Getting started

Why are we conducting this survey?

The Canadian Child Care Worker Survey, sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada, collects information from centre-based child care workers on factors related to the workplace and staff well-being. The survey aims to better understand how these factors influence the recruitment, retention and recognition of child care workers.

This information will be used to inform research, policies and programs related to the child care workforce.

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

Although voluntary, your participation is important so that the information collected is as accurate and complete as possible.

Other important information

Authorization and confidentiality

Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with information from the Canadian Survey on the Provision of Child Care Services, which may collect information on the characteristics of the child care centre in which you currently work or last worked.

Statistics Canada may also combine the information you provide with other survey or administrative data sources.

Contact us if you have any questions or concerns about record linkage:

Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca

Telephone: 1-877-949-9492

Mail:
Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Canadian Center for Education Statistics
150 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6

Respondent information

Do you currently work in a centre-based child care setting?

Include daycare centre, les Centre de la petite enfance (CPE), before and after school child care offered in a school or centre, nursery school and preschool.

Exclude family child care home, care offered in a child’s home and home-based child care.

• Yes
• No

During the past three years, did you work in a centre-based child care setting?

Include daycare centre, les CPE, before and after school child care offered in a school or centre, nursery school and preschool.

Exclude family child care home, care offered in a child’s home and home-based child care.

• Yes
• No

In what year did you leave this centre-based child care setting?

Was it:

• Before 2024
• 2024
• 2025
• 2026
• Don’t know

This questionnaire will collect information on when you last worked in the child care sector in order for us to understand your experience as a child care worker.

Your [last] position in early learning and child care  

What [is/was] your [current] position in this setting?

Include full-time, part-time, casual, on call or supply position.

Exclude volunteer position, unpaid student position or worker on leave.

Select all that apply.

 [Is/Was] it:

• Supervisor or director
  Include supervisors or directors, whether or not you [work/worked] directly with children
• Position providing early learning and child care directly to children
  OR
• I [work/worked] in a child care setting but [do/did] not provide child care directly to children
  e.g., accountant, cook, cleaner, auxiliary staff

[In the last week, with/With] which age groups did you normally work?

Select all that apply.

[Is/Was] it:

• Less than 1 year olds
• 1 year olds
• 2 year olds
• 3 year olds
• 4 year olds
• 5 year olds
• 6 to 10 year olds
• 11 years and older
  OR
• I [do/did] not normally work with set age groups

In which province or territory [is/was] the child care setting where you [work/worked] located?

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

What were the reasons for taking your [current] position in this setting?

Select all that apply.

Was it:

• Opportunity for advancement
• Reputation of the child care setting
• Pay
• Benefits
• Convenience of location
• Flexible work hours
• Physical work environment
  e.g., secure, clean, adequate and well-maintained indoor and outdoor space which provides accessible features
• Opportunity to work with qualified educators
• Opportunity to work with a different age group
• Only offer I had
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason for taking your [current] position

What was the most important reason for taking your [current] position in this setting?

Was it:

• Opportunity for advancement
• Reputation of the child care setting
• Pay
• Benefits
• Convenience of location
• Flexible work hours
• Physical work environment
  e.g., secure, clean, adequate and well-maintained indoor and outdoor space which provides accessible features
• Opportunity to work with qualified educators
• Opportunity to work with a different age group
• Only offer I had
• Other reason

Your work environment

The next few questions are about your work environment [when you last worked in a child care setting].

How satisfied [are/were] you with the following aspects of your job [when you last worked in a child care setting]?

a. The total number of hours I [work/worked] each week at this job

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

b. The number of days per week I [work/worked] at this job

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

c. Work schedule

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

d. Workload

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

e. Relationship with my co-workers

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

f. Relationship with the centre management

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

g. Relationship with the families of the children I [work/worked] with

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

h. Leadership within the centre

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

i. Opportunities for input into decision-making

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

j. In-service training received in this particular job

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

k. Career opportunities this job [provides/provided]

