre or birth centre
• Community or public health centre, clinic or unit
  Include centres that provide primary health or health promotion services to individuals, families or communities, such as community health centres or local community service centres (CLSC)
• Long-term care facility, nursing home, seniors' residence or retirement home, or special care home
• Homecare establishment
  Include establishments for home-based nursing care or home-based palliative care
• Laboratory or diagnostic clinic
• Pharmacy
• Other

What was the province or territory of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?

If you worked in a fully virtual setting, select the province or territory in which you provided care.

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

What was the postal code of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?

Refer to your primary practice setting's postal code.

• Postal code
  Example: A9A 9A9

Patient clinical information

The following questions refer to your experiences working as [a nurse practitioner/a nurse/a general practitioner or family physician/a specialist physician/a pharmacist] at your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting].

Patient clinical information could include prescriptions, consultation and clinic notes, hospital discharge summaries, medication summaries, allergies and intolerances, immunizations, procedures or surgical history, medical devices, lab and diagnostic results and requisitions, referrals, vital signs and other types of clinical information.

Between [January 1 and December 31, 2025], did you have access to any patient clinical information at your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?

• Yes
• No

Sharing patient information

The following questions refer to your experiences working with digital health systems at the [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting] between [January 1 and December 31, 2025].

Digital health systems are internal or external applications, platforms or software that allow for documenting, sending or sharing patient clinical information.

Some examples of digital health systems include Electronic Medical Records (EMR), provincial or territorial Electronic Health Records (EHR), Hospital Information Systems (HIS), Clinical Information Systems (CIS) and Pharmacy Management Software (PMS). Specific examples may include MEDITECH, Epic, Cerner, CristalNet, Open Architecture Clinical Information System (OACIS), ClinicalViewer, Dossier Santé Québec (DSQ), Netcare. For the purposes of this survey, faxes, electronic faxes (e-fax), standard email, video conferencing platforms or telephones are not considered digital health systems.

Between [January 1 and December 31, 2025], did you have access to one or more digital health systems at your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?
Note: Press the help button (?) for more information on digital health systems.

• Yes
• No

The following question is about the use of a digital health system between [January 1 and December 31, 2025].

Which of the following methods did you use to send or share patient clinical information with health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?

Note: Press the help button (?) for more information on digital health systems and patient clinical information.

Select all that apply.

• Entering or updating patient clinical information in a system that allows access by health care providers
• Flagging or sending a notification that patient clinical information is available to health care providers
• Sending or sharing patient clinical information through a digital health system via secure email or secure messaging
• Sending or sharing patient clinical information through a digital health system via fax or e-fax
  OR
• I was not able to send or share patient clinical information using the methods above outside of my primary practice setting
  OR
• I did not need to send or share patient clinical information outside of my primary practice setting

For the following questions, only consider sending or sharing patient clinical information electronically through a digital health system. Please exclude fax or e-fax even if sent through a digital health system.

Between [January 1 and December 31, 2025], how often did you use a digital health system when sending or sharing patient clinical information to health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?

Exclude fax or e-fax even if sent through a digital health system.

Note: Press the help button (?) for more information on digital health systems and patient clinical information.

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely

To which of the following health care settings did you use a digital health system as the primary method of sending or sharing patient clinical information?

Exclude fax or e-fax even if sent through a digital health system.

Note: Press the help button (?) for more information on digital health systems and patient clinical information.

Select all that apply.

• Primary care or family medicine office or clinic
  Include nurse practitioner-led office or clinic.
• Specialist office or clinic
  Exclude offices or clinics located in the hospital.
• Community or public health centre, clinic, or unit
  Include centres that provide primary health or health promotion services to individuals, families, or communities, such as community health centres or local community service centres (CLSC).
• Long-term care facility, nursing home, seniors' residence or retirement home, or special care home
• Homecare establishment
  Include establishments for home-based nursing care or home-based palliative care.
• Laboratory or diagnostic clinic
• Pharmacy
• Hospital setting
  Include in-patient care or ambulatory clinics in a hospital or specialized medical or health facility that has in-patient care, e.g., rehabilitation centre, mental health or addictions treatment centre, cancer centre or birth centre.
• Other
  OR
• Did not use a digital health system as the primary method of sending or sharing patient clinical information

Between [January 1 and December 31, 2025], which of the following barriers did you experience that limited or prevented you from sending or sharing patient clinical information to health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting] using digital health systems?

