The definitions used for the production of statistical tables of Canadian vital statistics data are based on those recommended by the World Health Organization^Note1 and the United Nations.^Note2

Age. Age attained at the last birthday preceding death. In the case of infant deaths, the completed number of months (or minutes, hours, or days) since birth.

Cause of death. The cause of death coded and tabulated is the underlying cause of death. This is defined as "(a) the disease or injury which initiated the train of morbid events leading directly to death, or (b) the circumstances of the accident or violence which produced the fatal injury". This underlying cause of death is selected from a number of conditions listed on the medical certificate of cause of death.

Beginning in the year 2000 in Canada, causes of death and stillbirth are coded to the 10th revision of the World Health Organization's International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10). The previous revision, ICD-9^Note3 was used in Canada for the classification of cause of death and stillbirth from 1979 to 1999.

Death. The permanent disappearance of all evidence of life at any time after a live birth has taken place. Stillbirths are excluded from death statistics unless otherwise indicated.

• Early neonatal death: Death of a child under one week of age (0 to 6 days).
• Infant death: Death of a child under one year of age.
• Neonatal death: Death of a child under four weeks of age (0 to 27 days).
• Perinatal death: Death of a child under one week of age (0 to 6 days) or a stillbirth of 28 or more weeks of gestation.
• Post-neonatal death: Death of a child under one year of age but at least 28 days old (28 to 364 days).

Death rates

• Age-specific death rate: The number of deaths in a particular age group during a given year per 1,000 population (or 100,000 population) in the same age group as of July 1 of the same year.
• Age-standardized death rate: Age-standardization removes the effects of differences in the age structure of populations among areas and over time. Age-standardized death rates show the number of deaths per 1,000 population (or 100,000 population) that would have occurred in a given area if the age structure of the population of that area was the same as the age structure of a specified standard population.

The formula for an age-standardized death rate r is:

$$r={\displaystyle \sum _{i=1}^{20}\left(\frac{d_i}{p_i}\right)}{w}_{i}where,$$

For age group i:
di is the age-sex-specific death count for a particular cause of death for a given year and geographical area,

pi is the age-sex-specific population estimate for July 1 of the same year and geographical area, and

wi is the weight for that age group in a standard population. The 1991 Canadian Census of Population, is used as the standard population for the calculation of age-standardized death rates. This standard population and calculated weights are shown in Text table 1. Note that the same weight is used for each sex.

To yield a rate per 1,000 population (or 100,000 population), r is multiplied by 1,000 (or 100,000).

Text table 1
Standardized–population by age group, Canada, July 1^st, 1991 (both sexes)
Table summary
This table displays the results of standardized–population by age group. The information is grouped by group i (appearing as row headers), age in years, standard population and weight w (appearing as column headers).

Group i	Age in years	Standard population	Weight w
1	under 1	403,061	0.0143
2	1 to 4	1,550,285	0.0551
3	5 to 9	1,953,045	0.0695
4	10 to 14	1,913,115	0.0680
5	15 to 19	1,926,090	0.0685
6	20 to 24	2,109,452	0.0750
7	25 to 29	2,529,239	0.0899
8	30 to 34	2,598,289	0.0924
9	35 to 39	2,344,872	0.0834
10	40 to 44	2,138,891	0.0761
11	45 to 49	1,674,153	0.0595
12	50 to 54	1,339,902	0.0476
13	55 to 59	1,238,441	0.0440
14	60 to 64	1,190,217	0.0423
15	65 to 69	1,084,588	0.0386
16	70 to 74	834,024	0.0297
17	75 to 79	622,221	0.0221
18	80 to 84	382,303	0.0136
19	85 to 89	192,410	0.0068
20	90 and over	95,467	0.0034
Total	Note ...: not applicable	28,120,065	1
... not applicable Source: Statistics Canada

• Crude death rate: The number of deaths during a given year per 1,000 population (or 100,000 population) as of July 1 of the same year.
• Early neonatal death rate: The number of early neonatal deaths during a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year.
• Infant death rate: The number of infant deaths during a given year per 1,000 live births (or 100,000 live births) in the same year.
• Neonatal death rate: The number of neonatal deaths during a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year.
• Perinatal death rate: The number of perinatal deaths during a given year per 1,000 total births (live births plus stillbirths of 28 or more weeks of gestation) in the same year.
• Post-neonatal death rate: The number of post-neonatal deaths during a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year.

