Why do we conduct this survey?

This survey is conducted on behalf of Fertilizer Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, to produce statistics on shipments of fertilizer in Canada by manufacturers, wholesale distributors and major retail distributors. This information is essential to support Canada's international reporting obligations of inventory of greenhouse gas emissions.

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

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

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

Confidentiality

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

Record linkages

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

Data-sharing agreements

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

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

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province.

Mandatory participation

Given the important uses of its results, participation in the Fertilizer Shipments Survey is required by law.

Business or organization and contact information

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

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

Legal Name
The legal name is one recognized by law, thus it is the name liable for pursuit or for debts incurred by the business or organization. In the case of a corporation, it is the legal name as fixed by its charter or the statute by which the corporation was created.

Modifications to the legal name should only be done to correct a spelling error or typo.

To indicate a legal name of another legal entity you should instead indicate it in question 3 by selecting 'Not currently operational' and then choosing the applicable reason and providing the legal name of this other entity along with any other requested information.

Operating Name
The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

• Legal name
• Operating name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.

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

• First name
• Last name
• Title
• Preferred language of communication
  • English
  • French
• Mailing address (number and street)
• City
• Province, territory or state
• Postal code or ZIP code
• Country
  • Canada
  • United States
• Email address
• Telephone number (including area code)
• Extension number (if applicable)
• Fax number (including area code)

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

• Operational
• Not currently operational
  Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
  • Seasonal operations
    • When did this business or organization close for the season?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
  • Ceased operations
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Bankruptcy
      • Liquidation
      • Dissolution
      • Other - Specify the other reasons for ceased operations
  • Sold operations
    • When was this business or organization sold?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the buyer?
  • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
    • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
    • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
  • Temporarily inactive but will re-open
    • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
    • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
  • No longer operating due to other reasons
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

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

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

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.

The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.

Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.

The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

Description and examples

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

Please provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity.

e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that " … " is not the current main activity.

Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as: " … " ?

• Yes
  When did the main activity change?
  Date
• No

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

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

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

Reporting instructions

Shipments to Canadian agricultural markets and total agricultural and industrial shipments to US and offshore markets

Reporting instructions:

• report all shipments to the province of final destination (as best as can be determined by province)
• no conversions are required. Report shipments in the form and concentration delivered to purchasers. Note that the detailed product list is for reporting purposes only - the information will be grouped later for publication of: Ammonia, Urea, AN / CAN, AS, MAP, DAP, Potash and Other.
• report numbers to the nearest ton/tonne e.g., 123,456.

Include shipments of all product that this business produced or imported which this business physically transferred (either sold or consigned) from "reference period":

• to this business's Canadian customers for agricultural use (exchanges shipped to a non-reporting trade partner in Canada)
• to this business's own Retail outlets
• to this business's US and offshore customers regardless of end use — report all exports (agricultural and industrial) shipped outside Canada
• to this business's own US warehouses.

Include:

• all domestic products from other Canadian Producers not listed below
• all imported fertilizer products that your company ships into Canada in the month it is shipped to the province of final destination
• products on an Importer of Record basis, and products imported through a brokerage.

Exclude:

• domestic industrial or lawn and garden sales (as best as can be determined)
• micronutrients e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, boron
• feed grade urea, feed phosphate or nitric acid.

Exclude shipments to the following Canadian companies.

This will avoid double reporting of the same products and ensure collection of shipments to final destination.

(Specific list for each company)

Market inventories

Inventory definition:

Inventory includes your entire available product in Canada at month end, regardless of whose warehouse it is located in.

Reporting instructions:

• no conversions are required
• report inventories in the form and concentration stored. Note that the detailed product list is for reporting purposes only
• the information will be grouped later for publication of: Ammonia, Urea, AN / CAN, AS, MAP, DAP, Potash and Other
• report numbers to the nearest ton/tonne e.g., 123,456.

Include all on-site and Canadian off-site warehouse inventories.

Exclude:

• retail site inventories; report only product held in terminal/warehouse intended for sale to retailers
• tolled product (another company's product which is temporarily stored in your warehouse - warehouse tolling)
• micronutrients e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, boron
• feed grade urea, feed phosphate or nitric acid.