Select all that apply.

• Digital health systems did not have the ability to send or share patient clinical information electronically to health care providers that work outside of my practice setting
  e.g., digital health system can only share using fax or e-fax
• Insufficient training on use of digital health systems
• Reluctant to share patient clinical information because of privacy concerns
• Available digital health systems did not meet my clinical practice needs
• Insufficient integration between different digital health systems
  e.g., cannot send information directly from one digital health system to another
• Required equipment was not available
  e.g., workstations, mobile devices
• Lacked the required permissions to access digital heath systems
• Time-consuming or multiple sign-ins required to access digital health systems
• Non-user-friendly digital health systems
  e.g., complicated interface, very complex system
• Systems or networks weren't available or reliable
  e.g., data disappearing or unstable internet connections
• Insufficient IT support to use the digital health system
• Other
  • Please specify the other barrier to sharing information
  OR
• Did not experience any barriers to sending or sharing patient information using digital health systems

Using patient information

The following questions are about patient clinical information that you have received or is available to you through a digital health system from other health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]. This may include internal or external systems to which you have access.

Which of the following methods did you receive or access the patient clinical information through a digital health system?

Note: Press the help button (?) for more information on digital health systems and patient clinical information.

Select all that apply.

• Accessing patient clinical information that has been entered or updated in a system by health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]
• Receiving a flag or a notification that patient clinical information is available by health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting] for the care of your patient
• Receiving patient clinical information via secure email or secure messaging through a digital health system from health care providers that work outside of your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]
• Receiving patient clinical information via fax or e-fax that is scanned or copied into your digital health system
  OR
• Did not receive or access patient clinical information through any of these methods

For the following question, only consider patient clinical information that you have received or is available to you directly through a digital health system. Please exclude patient clinical information received via fax or e-fax that was scanned or copied into your digital health system.

For the following question consider limitations in the digital health systems that may have limited the frequency in which you accessed this information. For example, time-consuming or multiple sign-ins required to access systems, insufficient integration between different systems, non-user-friendly systems, etc.

Thinking about patient clinical information available to you from other health care providers through a digital health system, were there any times that you did not access the information due to the digital health system limitations?

Note: Press the help button (?) for more information on digital health systems and patient clinical information.

• Yes
• No

How often did you not access the information due to limitations?

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely

Between [January 1 and December 31, 2025], which of the following barriers limited or prevented you from accessing patient clinical information you received through a digital health system?

Select all that apply.

• Insufficient training on use of digital health systems
• Insufficient integration between different systems
  e.g., I could not open the patient clinical information delivered to my digital health system
• Required equipment was not available
  e.g., workstations, mobile devices
• Lacked the required permissions to access digital health systems
• Time-consuming or multiple sign-ins required to access systems
• Non-user-friendly systems
  e.g., complicated interface, very complex system
• Systems or networks weren't available or reliable
  e.g., data disappearing or unstable internet connections
• Insufficient IT support to use the system
• Other
  • Please specify the other barrier for accessing patient clinical information you received or had access to
  OR
• Did not experience any barriers accessing patient clinical information received through a digital health system

Digital health literacy

The following questions are about your eHealth or digital health skills and experiences, such as the use of digital health technology and other technologies related to health that involve patient care. Answer the questions based on your experiences with digital health technology during working days between [January 1 and December 31, 2025] at your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting].

Questions are part of the e-Health Literacy Questionnaire (eHLQ Staff version). The eHLQ is copyrighted, access and use of the questions are only available with permission from the authors. Copyright © 2018 Richard Osborne (r.osborne@latrobe.edu.au) and Lars Kayser (lk@sund.ku.dk)

Thinking about digital health technology please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with each of the following statements.