Delivery. A delivery may consist of one or more live born or stillborn fetuses. The number of deliveries in a given period will be equal to or less than the total number of births because a multiple birth (twins, triplets or higher-order multiple births) is counted as a single delivery.

Fetal death (stillbirth). See Stillbirth.

Fetal death (stillbirth) rate. See Stillbirth rate.

Gestational age. The interval, in completed weeks, between the first day of the mother's last menstrual period and the day of delivery (that is, the duration of pregnancy). It can also be an estimate of that interval, based on ultrasound, a physical examination, or other method. Canadian birth registration documents do not specify how the gestational age was calculated. Pre-term refers to a period of gestation under 37 completed weeks; term, 37 through 41 completed weeks; and post-term, 42 or more completed weeks.

ICD-10 codes. The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) codes, 10th Revision, were established by the World Health Organization in 1992. The ICD-10 manual assigns codes to specific diseases, injuries and causes of death.

Leading causes of death. From the approximately 8,000 ICD–10 codes valid for underlying causes of death, aggregated groups of causes of death called "short lists" were developed for use in the summary list of causes of death and to rank the leading causes of death. The short lists of ICD-10 used to rank the leading causes of death and the methodology used to select the rankable causes were developed by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) of the U.S Department of Health and Human Services.^Note4

The number of deaths is used as the ranking criteria because it most accurately reflects the frequency of cause-specific mortality. The 50 rankable causes of death, as shown in Appendix 1, were selected from the short list of 113 selected causes of death developed by NCHS for use with ICD–10. The 71 rankable causes of infant death, as shown in Appendix 2, were selected from the short list of 130 selected causes of infant death developed by NCHS for use with ICD–10.

The ranking of leading causes has limitations; it describes the rank order, by number of deaths, of each cause of death from a selected list of causes. The ranking alone cannot measure the relative risk of death. Further, any comparisons of leading causes by region or by year do not take into account the differences in the population age structure.

Live birth. The complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of the pregnancy, which, after such separation, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached.

Life expectancy. A statistical measure derived from the life table indicating the average number of years of life remaining for a population at a specific age, if the individuals comprising that population would experience the age-specific mortality rates observed in a given year, throughout their lives.

Marital status. Marital status refers to the legal conjugal status of the deceased at the time of death. Persons in common-law relationships are categorized by their legal marital status (common-law relationships are included in the "unknown marital status" category where the legal status cannot be determined). A single person is one who has never been married, or a person whose marriage has been annulled and who has not remarried. A separated person is legally married but is not living with his or her spouse because the couple no longer wants to live together. A divorced person is one who has obtained a legal divorce and has not remarried. A married person is one who is legally married and not separated. A person whose spouse has died and who has not remarried is widowed.

Population. Persons whose usual place of residence is somewhere in Canada, including Canadian government employees stationed abroad and their families, members of the Canadian Forces stationed abroad and their families, crews of Canadian merchant vessels, and non-permanent residents of Canada.

Mid-year (July 1) population estimates are used to calculate the rates in vital statistics publications (see table footnotes). Population estimates are frequently revised by Statistics Canada's Demography Division.

Provinces and territories. Unless otherwise stated, the geographic distribution of deaths in the tables of this publication is based on the deceased's usual place of residence.

Nunavut came into being officially as a Territory of Canada on April 1, 1999. The name Northwest Territories applies to a Territory with different geographic boundaries before and after April 1, 1999.

Deaths and stillbirths of residents of Nunavut which took place before April 1, 1999 are included with deaths and stillbirths of residents of the Northwest Territories. Deaths and stillbirths which took place on or after April 1, 1999 are tabulated separately for residents of Nunavut.

Rank of leading causes of death. The rank is based on the number of deaths of each leading cause of death. When there is the same number of deaths for more than one leading cause, the ranks assigned will be the same. Consequently, the next rank in line will be incremented by the number of equal ranks. For example, if there are three leading causes of death with 4th rank, the next leading cause will be rank 7^th.