Production

Production definition:

Production includes the producing of basic compounds of ammonia and derivatives of ammonia and urea.

Include:

• all monthly Canadian production
• gross production to be reported including all product used in the manufacture of downstream products, e.g., NH3 used for urea production, agricultural urea liquor for urea and UAN production
• synthesis urea, AN solution, AN melt & EGAN (AN) consumed in the production of UAN and other products.

Exclude:

• micronutrients e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, boron
• feed grade urea, feed phosphate or nitric acid.

Reporting instructions:

• no conversions are required
• report production in the form and concentration produced. Note that the detailed product list is for reporting purposes only - the information will be grouped later for publication of: Ammonia, Urea, AN / CAN, AS, MAP, DAP, Potash and Other
• report numbers to the nearest ton/tonne e.g., 123,456.

Method of collection

1. Indicate whether you will be answering the remaining questions or attaching files with the required information.

• Answering the remaining questions
• Attaching files

Attach files

2. Please attach the files that will provide the information required for the Fertilizer Shipments Survey.

To attach files

• Press the Attach files button
• Choose the file to attach. Multiple files can be attached

Note:

• Each file attached must not exceed 5 MB
• All attachments combined must not exceed 50 MB.
• The name and size of each file attached will be displayed on the page.

Fertilizer shipments - companies

3. Did this business ship any fertilizer products to companies from "reference period"?

Note: Press the help button (?) for reporting instructions and additional information on an Importer of Record.

• Yes
• No

Unit of measure

4. What unit of measure will be used throughout the questionnaire?

• Metric tonnes
• Short tons

Fertilizer shipments - destinations

5. To which of the following destinations did this business ship fertilizer from "reference period"?

Include shipments to Canadian agricultural markets and total agricultural and industrial shipments to US and offshore markets.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

For the purposes of this survey, British Columbia is the area of British Columbia located south of Highway #16. Peace River, British Columbia is the portion of the Peace River block that is located north of Highway #16, of which sales should be included in Alberta.

Select all that apply.

• Atlantic region → Go to question 8
• Quebec → Go to question 10
• Ontario → Go to question 12
• Manitoba → Go to question 14
• Saskatchewan → Go to question 16
• Alberta and Peace River, British Columbia → Go to question 18
• British Columbia → Go to question 20
• United States of America → Go to question 22
• Offshore → Go to question 24

Fertilizer shipments

6. Which of the following fertilizer products did this business ship from "reference period"?

Include:

• products on an Importer of Record basis, and products imported through a brokerage
• all products shipped for agricultural use.

Select all that apply.

• Aqua Ammonia (NH3)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 24-0-0
• Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 82-0-0-0
• Urea
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 46-0-0
• ESN
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 44-0-0
• Ammonium Nitrate (AN / CAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 34-0-0-0
• Nitrogen Solutions (UAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 28-0-0-0
• Nitrogen Solutions (UAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 32-0-0-0
• Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 11-52-0-0
• Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 18-46-0-0
• Ammonium Polyphosphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 10-34-0-0
• Ammonium Polyphosphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 11-37-0-0
• Potash
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-60/62-0
• Potassium Sulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-50-18
• Potassium Magnesium Sulphate (KMAG)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-22-22
• Ammonium Sulphate (AS)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 21-0-0-24
• Ammonium Sulphate (AS)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 20-0-0-24
• Ammonium Thiosulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 15-0-0-20
• Elemental Sulphur
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-0-90
• Elemental Sulphur
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-0-85
• Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 16-20-0-14
• Other - Include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

7. Please provide the details for the other fertilizer products this business shipped from "reference period".

Other fertilizer products include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

Other 1 (maximum of 15 other fertilizers)

• Name
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphate (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Sulphur (S)

8. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to the Atlantic region from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

9. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to the Atlantic region from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

10. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to Quebec from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

11. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to Quebec from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

12. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to Ontario from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

13. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to Ontario from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

14. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to Manitoba from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

15. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to Manitoba from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

16. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to Saskatchewan from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

17. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to Saskatchewan from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

18. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to Alberta and Peace River, British Columbia from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

19. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to Alberta and Peace River, British Columbia from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

20. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to British Columbia from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

21. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to British Columbia from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

22. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to the United States of America from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

23. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to the United States of America from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

24. Please report fertilizer shipments that this business made to offshore regions from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

25. Please report shipments of other fertilizer products that this business made to offshore regions from "reference period".