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

l. Evaluation and feedback received from supervisor or director

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

m. My salary

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

n. My benefits

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

o. My ability to respond to personal and family needs

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

p. My overall sense of job satisfaction

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

q. The physical demands of the job

• Very satisfied
• Somewhat satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Somewhat dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• Not applicable

How often do each of the following statements reflect how you [feel/felt] about your work [when you last worked in a child care setting]?

a. The work I [do/did] [is/was] stimulating and challenging

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

b. I [feel/felt] physically exhausted at the end of the day

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

c. My work [gives/gave] me a sense of accomplishment

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

d. There [is/was] too little time to do all that [needs/needed] to be done

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

e. My work [is/was] important

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

f. Centre policies and procedures [are/were] well-defined

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

g. I [feel/felt] frustrated by this job

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

h. I [have/had] reasonable control over most things that [affect/affected] my job satisfaction

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

i. I [feel/felt] my job [makes/made] good use of my skills and abilities

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

j. My centre [provides/provided] a well-rounded program for the children who [attend/attended]

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

k. My centre [supports/supported] the families of the children who [attend/attended]

• All of the time
• Most of the time
• Occasionally
• Rarely
• Never

To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

Early learning and child care workers are valued in society.

Would you say:

• Strongly agree
• Somewhat agree
• Neither disagree nor agree
• Somewhat disagree
• Strongly disagree

Your work schedule [when you last worked in a child care setting]

[Do/Did] you work full-time or part-time [at your current/when you last worked in a] child care setting?

• Full-time
  30 hours or more per week
• Part-time
  Less than 30 hours per week
• A mixture of full-time and part-time

[Do/Did] you work split shifts [at your current/when you last worked in a] child care setting?

e.g., 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the same day

• Yes
• No

On average, how many hours [do/did] you usually work per week at this job?

Round to the nearest hour.

• Number of hours

Last week, how many hours of paid overtime did you work at this job?

Round to the nearest hour.

• Number of hours

Last week, how many extra hours without pay did you work at this job?

Round to the nearest hour.

• Number of hours

Why [do/did] you work part-time?

Select all that apply.

[Is/Was] it:

• I [work/worked] part-time for personal reasons
• I [can/could] only find part-time work
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason for working part-time

In addition to your [current/last] job at [your/the] child care centre, [do/did] you do any other paid work either for a different employer or through self-employment?

• Yes
• No

[Is/Was] this job in the child care sector?

• Yes
• No

What was the main reason you took this additional job?

[Is/Was] it:

• To gain skills or experience related to early childhood education
• To gain skills or experience unrelated to early childhood education
• To earn additional income
• To work for a family business
• For personal interest
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason you took this additional job

Approximately how many hours per week [do/did] you usually work at this other job?

Round to the nearest hour.

• Number of hours

Your work experience in early learning and child care

How many years of work experience do you have in child care, regardless of whether you worked full-time or part-time?

Include experience at all types of child care settings when reporting total years.

Exclude any extended periods of leave such as parental leave.

Round to the nearest whole year. If you worked less than 6 months, enter a “0”.

• Years working at my [current/last] job in child care
• Total years working in child care, both inside and outside of Canada

In the [past/last] 5 years [that you worked in child care], besides your [current/last] employer, how many other child care employers [have/had] you worked for?

Exclude your [current/last] employer.

Include employers both inside and outside of Canada.

• Number of child care employers

Wages and benefits

The following questions are about the wages and benefits associated with your [current job/last job in a child care setting]. 

Which of the following [are/were] available to you at your job [when you last worked in a child care setting]?

Select all that apply.

[Is/Was] there:

• Medical coverage for expenses not covered by provincial health plans
• Paid sick or personal leave days
• Life or disability insurance
• Supplementary top-up payments for Employment Insurance (EI) or Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) maternity or parental benefits
• Pension plan or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) contribution
• Full or partial payment of child care association membership
• Free or subsidized care for my child
• Paid breaks
• Meals provided
• Paid preparation or planning time
• Paid overtime
• Time in lieu for overtime
• Paid release time to participate in Early Childhood Education (ECE)-related training, conferences or workshops
  OR
• None of the above

[In the past 12 months/When you last worked in a child care setting], in addition to your regular paycheque, did you receive any of the following payments related to this job?