Please respond to the following statements based on your experiences with IT systems between [January 1 and December 31, 2025] at your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting].

Technology represents all devices that can be used to access data or handle information digitally. Technology is also the digital services offered by the health care system. Examples are internet, website, health apps, sensors, monitoring machines, computers, laptops, mobile phones, smart phones, tablets and smart watches.

For the following questions digital health systems means IT systems that you encounter during the working day. Examples are online health records, health apps, Medicare website and apps, private health insurance websites, health care provider's website and prescription apps.

Services are any type of care provided to patient with the purpose of prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of their physical and mental health.

1. I am sure that the patients' health data are being used only by those who are supposed to use it
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
2. Technology makes the patients feel actively involved with their health
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
3. Information about the patients' health are always available to those who need it
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
4. At my workplace, services are available that I can access through technology
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
5. The patients' electronic health care data are being stored safely
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
6. I have a clear understanding of how health care providers use data
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
7. The patients' health data are available to me wherever I am
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
8. I find that technology helps me to assist the patients in taking care of their health
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
9. I am sure that only authorized people can access the patients' health data
   • Strongly disagree
   • Disagree
   • Agree
   • Strongly agree
10. All the digital health systems I use work together
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree
11. I find that patients receive better services from health professionals when technology is used
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree
12. Technology improves my communication with the patients
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree
13. Most of the health care providers can be accessed through technology
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree
14. I am confident that health care providers use the patients' data appropriately
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree
15. I have access to digital health systems that work
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree
16. I find technology useful for monitoring the patients' health
    • Strongly disagree
    • Disagree
    • Agree
    • Strongly agree

Province

In which province or territory were you living during the majority of your time working as a health care provider between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]?

Consider the place you lived in for the longest period of time between [January 1 and December 31, 2025]?

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Labour market activities

Were you an employee or self-employed between [January 1 and December 31, 2025] at your [office or clinic/hospital/center or clinic/residential care home/homecare establishment/laboratory or diagnostic clinic/pharmacy/center or clinic/primary practice setting]?

Select "Employee" if you worked:
* for pay (wages, salary, etc.).
Select "Self-Employed" if you worked:
* for your own business or professional practice
* as an independent contractor, health care provider, etc.

• Employee
• Self-employed

How many years have you been working as [a nurse practitioner/a nurse/a general practitioner or family physician/a specialist physician/a pharmacist]?

Include years of residency if applicable.

Number of years

• Less than 1 year
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8
• 9
• 10
• 11
• 12
• 13
• 14
• 15
• 16
• 17
• 18
• 19
• 20 or more

Administrative information

To avoid duplication of surveys, Statistics Canada has signed agreements to share the data from this survey with provincial and territorial ministries of health. Provincial ministries of health may make the data available to local health authorities. Data shared with your ministry of health may also include identifiers such as name, address and telephone number. Local health authorities, would receive only survey responses and the postal code. These organizations have agreed to keep the data confidential and use it only for statistical purposes.

To avoid duplication of surveys, Statistics Canada has signed agreements to share the data from this survey with provincial and territorial ministries of health and the Institut de la statistique du Québec. The Institut de la statistique du Québec and provincial ministries of health may make this data available to local health authorities. Data shared with your ministry of health or the Institut de la statistique du Québec may also include identifiers such as name, address and telephone number. Local health authorities, would receive only survey responses and the postal code.

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

Do you agree to share the data that you have provided?

• Yes
• No

The 2025 Survey of Financial Security
Measuring the financial health of Canadians

The Survey of Financial Security (SFS) is a national survey that gathers information on the assets and debts of Canadians. Your participation allows Statistics Canada to measure the financial health of Canadians. This information will help governments, economic and social policy analysts, community groups, and businesses serve you better.