Exclude shipments to reporting companies.

Fertilizer inventory

26. In which of the following locations did this business store fertilizer as inventory from "reference period"?

Inventory includes your entire physically existing product in Canada at month end, regardless of whose warehouse it is located in.

Select all that apply.

• West
  Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia → Go to question 29
• East
  Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic provinces → Go to question 31

27. Which of the following fertilizer products did this business store as inventory from "reference period"?

Inventory includes your entire physically existing product in Canada at month end, regardless of whose warehouse it is located in.

Include all on-site and Canadian off-site warehouse inventories.

Exclude:

• micronutrients e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, boron
• feed grade urea, feed phosphate or nitric acid.

Select all that apply.

• Aqua Ammonia (NH3)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 24-0-0
• Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 82-0-0-0
• Urea
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 46-0-0
• ESN
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 44-0-0
• Ammonium Nitrate (AN / CAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 34-0-0-0
• Nitrogen Solutions (UAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 28-0-0-0
• Nitrogen Solutions (UAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 32-0-0-0
• Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 11-52-0-0
• Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 18-46-0-0
• Ammonium Polyphosphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 10-34-0-0
• Ammonium Polyphosphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 11-37-0-0
• Potash
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-60/62-0
• Potassium Sulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-50-18
• Potassium Magnesium Sulphate (KMAG)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-22-22
• Ammonium Sulphate (AS)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 21-0-0-24
• Ammonium Sulphate (AS)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 20-0-0-24
• Ammonium Thiosulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 15-0-0-20
• Elemental Sulphur
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-0-90
• Elemental Sulphur
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-0-85
• Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 16-20-0-14
• Other - Include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

28. Please provide the details for the other fertilizer products this business stored as inventory from "reference period".

Other fertilizer products include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

Other 1 (maximum of 15 other fertilizers)

• Name
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphate (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Sulphur (S)

29. Please report the quantity of fertilizer stored as inventory in the Western region on the last day of the month.

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Inventory includes your entire physically existing product in Canada at month end, regardless of whose warehouse it is located in.

Exclude:

• micronutrients e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, boron
• feed grade urea, feed phosphate or nitric acid.

30. Please report the quantity of other fertilizer products stored as inventory in the Western region on the last day of the month.

Report all on-site and Canadian off-site warehouse inventories.

Other fertilizer products include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

31. Please report the quantity of fertilizer stored as inventory in the Eastern region on the last day of the month.

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Inventory includes your entire physically existing product in Canada at month end, regardless of whose warehouse it is located in.

Exclude:

• micronutrients e.g., copper, zinc, magnesium, boron
• feed grade urea, feed phosphate or nitric acid.

32. Please report the quantity of other fertilizer products stored as inventory in the Eastern region on the last day of the month.

Report all on-site and Canadian off-site warehouse inventories.

Other fertilizer products include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

Fertilizer production

33. Which of the following fertilizer products did this business produce from "reference period?

Include gross production to be reported including all product used in the manufacture of downstream products, e.g., NH3 used for urea production, agricultural urea liquor for urea and UAN production.

Production includes the producing of basic compounds of ammonia and derivatives of ammonia and urea.

Report production in the form and concentration produced.

Select all that apply.

• Aqua Ammonia (NH3)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 24-0-0
• Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 82-0-0-0
• Urea
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 46-0-0
• ESN
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 44-0-0
• Ammonium Nitrate (AN / CAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 34-0-0-0
• Nitrogen Solutions (UAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 28-0-0-0
• Nitrogen Solutions (UAN)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 32-0-0-0
• Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 11-52-0-0
• Diammonium Phosphate (DAP)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 18-46-0-0
• Ammonium Polyphosphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 10-34-0-0
• Ammonium Polyphosphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 11-37-0-0
• Potash
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-60/62-0
• Potassium Sulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-50-18
• Potassium Magnesium Sulphate (KMAG)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-22-22
• Ammonium Sulphate (AS)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 21-0-0-24
• Ammonium Sulphate (AS)
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 20-0-0-24
• Ammonium Thiosulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 15-0-0-20
• Elemental Sulphur
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-0-90
• Elemental Sulphur
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 0-0-0-85
• Ammonium Phosphate Sulphate
  Analysis (N-P-K-S): 16-20-0-14
• Other - Include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

34. Please provide the details for the other fertilizer products this business produced from "reference period".

Other fertilizer products include ammonium polyphosphate, phosphate and sulphur solutions, mixed fertilizer materials, elemental sulphur fertilizers and all other fertilizer products not individually listed.