Select all that apply.

Was there:

• A bonus from your employer
• A wage enhancement
  Wage enhancements or top-ups are increases to the wages you normally receive from your employer.
• Other payment
  • Specify other payment
  OR
• None of the above

How many days of paid vacation [do/did] you receive annually?

If you [receive/received] pay in lieu of vacation, please enter “0”.

• Number of vacation days

[Are/Were] you covered by a union contract or collective agreement [when you last worked in a child care setting]?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

[What/When you last worked in a child care setting, what] [is/was] your usual pay (before deductions, taxes or bonuses) from your [current] employer?

Report your gross pay.

Round to the nearest Canadian dollar.

• Dollar amount
• Frequency
  • Weekly
  • Bi-weekly
  • Monthly
  • Annual
  • Hourly

Your future in the child care sector

Are you currently looking for a new job?

• Yes
• No

Are you looking for a job in the child care sector?

• Yes, in the child care sector
• No, not in the child care sector

What are the reasons why you are looking for a new job?

Select all that apply.

Is it:

• Career advancement
• Higher pay
• Better benefits
• Planning to move
  e.g., to another city, town, province or country
• Wanting to work with a different age group of children
• Dissatisfied with the current work environment
• Want an early childhood education related job that is not in centre-based child care
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason you are looking for a new job
  OR
• Don’t know

What is the main reason why you are looking for a new job?

Is it:

• Career advancement
• Higher pay
• Better benefits
• Planning to move
  e.g., to another city, town, province or country
• Want to work with a different age group of children
• Dissatisfied with the current work environment
• Want an early childhood education related job that is not in centre-based child care
• Other reason

Looking to the future, do you expect to be working in regulated child care in three years?

• Yes
• No

In three years, what do you expect to be doing for work?

Is it:

• Working at my current job
• Working at a similar job at another child care setting or organization
• Working in a more senior position at my current setting or organization
• Working in a more senior position at another child care setting or organization
• I plan to open my own child care center
• Don’t know
• Other possibility
  • Specify other possibility

Instead of working in the child care sector, what do you expect to be doing in 3 years?

Is it:

• Working in the school system
• Working in an early childhood job that is not in a child care setting
• Working in a field unrelated to early childhood education
• Staying at home with my children
• Returning to school
• Retirement
• Don’t know
  • Specify other possibility

Reasons for leaving your position in child care

What are the reasons why you left your position in child care?

Select all that apply.

Was it:

• Career advancement
• Wanted higher pay
• Wanted better benefits
• Moved
  e.g., to another city, town, province or country
• Wanting to work with a different age group of children
• Dissatisfaction with work environment
• Wanted an early childhood education related job that was not in centre-based child care
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason
  OR
• Don’t know

What is the main reason why you left your position in child care?

Was it:

• Career advancement
• Wanted higher pay
• Wanted better benefits
• Moved
  e.g., to another city, town, province or country
• Wanted to work with a different age group of children
• Dissatisfaction with work environment
• Wanted an early childhood education related job that was not in centre-based child care
• Wanted a job that was not related to early childhood education
• Other reason

During the past three months, what was your main activity?

Was it:

• Working at a paid job or business
• Looking for paid work
• Going to school or training
• Retired
• Maternity or paternity or parental leave
• Stay at home parent
• Volunteering
• Unable to work
  e.g., disability
• Unable to work due to care responsibilities for a child with a disability or chronic illness
• Other activity
  • Specify other activity

Your education in early learning and child care

What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree that you have completed?

• Less than high school diploma or its equivalent
• High school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate
• Trades certificate or diploma
• College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma (other than trades certificates or diplomas)
• University certificate or diploma below the bachelor’s level
• Bachelor’s degree
  e.g., B.A., B.A. (Hons), B.Sc., B.Ed., LL.B
• University certificate, diploma or degree above the bachelor’s level

What is the highest level of training or education in Early Childhood Education (ECE) that you have completed?

