Application forms

The following grid shows all of the documentation that is required when submitting an application through the Microdata Access Portal (MAP). Requirements for documentation are based on the origin of the project:

Type of Documentation Federal Provincial/ Territorial/Municipal Academic Other
Student Non student
  • Canadian citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Study permit
 International researcher not residing in Canada
  • Canadian citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Work permit
 International researcher not residing in Canada
Type of Project Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Name and email of coinvestigator(s) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Location of access Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Project proposal Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Curriculum vitae No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Approval Letter from organization sponsoring the project Yes Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
Research Ethics Board approval certificate (biobank) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Letter of Reference from a researcher affiliated with a Canadian University N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Yes N/A
Letter of Acknowledgment from a Dean of a Canadian University N/A N/A N/A Yes N/A N/A N/A
Letter of Support (Note: only when student is Principal Investigator) N/A N/A Yes Yes No No No
Fee-for-Service questionnaire N/A N/A Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
Research proposal for data access

Research proposal for data access

DAD only considers research projects that are not descriptive in nature. They must be analytic with a focus on modelling.

Where possible, researchers are expected to use publicly available data tables to support analytic modeling outputs.

If you wish to obtain custom tabulations, you will need to contact the appropriate subject-matter division within Statistics Canada, or contact (infostats@statcan.gc.ca) for more information.

All researchers who intend to include First Nations people, Métis or Inuit in their study population are encouraged to engage with Indigenous organizations and communities. Resources have been developed by First Nations, Métis and Inuit organizations that explain ethical considerations, the role of research in Indigenous self-determination, and the imperative for respectful research practices. For example, please see the First Nations Information Governance Centre, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans – TCPS 2 (2018)

It is strongly recommended that you review your proposal with your Statistics Canada Analyst for feedback prior to submission.

The project proposal is a maximum of ten pages and must follow the headings in the template below:

  1. Project title:
  2. Project description, rationale, and objectives:
    • Provide a brief summary of the current literature and identify the knowledge gap(s) to be addressed (approximately 1 page)
    • Clearly identify the specific questions or objectives of the project
  3. Data requirements:
    • Justification for using microdata (as opposed to alternative data access methods such as Public Use Microdata Files, Remote Access, or custom tabulations)
    • Dataset(s) required:
    • Time period: List years/cycles required
    • Sample description: Identify the unit of analysis and population of interest
    • Geography: Identify the level(s) of geography for which estimates will be produced (e.g., national, provincial, or lower)
    • Variable list: When possible (i.e., if sufficient documentation is available for use outside of the RDC), provide a list of variables expected to be used in the analysis
    • Will datasets be merged or pooled together?
      1. If yes, please explain how the data from each source will be combined and utilized in this analysis. For example, you may pool data from the same source to increase your sample size, or merge contextual data to the micro-records.
      2. Record linkages are not permitted in the Data Centres. For more information on the process to request a microdata linkage, please refer to the following website: Social Data Linkage Environment (SDLE)
  4. Methodology:
    • Descriptive statistics: When possible, use publicly available tables as opposed to producing descriptive statistics in the RDC. Summary statistics produced in the RDC must support the corresponding analytical output. Describe the tables expected to be produced.
    • Is the expected sample size sufficient to complete the analysis as well as respect the confidentiality of the respondents? Please explain.
    • Modelling: Describe the type of modelling being used (OLS, Logistic regression, etc.) Note: Applicable weights must be applied when using survey data.

If the project utilizes Machine Learning techniques, please include the following information:

  • Describe in detail the type of machine learning techniques being used (e.g., supervised/non-supervised, neural networks, support vector machines (SVM) and tree-based methods including random forests, variable section such as lasso, ridge, and elastic nets, etc.)
  • List the software requirements to carry out the analysis. See below regarding the use of software programs and packages.

Refer to these additional guidelines for proposals requesting the following data:

  1. Describe requirements for any External Data:
    • Statistics Canada recognizes that in some cases, combining data from different sources has the potential to strengthen research by increasing sample size and/or providing contextual information. For example, environmental data may be merged to Census geography in order to add an environmental component to an analysis (e.g., organization data collected through the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium – CANUE).
    • External Data refers to information that is collected by other organizations, departments of government and individuals for their own purposes.
    • Publicly available data (e.g., data or information that is available on the Internet or that can be obtained by anyone from other sources) can be added to a research project once approved.
    • Please describe any external datasets that you plan to use, and how you will incorporate them into your analysis.
  2. Software requirements: What software will be required? Please note that not all software programs and packages are available for use in the FRDC/RDC. In some instances, packages cannot be used. All software packages and add-ons that are not currently approved for use are required to go through an approval process, which may cause delays. Please see Frequently Asked Questions, or check with your local RDC or FRDC Analyst.
  3. Expected output: Describe the products that will result from the proposed analysis (e.g., working paper, peer-reviewed journal article, book or chapter, thesis or dissertation, conference presentation, or commissioned report (e.g., government report).
  4. Expected start date and duration of the project:
  5. Source(s) of funding for this project: Please list all sources of funding, or indicate n/a if not applicable.
  6. Location of Work:
    • If the location of work is the FRDC, is the project covered by a departmental seat or through a specific funding arrangement? If yes, please specify.
  7. Literature references
Letter of support template

Letter of support template

Upload requirements:

  • one file only
  • limit of 32 MB
  • allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx.

Supervisor Name
Address
Date

Director, Data Access Division

Ottawa, ON
To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to you on behalf of [insert student name] who is in the process of submitting a proposal to access the RDC [insert proposal title]. Please find this letter as evidence of my support for this student's application. I have reviewed the proposal and find it suitable for submission to the RDC program.

[Insert Student Name] is prepared to access data in the RDC as they have completed the following courses in analysis, methods and software training:

  • [List examples]

In addition to this, the student has experience with the software packages that will be utilized over the course of the research project:

  • [SAS]
  • [STATA]
  • [SPSS]
  • [List other]

We have also put in place the following supports should the student need any additional resources while working in the centre:

  • [as their supervisor, I will be available to come to the centre to assist with issues that arise and to preview output before vetting]
  • [a statistical consultant is available to assist with software training and methodological procedures]
  • [List other]

As the student's supervisor, I accept responsibility for the needs of my student and welcome recommendations from the RDC analyst as to how the needs of the student can be met.

Sincerely,

Peer review form

Peer review form

Upload requirements:

  • one file only
  • limit of 32 MB
  • allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx.

In order to maintain the trust of Canadians with the use of their personal information and to ensure that all academic research conducted in the Research Data Centres is of scientific merit, a peer review process is required. One aspect is the peer review process that applies to university faculty and students who are not pre-approved and/or do not have funding from an adjudicated funding process.

Principal Investigators for whom this process applies are required to provide confirmation of the scientific merit of their proposed research by having an assessor complete section B of the form below.

Completion of this form by an assessor is a prerequisite for training access to a Research Data Centre (RDC).

Who can be an assessor?

  • A person who holds the rank of tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor at an accredited Canadian university (this would exclude faculty working in teaching only positions).

Instructions

  • Identify an assessor knowledgeable in your area of research willing to review your proposal. It is the responsibility of the applicant and the assessor to avoid conflict of interest as defined and described in the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Agreement for Review Comitee Members, External Reviewers, and Observers.
  • Complete Part A of the form and ask the assessor to complete Part B (including the signature).
  • Submit completed forms to the Microdata Access Portal (MAP) (Specifications: one file only with a limit of 32 MB; and acceptable formats are: txt, rtf, pdf, doc and docx).
    • It will expedite your application if you can find your own assessor. However, if you cannot please contact info@crdnc.com for assistance.