Other 1 (maximum of 15 other)

• Name
• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphate (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Sulphur (S)

35. Please report fertilizer production from "reference period".

The other fertilizer products will be reported in the next question.

Production includes the producing of basic compounds of ammonia and derivatives of ammonia and urea.

Report production in the form and concentration produced.

36. Please report production of other fertilizer products from "reference period".

Production includes the producing of basic compounds of ammonia and derivatives of ammonia and urea.

Report production in the form and concentration produced.

If « Urea - Analysis (N-P-K-S): 46-0-0 » was selected in question 33, go to question 37. Otherwise, go to question 38.

37. Gross urea production was previously reported. What was the net urea production from "reference period"?

Net (or solid) urea production is the amount of micro-granulated and agricultural urea produced.

Changes or events

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

Select all that apply.

• Strike or lock-out
• Exchange rate impact
• Price changes in goods or services sold
• Contracting out
• Organizational change
• Price changes in labour or raw materials
• Natural disaster
• Recession
• Change in product line
• Sold business or business units
• Expansion
• New or lost contract
• Plant closures
• Acquisition of business or business units

OR

• No changes or events

Contact person

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

Is <Name of respondent> the best person to contact?

• Yes
• No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

• First name
• Last name
• Title
• Email address
• Telephone number (including area code)
• Extension number (if applicable)
• Fax number (including area code)

Feedback

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

Include the time spend gathering the necessary information.

• Hours
• Minutes

42. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Enter your comments

• Consumer price indexes

• Geography

Details on projects that have been approved to use Statistics Canada biobank biospecimens are provided below. To ensure confidentiality, data from these projects will only be available to the Research Data Centres user community.

• Estimating HCV/HBV prevalence among the general population in Canada

  Principal Researcher: Nashira Popovic

  Affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada

  Summary

  Globally, an estimated 71 million people have chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and 257 million people are living with chronic hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis C is a major public health problem that is underdiagnosed and undertreated. Hepatitis B can be prevented by vaccines that are safe, available and effective.

  The Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) measured HBV/HCV infection between 2007-2015. However, HCV and HBV measures were not included in the CHMS after 2015. This time period is especially important, given that medications for the treatment and cure of chronic hepatitis C became available in Canada around that time.

  This project proposes to use Biobank blood samples from CHMS Cycle 5 and 6 to test for HCV/HBV infection in the general Canadian population. These data will help us to understand and report on the current disease burden and may be used to inform the planning of public health programs for these two diseases.

• Improved delivery of respiratory health care services using a metabolomic approach

  Principal Researcher: Dr. Darryl Adamko

  Affiliation: University of Saskatchewan

  Summary

  Metabolomic analyses allow researchers to investigate globally the chemicals that result from different cellular processes. Following these chemical fingerprints, it is possible to investigate the physiological state of cells and, by extension of the organism. Thus, metabolomics is an analytical tool with great potential for diagnosis of human diseases. Since 2009, our team has been developing analytical models via metabolomic analyses, for adults and children with respiratory diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with the ultimate goal of establishing a urine-based diagnostic test.

  For this project, we are using existing cohorts to show how our methods can differentiate preschool children with asthma from other causes of wheeze-like illness, and differentiate adults with asthma from COPD. We will also study differences in sex among these cohorts, ensuring that our test can identify such differences and improve health outcomes. Ultimately, our diagnostic urine test will empower patients, helping them to get a correct diagnosis, and initiation of treatment.

