Canadian Health Measures Survey - Cycle 5 (2016-2017) - full sample

Average of the measured body mass index (kg/m2)

Introduction

At Statistics Canada, we know the significant role that data play every day in the lives of Canadians. Reliable and robust data are fundamental to the development of evidence-based policy and decision making in an increasingly digital world. Data are a means by which countries understand their population, their economies and the environment. They enable measurement of progress and allow for governments to assess programs.

Our agency is recognized as a leading national statistical organization, providing high-quality, timely and credible data that respond to Canadians’ information needs.

Canada has much to offer and much to gain from participating in activities that contribute to sound and internationally comparable statistics. For example, Statistics Canada promotes the quality and coherence of both Canadian and global statistics through collaboration with international organizations, federal departments and agencies, and the provinces and territories. All of our international engagements are rooted in the United Nations 10 Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS) which help define what constitutes a good system of high-quality official statistics and what role that system should play in national government. The importance of credible official statistics and data from national statistical systems has been recognized globally as critically important in an expanding data ecosystem.

In this spirit of international cooperation, Statistics Canada is renewing its International Engagement Strategy for 2024-2028.

The strategy is built on four objectives underpinned with a strategic allocation of effort and resources:

1. leveraging international efforts effectively to fulfill Statistics Canada’s mandate
2. leading and encouraging global statistical standards to ensure comparability
3. bringing leadership and expertise to the international table in support of innovation
4. engaging in targeted, sustainable technical assistance.

Whether citizens are interested in assessing the impacts on their lives arising from globalization and digitalization, the geo-political situation, climate change, artificial intelligence, or other domestic or international events, Statistics Canada’s aim is to promote high-quality and comparable statistics that serve Canadians.

We strive to continue to be a leader in the global statistical community through an approach that is strategic, collaborative and innovative. Our renewed strategy and implementation plan reflect these aspirations.

André Loranger
Chief Statistician of Canada

Statistics Canada's International Mandate

Statistics Canada’s mandate is to foster international cooperation, and effective governance and accountability through strategic engagement in the international statistical system.

By collaborating and sharing best practices and expertise to develop internationally comparable statistical standards, innovative methods and techniques, we seek to enhance the quality and reliability of statistics produced in the international statistical system and provide targeted statistical capacity development that is sustainable and underpinned by the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics.

What does that mean?

Strategic collaboration in the international statistical community enables Statistics Canada to lead by example and promotes the development and use of robust statistics and techniques. International collaboration also allows for the sharing of experiences and best practices which helps to ensure efficiency in the national statistical system. Thoughtful and effective international partnership also expands Canada’s influence in the areas of trade, global governance and the promotion of equality.

Promotion of adherence to international standards and frameworks enables a consistent and coherent picture of the economy, society and environment. At the national level, it supports evidence-based policy making and allows Canadian decision makers to draw valid and necessary comparisons between Canada’s performance and that of other countries, clarifying strengths and weaknesses. It also ensures sound statistics for use in international negotiations and commitments in areas important to Canadians, such as trade, investment and other key aspects of the economy, as well as migration, human rights, gender equality and the environment.

Knowledge and experience gained through various international activities supports the professional development of a modern, engaged, efficient and innovative work force. International knowledge-sharing offers unique opportunities for employees to explore other countries’ tools and methods, and fosters innovation at Statistics Canada.

Our strategic aims

Over the next four years, Statistics Canada will show leadership in implementing a focused, collaborative and innovative international strategy in order to maximize our impact internationally and further develop our national statistical system. It will align with relevant corporate and Government of Canada policies and priorities, while maintaining the independence and flexibility required to adapt to address global challenges.

The 4 objectives of the International Strategy are grounded in the UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and underpinned by the strategic allocation of effort and resources in all activities.

These objectives are:

1. Leveraging international efforts effectively to fulfill Statistics Canada’s mandate (FPOS 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8).
2. Leading and encouraging global statistical standards to ensure comparability (FPOS 3, 5, 9, 10).
3. Bringing leadership and expertise to the international table in support of innovation (FPOS 1-10).
4. Engaging in targeted, sustainable technical assistance (FPOS 9, 10).

The strategy will be implemented through the development of a plan that links to the international mandate and StatCan’s Strategic plans with measures to monitor and assess our activities.

Through a 3-year, government of Canada-funded project, Statistics Canada provides technical assistance to the National Agency of Statistics and Demography of Senegal (ANSD) and the ministries responsible for education, vocational and technical training, food and nutrition security and extractive and agriculture sectors for the production of quality statistics. Reliable and credible statistics are needed to improve the strategic planning and programs monitoring and projects included in "Plan Sénégal Émergent", the national strategy for social and economic development, which aims to make Senegal an emerging country by 2035.

The project was approved on June 2, 2016 with funding of CAD $1 million and an end date of March 31, 2020.

Project activities include:

• contributing to improved structures and mechanisms for coordination and collaboration between producers and users of statistical data;
• supporting the implementation, by the various structures of the national statistical system, of good practices in financial management and human resources, provide training in techniques and methods of statistical surveys;
• contributing to improved quality and reliability of the statistical output of the sectors targeted by budget support and supporting the implementation of a web-based dissemination policy for the entire national statistical system (NSS).

There are three main expected results for the project:

• institutional strengthening of the ANSD and better coordination of the national statistical system (NSS);
• capacity building in statistical production and
• better quality of statistics produced by all structures belonging to the NSS.

With its stated mission to reduce poverty and improve governance in developing countries by promoting the integration of reliable statistics and data into the decision-making process, international consortium PARIS21 brings together stakeholders from developing countries, donor countries, including Canada, and multilateral and international organizations to address the challenges of producing and providing reliable, high-quality official statistics in a rapidly changing world.

A 3-year Government of Canada-funded project was approved on March 21, 2016, with funding of CAD $750,000 and an end date of March 31, 2019. Statistics Canada worked with PARIS21 to leverage knowledge and technical assistance skills and enable wider dissemination  of expertise internationally, including in Canada's countries of focus, by contributing to:

• building statistical capacity in developing countries by improving the knowledge and skills required in developing countries' statistical systems;
• improving the quality of statistics in developing countries;
• increasing accountability in developing countries by having better statistical information that will provide better statistical information for policy makers including helping developing countries provide disaggregated data and information for priority  groups such as gender disaggregation, disability etc.; and
• strengthening governance by improving the underlying statistical system.