Part A – to be completed by the applicant (principal investigator)

  • Map ID:
  • Applicant first name, last name:
  • Proposal title:

Part B – to be completed by the assessor

  • Assessor first name, last name: Contact information (phone or email):
  • Position and title:
  • Institution:
  • Subject matter expertise:

In your assessment, please consider the following criteria:

  • The project's objectives are clearly defined;
  • The proposed statistical and analytical methods are suitable for this project;
  • This project will contribute to the advancement of knowledge;
  • The applicant and team members have experience, qualifications and expertise to complete the proposed project.

I have reviewed the research proposal and it is my opinion that the research project has academic merit and that the applicant and team members have the appropriate education and research background to complete it successfully.

  • Signature:
  • Date:
  • Comments (Optional):

For any questions on this form or on this process, please send an email (including your MAP ID) to: statcan.dad-apu-dad-uta.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

Letter of reference template

Letter of reference template

Upload requirements:

  • one file only
  • limit of 32 MB
  • allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx.

Director, Microdata Access Division
Ottawa, ON

Date

Dear Director of the Microdata Access Division,

I would like to inform you that (insert name of international researcher and affiliation) has submitted an application for access to Statistics Canada data. I have known (insert name of international researcher) for (number) years and know that he/she is a researcher in good standing at (institution or agency). I confirm that he/she is conducting research in their area of expertise where there is a legitimate requirement to access confidential Canadian data. I am confident he/she will abide by the procedures in place to protect the confidentiality of respondents of Statistics Canada data.

Sincerely,

(Name and address of reference and affiliation)

For Office Use Only - Insert all applicable contract numbers

  • Contract #
  • Contract #
  • Contract #
Letter of acknowledgement template

Letter of acknowledgement template

Upload requirements:

  • one file only
  • limit of 32 MB
  • allowed types: txt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx.

Director, Microdata Access Division
Ottawa, ON

Date

Dear Director of Microdata Access Division,

I am writing to confirm (insert name of international researcher) is registered in Graduate Studies in Department at the University (insert name and country).

I understand that they are applying for access to Statistics Canada confidential data in order to complete a portion of their graduate studies.

I understand that in order to access these data, all researchers agree to follow Statistics Canada procedures to ensure that they do not contravene the Statistics Act.

However, should (insert name of international researcher) not follow these procedures and his/her actions contravene the Statistics Act, I agree to conduct an internal review and address this issue as is appropriate under our university guidelines for dealing with student misconduct.

I understand that a contravention of the Statistics Act will result in the immediate removal of the student's access to Statistics Canada data and may lead to legal and financial penalties outlined in Section 34 of the Act as follows:

Every person who, after taking the oath set out in subsection 6(1), willfully discloses or divulges directly or indirectly to any person not entitled under this Act to receive the same any information obtained by him ....is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both. (Statistics Act).

Sincerely,

(Name and address of university official)

Fee-for-Service questionnaire

CRDCN Access and Fee-for-Service Questionnaire

Upload requirements:

  • one file only
  • limit of 32 MB
  • allowed types: pdf.

This information is 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.

Introduction

Purpose

This questionnaire collects information on all the sources of funding that you or your co-investigators have received or will receive in support of your proposed Research Data Centre project. This information is being collected in accordance with the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) Access and Fee-for-Service Policy. Completion of this questionnaire by the project's principal investigator is a prerequisite for gaining access to a Research Data Centre.

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

Security of emails and faxes

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

Note: Our online questionnaires are secure, and there is no risk of data Interception when responding to Statistics Canada's online questionnaires.

Confidentiality

The Statistics Act protects the confidentiality of information collected by Statistics Canada

Data-sharing agreements

Statistics Canada has entered into data-sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations. These agreements require that data be kept confidential and be used only for statistical purposes.

Information on confidentiality, data –sharing agreements and record linkages can be found on the last page of this questionnaire.

Reporting instructions

As you complete the questionnaire, please consult the help guide: for more information on Partner Universities; Core Funders and definitions. Since many researchers hold roles in multiple organizations, the responses to the questionnaire should be based on the capacity in which the researchers are acting for the project.

Please ensure that the acknowledgement at the end of the questionnaire is signed before uploading and submitting the questionnaire.

If you have any questions about the questionnaire, please contact statcan.dad-apu-dad-uta.statcan@statcan.gc.ca

Section A – Introduction

1. Are you and all of your co-investigators either employed by a partner university, professors emeriti of a partner university, post-doctoral fellows pursuing independent inquiry, and/or students working in pursuit of a degree or class project?

  • Yes
  • No

2. Is the proposed research self-directed?

  • Yes
  • No

3. Are you, or are any of your co-investigators, receiving funding or any kind of financial compensation as part of an agreement for the proposed research?

Funding or financial compensation can include any monies paid for conducting the research, including grants, research contracts, student support and/or employment income.

  • Yes
    • Go to question 5
  • No
    • If you answered yes to questions 1 and 2, and no to question 3, go to Section E
    • If you answered no to question 1, yes to question 2, and no to question 3, continue to question 4

4. Before proceeding to the acknowledgement, please indicate all the non-partner institutions whose researchers are represented on the team that will conduct the proposed research.

Go to Section E

5. Have you only received (SSHRC/CIHR/FRQ-S/FRQ-SC/FRQ-NT) funding?

  • Yes
    • Go to Section E
  • No
    • Continue to question 6

Section B – Industry Association and Private Sector Funding

Please complete this section and include all sources of private sector and industry association funding (including grants, research contracts, student support and/or employment income for private sector/industry association researchers).

6. Do you have private sector or industry association funding and/or private sector or industry association co-investigators?

  • Yes
    • Continue to question 7
  • No
    • Go to question 12

7. What are the names of the private sector companies or industry associations providing the funding?

8. Please identify the nature of the funding and complete all relevant questions.

  • Research Grant
    • Continue to question 9
  • Research Contract
    • Go to question 11
  • Employment Income
    • Go to Section E
  • Post-doctoral funding or student funding
    • Go to Section E
  • Other
    • Go to Section E

Specify the nature of the funding

Research Grant

9. Is this grant for research that is "self-directed"?

  • Yes
  • No

10. Are there deliverables associated with the grant?

Some funding that is labeled as a "grant" is defined in the policy as a research contract; this is most often the case when the granter will be applying their branding to a final report. Please familiarize yourself with the definition of a deliverable before responding.

  • Yes - there are deliverables associated with a grant and it may be defined as a contract
    • Continue to question 11
  • No - there are no deliverables to be provided or associated in exchange with or for this grant
    • Go to question 12

Research Contract

11. If there are one or more deliverables to be produced in exchange for the research funding, please identify them below.

Mark all that apply.

  • Copy of the article for peer-review
  • Oral Report
  • Summary of principal findings
  • Full research report
  • Technical data report
  • Other

Specify all other deliverables to be produced in exchange for the research funding)

Continue to question 12

Section C – Government Funding

Please complete this section and include all sources of government funding (including grants, research contracts, student support and/or employment income for government researchers) as part of your responses.

12. Do you have other government funding and/or government co-investigators?

  • Yes
    • Continue to question 13
  • No
    • Go to question 22

13. Which governments are funding the proposed research?

Mark all that apply.

  • Federal Government
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Quebec
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Yukon
  • Nunavut
  • Municipal or other local government

14. Please identify the nature of the funding and complete all relevant questions.

  • Research Grant
    • Continue to question 15
  • Research Contract
    • Go to question 18
  • Employment Income
    • Go to question 20
  • Post-doctoral funding or student funding
  • Other
    • Go to Section E

Specify the nature of the funding

Research Grant

15. Which departments are funding the research grant? Please indicate the name of the grant program, where applicable.

16. Is this grant for research that is "self-directed"?

  • Yes
  • No

17. Are there deliverables associated with the grant?

Some funding that is labeled as a "grant" is defined in the policy as a research contract; this is most often the case when the granter will be applying their branding to a final report. Please familiarize yourself with the definition of a deliverable before responding.