You can make a difference

Information collected by the SFS is used to improve social and economic programs. By taking part in this survey, you help ensure that these programs meet the real needs of Canadians

You can help us answer these questions:

1. Are many Canadians unable to manage their debt load?
2. Do families set aside money for their children's education?
3. Do people save for retirement?
4. Will the pension system be able to support Canada's aging population?
5. Which groups of people are most likely to be financially at risk?
6. How vulnerable are Canadians to major shifts in the financial markets?

Participating is easy

To access your online questionnaire, please visit www.survey.statcan.gc.ca and enter the secure access code included in your invitation letter.

You and members of your household will be asked a set of questions. You can respond individually, or one household member can answer on behalf of the others. The questions relate to the following financial matters:

• the value of each type of asset (e.g., your home, other property, vehicles, bank accounts and investments);
• the amount of each type of debt, including mortgages, credit cards, student loans and other types of loans;
• business equity;
• contributions to employer pension plans.

Tips to help you complete the survey

You can speed up the time it takes to complete the survey online by collecting some information ahead of time, such as statements showing the value or amount of assets and debts for all members of your household. Some of the information you will be asked for is available on your 2024 income tax records. You will not be asked to send in any of these documents. Having them handy may help you answer the questions more accurately and more easily.

Please inform other people living in your home that Statistics Canada will combine their responses from this survey with information from their individual tax records. Statistics Canada may also add information collected by other organizations and departments or from other surveys.

Your privacy is important to us

Statistics Canada takes the privacy of Canadians very seriously. This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, which ensures the information you provide will be kept confidential. We do not release any information that could identify you, or any member of your household. For more information on how Statistics Canada is keeping information private, secure and confidential, please visit our Trust Centre at www.statcan.gc.ca/en/trust.

Contact us

Telephone: 1-833-977-8287

TTY: 1-866-753-7083

Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca

For more information

Website: www.statcan.gc.ca/SFS

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Thank you for your participation!

For the monthly release of the Canadian international merchandise trade in the Daily, a variant of the NAPCS 2022 version 1.0 for merchandise import and export accounts is used to categorize traded products. For more information, please see Variant of NAPCS 2022 – Merchandise import and export accounts.

Merchandise trade is one component of Canada's international balance of payments (BOP), which also includes trade in services, investment income, current transfers, and capital and financial flows.

International trade data by commodity are available on a BOP and a customs basis. International trade data by country are available on a customs basis for all countries and on a BOP basis for Canada's 27 principal trading partners (PTPs). The list of PTPs is based on their annual share of total merchandise trade—imports and exports—with Canada in 2012. BOP data are derived from customs data by adjusting for factors such as valuation, coverage, timing and residency. These adjustments are made to conform to the concepts and definitions of the Canadian System of National Accounts.

For a conceptual analysis of BOP-based data versus customs-based data, see Balance of Payments trade in goods at Statistics Canada: Expanding geographic detail to 27 principal trading partners.

For more information on these and other macroeconomic concepts, see the Methodological Guide: Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (Catalogue number13-607-X) and the User Guide: Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts (Catalogue number13-606-G).

The data in this release are on a BOP basis and are seasonally adjusted. Unless otherwise stated, values are expressed in nominal terms, or current dollars. References to prices are based on aggregate Paasche (current-weighted) price indexes (2017=100). Movements within aggregate Paasche prices can be influenced by changes in the share of values traded for specific goods, with sudden shifts in trading patterns—as observed with the COVID-19 pandemic—sometimes resulting in large movements in Paasche price indexes. Volumes, or constant dollars, are calculated using the Laspeyres formula (2017=100), unless otherwise stated.

For information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.

Revisions

In general, merchandise trade data are revised on an ongoing basis for each month of the current year. Current-year revisions are reflected in the customs-based and the BOP-based data.

The previous year's customs-based data are revised with the release of data for the January and February reference months, and thereafter on a quarterly basis. The previous two years of customs-based data are revised annually, and revisions are released in February with the December reference month.

The previous year's BOP-based data are revised with the release of data for the January, February, March and April reference months. To remain consistent with the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts, revisions to BOP-based data for previous years are released annually in December with the October reference month.