Is it:

• Family child care-specific workshop
• ECE courses or workshops lasting less than 1 year or its equivalent
• ECE 1-year certificate or diploma or its equivalent
• ECE 2-year certificate or diploma or its equivalent
• ECE 3-year certificate or diploma or its equivalent
• ECE 3-year degree or its equivalent
• ECE 4-year degree or its equivalent
• ECE graduate studies or its equivalent
• Other ECE training or program
  • Specify other ECE training or program
• No ECE training or program

Was this ECE training or program completed in Canada?

• Yes
• No

During the last 12 months, did you participate in any early learning and child care-related professional development or training?

Include conferences, workshops and courses.

• Yes
• No

Thinking about your last professional development or skills training activity, what was the main reason why you participated?

Was it:

• Personal interest
• To keep current in my profession
• To help advance my career or to get a promotion
• Required by my employer
• Introduction of new early learning curriculum framework
• Required by regulation
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason

What was the main reason why you did not participate in professional development or training in the past 12 months?

Was it:

• Not enough time
• Could not get time off work
• Too expensive
• Don’t need any professional development
• Not interested in participating in professional development or training
• The courses or programs of interest are not available
• Unable to travel to classes or training venue
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason

[Are/When you last worked in a child care setting, were] you a member of a national or provincial child care association?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

Characteristics of your child care setting

The following questions are about the child care setting [where you currently work/in which you last worked]. If you [work/worked] in more than one child care setting, please respond for the setting in which you [work/worked] the most hours.

What is the postal code for the child care setting [where you currently work/in which you last worked]?

• Postal code
  Example: A9A 9A9
  OR
• Don’t know

What type of child care setting [do/did] you work in?

[Is/Was] it:

• For profit setting
  A for profit child care setting aims to make more money than its costs (a profit).
• Either a non-profit setting or a setting operated directly by a government agency
  A non-profit child care setting does not aim to make a profit, or all profits are re-invested into the child care setting. The setting may alternately be operated by a government agency such as a school board or district, municipality, regional district or public health authority.
• Don’t know

[Is/Was] the child care setting in which you [work/last worked]  licenced by child care authorities from the provincial or local government?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

[Does/Did] your child care setting receive any funding from the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) agreement that your province signed with the Government of Canada?

The CWELCC agreement is a plan that is being implemented in stages, to make regulated child care more accessible and affordable. Under this plan, fees reduced to an average of $10 a day in 2025 to 2026.

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

[Does/Did] your child care setting offer child care services subsidized by the Québec Reduced Contribution Program?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

[Is/Was] the child care setting [where you currently work/in which you last worked] part of a multi-site child care program?

i.e., your child care organization has more than one daycare or centre providing child care services at more than one address

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

What types of child care options [does/did] your setting offer?

Select all that apply.

[Is/Was] it:

• Full-time
  i.e., child care offered for 6 hours or more per day and at least 5 days per week
• Part-time
  i.e., child care offered for either 6 hours or more per day and less than 5 days per week or for less than 6 hours per day, for any number of days per week
• Before school
• After school
• Weekends
• Evenings
  i.e., child care offered after 6 p.m
• Overnight
• Drop-in
• Flexible
  i.e., additional or alternative days of child care offered upon request for non regular full-time children

Demographics

What is your gender?

Gender refers to current gender which may be different from sex assigned at birth and may be different from what is indicated on legal documents.

Is it:

• Male
• Female
• Or please specify
  • Specify your gender

What is your age?

• Age in years

What is your marital status?

Is it:

• Married
  For Quebec residents only, select the “Married” category if your marital status is “civil union”.
• Living common law
  Two people who live together as a couple but who are not legally married to each other.
• Never married (not living common law)
• Separated (not living common law)
• Divorced (not living common law)
• Widowed (not living common law)

Are you First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)?

First Nations (North American Indian) includes Status and Non-Status Indians.
If “Yes”, select the responses that best describes this person now.

• No, not First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit)
  OR
• Yes, First Nations (North American Indian)
• Yes, Métis
• Yes, Inuk (Inuit)

Sociodemographic characteristics

The following question collects information in accordance with the Employment Equity Act and its Regulations and Guidelines to support programs that promote equal opportunity for everyone to share in the social, cultural, and economic life of Canada.