Stillbirth (fetal death). Death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy; the death is indicated by the fact that after such separation the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord, or definite movement of voluntary muscles. Only stillbirths where the product of conception has a birth weight of 500 grams or more or the duration of pregnancy is 20 weeks or longer are registered in Canada.

In Quebec (as well as in Saskatchewan prior to 2001 and in New Brunswick prior to November 1996), only stillbirths (fetal deaths) weighing 500 or more grams must be reported, regardless of the gestation period.

Because of these differences in reporting requirements, stillbirths (fetal deaths) data are presented for two gestation periods: 20 or more weeks of gestation (including fetal deaths or stillbirths with unknown weeks of gestation), and 28 or more weeks of gestation (excluding unknown weeks of gestation).

Stillbirth (fetal death) rate. The number of stillbirths (fetal deaths) per 1,000 live births plus stillbirths (fetal deaths).

Notes

1. World Health Organization (WHO). International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Volumes 1 and 2 (ICD-10). Geneva, 1992.

2. United Nations. Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System. Statistical Papers, Series M, No. 19, Rev. 1. New York, 1974.

3. World Health Organization (WHO). International Classification of Diseases, 1975 Revision, Volume 1 (ICD-9). Geneva, 1977.

4. Heron, M. "Deaths: leading causes for 2004." National Vital Statistics Reports. 2007; 56(5): 1–95.

Background

In 2010, Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a more efficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden on business respondents.

The IBSP encompasses around 60 surveys covering four major sectors: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, services (including culture) and capital expenditures. By 2019/2020, the IBSP will include roughly 150 economic surveys covering all sectors of economic statistics. The list of surveys currently included in IBSP is available online.

The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses.

The IBSP uses a standardized approach for economic surveys conducted at Statistics Canada. This framework involves:

• Using a common Business Register as the unique frame
• Maximizing the use of administrative information to reduce business response burden
• Using electronic questionnaires as the principal mode of collection
• Harmonizing concepts and questionnaire content
• Adopting common sampling, collection and processing methodologies

What are some of the more significant changes?

• A new approach to sampling ensures businesses will only be asked those questions that are pertinent to their operations. This creates a win-win situation for Statistics Canada and respondents. Statistics Canada reduces the collection effort and has a greater likelihood of collecting the information it requires to produce official statistics relevant to Canadians. It also reduces the time needed by respondents to complete their business surveys.
• Increased use of administrative data reduces business response burden. Administrative data files (such as corporate income tax files) have been used extensively as a direct substitute for a sub-set of sampled units and for imputation of non-response. In the transition to the IBSP model, imputation methods were adapted to take full advantage of the availability of administrative data. This resulted in additional response burden reductions across survey programs. The majority of sampled businesses are no longer required to provide data for revenue and expense information that is available from tax data. The IBSP questionnaires are designed to collect information that is not available from administrative data files, such as commodities produced and business practices.
• A new coherent approach to developing provincial/territorial estimates uses existing information on Statistics Canada's business register to determine provincial/territorial shares of revenues, expenses and value added. This ensures a coherent and standardized approach that is consistent across all IBSP surveys. Previously, these data were collected directly from each respondent, contributing to response burden.
• Electronic questionnaires are now the primary mode to collect data from business respondents. Businesses complete surveys using a secure online application. The result is a more efficient and higher quality collection process. In addition, the quality of survey statistics may improve because electronic questionnaires have built-in checks designed to limit reporting errors that can occur with paper-based questionnaires.
• Increased coverage of the business population results in a more comprehensive set of business statistics. Beginning in reference year 2013, the population covered by the suite of annual economic survey programs increased to include all firms regardless of their size. In previous years, relatively small businesses (based on their sales) were not included in Statistics Canada's central business frame. However, with new self-coding technology, it became possible to classify all businesses operating in the Canadian economy onto the central business frame, regardless of the sales of the firm. As a result, with improved coverage of the population, the IBSP-based estimates better reflect the population of businesses operating in Canada.
• Questionnaires have been updated to reflect the latest business terminology and accounting practices of Canadian businesses. In addition the questionnaires apply the latest standard classifications used by Statistics Canada, such as the North American Industry Classification System and the North American Product Classification System.

Does this impact the comparability of data through time?