• Generation of Reference Intervals for Neurological Biomarker Analytes in Plasma

  Principal Researcher: Dr. Cheryl Wellington

  Affiliation: University of British Columbia

  Summary

  Traumatic brain injury is one the leading causes of mortality and morbidity affecting humanity, and a recognized risk factor for late-life neurodegenerative disorders and dementia. Since it is now possible to accurately measure several brain-derived proteins in blood samples using ultrasensitive technologies, some proteins present in the blood are emerging as good biomarker candidates for brain damage, meaning they could be used to evaluate its extent and monitor its progression by means of a blood test.

  A key step in developing these blood tests is to first understand what normal levels of the biomarkers, technically called “reference intervals”, are in the representative population. This project will generate reference intervals in the Canadian population for up to 17 proteins (starting with 5) that are emerging as promising biomarkers for neurological conditions. These references could be used in the future to assess the extent of brain damage from blood samples.

• Evaluation of diagnostic assays for COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2

  Principal Researchers: Dr. Michael Drebot

  Affiliation: Public Health Agency of Canada

  Summary

  The recent outbreak of COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 was deemed a public health emergency of international concern in January 2020. Diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is crucial for informing treatment and tracking the spread of the virus to limit transmission. The widely used molecular diagnostic test, which detects genetic material of SARS-CoV-2, is useful for case management but may be limited in identifying infections after virus clearance and determining who has been exposed.

  To improve our ability to identify such cases we aim to evaluate multiple commercially-available blood tests which detect antibodies raised in patients that have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. We also wish to evaluate antigen capture tests to add to the repertoire of available diagnostic assays for COVID-19.

  Samples from patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 will be tested in order to establish the sensitivity of the diagnostic tests. A panel of samples from patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-1 and other respiratory illness, as well as healthy individuals, will be tested in order to establish the cross-reactivity and specificity of the diagnostic tests. Pre-outbreak samples, including sera, blood, plasma, and urine from the CHMS biobank will also be important for determining performance of the various serology platforms.

• Biomonitoring of environmental chemicals in samples of the CHMS biobank

  Principal Researchers: Annie St-Amand

  Affiliation: Health Canada

  Summary

  The biomonitoring component of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) measures many environmental chemicals and their metabolites in the blood and urine of survey participants.

  An environmental chemical can be defined as a chemical substance present in the environment, either human-made or natural, to which humans may be exposed through media such as air, water, food, soil, dust, and consumer products. The primary purpose of this project is to aid scientists, and officials in assessing exposure to environmental chemicals, and in developing policies to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals for the protection of the health of Canadians.

  Biomonitoring of environmental chemicals in biobank samples from cycles 3 to 6 will provide information on recent, and historical concentrations of high priority chemicals in the Canadian population.

• Genome-wide Genotyping of the Canadian Health Measures Survey

  Principal Researcher: Dr. Ioannis Ragoussis

  Affiliation: University of McGill, Montreal, Quebec

  Summary

  DNA samples from consenting participants from cycles 2 to 5 of the CHMS will undergo genotyping. This is a process of determining differences in the genetic make-up between individuals. This will greatly expand the scientific utility of the current data and will allow for substantial contributions to disease understanding. The knowledge of common genetic variation of the CHMS participants will permit researchers to undertake genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify the genetic determinants of many of the CHMS-measured variables. Strict safeguards are in place to ensure that the confidentiality of the CHMS results are respected.

• Fatty Acid Reference Ranges from the CHMS

  Principal Researcher: Dr. David Ma

  Affiliation: University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario

  Purpose

  To determine the reference ranges (normal values) of plasma fatty acids of Canadians to provide an appropriate clinical interpretation of laboratory test results. The study will also serve to establish healthy target levels of fatty acids and determine whether certain concentrations are associated with deficiency or increased risk of chronic disease.

  Scientific importance

  Fatty acid measurement is being widely reported in research. However, the relevance to the health of Canadians is poor due to the lack of available clinical reference ranges. Determining reference ranges for individual fatty acids from the CHMS biospecimens would make it possible to establish healthy targets and evaluate whether certain levels of fatty acids are associated with deficiency or increased chronic disease risk.

  This study will address the development of fatty acid reference ranges in healthy Canadians. The data will enable the development of relevant fatty acid reference ranges in the majority of Canadians from 6 to 79 years of age. Fatty acid reference ranges in young children are highly relevant given that growing evidence links the development of adult chronic disease to these early sensitive years of growth and development.