  • Yes - there are deliverables associated with a grant and it may be defined as a contract
    • Continue to question 18
  • No - there are no deliverables to be provided or associated in exchange with or for this grant
    • Go to question 22

Research Contract

18. Which departments are commissioning the research contract?

19. Please identify all deliverables to be produced in exchange for the research funding.

Mark all that apply.

  • Copy of the article for peer-review
  • Oral Report
  • Summary of principal findings
  • Full research report
  • Technical data report
  • Other

Specify all other deliverables to be produced in exchange for the research funding)

Continue to question 20

Employment Income

20. For which government departments do you, and/or one or more of your co-investigators listed on the application work?

21. Is this research being undertaken as part of your regular work duties and/or any of your co-investigators' regular work duties?

  • Yes
    • Go to Section E
  • No
    • Continue to question 22

Section D – Nonprofit Funding

Please complete this section and include all sources of nonprofit funding (including grants, research contracts, student support and/or employment income for nonprofit sector researchers) as part of your responses.

22. Do you have nonprofit funding and/or nonprofit sector co-investigators?

  • Yes
    • Continue to question 23
  • No
    • Go to Section E

23. What are the names of the nonprofits providing the funding?

24. Please identify the nature of the funding and complete all relevant questions.

  • Research Grant
    • Continue to question 25
  • Research Contract
    • Go to question 27
  • Employment Income
    • Go to Section E
  • Post-doctoral funding or student funding
    • Go to Section E
  • Other
    • Go to Section E

Specify the nature of the funding

Research Grant

25. Is this grant for research that is "self-directed"?

  • Yes
  • No

26. Are there deliverables associated with the grant?

Some funding that is labeled as a "grant" is defined in the policy as a research contract; this is most often the case when the granter will be applying their branding to a final report. Please familiarize yourself with the definition of a deliverable before responding.

  • Yes - there are deliverables associated with a grant and it may be defined as a contract
  • No - there are no deliverables to be provided or associated in exchange with or for this grant

Research Contract

27. If there are one or more deliverables to be produced in exchange for the research funding, please identify them below.

Mark all that apply.

  • Copy of the article for peer-review
  • Oral Report
  • Summary of principal findings
  • Full research report
  • Technical data report
  • Other

Specify all other deliverables to be produced in exchange for the research funding)

Section E – Acknowledgement

Thank you for completing the CRDCN Access and Fee-for-Service Policy questionnaire. In signing the acknowledgement below, you are confirming that the information provided is true and that you are aware of your responsibilities to notify the Canadian Research Data Centre Network and Statistics Canada should your funding sources and/or the PI or co-investigators change over the course of your project. Falsifying information on the questionnaire or failing to file an amended questionnaire could result in denial of current or future access to the facilities or data and/or a retroactively imposed fee for service.

The completed and signed questionnaire must be scanned or saved and uploaded in the application of the Microdata Access Portal.

Based on your responses to this questionnaire, the administrators of the CRDCN Access and Fee-for-Service Policy will determine whether your project is subject to a fee for service, and if so, which fee will apply. You will be contacted by email with a confirmation of this assessment within a month of submitting the completed questionnaire.

PI name:

PI email address:

PI Signature:

Date:

For staff use – RDC contract ID:

Thank you for completing this questionnaire.

Please retain a copy for your records.

Visit our website at Research Data Centres.

Approval letter from sponsoring organization template

Approval letter from sponsoring organization template

Director, Data Access Division
Statistics Canada
Ottawa, ON

[Insert date]

Re: Departmental Approval for Project entitled [Insert project title]

Dear Director of Data Access Division

The purpose of this letter is to confirm my approval for [insert name(s) of researcher(s)] to request access to Statistics Canada confidential data in order to perform research that will fulfill the mandate or our organization.

The project proposals have been reviewed internally and have received approval to proceed from management at [insert name of organization supporting the proposals].

I understand that in order to access these data, all researchers agree to follow Statistics Canada procedures to ensure that they do not contravene the Statistics Act.

However, should [insert name(s) of researcher(s)] not follow these procedures and his/her/their actions contravene the Statistics Act, I agree to conduct an internal review and address this issue as is appropriate under our department's internal guidelines and those of the Public Service Commission of Canada.

I understand that a contravention of the Statistics Act will result in the immediate removal of access to Statistics Canada data and may lead to legal and financial penalties outlined in Section 34 of the Act as follows:

Every person who, after taking the oath set out in subsection 6(1), willfully discloses or divulges directly or indirectly to any person not entitled under this Act to receive the same any information obtained by him ....is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to both. (Statistics Act).

Sincerely,

[Insert Name and Title]
[Insert Directorate Name]
[Insert Department name]

Economic Data Proposal Requirements

Economic Data Proposal Requirements

Any proposal for submission must have sufficient details, so as to determine the feasibility of the project.

Note that DAD only considers research projects that are not descriptive in nature. They must be analytic with a focus on modelling.

Researchers are expected to use publicly available data tables where possible to support analytic modeling outputs.

If you wish to obtain custom tabulations, you will need to contact the appropriate subject-matter division within Statistics Canada, or contact statcan.eadcomm-daecomm.statcan@statcan.gc.ca for more information.

The project proposal is a maximum of ten pages and must include the following elements:

  1. Project Title
  2. Project description, rationale, and objectives
    1. Provide a brief summary of the current literature and identify the knowledge gap(s) to be addressed.
    2. Clearly identify the specific questions or objectives of the project.
  3. Analytical framework and proposed methodology
    1. Cross-tabulations: Summary statistics must be kept to a minimum and must support the analytical output.
      • List (a) the variables involved, (b) the number of dimensions in the tables, and (c) the number of tables.
    2. Modelling:
      • List (a) the dependent variable(s), independent variables, and (b) type of modelling being used (OLS, Logistic regression, etc.) Note: Applicable weights must be applied when using survey data.
Note: Key considerations for confidentiality vetting, such as establishing the minimum unique observations and sensitivity testing are outlined in the Economic Data Vetting Handbook. To obtain the most up to date copy of the handbook, please contact your local RDC or FRDC Analyst.
  1. Detailed data requirements:
    • Justification for using the microdata
    • Dataset(s) required
    • Sample description: Identify the unit of analysis and population of interest
    • Time period: Provide the years of data needed
    • Variable list: Provide a table listing expected variables to be used in the analysis (this can be included in an appendix)
  2. Software requirements: SAS or Stata. Please indicate if any additional Stata commands will be required.
  3. Expected output: Describe the products that will result from the proposed analysis. Types of products could include, but are not limited to, the following: a working paper, peer-reviewed journal article, book or chapter, thesis or dissertation, conference presentation, or commissioned report (e.g., government report).
  4. Expected start date and duration of the project
  5. Source of funding for this project: Please list all sources of funding, or indicate n/a if not applicable.
  6. Location of Work
    • If the location of work is the FRDC, is the project covered by a departmental seat or through a specific funding arrangement?
      • Yes
        If yes, please specify.
      • Unknown
      • N/A
  7. Literature references
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Frequently asked questions - RDC

Still have questions or need more information? Please visit Contact information for the Data Access Division.

Research Data Centres

  • Why do researchers need to sign a contract with Statistics Canada?

    Why do researchers need to sign a contract with Statistics Canada?

    A contract is required by the Statistics Act. Access to anonymized microdata can only be given to Statistics Canada employees or deemed employees, employees who are under contract to Statistics Canada.