The extent of the changes in the business statistics program introduced by the IBSP means that some series may no longer be consistent with estimates from previous periods. For example, the increase in the business population alone means that the estimates will tend to be higher than those previously published.

For some series, data changes will be small and comparisons with estimates to previous reference periods will be consistent. In other cases, the impacts can be significant, leading to breaks in the current estimates when compared to past estimates.

Recognizing the importance of data continuity, Statistics Canada will continue to use several assessment techniques in order to examine whether current estimates will be directly comparable to past estimates. Among the techniques that may be used include:

• Evaluating survey estimates at all levels of detail (national, sub-national, NAICS)
• Comparing estimates obtained from sub-annual surveys (where applicable)
• Comparing tax information
• Analysing the results for common respondents in 2012 and 2013
• Comparing historical movements by respondent and by the industry in general.

In all cases, users are aware that breaks can exist and that any comparisons with previous data should be made at their own discretion.

Once the estimates for the current reference year are available, revisions will be made to the previous year's data.

Who will use the new IBSP estimates?

• Businesses use the estimates to better understand their performance within their given industry relative to the industry average.
• Industry analysts and associations use the IBSP estimates to analyze the performance of given industries in the Canadian economy both nationally and regionally.
• Federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and authorities, the press, survey respondents, and the general public use estimates to assess trends in the Canadian economy.

The IBSP data are a main input in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. They are first adjusted to macroeconomic accounting concepts and definitions and are then integrated into the macroeconomic accounting frameworks. This integration involves adjusting the data to adhere to the macroeconomic accounting identities as well as ensuring consistency through time. These data are the building blocks for Statistics Canada's benchmark measure of gross domestic product and a key input into the estimates used to determine equalization payments and the allocation of harmonized sales tax revenue.

Periodically, Statistics Canada undertakes large scale changes as part of its survey renewal process. The new IBSP data will be integrated into the Macroeconomic Accounts. Although the new data may lead to some changes/revisions to the national accounts, the System of National Accounts framework ensures that the national account estimates are robust and coherent.

Have any other survey releases taken place under the new IBSP schedule?

Yes. The first survey released under IBSP was the 2013 Survey of Aquaculture that was published in the Daily on November 14, 2014. Since then, several other annual surveys have been released, and a number of monthly surveys will soon be made available.

Further Information

For a more detailed explanation of the changes, please consult the Integrated Business Statistics Program Overview on the Statistics Canada website.

More information on the technical aspects on sampling and estimation is available upon request.

For more information, contact Media Relations (613-951-4636); statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

Ce document est aussi disponible en français.

Changes to the monthly natural gas distribution survey

Expanded content

Starting January 2016, Statistics Canada will roll out a more detailed survey related to the natural gas distribution industry in Canada. Companies whose principal activities relate to transmission of natural gas but who also have distribution operations will be included in this survey. The increased content will provide more detailed and complete data on the industry to end-users.

Data availability

Gas distribution data will be made available, where possible, on the volume of gas distributed in both thousands of cubic metres and gigajoules, and its value in Canadian dollars.

Data comparability and accessibility

As a result of the content changes for the survey, natural gas distribution information previously found in CANSIM tables 129-0001, 129-0002, 129-0003 and 129-0004 will no longer be directly comparable with data that will be published under IBSP.

In place of these tables, gas distribution data will now be published solely under table 129-0007. By centralizing the data in one table, users will more easily be able to access survey results.

How can I obtain for more information on changes to the monthly gas distribution survey?

This document highlights key changes to the survey and its impacts for end users. For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this survey, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).

Introduction

• Status
• What's new?
• Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016
• Background
• Conceptual framework and definitions
• Classification structure and codes
• Classification variant

Status

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 is the current departmental standard and was approved on January 16, 2017.

What's new?

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification is a new departmental standard.

Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 provides standard names and codes for Canada's population centres (POPCTRs) and rural area (RA). A classification variant provides the standard names and codes for POPCTRs and RA by province and territory.

Background

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification has been developed to classify population centres and rural area.

The term 'urban' is widely used and one that people intuitively understand – a concentration of population at a high density. It is the opposite of 'rural', where population is not concentrated but dispersed at a low density. This intuitive perspective readily identifies the extremes of what is really a continuum. What is not so intuitive is how to segment the continuum.