Select all that apply.

Are you:

• White
• South Asian
  e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
• Chinese
• Black
• Filipino
• Arab
• Latin American
• Southeast Asian
  e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
• West Asian
  e.g., Iranian, Afghan
• Korean
• Japanese
• Other
  • Specify other group

Where were you born?

Specify place of birth according to present boundaries.

• Born in Canada
• Born outside Canada
  • Specify the country
    To search for a country, type the first few letters to narrow down the choices.
    Note: If the country is not listed, select “Other”.
    • Specify other country

In what year did you first come to Canada to live?

If exact year is not known, enter best estimate.

• Year of arrival

Are you now, or have you ever been a landed immigrant?

A “landed immigrant” (permanent resident) is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities.

• Yes
• No

In what year did you first become a landed immigrant?

If exact year is not known, enter best estimate.

• Year of immigration

Of what country are you a citizen?

Select all that apply.

Are you a citizen of:

• Canada
  Is it:
  • By birth
  • By naturalization
    i.e., the process by which an immigrant is granted citizenship of Canada, under the Citizenship Act.
• Another country
  • Select the country
    To search for a country, type the first few letters to narrow down the choices.
    Note: If the country is not listed, select “Other”.
    • Specify other country

This virtual webinar will present key findings from the 2024–2025 Canadian Survey on Working Conditions (CSWC). It will introduce participants to the concept of quality of employment and explore the various aspects of work that influence workers’ well-being.

The session will also examine important drivers of employment quality in Canada—such as occupation, industry, and educational attainment—and highlight differences across demographic groups.

The event will be hosted by Vincent Hardy, Chief of the Quality of Employment section at the Centre for Labour Market Information.

Webinar date for the English session: March 11, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Presenter – English session: Vincent Hardy, Chief of the Quality of Employment Section, Centre for Labour Market Information.

Register for the webinar: Registration Form - A portrait of quality of employment in Canada: Recent results from Canadian Survey on Working Conditions

Environment, Energy and Transportation Statistics Division
Energy Section

I. Who should complete this questionnaire?

An engineer, a production manager, an operation manager or someone knowledgeable about the energy consumption and production process of this establishment should complete this questionnaire.

II. Reporting instructions

Please report all quantities of energy commodities consumed from the 1st of January to the 31st of December, be they purchased or self-generated by the industrial establishment. Exclude energy used by contractors, common carriers and suppliers. Round all data to the nearest whole number. If you need assistance, please contact Statistics Canada at the telephone number indicated on your questionnaire.

III. Retention

Please keep a copy of the completed questionnaire with your secure records.

IV. Definitions

Type of energy use

Amount consumed as fuel: The quantity of the energy commodity used to power the production process of the plant, which includes heating and transportation at the establishment.

Amount consumed to produce steam for sale: The quantity of the energy commodity used in the production of steam that is delivered to another establishment, as per a sales contract or other understanding. Energy used in the production of steam that is then used internally in the production process is reported in the "amount consumed as fuel" column.

Amount consumed to produce electricity: The quantity of the energy commodity used to generate electricity either for the plant's own use or for delivery to another establishment, as per a sales contract or other understanding.

Amount consumed for non-energy use: The quantity of the energy commodity used for other purposes than As Fuel in the plant production process or to Produce Electricity or Steam. Some examples of energy commodities used for non-energy use are:

• Natural gas used as a reducing agent to produce direct reduced iron (DRI)
• Petroleum coke used as feed to reduce lead oxide in lead production
• Natural gas used as feed to produce hydrogen and ammonia
• Anthracite used as feed (as a reducing agent) to produce ferrosilicon and silicon metal
• Heavy fuel oil consumed as feed to produce other products.
• Refuse consumed as feed to produce other products.
• Diesel consumed as feed to produce other products.
• Propane consumed as feed to produce other products.

Electricity Generated

Please report the total amount of electricity generated, whether used within the plant or sold.

Type of energy consumed

Please report your energy use according to the following commodity definitions.