  • I am required to have an ethics review for the use of Statistics Canada microdata. What do I need to do?

    I am required to have an ethics review for the use of Statistics Canada microdata. What do I need to do?

    The document "Mitigation of Risk to Respondents of Statistics Canada's Surveys" outlines the policies and procedures that Statistics Canada has established to mitigate the risk to respondents of Statistics Canada's surveys and can be shared with ethics review boards.

  • How does Statistics Canada assure confidentiality and security of data?

    How does Statistics Canada assure confidentiality and security of data?

    For more information visit the Trust Centre.

  • Why are fingerprinting and credit checks mandatory? Does it apply to everyone? Is my information protected?

    Why are fingerprinting and credit checks mandatory? Does it apply to everyone? Is my information protected?

    Please visit Treasury board for more information.

  • What is the Oath of Secrecy?

    What is the Oath of Secrecy?

    The Oath is a requirement of the Statistics Act indicating a promise to never disclose any identifiable information about individual respondents. The Oath lasts forever in that even after a deemed employee has completed the work, they can never divulge any of the confidential information accessed.

    While the Oath of Secrecy does not expire, a researcher will be asked to reaffirm the Oath every 10 years if they continue to work as a deemed employee of Statistics Canada.

  • Is any personally identifiable information available in the RDCs?

    Is any personally identifiable information available in the RDCs?

    No. All data sets have been stripped of personal details such as names, addresses and phone numbers that could be used to identify particular individuals.

  • Is there support for older data?

    Is there support for older data?

    Older data or data that is part of a discontinued collection have little or no support for inquiries about content, sample design and related methodology issues. Please contact your RDC Analyst if you have questions about a particular dataset.

  • Can I use non-Statistics Canada data sets?

    Can I use non-Statistics Canada data sets?

    On occasion, a researcher may wish to use non-Statistics Canada data as part of their analysis. Non-Statistics Canada data can be brought into the RDC under certain conditions. These data should complement the Statistics Canada microdata requested in the proposal. It is the researcher's responsibility to acquire non-Statistics Canada data and bring a copy to the RDC.

    In order for Statistics Canada to determine if the data can be brought into the RDC, provide the following information in your proposal:

    • nature and type of data
    • unit of analysis
    • source (e.g. website, agency)
    • permission received to access the data (e.g. publicly available, written permission, signed contract, ethics approval)
    • How does the use of these data contribute to the research question?
    • Will the new data be amended, pooled or merged with Statistics Canada datasets?
      • If yes, will these data be linked at the individual micro-record level?

    Record linkage requires additional approval from Statistics Canada.

    Please contact the analyst at your RDC for more information.

  • What statistical software is available to researchers?

    What statistical software is available to researchers?

    • SAS
    • STATA
    • SPSS
    • ArcGIS
  • When my proposal is approved, is the software I requested also approved and available in the Research Data Centre?

    When my proposal is approved, is the software I requested also approved and available in the Research Data Centre?

    If the proposal includes a request for non-standard software, there is additional approval required.

  • Can I submit a request for additional software?

    Can I submit a request for additional software?

    Yes, if additional software such as R (Rstudio) is required, the researcher can submit a request through their Statistics Canada analyst.

  • How long will my project files be retained after I am finished?

    How long will my project files be retained after I am finished?

    Effective September 2023, RDC project files will be retained for a period of 5 years after a project has ended. The contract end date includes the original contract length plus any extensions. Unless an exemption is granted, all project files including syntax, notes, and vetted output will be archived for 5 years after a project has expired, after which it will all be deleted. This aligns with the Directive on Retention and Documentation of Statistical Data.

    Researchers are strongly encouraged to release all syntax files prior to the completion of a project to ensure replication if necessary. We also ask that you delete any files that are no longer required to reduce the size of your research folder before it is archived.

  • What can I do if someone asks to undertake a replication analysis of my published work?

    What can I do if someone asks to undertake a replication analysis of my published work?

    We strongly encourage all research teams to have their syntax vetted and released to the Principal Investigator (PI) at the end of their contract. The PI may decide to share their syntax with researchers asking to reproduce their analysis. Researchers undertaking replication studies must apply to the MAP following regular application procedures and become a deemed employee of Statistics Canada. Please note that if, over time, a microdata file in our data repository has been updated, those wishing to reproduce the findings will only be given access to the latest release of the microdata research file. Be advised that older and specialized data may no longer be available.

Deemed employees

  • What is a "deemed employee"?

    What is a "deemed employee"?

    The Statistics Act allows Statistics Canada to use the services of individuals (persons, incorporated contractors, public servants) to do work for Statistics Canada without being an employee in the general sense of the term. The Act refers to these individuals as "deemed to be a person employed under this Act", hence the expression "deemed employee." Section 5 addresses the hiring of "deemed employees" from federal government departments, individuals and consultants while section 10 allows for the hiring of provincial public servants.

    A deemed employee is someone who is providing a specific service which, in most cases, involves having access to confidential information for statistical purposes, including the anonymized microdata available in the RDCs. In performing this service, the person has the same obligations of a Statistics Canada employee to keep identifiable information confidential.

  • How does someone become a deemed employee?

    How does someone become a deemed employee?

    In order to become a deemed employee, the individual must:

    • be granted "Reliability Status" following a security check
    • be identified in an agreement under which they are granted access to specific confidential information
    • take the Oath of Office, as required by section 6 of the Statistics Act
    • acknowledge in writing that they have read, understood and will comply with the security requirements listed in the appendix of the agreement, relevant Statistics Canada policies as well as this document
    • declare in writing that they do not have any conflict of interest as described in the Values and Ethics Code for the Public Service.
  • What are the responsibilities of a deemed employee?

    What are the responsibilities of a deemed employee?

    A deemed employee must protect the confidentiality of any identifiable information as per subsection 17(1) of the Statistics Act and that the information can only be used for the purposes described in the agreement.

    Keeping the information confidential means that a deemed employee cannot discuss the information with unauthorized persons and it must be protected at all times (i.e., it cannot be removed from Statistics Canada premises; it cannot be sent via email on an unsecured network; it must be locked up when not in use; and it must be destroyed in a secure manner).

  • What happens if a deemed employee does something that is prohibited under the Statistics Act?

    What happens if a deemed employee does something that is prohibited under the Statistics Act?

    Because all deemed employees take the Oath of Secrecy, they must uphold the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act or be liable to prosecution and the penalties outlined in the Act: a fine of up to $1000 and/or a jail term of up to six months.

  • What information can a deemed employee access?

    What information can a deemed employee access?

    The agreement will specifically indicate the confidential information required for the work that a deemed employee performs. As is the case with employees of Statistics Canada, taking the Oath of Secrecy does not give a deemed employee access to all information held by Statistics Canada: access to confidential information is strictly on a need-to-know-basis.

  • Who are the authorized persons deemed employees can discuss the information with?

    Who are the authorized persons deemed employees can discuss the information with?

    This includes employees of Statistics Canada who are also entitled to access the same information due to the nature of their work. Potentially it could also include other deemed employees who are also named in an agreement. Any discussion involving confidential information with an unauthorized person would constitute a breach of the Statistics Act as well as the terms of the agreement.

Microdata Access Portal

  • What types of applications can be completed in the Microdata Access Portal (MAP)?

    What types of applications can be completed in the Microdata Access Portal (MAP)?

    Applications for access to microdata for research projects to be conducted within a Research Data Centre can be submitted through the Microdata Access Portal (MAP) for academic or federal government researchers. In addition, researchers can submit a request to access samples from the Statistics Canada biobank.

    Provincial or Territorial government researchers cannot request access through the MAP at this time.