Statistics Canada defined urban areas using the same methodology based on population size and density from the 1971 Census through to the 2006 Census. An 'urban area' was defined as having a population of at least 1,000 and a density of 400 or more people per square kilometre. All territory outside an urban area was defined as rural area. Together, urban areas and rural area covered the entire nation.

This methodology established a simple urban-rural dichotomy for Canada. However, the approach was not without some challenges. The term 'urban' is widely used and the interpretation of what is 'urban' often depends on points of view, interests and applications.

From the 1971 Census through the 2006 Census, all communities that met the minimum population concentration and density requirements of the definition were labelled as urban areas. They included small centres with a population of 1,000, up to those of more than one million. This approach ignored the differences among these urban areas by treating them as a single group. Given the widely accepted view that a more dynamic urban-rural continuum existed, the use of the term 'urban area' as it was then defined could have led to misinterpretations.

In addition, because of the broad interpretation of 'urban', Statistics Canada had not been using the term consistently when disseminating its data. In particular, the term 'urban' was sometimes used when referring to a census metropolitan area or a census agglomeration. Such areas are groupings of municipalities and typically included a combination of both urban areas and rural area.

In 2010, two changes were made to address these challenges. First, the term 'population centre' replaced the term 'urban area'. A population centre was defined as an area with a population of at least 1,000 and a density of 400 or more people per square kilometre. All areas outside population centres continued to be defined as rural area.

Secondly, population centres were divided into three groups based on the size of their population to reflect the existence of an urban-rural continuum:

• small population centres, with a population of between 1,000 and 29,999
• medium population centres, with a population of between 30,000 and 99,999
• large urban population centres, consisting of a population of 100,000 and over.

While other classifications were possible, the intent of this set was to provide users with a basic starting point to better understand the dynamic landscape of Canada.

Users of the former urban area concept are still able to continue with their longitudinal analysis using population centres.

These changes were meant to improve interpretation of Statistics Canada data and help users in the study of the Canadian urban-rural landscape and its issues.

In 2016, two new criteria were added to the delineation rules for population centres: the use of a secondary population density threshold as well as employment density.

Conceptual framework and definitions

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification conforms to the basic principles of statistical classification. It consists of a set of discrete units that are mutually exclusive and, in total, cover the entire universe. Usually, a classification appears as a hierarchy, each level of which satisfies the above-mentioned principles and is defined by the uniform application of a single criterion. Applied to geography, these principles result in a classification consisting of geographic areas whose boundaries are specifically delimited in accordance with well-defined concepts and which, in total, cover the entire landmass of Canada.

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification is one of a family of geographical classifications approved and used in Statistics Canada. These geographical classifications provide the basic definitions of geographic areas which, when adopted for data collection and dissemination, result in statistics that are comparable among data series and over time.

In the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016, there are 30 large urban population centres, 57 medium population centres and 918 small population centres.

1. Population centres

A population centre (POPCTR) has a population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on population counts from the current Census of Population. All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.

Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population:

• small population centres, with a population between 1,000 and 29,999
• medium population centres, with a population between 30,000 and 99,999
• large urban population centres, with a population of 100,000 or more.

The population of the population centre includes all population living in the cores, secondary cores and fringes of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs), as well as the population living in population centres outside CMAs and CAs.

As part of the 2016 Census, derivation of population centres used a revised set of criteria. 2016 Census dissemination blocks were used as building blocks for the delineation. In addition, new thresholds were added to the delineation steps.

The population density of 400 persons per square kilometre was retained as the primary density threshold and a secondary population density threshold of 200 persons per square kilometre was added. Employment density was also added to the delineation. Employment density was calculated for each dissemination block based on data obtained from Statistics Canada's Business Register and a threshold of 400 employees per square kilometre was chosen for the delineation.