Factors influencing revisions include the late receipt of import and export documentation, incorrect information on customs forms, the replacement of estimates produced for the energy section with actual figures, changes in merchandise classification based on more current information, and changes to seasonal adjustment factors. The seasonal adjustment parameters are reviewed and updated annually and applied with the October reference month release.

Estimates for import data that will be received after collection deadlines are calculated for the current month and are typically removed or adjusted in subsequent releases in accordance with the actual data received. Estimates are based on historical patterns and trends reflected in other sources obtained by Statistics Canada. On a customs-basis, placeholder estimates are intended to address high-level aggregates and are not fully reflected across disaggregated product categories within the classifications used to publish merchandise import statistics. On a balance of payments-basis, placeholder estimates are intended to address aggregates across NAPCS groups and principal trading partners used to publish merchandise import statistics. Following the implementation of the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) digital initiative in October 2024 and regulatory changes affecting certain submission deadlines, these monthly late arrival estimates generally reflect larger data volumes being received after collection deadlines.

For information on data revisions for exports of energy products, see Methodology for Exports of Energy Products within the International Merchandise Trade Program.

Revised data are available in the appropriate tables.

Introduction

The objective of this text is to provide a general overview of the customs-basis data produced by the Canadian International Merchandise Trade (CIMT) Program, with special reference to concepts and definitions.

Conceptual framework

1. Objectives and coverage: The objective of customs-basis CIMT statistics is to measure the change in the stock of material resources of Canada resulting from the movement of merchandise into or out of the country. Information on imports and exports are inputs into the Macroeconomic Accounts, and are used in the formulation of trade and economic policies. Governments, importers, exporters, manufacturers and shipping companies use international merchandise trade statistics to:

• monitor import penetration and export performance;
• monitor commodity price and volume changes; and
• examine transport implications.

2. Trade statistics (customs-basis/balance of payments-basis): Merchandise trade statistics are presented on two different bases: customs and balance of payments.

Statistics for Canada’s imports as well as exports to non-US destinations are compiled from Customs declarations filed with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Data for Canada’s exports to the United States are derived from the administrative import records of the United States Customs and Border Protection and exchanged under the terms of a memorandum of understanding between Canada and the United States. Statistics developed from these Customs administrative records are commonly referred to as customs-basis trade statistics.

Customs-basis data are adjusted to conform to the National Accounts concepts and definitions. The adjustments to derive balance of payments-basis trade data include adjustments related to trade definition, valuation and timing. The principal difference between the two trade concepts is that customs-basis merchandise trade statistics cover the physical movement of goods as they are reflected in Customs documents while balance of payments-basis data are intended to cover the economic transactions that involve merchandise trade between residents and non-residents.

It is possible for the accuracy of customs-basis statistics to be affected by undercoverage and/or country misallocation. Undercoverage occurs when trade is not captured in customs documents. Examples of undercoverage include transactions where the value is below the threshold required for reporting to customs authorities, and the informal or illegal movement of goods across borders. Estimates for undercoverage are included in balance of payments-basis statistics. Country misallocation occurs when the last known destination reported on the customs export documentation does not reflect the ultimate destination for the goods. This occurs most frequently when goods are routed through an intermediary country before continuing to their final destination with the intermediary country being reported as the final destination of the goods.

3. System of trade: Canadian trade statistics are compiled according to the “general” system of trade, as defined by the United Nations Statistical Office. Conceptually, under the general system, the statistical frontier coincides with the geographical boundary. Under this system, imports include goods that have crossed Canada's territorial boundary for immediate consumption in Canada or for storage in Customs bonded warehouses. Domestic exports include goods grown, extracted or manufactured in Canada, including goods of foreign origin that have been materially transformed in Canada. Re-exports are exports of goods of foreign origin that have not been materially transformed in Canada, including foreign goods withdrawn for export from Customs bonded warehouses. Total exports are the sum of domestic exports and re-exports.

4. Valuation: For Customs purposes, imports are recorded at values established according to the provisions of the Customs Act, which reflects valuation methods based on the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Valuation Code System. In general, the value for duty of imported goods must be equivalent to the transaction value or the price actually paid.