  • Where can I get more information on the application process?

    Where can I get more information on the application process?

    Refer to the Application Process and Guidelines page.

  • Who can apply through the MAP?

    Who can apply through the MAP?

    The following researchers who require access to Statistics Canada microdata or biobank samples for research purposes can submit a request through the MAP:

    • Members of a post-secondary institution such as a faculty member, student (if the project forms an integral part of their thesis or dissertation, or is a post-doctoral project), or staff of a Canadian post-secondary institution.
    • Employees of the federal government or contractors working on behalf of the federal government.
    • Employees of a Provincial/Territorial/Municipal government or contractors working on behalf of these governments.
  • Who can’t apply through the MAP?

    Who can’t apply through the MAP?

    The following researchers cannot submit a request through the MAP:

    • Faculty requesting access to microdata for the purpose of teaching a graduate level course on methodology related to complex survey data analysis.
    • Researchers performing data validation activities on behalf of Statistics Canada. Contact the Statistics Canada employee who requested your assistance with data validation activities.
    • Researchers working on behalf of a non-governmental organization.
    • Researchers working on behalf of a for-profit company.

    Contact the Research Data Centres for more information on how to access microdata.

  • What is a MAP ID?

    What is a MAP ID?

    A MAP ID is an identification number that is associated to each of your proposals. It is included in your dashboard and will be required if you need to contact Statistics Canada about your proposal.

  • What are the benefits of the MAP?

    What are the benefits of the MAP?

    The MAP streamlines the application process by bringing all the requirements into one central location. In addition, researchers will be able to manage their application within their own personalized dashboard.

  • What has changed in the application process?

    What has changed in the application process?

    Academic researchers will no longer apply to access Statistics Canada microdata through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). As well, the peer review process has changed and the information is submitted in the MAP. Government, for profit and not-for-profit researchers, will now use the MAP instead of emailing Statistics Canada directly. For more information visit the Application Process and Guidelines page.

  • How is my personal data protected in the MAP?

    How is my personal data protected in the MAP?

    Researchers will establish a password protected account with Statistics Canada before inputting their information into the MAP. Only a limited number of individuals will have access to your personal information on a need-to-know basis, in order for Statistics Canada staff to process your application. The administrative component of the MAP is restricted, and password protected. The personal information and project application information will be stored in a secure permission protected shared folder located on Statistics Canada's secure internal network. Your personal information will be used to administer your application as well as to manage and monitor user access to secure computing environments.

    Limited personal information, as well as information about the project, may be disclosed to trusted partner organizations in order to manage your project, e.g., to verify affiliation and accreditation, to recover costs from sponsoring parties, or to support the operation and monitoring of the program and infrastructure. When it is necessary to transmit information to trusted partner organizations, contact information and project details will be transmitted by unencrypted email.

    For the purpose of public transparency, Statistics Canada also displays on its website a list of projects that have been approved within the last 12 months. The published information includes your project title, name of principal investigator and datasets used.

  • Why do you collect my date of birth?

    Why do you collect my date of birth?

    The date of birth is required to confirm the security clearance status and will be used for administrative purposes only (e.g., to identify you if someone else has the same name in the MAP).

  • Do I need to use the MAP during the entire life cycle of my project or just at the application stage?

    Do I need to use the MAP during the entire life cycle of my project or just at the application stage?

    You need to use the MAP when applying for a new project. Once your project is approved, your main point of contact for any project amendments (e.g., to add data, to change the list of investigators, to extend the project) will be your local analyst.

  • What do I need to create an account?

    What do I need to create an account?

    To create an account you need an email address, a password and about 5 minutes.

  • How long will it take me to complete an application?

    How long will it take me to complete an application?

    When you have all the documents required, (Note: this should be worded to clearly indicated the user is going to the forms page.) it will take about 15 minutes to apply.

  • Can I save my partially completed application and finish it later?

    Can I save my partially completed application and finish it later?

    Yes, you can complete your application in multiple sessions. Changes will be saved and your proposal will remain in a draft mode (i.e. not yet submitted). If a document is missing or you are waiting for a co-investigator to create an account, you can always come back at a later time to complete your application. Once your application is submitted, you cannot change it in the portal.

  • Can I make changes to my application?

    Can I make changes to my application?

    Yes, you can make changes to your application as long as it has not been submitted (saved as draft).

    If your application has been submitted but is still in the approval process, you can contact us, to request a change.

    Once your application has been approved, you will need to make amendments by contacting your local analyst.

  • My project's funding type changed. How do I adjust my application?

    My project's funding type changed. How do I adjust my application?

    If the application has not yet been submitted, edit this information in the Application portal.

    If the application has already been submitted, please contact us contact the RDC team for assistance.

  • How often is the list of available data updated in the MAP?

    How often is the list of available data updated in the MAP?

    The list of datasets is updated every week.

  • Will I be notified when my application has been processed?

    Will I be notified when my application has been processed?

    In your dashboard, the project status will be "Approved (awaiting contract)." You will also be notified by Statistics Canada via email. Processing usually takes 6 to 8 weeks.

  • How do I check my project status?

    How do I check my project status?

    For an update on your project status, log into your dashboard. The project statuses are:

    • Draft
    • Submitted
    • Under Review
    • Approved (awaiting contract)
    • Denied
    • Active
    • Inactive / Expired
  • What do the statuses mean?

    What do the statuses mean?

    In the dashboard, the definitions of the project statuses are:

    • Draft: when the principal investigator is filling out a project application.
    • Submitted: when all the mandatory fields are completed and the principal investigator has submitted the application.
    • Under Review: Statistics Canada is in the process of reviewing the application
    • Approved (awaiting contract): the project has been approved by Statistics Canada and is awaiting the Statistics Canada signature on the contract.
    • Denied: the project is not approved. Statistics Canada will send an email to the principal investigator requesting additional information or explain why the request is denied.
    • Active: when the project is approved and the agreement is signed.
    • Inactive / Expired: when a project has been in draft mode for a year time or when a project has expired the project timeline.
  • Can I select more than one RDC for my project in the portal?

    Can I select more than one RDC for my project in the portal?

    No, in the portal, you can only select one RDC: chose the main one you will be using. Please contact the RDC team if you need to use more than one RDC.

  • More than one level of government is sponsoring my project. How do I enter this in the portal?

    More than one level of government is sponsoring my project. How do I enter this in the portal?

    Select the government who is the primary sponsor. You will be able to report multiple sources of government funding in the text field available in each section of the Fee for Service questionnaire.

  • Can I request any Statistics Canada microdata product through the MAP?

    Can I request any Statistics Canada microdata product through the MAP?

    Researchers can apply to access any type of Statistics Canada microdata through the MAP, including social and business data. In some cases, certain Statistics Canada data products are not accessible at a Research Data Centre.

Microdata Access Portal (for academics only)

  • Why are applications no longer submitted through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)?

    Why are applications no longer submitted through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)?

    The SSHRC platform will be available for applications until January 29, 2020. After this date, new applicants will be redirected to Statistics Canada Microdata Access Portal. Statistics Canada, SSHRC, CIHR, and the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) have agreed to move this process to the MAP.

  • I was familiar with the SSHRC portal, how different is the MAP?

    I was familiar with the SSHRC portal, how different is the MAP?

    The application process used to be two processes: the application and peer review was with SSHRC and then Statistics Canada processed the application to grant access to an RDC. The whole process now is with Statistics Canada and all the required forms are in the MAP. As a user, you will be able to check the status of your application.

  • Why do you need to ask questions about the funding of my project?

    Why do you need to ask questions about the funding of my project?