The 2016 delineation rules for population centres are ranked in order of priority:

1. If a dissemination block or group of contiguous dissemination blocks, each having a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre for the current census, then the dissemination block or group of contiguous dissemination blocks is delineated as a population cluster.
2. If a dissemination block has a population density of at least 200 persons per kilometre or an employment density of 400 employees per square kilometre and it is adjacent to a population cluster, then it is added to that cluster.
3. In order to be retained as a population centre, the resulting population cluster must have a minimum population of 1,000 and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre.
4. The distance by road between population centres is measured. If the distance is less than two kilometres, then the population centres are, in most cases, combined to form a single population centre. Certain restrictions apply when combining population centres located less than two kilometres apart. For example, population centres are only combined provided they do not cross census metropolitan area (CMA) or census agglomeration (CA) boundaries, or if the population centre, which is also a secondary core, is not combined with another core. In some instances, population centres are not combined because the current block structure does not always permit such a merger. For example, if the addition of intermediate blocks would cause the population density of the newly-formed population centre to drop below 400, then the blocks would not be added and the two near adjacent population centres would remain separated.
5. Dissemination blocks that correspond to airport locations and are less than two kilometres away from the population centre are added to the population centre, provided they do not compromise the population density threshold of 400 persons per square kilometre.
6. Interior holes are filled and irregularities to outer boundaries are smoothed.

The resulting population centres are reviewed and may be modified to ensure spatial contiguity and optimal boundaries.

2. Rural areas

Rural areas (RAs) include all territory lying outside population centres (POPCTRs). Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Rural population includes all population living in rural areas of census metropolitan areas (CMAs) and census agglomerations (CAs), as well as population living in rural areas outside CMAs and CAs.

Classification structure and codes

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification has two levels. The relationship is illustrated in Figure 1.

Description of Figure 1

• Level 1
  • Population centre size class categories and rural area
• Level 2
  • Large urban population centres
  • Medium population centres
  • Small population centres
  • Rural area.

Level 1: Population centre size class categories and rural area

The first level is made up of the four category names: large urban population centres, medium population centres, small population centres and rural area.

Level 2: Population centres and rural area

The second level is made up of the names and codes of population centres that fall within their specific size class category. All population centres are identified using four-digit codes.

Classification variant

In Statistics Canada, variants are created and adopted in cases where the version of the base classification does not fully meet specific user needs for disseminating data or for sampling in surveys. A classification variant is based on a classification version such as the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016. In a variant, the categories of the base classification version are aggregated, regrouped or extended to provide additions or alternatives (e.g., context-specific additions) to the standard structure of the base version.

Variant: Population Centre and Rural Area 2016 by Province and Territory

The Population Centre and Rural Area 2016 by Province and Territory is a variant of the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification. This classification variant has two additional levels in the hierarchy of the classification:

• Geographical regions of Canada
• Provinces and territories

This allows for the classification of the population centre size class categories and rural area by provincial and territorial parts. The hierarchical structure of the classification is shown in Figure 2.

Description of Figure 2

• Level 1
  • Geographical regions of Canada
• Level 2
  • Provinces and territories
• Level 3
  • Population centre size class categories and rural area by province and territory
• Level 4
  • Large urban population centres by province and territory
  • Medium population centres by province and territory
  • Small population centres by province and territory
  • Rural area by province and territory

Level 1: Geographical regions of Canada

The geographical regions of Canada are groupings of provinces and territories established for the purpose of statistical reporting. The six geographical regions of Canada are:

• Atlantic
• Quebec
• Ontario
• Prairies
• British Columbia
• Territories

Level 2: Provinces and territories

'Province' and 'territory' refer to the major political units of Canada. From a statistical point of view, province and territory are basic areas for which data are tabulated. Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories.

Level 3: Population centre size class categories and rural area by province and territory

This level is made up of the four category names (large urban population centres, medium population centres, small population centres and rural area), by province and territory.

A provincial or territorial part designation is included with the name of the population centre size class category and rural area by province and territory. For example, under the province of Alberta, the four categories of this level are:

• Large urban population centres (Alberta)
• Medium population centres (Alberta)
• Small population centres (Alberta)
• Rural area (Alberta)

Level 4: Population centres and rural area by province and territory

This level is made up of the names and codes of population centres that fall within their specific size class category, by province and territory. All population centres in this variant are identified with a six-digit code: the two-digit province/territory code followed by the four-digit population centre code.