The transaction value of imported goods includes all transportation and associated costs incurred up to the point of direct shipment to Canada. Therefore, Canada's imports are valued Free on Board (FOB), place of direct shipment to Canada. It excludes freight and insurance costs in bringing the goods to Canada from the point of direct shipment.

Exports are recorded at the value declared on Customs documents, which reflect the transaction value (i.e., actual selling price or, in the case of a non-arm's length transaction, the transfer price used for company accounting purposes). Canada's exports are valued at FOB port of exit from Canada, including domestic freight charges to that point but net of discounts and allowances.

5. Statistical period: The closing of the statistical month for imports and exports is defined as the last calendar day of the month based on the date of clearance from Customs. Documents received too late for incorporation in the current month are assigned to the month the transaction took place and are published the following statistical month.

6. Trading partner attribution (country of origin/destination): On a custom basis, imports are attributed to the country of origin, that is the country in which the goods were grown, extracted or manufactured in accordance with the rules of origin administered by the CBSA. Customs-basis imports from the United States are attributed to the state of origin. On a balance of payments basis, imports are attributed to the country of export instead of the country of origin to reflect the change in ownership of the goods.

Both customs- and balance of payments-basis exports are attributed to the country that is the last known destination of the goods at the time of export. Exports to the United States are attributed to the state of destination in customs-basis exports.

7. Principal Trading Partners (PTPs): The list of PTPs is based on their annual share of total trade -merchandise imports plus exports - with Canada in 2012. The countries included in the list of PTPs are the following:

List of Canada's Principal Trading Partners

• United States
• European Union
  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • France
  • Italy
  • Belgium
  • Spain
• China
• United Kingdom
• Mexico
• Japan
• South Korea
• Hong Kong
• Brazil
• Algeria
• Norway
• India
• Switzerland
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkey
• Taiwan
• Peru
• Australia
• Iraq
• Indonesia
• Singapore
• Russian Federation
• Other OECD countries
• All other countries

8. Free Trade Agreements: The list of free trade agreements is based on the list of Canada's Trade and Investment Agreements available on Global Affairs Canada's website. Please note that this list includes countries or groups of countries with which Canada is discussing or negotiating an agreement; in these cases, the agreements are not yet in force. Therefore, only a subset of the free trade agreements listed below are currently in force in Canada. More information about Canada's free trade agreements, including the member countries for each group and the status of the agreements, can be found at Global Affairs Canada's website.

The countries included in each free trade agreement are as follows:

Free Trade Agreements

Name	Country
Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement	Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam
Canada-Caribbean Community Trade  Agreement	Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago
Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement	Chile
Canada-China Free Trade Agreement	China
Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement	Colombia
Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement	Costa Rica
Canada-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement	Dominican Republic
Canada-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement	Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
Canada-European Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)	Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Canada-Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador Free Trade Agreement	El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua
Canada-Honduras Free Trade Agreement	Honduras
Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement	India
Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA)	Israel
Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement	Japan
Canada-Jordan Free Trade Agreement	Jordan
Canada-Republic of Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA)	South Korea
Canada-Mercosur Free Trade Agreement	Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
Canada-Morocco Free Trade Agreement	Morocco
Canada-Pacific Alliance Free Trade Agreement	Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru
Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement	Panama
Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement	Peru
Canada-Philippines Free Trade Agreement	Philippines
Canada-Singapore Free Trade Agreement	Singapore
Canada-Thailand Free Trade Agreement	Thailand
Canada-Turkey Free Trade Agreement	Turkey
Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA)	United States of America
Modernized Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA)	Ukraine
Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA)	Mexico, United States of America
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)	Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United Kingdom, Viet Nam
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)	Mexico, United States of America
Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)	Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States of America, Viet Nam
Canada-United Kingdom Trade Continuity Agreement	United Kingdom
Canada-Indonesia Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement	Indonesia
Canada-Ecuador Free Trade Agreement	Ecuador
Canada-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement	United Arab Emirates

9. Legal framework: Import statistics as well as export statistics with countries other than the United States are derived from information contained in administrative records collected by the CBSA under the Customs Act. Copies of these documents (or information therefrom) are sent to Statistics Canada in accordance with Section 25 of the Statistics Act. It follows that the disclosure of trade statistics is governed by both the Customs Act and the Statistics Act and is subject to the provisions of Section 17(2)(a) of the latter. Disclosure of statistics for trade with the United States is governed by a memorandum of understanding that provides for the exchange of detailed import statistics between Canada and the United States.