  Output

  Data results from analysis of the biosamples will be made available to researchers at Statistics Canada's Research Data Centres. Only aggregate statistical outputs conforming to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act will be released. Research findings will be disseminated through peer reviewed academic publications.

  Biospecimens used in this study were collected in CHMS cycle 1 (March 2007 to February 2009) and cycle 2 (August 2009 to November 2011).

• Measuring the Immunity of Canadians to Measles and Varicella and Assessing the Risk of Epidemics (iCARE)

  Principal Researchers: Dr. Natasha Crowcroft and Dr. Shelly Bolotin

  Affiliation: Public Health Ontario

  Purpose

  This study aims to examine the level of population immunity to measles and varicella, (chickenpox) which are both vaccine-preventable diseases in Canada.

  Scientific importance

  Research into the immunity of populations to infectious diseases like measles and varicella is critical. There have been recent measles outbreaks in several Canadian provinces including Ontario in 2008 and Quebec in 2011. By studying the level of immunity to measles and varicella in Canadians, we can understand whether specific populations are at higher risk of future outbreaks.

  This study will measure measles and varicella immunity using serum samples collected from the CHMS, a nationally representative population-based survey of Canadians. The results will show whether Canada is at risk of large outbreaks and to evaluate whether infection patterns of varicella (chickenpox) and herpes zoster (shingles) are changing. These findings will be presented to the policy makers who recommend the best use of vaccines. This will play an important role in improving the health of Canadians by enabling us to predict future trends of these preventable diseases.

  Output

  Study findings will be presented at conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. In addition, findings will be shared with stakeholders such as the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), Canadian Immunization Committee (CIC) and provincial and territorial immunization committees and Ministries of Health. Results from this study could also be used to support the PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) and WHO (World Health Organization) initiatives that are documenting the global elimination of measles.

  Biospecimens used in this study were collected as part of the CHMS cycle 2 (Aug 2009 to Nov 2011) and cycle 3 (Jan 2012 to Dec 2013)

• Canadian Biomonitoring Data, Reference Ranges and Associations with Health Outcomes of Priority Metals and Trace Elements to Inform Risk Assessment under the Chemicals Management Plan

  Principal Researchers: Dr. Innocent Jayawardene and Dr. Sabit Cakmak, Health Canada

  Affiliation: Health Canada

  Purpose

  This project will generate biomonitoring data, examine associations with health outcomes, and establish reference ranges to inform risk assessment for metals/trace elements identified as priorities for action under the Government of Canada's Chemicals Management Plan (CMP). These metals and trace elements include (but may be not limited to) Aluminum (Al), Bismuth (Bi), Chromium (Cr), Germanium (Ge), Lanthanum (La), Lithium (Li), Neodymium (Nd), Tellurium (Te), Titanium (Ti), Yttrium (Y), Cerium (Ce), and Praseodymium (Pr).

  Scientific importance

  This analysis will provide an estimation of exposure to metals and trace elements and will allow for the investigation of possible associations with respiratory, kidney, liver and hematopoietic health, using data collected as part of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). It will also provide data for regulatory assessments under the CMP to help determine the potential for harm to human health from current levels of exposure to these substances from the environment, food, drinking water and consumer products. If the potential for human health risk is identified, risk management actions may be proposed to reduce risk for the Canadian population as appropriate.

  The establishment of Canadian reference ranges will afford opportunities to identify vulnerable populations and/or track progress in reducing exposures over time.

  Output

  Population-weighted summary statistics of concentrations of metals and trace elements in Canadians will be published as part of assessment reports on the CMP Website, as biomonitoring reports, in peer review journals, and/or presented nationally or internationally at scientific conferences on environmental health.

  Biospecimens used in this study were collected as part of CHMS cycle 2 (August 2009 to November 2011)

• Testing of Potential Interfering Substances in Human Serum on the Liaison 25OHD Assay (Dr. Steve Brooks)

  Principal Researcher: Dr. Steve Brooks

  Affiliation: Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Health Canada

  Purpose

  This proposal aims to investigate a possible bias in the method used to measure Vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) which could affect the status of Vitamin D concentrations in individuals with high total cholesterol.