There are five cases where the population centres cross provincial boundaries in the base classification. In the variant, the provincial parts are presented for each of the population centres. This is useful for the separate analysis of these population centres that have provincial parts. The codes and names of the provincial parts of these population centres are:

• 13 0122 Campbellton (New Brunswick part)
• 24 0122 Campbellton (Quebec part)
• 24 0365 Hawkesbury (Quebec part)
• 35 0365 Hawkesbury (Ontario part)
• 24 0616 Ottawa–Gatineau (Quebec part)
• 35 0616 Ottawa–Gatineau (Ontario part)
• 46 0282 Flin Flon (Manitoba part)
• 47 0282 Flin Flon (Saskatchewan part)
• 47 0478 Lloydminster (Saskatchewan part)
• 48 0478 Lloydminster (Alberta part)

Status

This standard was approved as a departmental standard on January 16, 2017.

2016 version of the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 provides standard names and codes for Canada's population centres (POPCTRs) and rural area (RA).

In addition to the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification, a classification variant is also available. The hierarchical structure of the classification shows the relationship between the geographic areas of the classification and of the classification variant.

The first use of the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 and its variant was in the 2016 Census.

HTML format

• Introduction
• Definitions
• Classification structure

Variant of Population Centre and Rural Area Classification

Population Centre and Rural Area 2016 by Province and Territory

This classification variant provides standard names and codes for population centres (POPCTRs) and rural area (RA) by province and territory. This classification variant shows the hierarchical relationship between the geographical regions of Canada, provinces and territories, POPCTRs and RA.

Background

In 2010, Statistics Canada launched the Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP) to provide a more efficient model for producing economic statistics. The main objective was to enhance the economic statistics program so that it remains as robust and flexible as possible while reducing the burden on business respondents.

The IBSP encompasses around 60 surveys covering four major sectors: manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, services (including culture) and capital expenditures. By 2019/2020, the IBSP will include roughly 150 economic surveys covering all sectors of economic statistics. The list of surveys currently included in IBSP is available online.

The program changes ensure that Statistics Canada will continue to produce a consistent and coherent set of economic statistics. As well, data users and researchers can more easily combine economic data with information from other sources to undertake their analyses.

The IBSP uses a standardized approach for economic surveys conducted at Statistics Canada. This framework involves:

• Using a common Business Register as the unique frame
• Maximizing the use of administrative information to reduce business response burden
• Using electronic questionnaires as the principal mode of collection
• Harmonizing concepts and questionnaire content
• Adopting common sampling, collection and processing methodologies

What are some of the more significant changes?

• A new approach to sampling ensures businesses will only be asked those questions that are pertinent to their operations. This creates a win-win situation for Statistics Canada and respondents. Statistics Canada reduces the collection effort and has a greater likelihood of collecting the information it requires to produce official statistics relevant to Canadians. It also reduces the time needed by respondents to complete their business surveys.
• Increased use of administrative data reduces business response burden. Administrative data files (such as corporate income tax files) have been used extensively as a direct substitute for a sub-set of sampled units and for imputation of non-response. In the transition to the IBSP model, imputation methods were adapted to take full advantage of the availability of administrative data. This resulted in additional response burden reductions across survey programs. The majority of sampled businesses are no longer required to provide data for revenue and expense information that is available from tax data. The IBSP questionnaires are designed to collect information that is not available from administrative data files, such as commodities produced and business practices.
• A new coherent approach to developing provincial/territorial estimates uses existing information on Statistics Canada's business register to determine provincial/territorial shares of revenues, expenses and value added. This ensures a coherent and standardized approach that is consistent across all IBSP surveys. Previously, these data were collected directly from each respondent, contributing to response burden.
• Electronic questionnaires are now the primary mode to collect data from business respondents. Businesses complete surveys using a secure online application. The result is a more efficient and higher quality collection process. In addition, the quality of survey statistics may improve because electronic questionnaires have built-in checks designed to limit reporting errors that can occur with paper-based questionnaires.
• Increased coverage of the business population results in a more comprehensive set of business statistics. Beginning in reference year 2013, the population covered by the suite of annual economic survey programs increased to include all firms regardless of their size. In previous years, relatively small businesses (based on their sales) were not included in Statistics Canada's central business frame. However, with new self-coding technology, it became possible to classify all businesses operating in the Canadian economy onto the central business frame, regardless of the sales of the firm. As a result, with improved coverage of the population, the IBSP-based estimates better reflect the population of businesses operating in Canada.
• Questionnaires have been updated to reflect the latest business terminology and accounting practices of Canadian businesses. In addition the questionnaires apply the latest standard classifications used by Statistics Canada, such as the North American Industry Classification System and the North American Product Classification System.