Contact information

Telephone: 1-800-263-1136
Facsimile: 1-877-287-4369
Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca

Enumerator: Hello! My name is ______________. I'm an enumerator with Statistics Canada, which means I help people complete their census questionnaires if they haven't done so online. I'm here to assist you today.

Resident: Hello! Sure, that's fine.

Enumerator: Thank you. Before we begin, I want to let you know that all the information you provide is confidential and protected by law. It will only be used for statistical purposes.

Resident: I understand.

Enumerator: Great. Let's start: can I confirm the address for this dwelling?

Resident: The address is [insert pretend address].

Enumerator: Including yourself, how many people were living at this address on May 12, 2026?

Resident: There were [insert number] people living here on May 12, 2026.

Enumerator: Thank you. May I have your full name for the questionnaire? Let's start with your family name (last name).

Resident: My family name is [insert name].

Enumerator: And your given name (first name)?

Resident: My given name is [insert name].

Enumerator: Thank you. What is your date of birth?

Resident: [Insert pretend birth date].

Enumerator: And how old were you on May 12, 2026?

Resident: I was [insert age].

Enumerator: What was your sex at birth? The options are "male" or "female".

Resident: I am [insert answer].

Enumerator: Are you a Canadian citizen? The options are "Yes, a Canadian citizen by birth", "Yes, a Canadian citizen by naturalization" or "No, not a Canadian citizen". "Canadian citizenship by naturalization" refers to an immigrant who was granted Canadian citizenship under the Citizenship Act.

Resident: [insert answer].

Enumerator: Can you speak English or French well enough to conduct a conversation? The options are "English only", "French only", "Both English and French", or "Neither English nor French".

Resident: I speak [insert answer].

Enumerator: And what is the language you first learned at home during childhood and still understand? The options are "English", "French", or specify another language.

Resident: [insert answer].

Enumerator: Wonderful—thank you for your participation!

Now, switch roles and repeat!

• Census of Population

  Forbidden words: numbers, people, government

• Dwelling

  Forbidden words: building, stay, roof

• Household

  Forbidden words: family, home, group

• Non-permanent resident

  Forbidden words: live, country, from

• Immigrant

  Forbidden words: arrive, move, passport

• Occupation

  Forbidden words: job, work, office

• Commuting duration

  Forbidden words: minutes, distance, time

• Ethnic or cultural origin

  Forbidden words: tradition, roots, language

• Marital status

  Forbidden words: couple, partner wedding

• Sex at birth

  Forbidden words: baby, male, female

• Population group

  Forbidden words: race, ethnicity, appearance

• Indigenous group

  Forbidden words: First Nations, Métis, Inuit (Inuk)

• Religion

  Forbidden words: denomination, faith, belief

• Resident

  Forbidden words: home, address, place

• Enumerator

  Forbidden words: ask, form, worker

• Census Day

  Forbidden words: date, event, calendar

Note: terms were drawn from The 2021 Census of Population Dictionary.

Census of Population

The Census of Population is a survey conducted to enumerate (or count) the entire Canadian population based on a "usual place of residence," that is, by the location where a person lives most of the time.
Census enumeration involves listing all usual residents of a dwelling on Census Day.
The Census of Population helps paint a statistical portrait of Canada's diverse population and the places where we live by collecting demographic, social and economic information from households across Canada.

Dwelling

A dwelling is defined as a set of living quarters. In other words, the building where you live (e.g., the apartment building or house you live in).