Section 1

Electricity: A form of energy generated by friction, induction or chemical change that is caused by the presence and motion of elementary-charged particles. The electricity that is consumed can either be received by the establishment (purchased) or produced by the establishment (self-generated).

Natural gas: A mixture of hydrocarbons, comprised principally of methane (CH4), originating in the gaseous phase or in solution with crude oil in porous geologic formations beneath the earth's surface.

Propane: A gaseous, straight-chained hydrocarbon. A colourless, paraffinic gas extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams, consisting of molecules composed of three atoms of carbon and eight atoms of hydrogen (C3H8). Used primarily in residential and commercial heating and cooling, as transportation fuel and petrochemical feedstock.

Middle distillates (diesel, light fuel oil, kerosene)

Heavy fuel oil (Canadian/Foreign): All grades of residual type fuels including those with low sulphur content. Usually used for steam and electric power generation and diesel motors. Includes heavy fuel oil nos. 4, 5, 6 and bunker C.

Wood and wood waste: Wood and wood energy used as fuel, including round wood (cord wood), lignin, wood scraps from furniture and window frame manufacturing, wood chips, bark, sawdust, shavings, lumber rejects, forest residues, charcoal and pulp waste from the operation of pulp mills, sawmills and plywood mills.

Spent pulping liquor (Black liquor): A recycled by-product formed during the pulping of wood in the paper-making process. It is primarily made up of lignin and other wood constituents and chemicals that are by-products of the manufacture of chemical pulp. It is burned As Fuel or in a recovery boiler which produces steam which can be used to produce electricity.

Refuse: Solid or liquid waste materials used as a combustible energy source. This would include the burning of wastepaper, packing materials, garbage and other industrial, agricultural and urban refuse and is often used to generate electricity. Please specify type.

Steam: A gas resulting from the vaporization of a liquid or the sublimation of a solid, generated by condensing or non-condensing turbines. The questionnaire asks about the steam that received by the establishment (purchased). Report purchased steam used as fuel for the production process, and steam used for atomization or as feed in process application as non energy use.

Special note: the fuels used to generate steam within the establishment should be reported under "as fuel" for those fuels. For example, if 100 cubic metres of heavy fuel oil was used to produce steam, the heavy fuel oil consumption should be reported under "as fuel". Another example is if the heavy fuel oil is used to produce steam, which is then used to generate electricity, the heavy fuel oil is still reported “as fuel” since it was first used to generate the steam.

Amount consumed as fuel: The quantity of the energy commodity used to power production processes, heating (including heat for the facility), on-site transportation and used to generate steam for use by the facility.

Amount consumed to produce electricity: The quantity of the energy commodity used to generate electricity either for the plant's own use or for delivery to another establishment, as per a sales contract or other understanding.

Amount consumed for non-energy use: The quantity of the energy commodity used for other purposes than as fuel in the plant production process or to produce electricity or steam. For example, steam used as feed to produce other products.

Section 2

Coal: A readily combustible, black or brownish-black rock-like substance, whose composition, including inherent moisture, consists of more than 50% by weight and 70% by volume of carbonaceous material. It is formed from plant remains that have been compacted, hardened, chemically altered and metamorphosed by heat and pressure over geologic time without access to air.

Bituminous coal (Canadian / Foreign): A dense, black coal, often with well-defined bands of bright and dull material with a moisture content usually less than 20 per cent. It has a higher heating value and higher volatile matter and ash content than sub-bituminous coal; the heating value of bituminous coal typically ranges from 23.3 to 30.2 terajoules per kilotonne. Used in making coke, in steam and electricity production, as well as in the production of steel. Metallurgical coal is typically bituminous coal.

Sub-bituminous coal (Canadian / Foreign): A black coal used primarily for thermal generation. It has a high moisture content, between 15 and 40 percent by weight. Its sulphur content is typically quite low; its ash content is also usually low but volatile matter is usually high and can exceed 40% of the weight. Heating value varies from 16.3 terajoules per kilotonne to slightly over 20.9 terajoules per kilotonne.