Does this impact the comparability of data through time?

The extent of the changes in the business statistics program introduced by the IBSP means that some series may no longer be consistent with estimates from previous periods. For example, the increase in the business population alone means that the estimates will tend to be higher than those previously published.

For some series, data changes will be small and comparisons with estimates to previous reference periods will be consistent. In other cases, the impacts can be significant, leading to breaks in the current estimates when compared to past estimates.

Recognizing the importance of data continuity, Statistics Canada will continue to use several assessment techniques in order to examine whether current estimates will be directly comparable to past estimates. Among the techniques that may be used include:

• Evaluating survey estimates at all levels of detail (national, sub-national, NAICS)
• Comparing estimates obtained from sub-annual surveys (where applicable)
• Comparing tax information
• Analysing the results for common respondents in 2012 and 2013
• Comparing historical movements by respondent and by the industry in general.

In all cases, users are aware that breaks can exist and that any comparisons with previous data should be made at their own discretion.

Once the estimates for the current reference year are available, revisions will be made to the previous year`s data.

Who will use the new IBSP estimates?

• Businesses use the estimates to better understand their performance within their given industry relative to the industry average.
• Industry analysts and associations use the IBSP estimates to analyze the performance of given industries in the Canadian economy both nationally and regionally.
• Federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and authorities, the press, survey respondents, and the general public use estimates to assess trends in the Canadian economy.

The IBSP data are a main input in the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts. They are first adjusted to macroeconomic accounting concepts and definitions and are then integrated into the macroeconomic accounting frameworks. This integration involves adjusting the data to adhere to the macroeconomic accounting identities as well as ensuring consistency through time. These data are the building blocks for Statistics Canada's benchmark measure of gross domestic product and a key input into the estimates used to determine equalization payments and the allocation of harmonized sales tax revenue.

Periodically, Statistics Canada undertakes large scale changes as part of its survey renewal process. The new IBSP data will be integrated into the Macroeconomic Accounts. Although the new data may lead to some changes/revisions to the national accounts, the System of National Accounts framework ensures that the national account estimates are robust and coherent.

Have any other survey releases taken place under the new IBSP schedule?

Yes. The first survey released under IBSP was the 2013 Survey of Aquaculture that was published in the Daily on November 14, 2014. Since then, several other annual surveys have been released, and a number of monthly surveys will soon be made available.

Further Information

For a more detailed explanation of the changes, please consult the Integrated Business Statistics Program Overview on the Statistics Canada website.

More information on the technical aspects on sampling and estimation is available upon request.

For more information, contact Media Relations (613-951-4636); statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca.

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Changes to the monthly natural gas transmission survey

Expanded content

Starting January 2016, Statistics Canada will roll out a more detailed survey related to the natural gas transmission industry in Canada. Companies whose principal activities relate to distribution of natural gas but who also have transmission operations will be included in this survey. The increased content will provide more detailed and complete data on the industry to end-users.

Among the most significant changes made are expanded categories related to the receipt and disposition categories of natural gas. A breakdown of these changes is as follows:

• Receipts
  • Natural gas liquids fractionation plants and mainline straddle plants
  • Liquefied natural gas marine terminals
• Deliveries
  • Natural gas liquids fractionation plants and mainline straddle plants
  • Liquefied natural gas marine terminals

Data availability

Gas transmission data will be made available, where possible, on the volume of gas transmitted in both thousands of cubic metres and gigajoules.

Data comparability and accessibility

As a result of the content changes for the survey, natural gas transmission information previously found in CANSIM tables 129-0001, 129-0002, 129-0003 and 129-0004 will no longer be directly comparable with data that will be published under IBSP.

In place of these tables, gas distribution data will now be published alongside with gas transmission information solely under table 129-0006. By centralizing the data in one table, users will more easily be able to access survey results.

How can I obtain for more information on changes to the monthly gas transmission survey?

This document highlights key changes to the survey and its impacts for end users. For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this survey, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).