    To determine whether fees apply to your project, we need to understand (1) whether your research is self-directed, (2) evaluate funding for the project, and (3) assess whether there are deliverable(s) required for a funding agency. More information on the Access and Fee for Service Policy is available on the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) website.

  • What is required for the peer review?

    What is required for the peer review?

    When a peer review is required, the Principal Investigator needs to:

    • Identify an appropriate assessor
    • Send the peer review form and your proposal to the assessor
    • Have the assessor fill out the form
    • Submit the peer review form.
  • Why do some researchers have to complete the peer review form?

    Why do some researchers have to complete the peer review form?

    This peer review process is for those who are not students, are not pre-approved and/or do not have funding from an adjudicated funding process. This process was approved by the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) and Statistics Canada in order to streamline the peer review.

  • Why can't I access the data without completing the peer review form?

    Why can't I access the data without completing the peer review form?

    Since it is important to maintain the trust of Canadians in the use of their personal information and to ensure that all academic research carried out in the Research Data Centres (RDCs) is of scientific merit, a new, simpler peer review process was developed for academic researchers.

  • Who can be an assessor for my project?

    Who can be an assessor for my project?

    If a peer review is needed, you need to contact an assessor knowledgeable in your area of research. The assessor is a person who holds the rank of tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor at an accredited Canadian university (this would exclude faculty working in teaching only positions).

  • Why do I need to find my own assessor?

    Why do I need to find my own assessor?

    This will streamline our application processes and will help in the established timelines for getting applications to the active stage of the project.

Architectural services and landscape architectural services: CVs for operating revenue - 2018

Architectural services and landscape architectural services: CVs for operating revenue - 2018
Table summary
This table displays the results of Architectural services and landscape architectural services: CVs for operating revenue - 2018. The information is grouped by Regions (appearing as row headers), CVs for operating revenue, calculated using percent units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Geography CVs for operating revenue
percent
Canada 0.73
Newfoundland and Labrador 0.00
Prince Edward Island 0.00
Nova Scotia 0.88
New Brunswick 0.49
Quebec 1.86
Ontario 1.16
Manitoba 1.22
Saskatchewan 0.91
Alberta 1.42
British Columbia 2.04
Yukon 0.00
Northwest Territories 0.00
Nunavut 0.00

Wholesale Trade Survey (Monthly): CVs for Total sales by geography – November 2018 to November 2019

Monthly Wholesale Trade Survey - Table 1: CVs for Total sales by geography
Geography Month
201811 201812 201901 201902 201903 201904 201905 201906 201907 201908 201909 201910 201911
percentage
Canada 0.5 0.7 0.8 0.6 0.5 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6
Newfoundland and Labrador 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.4
Prince Edward Island 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Nova Scotia 1.8 5.4 4.6 2.3 2.0 2.9 1.9 1.8 1.4 1.8 2.1 1.9 2.6
New Brunswick 3.3 1.3 1.1 0.8 1.1 1.0 1.4 2.4 1.4 1.6 1.4 1.8 1.4
Quebec 1.5 1.3 1.9 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.7 1.4
Ontario 0.8 1.1 1.3 0.9 0.8 0.9 1.0 0.9 1.1 0.9 1.0 0.9 1.0
Manitoba 1.4 2.0 1.2 0.6 0.9 0.9 3.4 0.7 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.6 0.9
Saskatchewan 0.5 0.9 0.6 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.7 0.6 0.8 1.1 0.8 0.7 0.9
Alberta 1.7 1.6 1.0 1.2 1.1 1.2 1.4 0.9 0.9 0.7 1.3 1.4 1.3
British Columbia 1.4 1.7 2.2 1.4 1.0 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.8 1.8 1.6 1.5 1.8
Yukon Territory 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Northwest Territories 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
Nunavut 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Application process and guidelines - RDC

Applications for data access are submitted through the Microdata Access Portal (MAP) as outlined below.

Academic and federal, provincial/territorial government researchers can apply for access to microdata for research projects through the MAP.

Researchers can submit a request to access samples from the Statistics Canada biobank.

New record linkages require additional approval from Statistics Canada. The linkage must be conducted at Statistics Canada. Moreover, fees may be charged for this service.

If you require a new microdata linkage for social data, do not submit your request through the MAP. Visit the Social Data Linkage Environment webpage for more information on social microdata linkage at Statistics Canada.

If you require a new microdata linkage for business data, do not submit your request through the MAP. Visit the Business Linkable File Environment (B-LFE) webpage for more information on business microdata linkage at Statistics Canada.

Application forms

Part 1: Steps for submitting an application

Follow steps 1-5 to apply for access to microdata through the Microdata Access Portal (MAP). The steps below serve as a guide to preparing the online application.

  • Step 1: Create an account

    Step 1: Create an account

    New users need to register for an account in the MAP. This account can be used for all projects submitted through the MAP and account settings can be updated as required.

  • Step 2: Determine type of application

    Step 2: Determine type of application

    Principal Investigators (PIs) will answer a series of questions that will determine the type of application. This includes questions about the project origin and the project type.

    Origin of the project

    Is your project a government-funded project, an academic project, or other project?

    Government-funded project

    A government-funded project is a project funded by any level of government, except if the funding is a grant from an organization covered under the academic project. Consultants (including academics) hired on contract to a government organization apply under this application type.

    Academic project

    An academic project is conducted by a member of a post-secondary institution such as a faculty member, student (if the project forms an integral part of thesis or dissertation, or is a post-doctoral project) or staff of a Canadian post-secondary institution. The following is the list of the agencies which are providing core financial support for the sustained research activities of the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN):

    • Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)
    • Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
    • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)
    • Fonds de recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS)
    • Fonds de recherche du Québec - Société et culture (FRQSC)
    • Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Nature et technologies (FRQNT)

    An academic project is not funded by a government organization or other third party.

    Other project

    Some projects will not fall into the two categories above. In this case, choose 'other' as the project type.

    Type of project

    Below is an explanation of the various types of projects that will help you determine which item to choose for your MAP application. Only one project type can be selected for each project.

    a. Research project

    A research project is a single project designed to answer a main research question.

    b. Sub-project - part of an existing research project

    A sub-project is when the main research project question generates a sub-question on the same topic. Researchers will need their main project number from the affiliated research project to submit an application.

    c. Program that includes multiple research projects on the same topic

    A program of research may include a series of projects linked by a common theme.

    d. Research project that is part of an existing program

    Once a program is approved by Statistics Canada, research projects that go under the program can be submitted. Researchers will need their main project number from the affiliated research project to submit an application.

    e. Data validation project

    Researchers performing data validation activities on behalf of Statistics Canada. Contact the Statistics Canada employee who requested your assistance with data validation activities.

    f. Academic course

    Faculty requesting access to microdata for the purpose of teaching a graduate level course on methodology related to complex survey data analysis should visit the User Community page and contact their local analyst.

    Once all the questions above have been answered, the type of application will be confirmed.