Lignite: Low-rank, brown coals which are distinctly brown and woody or claylike in appearance, and which contain relatively high moisture contents (between 30 and 70 percent of the fuel by weight). Used almost exclusively for electric power generation.

Anthracite: A hard, black, lustrous coal containing a high percentage of fixed carbon, a low percentage of volatile matter, little moisture content, low sulfur, low ash and a high heating value at or above 27.7 terajoules per kilotonne that burns with a nearly smokeless flame. Generally used in the production of steel.

Coal coke (Canadian/Foreign): A hard, porous product made from the carbonization (baking) of bituminous coal in ovens in substoichiometric atmosphere at high temperatures to the extent that the volatile matter of the coal is released and the coal passes through a "plastic stage" to become metallurgical coke. Often used as a fuel and a carbon input (reducing agent) in smelting iron ore in an integrated steel mill (blast furnace). Coke breeze and foundry coke are included in this category.

Coal by-products

Section 3

Petroleum coke (Canadian/Foreign): A final product, often called a "waste product", of the petroleum refining process, which is the output of the refinery after all of the distillates and oils have been distilled from crude oil, leaving a product that has the appearance of coal. There are various types, e.g. "sponge", "shot", and "fluid" coke, which are differentiated according to size. Petroleum coke is a residue high in carbon content and low in hydrogen that is the final product of thermal decomposition in the condensation process in cracking. It is typically high in sulfur, low in volatile matter, low in ash and low in moisture. It may be sold as is or further purified by calcining for specialty uses, including anode production. It may also be burned as fuel in various processes, ranging from power plants to cement kilns. Heating value is typically around 40 terajoules per kilotonne.

Refinery fuel gas: Any un-separated mixture of gases produced in refineries by distillation, cracking, reforming and other processes. The principal constituents are methane, ethane, ethylene, normal butane, butylenes, propane, propylene, etc. Also known as still gas. Still gas is used as a refinery fuel and a petrochemical feedstock.

Coke on catalyst (Catalyst coke): In many catalytic operations (e.g. catalytic cracking), carbon is deposited on the catalyst, thus deactivating the catalyst. The catalyst is reactivated by burning off the carbon, which is used as a fuel in the refining process. This carbon or coke is not recoverable in a concentrated form.

Bitumen emulsion (Orimulsion) and Bitumen AC: A thick oil and water emulsion. It is made by mixing bitumen with about 30% water and a small amount of surfactant. Behaves similarly to fuel oil and was developed for industrial use. Bitumen AC is a viscosity grade bitumen mainly used in the manufacture of hot mix asphalt for base and wearing courses.

Ethane: A normally gaseous, straight-chain hydrocarbon. A colourless, paraffinic gas extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams, consisting of molecules composed of two atoms of carbon and six atoms of hydrogen (C2H6), used as petrochemical feedstock in production of chemicals and plastics and as a solvent in enhanced oil recovery process.

Butane: A normally gaseous hydrocarbon. A colourless, paraffinic gas extracted from natural gas or refinery gas streams, consisting of molecules composed of four atoms of carbon and ten atoms of hydrogen (C4H10), used primarily for blending in high-octane gasoline, for residential and commercial heating, and in the manufacture of chemicals and synthetic rubber.

Naphtha: A feedstock destined primarily for the petrochemical industry (e.g. ethylene manufacture or aromatics production). Naphtha specialties comprise all finished products within the naphtha boiling range of 70-200°C that are used as paint thinners, cleaners or solvents. This also includes gas oil used as petrochemical feedstocks.

By-product gas: A mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrogen produced from chemical processes such as ethane cracking.

Flared gas: Gas that is being burned as a means of disposal to the environment usually when it contains odorous or toxic components. Flared gas should be reported as non-energy use.

Other: Any energy commodity consumed not otherwise identified on the questionnaire. Specify in the space provided along with the unit of measure.

Section 4

Steam sales

If an energy commodity is used to generate steam for sale or transfer to other facilities, businesses or organizations, please report, in gigajoules, the amount sold to external clients.

Section 5

This section asks if your facility is using or planning on using AI for energy savings.  The purpose of these questions is to understand the type and level of AI use among Canadian manufacturers, the benefits from AI and the types of assistance that could promote AI use for energy savings. 