Household

Household refers to a person or group of persons who occupy the same dwelling and do not have a usual place of residence elsewhere in Canada or abroad. For example, an apartment building it made up of many households, as each apartment is its own unique household. This includes family and/or friends living together. Typically, one census is completed per household.

Non-permanent resident

Non-permanent resident refers to a person from another country with a usual place of residence in Canada (i.e., someone who is currently living in Canada) and who has a work or study permit or who has claimed refugee status (asylum claimant).
Family members living with work or study permit holders are also included, unless these family members are already Canadian citizens or landed immigrants or permanent residents.

Immigrant

Immigrant refers to a person who is, or who has ever been, a landed immigrant or permanent resident (i.e., if you were born and lived in another country and then moved to Canada). So, someone who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities.
Immigrants who have obtained Canadian citizenship by naturalization are included in this group.

Occupation

Occupation refers to the kind of work performed in a job a job being all the tasks carried out by a particular worker to complete his or her duties.  In other words, what type of job someone has, such as a teacher, plumber or civil engineer,

Commuting duration

Commuting duration refers to the length of time, in minutes, usually required by a person to travel to their place of work.

Ethnic or cultural origin

Ethnic or cultural origin refers to the ethnic or cultural origins of the person's ancestors. Ancestors may have Indigenous origins, or origins that refer to different countries, or other origins that may not refer to different countries. Ancestors refer to the people that a person has descended from (e.g., grandparents, great grandparents, etc.). For example, if your grandparents are from Greece, your ethnic or cultural origin would be Greek.

Marital status

Marital status refers to whether or not a person is living in a common‑law union as well as the legal marital status of those who are not living in a common‑law union. In other words, whether adults living together are married, common-law, separated, divorced, or widowed. 

Sex at birth

Sex at birth refers to sex assigned at birth. Sex at birth is typically assigned based on a person's reproductive system and other physical characteristics.
Sex at birth may also be understood as the sex recorded at a person's birth (for example, what was recorded on their birth certificate – male or female).

Population group

Population group refers to whether the person reports being White, South Asian, First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit), Chinese, Black, Filipino, Arab, Latin American, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean, Japanese and/or another population group. These specific groups are the mark‑in categories used in a question which collects data on the visible minority population for employment equity purposes.

Indigenous group

Indigenous group refers to whether the person is First Nations (North American Indian), Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit). A person may be included in more than one of these three specific groups. Aboriginal peoples of Canada (referred to here as Indigenous peoples) are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, Section 35 (2) as including Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples.
First Nations (North American Indian) includes Status and non-Status Indians.

Religion

Religion refers to the person's self-identification as having a connection or affiliation with any religious denomination, group, body, or other religiously defined community or system of belief. Religion is not limited to formal membership in a religious organization or group. For example, Roman Catholic, Muslim, United Church, Anglican, Hindu, Sikh, Baptist, Pentecostal, Buddhist, Jewish, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Greek Orthodox, etc.
For infants or children, religion refers to the specific religious group or denomination in which they are being raised, if any. Persons without a religious connection or affiliation can self-identify as atheist, agnostic or humanist, or can provide another applicable response.

Resident

Resident refers to a person who lives in a dwelling in Canada on Census Day. This includes people who live in the dwelling most of the time, whether they are Canadian citizens, permanent residents, immigrants, or non-permanent residents. A resident may be part of a household and is counted in the census based on their usual place of residence (i.e., where they live most of the time).

Enumerator

Enumerator refers to a person hired by Statistics Canada to help carry out the Census of Population. Enumerators are responsible for visiting dwellings, delivering census materials, assisting residents with completing their census questionnaires, and ensuring that all households are accurately counted. Enumerators play an important role in helping collect information that reflects Canada's population and communities.

Census Day

Census Day refers to the reference day for the Census of Population. It is the reference point used to determine who is living in each dwelling and where they usually reside on that day. All census responses are based on the situation as it exists on Census Day, including who lives in the household, their age, and other demographic information. In Canada, Census Day typically falls in May and is set by Statistics Canada every five years. For the 2026 Census, Census Day is May 12, 2026.