  • Step 3: Provide project information

    Step 3: Provide project information

    Note: You will need to upload supporting documents. See the Data Access Application Checklist on the Application forms page.

    a. Project details

    Researchers are required to provide information about their project request as listed below:

    • What is the title of your project?
      The title will show up on your dashboard.
    • What are the expected dates for your project?
      Insert the requested start date or click the 'as soon as possible' check box. Project end dates are determined by the project type.
    • Upload your proposal.
      Only 1 file upload is allowed with a limit of 32MB. Project proposals should not exceed 10 pages and should be formatted following the project proposal template guidelines (Application forms page). Various file types can be uploaded, including rxt, rtf, pdf, doc, docx.
    • Which Statistics Canada dataset(s) will be required for the project?
      Select all datasets you require.
      If one or more datasets that you require does not appear in the drop down menu, select 'other' and type in the full name of the dataset.
    • Does your project require a new micro-record to micro-record linkage between Statistics Canada datasets or with other datasets?
      If you are requesting the use of an already linked data file that is part of the datasets collection available in the RDCs, you must answer "No".
      New record linkages require additional approval from Statistics Canada. The linkage must be conducted at Statistics Canada. Moreover, fees may be charged for this service.
      If you require a new microdata linkage for social data, do not submit your request through the MAP. Visit the Social Data Linkage Environment webpage for more information on social microdata linkage at Statistics Canada.
      If you require a new microdata linkage for business data, do not submit your request through the MAP. Visit the Linkable File Environment (LFE) webpage for more information on business microdata linkage at Statistics Canada.
    • Which software program(s) will be used to analyse the data.
      Please select all applicable software that you require from the list provided or type the name of the non-listed software in the 'other' field.
      If you need software that is not listed, additional approvals may be required and additional fees may be assessed for the project. You will be contacted by a Statistics Canada employee about the process and applicable fees during the application review phase.

    b. Billing information

    Researchers are required to submit information about the funding for their project.

    Academic research projects

    For academic research projects, all Principal Investigators must complete a CRDCN Access Fee-for-Service Questionnaire confirming the funding arrangement for the research project and the expected primary recipient and beneficiary of the research.

    Please consult the Canadian Research Data Centre Network Access and Fee-For-Service Policy to learn more about the policy governing access fees.

    Government research projects

    For government funded research projects, the Principle Investigator must identify the sponsoring organization and provide contact information for the signatory who has financial authority to allocate funds for the project.

    c. Approval information or peer review

    Approval for government applications

    Government researchers are required to submit an Approval Letter (Application forms - Approval letter from sponsoring organization template) stating that the project has been approved by the sponsoring organization.

    Peer review for academic applications

    A peer review process or equivalent is required for non pre-approved applicants.

    Pre-approved applicants include:

    • those that hold the rank of tenured Associate Professor or Full Professor at an accredited Canadian university (this would exclude teaching only positions) or, are a current or past Academic Director of a Statistics Canada Research Data Centre (RDC).
    Peer review equivalency for students

    Students applying as the Principal Investigator must include a letter of support from the academic supervisor confirming that the student's supervisor or supervisory committee has reviewed and approved the proposed project.

    Peer review process for non pre-approved applicants with funding

    Applicants who are not pre-approved but have obtained a peer review from an adjudicated funding process must upload their approval letter.

    Peer review process for non pre-approved applicants without funding

    Applicants who are not pre-approved and do not have funding from an adjudicated funding process must complete a Peer review form (Application forms - Peer review form).

    Documents for international researchers not residing in Canada

    The letters below apply to international researchers who do not hold one of the following: Canadian Citizenship, or Canadian permanent residency, Canadian work visa or Canadian student visa. An international researcher must provide a Canadian work visa or Canadian student visa. International researchers applying for data access are required to name a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada as a co-investigator

    Letter of reference

    The Letter of Reference (Application forms - Letter of reference template) must be supplied by one of the following:

    • A co-investigator who is a researcher affiliated with a Canadian university
    • A faculty member from the university with which the applicant is affiliated
    • The Canadian sponsoring organization or government department
    • The international organization with which the researcher is employed
    Letter of acknowledgment (students only)

    International student researchers must provide a Letter of Acknowledgement (Application forms - Letter of acknowledgement template) from their affiliated institution.

  • Step 4: Investigator profiles

    Step 4: Investigator profiles

    All investigators who are part of an academic research project must upload a curriculum vitae (CV) to their profile in the MAP. CVs are optional for government researchers, however, a file must be uploaded.

    The CV should demonstrate research experience and technical competence that may include:

    • most significant research contributions
    • graduate student supervision
    • membership in professional bodies (e.g., professional associations or societies, grant evaluation committees, etc.)
    • funded research projects
    • research chairs or other awards recognizing research achievements
    • relevant presentations to government or non-government groups
    • invited lectures
    • refereed publications in the past 5 years that illustrate technical competence

    Principal Investigator information

    A Principal Investigator (PI) is the lead researcher on the project and is responsible for the communication about the project and project contract with Statistic Canada. The PI selects their primary location of access.

    Add co-investigators (if applicable)

    Principal Investigators may add other researchers (co-investigators) to their project by adding the full name and email address. If the co-investigator already has a profile in the MAP please ensure you enter the correct email address to avoid creating two accounts.

    Students applying for a project that forms a part of their thesis or dissertation, as well as post-doctoral fellows undertaking self-directed research, are required to list an academic supervisor as a co-investigator.

    Co-investigators will be sent an automated email inviting them to join the microdata access project which will include information about the project and a link to update their personal profile.

    Only the Principal Investigator can add or remove co-investigators from a project. Once a project has been submitted through the MAP, a request to add or remove co-investigators should be made by contacting your Research Data Centre analyst.

  • Step 5: Submit application

    Step 5: Submit application

    Once the application is submitted, Principal Investigators can check their application status on their dashboard.

Part 2: Next steps

Statistics Canada will email the Principal Investigator with information on how to proceed once a decision has been made on the project.

All approved applicants must become Deemed Employees of Statistics Canada to access the data.

A Deemed Employee is someone who is not currently an employee of Statistics Canada, who is retained to provide a service to Statistics Canada, and who needs access to information provided by the Statistics Act to perform that service.

For more information on becoming a Deemed Employee of Statistics Canada, please consult the Frequently asked questions — Research Data Centres section.

In order to become a deemed employee, the following steps must be completed:

  • Obtain a security clearance

    Obtain a security clearance

    The process for obtaining a valid clearance (Reliability status) is completed with the assistance of the local analyst.

    Security screening requirements

    Applicants are required to:

    • Submit the Personnel Screening, Consent, and Authorization Form and supporting documentation
      • Additional documentation is required for applicants who have lived abroad for six months or longer within the last five years
    • Undergo a credit check
      • Applicants provide their consent for the credit check when completing the screening form (no further action is required)
    • Undergo fingerprinting as part of a criminal record check
      • Please note that a fee of approximately $50 may apply. This fee is not reimbursed by Statistics Canada

    Supporting identification and documents needed for security screening

    The identification and documents listed below are required for submission of the Personnel Screening, Consent and Authorization Form. Please bring the following documents to the Orientation session (not required for Federal government employees).

    Supporting identification and documents needed for security screening
    Researcher status Identification and Documents
    Born in Canada
    • Canadian passport (alternative: Birth certificate, Citizenship card, or Citizenship certificate)
    • Photo ID (ex. Driver's license, Hunting license, Health card (Quebec, Manitoba and PEI only))
    • Proof of current addressTablenote 1
    Not born in Canada, and now a Canadian citizen
    • Canadian passport or Citizenship card (alternative: Canadian Citizenship certificate)
    • Photo ID (ex. Driver's license, Hunting license, Health card (Quebec, Manitoba and PEI only))
    • Proof of current addressTablenote 1
    Permanent Resident
    • Passport
    • Permanent resident card
    • Proof of current addressTablenote 1
    International researchers (researchers possessing a work/study permit)
    • Passport
    • Photo ID (ex. Driver's license, Hunting license, Health card (Quebec, Manitoba and PEI only))
    • Work/study permit
    • Proof of current address/local residence
    Tablenote 1

    For example, Driver's license, copy of utility bill, or rental agreement.

    Return to tablenote 1 referrer

    In addition to the above requirements, applicants who lived outside of Canada continuously for 6 months or longer within the last 5 years require a police certificate from each foreign country or where they have lived. A police certificate provides a summary of an individual's criminal record or a declaration of the absence of any criminal record from that country.