  Scientific importance

  It has been noted that vitamin D levels (measured through circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D) are lower in individuals with higher amounts of body fat. There are several ideas about why this happens but one theory is that something in the blood interferes with either the method (immunoassay) used to measure vitamin D or with its metabolism in the body.

  Cholesterol is a good candidate for this interference since it increases as body weight increases, is similar in structure to vitamin D, and is present in higher blood concentrations compared to 25-hydroxyvitamin D. It is possible then that higher cholesterol interacts with 25-hydroxyvitamin D to lower Vitamin D levels in the blood.

  The method first used by the CHMS to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D was a method called immunoassay, which is known to be sensitive to different elements in the blood. Using this method, it is possible that blood cholesterol or triglycerides influenced the 25-hydroxyvitamin D value. To verify this, we will re-measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum using a newer method that is not affected by other components in the blood.

  The results from this study should help us better interpret vitamin D status in Canadians, which plays an important role in bone health.

  Output

  Only aggregate statistical outputs conforming to the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act will be released. Research findings will be disseminated through peer reviewed academic publications.

  Biospecimens used in this study were collected as part of the CHMS cycle 1 (March 2007 to February 2009)

• Genetic modifiers of folate, vitamin B-12, and homocysteine status in a cross-sectional study of the Canadian population

  Summary

  Genetic variation in the Canadian population means that not all individuals respond equally to the same nutrients. In Canada, Folic Acid (folate) and Vitamin B12 are two nutrients with important public health and policy implications. Folic Acid is required to prevent some birth defects, and Vitamin B12 is required to prevent megaloblastic anemia and neurodegeneration. We identified associations between a number of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs; genetic variants), that are common in the Canadian population, with folate and Vitamin B12 status. These novel associations provide insight into why these SNPs have been associated with B vitamin–related diseases like cardiovascular disease, cancer and birth defects, and how we may make recommendations to meet the nutritional needs of Canadians who have them.

  Additional information can be found in the journal article listed below:

  Zinck, John, Margaret de Groh, Amanda MacFarlane. 2015. "Genetic modifiers of folate, vitamin B-12, and homocysteine status in a cross-sectional study of the Canadian population." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

• Testing of Potential Interfering Substances in Human Serum on the Liaison 25OHD Assay (Hope Weiler)

  Principal Researcher: Hope Weiler

  Summary

  This first part of this study aims to investigate a possible bias in the method used to measure vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) which could affect the status of vitamin D concentrations in individuals with high total cholesterol.

  Scientific Importance

  It has been noted that vitamin D levels (measured through circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D) are lower in individuals with higher amounts of body fat. There are several ideas about why this happens but one theory is that something in the blood interferes with either the method (immunoassay) used to measure vitamin D or with its metabolism in the body.

  Cholesterol is a good candidate for this interference, is similar in structure to vitamin D, and is present in higher blood concentrations compared to 25-hydroxyvitamin D. It is possible then that higher cholesterol interacts with 25-hydroxyvitamin D to lower vitamin D levels in the blood.

  The method first used by the CHMS to measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D was a method called immunoassay, which is known to be sensitive to different elements in the blood. Using this method, it is possible that blood cholesterol or triglycerides influenced the 25-hydroxyvitamin D value. To verify this, we will re-measure 25-hydroxyvitamin D in serum using a newer method that is not affected by other components in the blood.

  Analysis of CHMS Standardized 25OHD Data from Cycles 1-5

  The second part of this study will be to make comparable the vitamin D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) measurements from Cycle 4 to the rest of the Cycles by using a small sampling from Cycle 4.

  Scientific Importance

  Health Canada sets its population targets for healthy vitamin D levels using standard methods. Previous work has been done to standardize CHMS vitamin D results from Cycles 1 to 3 whereas Cycle 5 samples were all tested using the standardized method. Cycle 4 vitamin D results have not undergone this standardization process. Performing this standardization of Cycle 4 vitamin D results and thus including the fully combined vitamin D status data (Cycles 1 through 5) will provide a very thorough assessment of Canadians before the updated vitamin D food fortification policy becomes active in industry and the market place.