    Requesting translation

    All police certificates or alternate documents must be submitted in either English or French. If the documents are in another language, they must be translated.

    The translated document must accompany the original document when submitted.

    Costs to the applicant

    Applicants will need to cover any costs associated with the out-of-country verification process. These costs may include fees to obtain a police certificate or alternative documents, to have documents translated.

  • Attend an orientation session

    Attend an orientation session

    Orientation session

    Statistics Canada will invite the research team to attend an orientation session at their Research Data Centre. The following will take place during the orientation:

    • The Oath (or Affirmation) of Office and Secrecy will be administered by the Statistics Canada analyst
    • Training on confidentiality, vetting, conflict of interest and code of conduct will be provided

    Oath (or Affirmation) of Office and Secrecy

    The Statistics Act Oath or Solemn Affirmation of Office and Secrecy is a requirement of the Statistics Act. The Oath sworn (or affirmed) indicates that the Deemed Employee promises to never disclose any identifiable information about individual respondents.

  • Declare any conflict of interest related to the use of the data

    Declare any conflict of interest related to the use of the data

    A conflict of interest is a situation whereby a person has private interests or outside activities and uses their data access for personal gain, or could be perceived by a reasonable observer as doing so.

    Should you feel that there may be a real, apparent or potential conflict of interest between your personal interests or outside activities and your data access, you are required to formally disclose these interests or outside activities. For more information please visit the MAP support section on the Contact information for the Data Access Division page.

  • Sign an agreement for data access with Statistics Canada

    Sign an agreement for data access with Statistics Canada

    The Agreement specifies the terms of conditions of data access, including:

    • Agreement of Statistics Canada to provide access to confidential microdata for the purpose and scope of the research outlined in the approved research proposal
    • Project start and end date
    • Agreement of the researchers to abide by Statistics Canada's security and confidentiality requirements
    • Agreement of the Principal Investigator to provide a final product to Statistics Canada at the end of the contract

    Approval of the Agreement

    The Agreement becomes valid when signed by the Director of Statistics Canada's Data Access Division. The Director signs the contract when:

    • The project has been approved
    • The members of the research team have obtained a valid security clearance
    • All conflict of interest situations have been resolved
    • All members of the research team have signed the agreement (other signatures may be required for Government-funded projects)

    Once the contract is signed, Statistics Canada will notify the research team that access to the data may commence.

Fees - RDC

University access fees

For academic researchers, fees are determined upon proposal submission in accordance with the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) Access and Fee for Service (AFFS) Policy.

For more information, please contact the CRDCN.

Government access fees

Government and non-government organization access fees

For non-academic researchers, including government researchers and those working for non-government organizations, fees are determined upon proposal submission based on the access needs of the research team, accessing organization and location of access.

For more information, please contact our client service team.

Retail Commodity Survey: CVs for Total Sales (October 2019)

Retail Commodity Survey: CVs for Total Sales (October 2019)
NAPCS-CANADA Month
201907 201908 201909 201910
Total commodities, retail trade commissions and miscellaneous services 0.73 0.67 0.62 0.61
Retail Services (except commissions) [561] 0.72 0.67 0.62 0.60
Food at retail [56111] 1.11 1.01 1.05 0.74
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, at retail [56112] 0.47 0.48 0.48 0.63
Cannabis products, at retail [56113] 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Clothing at retail [56121] 0.78 1.94 0.93 1.19
Footwear at retail [56122] 1.44 1.43 1.26 1.26
Jewellery and watches, luggage and briefcases, at retail [56123] 1.74 1.76 1.85 1.85
Home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and electronics, at retail [56131] 0.55 0.58 0.62 0.70
Sporting and leisure products (except publications, audio and video recordings, and game software), at retail [56141] 2.84 2.17 2.56 2.35
Publications at retail [56142] 7.34 6.95 11.63 6.82
Audio and video recordings, and game software, at retail [56143] 1.55 1.62 1.45 2.05
Motor vehicles at retail [56151] 2.60 2.40 2.05 2.10
Recreational vehicles at retail [56152] 2.47 3.42 4.32 3.89
Motor vehicle parts, accessories and supplies, at retail [56153] 1.67 1.42 1.27 1.59
Automotive and household fuels, at retail [56161] 1.97 1.90 1.87 1.80
Home health products at retail [56171] 2.88 2.45 2.65 2.61
Infant care, personal and beauty products, at retail [56172] 2.59 3.24 3.18 3.48
Hardware, tools, renovation and lawn and garden products, at retail [56181] 1.72 1.48 1.77 1.34
Miscellaneous products at retail [56191] 2.26 2.23 2.24 2.33
Total retail trade commissions and miscellaneous servicesFootnote 1 1.67 1.56 1.90 1.68

Footnotes

Footnote 1

Comprises the following North American Product Classification System (NAPCS): 51411, 51412, 53112, 56211, 57111, 58111, 58121, 58122, 58131, 58141, 72332, 833111, 841, 85131 and 851511.

Return to footnote 1 referrer

Retail Commodity Survey - CVs for Total Sales (third quarter 2019)

Retail Commodity Survey - CVs for Total Sales (third quarter 2019)
Table summary
This table displays the results of Retail Commodity Survey - CVs for Total Sales (third quarter 2019). The information is grouped by NAPCS-CANADA (appearing as row headers), and Quarter (appearing as column headers).
NAPCS-CANADA Quarter
2018Q3 2018Q4 2019Q1 2019Q2 2019Q3
Total commodities, retail trade commissions and miscellaneous services 0.48 0.48 0.02 0.63 0.58
Retail Services (except commissions) [561] 0.48 0.48 0.02 0.62 0.58
Food at retail [56111] 0.84 0.79 0.88 0.88 1.10
Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages, at retail [56112] 0.54 0.44 0.58 0.65 0.45
Cannabis products, at retail [56113] .. 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
Clothing at retail [56121] 0.69 0.64 0.00 0.67 0.58
Footwear at retail [56122] 1.31 1.28 0.00 1.15 1.32
Jewellery and watches, luggage and briefcases, at retail [56123] 1.52 1.27 1.51 1.43 1.42
Home furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and electronics, at retail [56131] 0.66 0.55 0.73 0.71 0.55
Sporting and leisure products (except publications, audio and video recordings, and game software), at retail [56141] .. 2.26 2.44 2.17 2.31
Publications at retail [56142] 5.30 4.86 5.78 7.07 7.55
Audio and video recordings, and game software, at retail [56143] .. 3.04 4.31 1.87 1.67
Motor vehicles at retail [56151] 1.32 1.34 2.14 2.08 1.94
Recreational vehicles at retail [56152] 2.67 3.99 3.88 2.42 2.44
Motor vehicle parts, accessories and supplies, at retail [56153] 1.03 1.06 1.66 1.26 1.26
Automotive and household fuels, at retail [56161] 1.64 2.03 1.84 1.79 1.89
Home health products at retail [56171] 4.28 4.64 2.96 3.62 2.64
Infant care, personal and beauty products, at retail [56172] 2.24 2.38 2.67 2.69 2.82
Hardware, tools, renovation and lawn and garden products, at retail [56181] 1.38 1.30 1.41 1.57 1.30
Miscellaneous products at retail [56191] 2.06 2.15 2.03 2.30 2.09
Total retail trade commissions and miscellaneous servicesFootnote 1 1.47 1.72 1.65 1.48 1.49

Footnotes

..

not available for a specific reference period

..

Footnote 1

Comprises the following North American Product Classification System (NAPCS): 51411, 51412, 53112, 56211, 57111, 58111, 58121, 58122, 58131, 58141, 72332, 833111, 841, 85131 and 851511.

Return to footnote 1 referrer
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