Section 6

Reasons for changes in energy consumption

This section aims to reduce the necessity for further inquiries. Statistics Canada compares responses to this questionnaire with those from previous years. Please indicate the reason(s) that best describe significant changes in your energy consumption from the previous year along with an explanation.

Table of contents

• Labour market activity and school attendance (ACT1)
• Support payments received (SCC1)
• Support payments paid (SCC2)
• Childcare expenses (SCC3)
• Total personal income (INC1)
• Introduction to the disability screening questions (PDSQ)
• Disability screening questions (DSQ)
• Unmet health care needs (UCN)
• Financial difficulty due to disability (FDD)
• Owners and renters (DWL)
• Owners (OWN)
• Food security (FSC)
• School food programs (SFP)

Labour market activity and school attendance (ACT1)

Labour market activity and school attendance (ACT1)
ACT1_R01	The next questions are about your activities between January and December 2025, as well as the activities of other members of your household.
ACT1_Q01 Q2	Did you work at a job or business in 2025?
	1. Yes
	2. No
ACT1_Q05 Q3	During 2025, how many weeks did you work at a job or business?
	Count every week worked, no matter the number of hours. Include vacation, maternity or parental leave, illness, strikes and lock-out.
ACT1_Q10 Q4	During those weeks, how many hours did you usually work per week at all jobs?
	If the number of work hours varied from week to week, please provide an average.
ACT1_Q15 Q5	Considering all the jobs you held in 2025, did you work:
	Select all that apply.
	1. As an employee
	2. As self-employed
	3. In a family business without pay
ACT1_Q20 Q6	During 2025, how many weeks were you without work and looking for work?
	Include temporary lay-offs. Exclude weeks as a full-time student.
ACT1_Q25 Q7	What was your main activity during the weeks when you were neither working nor looking for work?
	1. Ill, or disabled and unable to work
	2. Took care of home or family
	3. Went to school
	4. Retired
	5. Other – Specify
ACT1_Q30 Q8	Did you attend a school, college, CEGEP or university at any time between January and December 2025?
	Include attendance only for courses that can be used as credit towards a certificate, diploma or degree.
	1. Yes
	2. No
ACT1_Q35 Q9	Were you enrolled as a full-time student, a part-time student or both full-time and part-time?
	1. A full-time student
	2. A part-time student
	3. Both full-time and part-time student
ACT1_Q40 Q10	Did you receive any money from a scholarship, bursary or fellowship in 2025?
	1. Yes
	2. No
ACT1_Q45 Q11	What was the total amount you received in 2025?

Support payments received (SCC1)

Support payments received (SCC1)
SCC1_R05	The next questions are about support payments and child care expenses.
SCC1_Q05 Q12	Between January and December 2025, did you receive support payments from a former spouse or partner?
	By support payments we mean a formal agreement for spousal support, alimony, separation allowance, or child support. Include only support payments actually received. Exclude gifts or additional transfers of money.
	1. Yes
	2. No
SCC1_Q10 Q13	What is your best estimate of the amount of support payments you received in 2025?
	Include only support payments actually received. Exclude gifts or additional transfers of money.

Support payments paid (SCC2)

Support payments paid (SCC2)
SCC2_Q05 Q14	Between January and December 2025, did you make support payments to a former spouse or partner?
	By support payments we mean a formal agreement for spousal support, alimony, separation allowance, or child support. Include only support payments actually paid. Exclude gifts or additional transfers of money.
	1. Yes
	2. No
SCC2_Q10 Q15	What is your best estimate of the total amount you paid in support payments in 2025?
	Include only support payments actually paid. Exclude gifts or additional transfers of money.

Childcare expenses (SCC3)

Childcare expenses (SCC3)
SCC3_Q05 Q16	Between January and December 2025, did you pay for child care, so that you could work at your paid job?
	Include child care paid during school holidays.
	1. Yes
	2. No
SCC3_Q10 Q17	What is your best estimate of the total amount you paid for child care in 2025?
	Exclude any amount previously reported. Enter "0" if the entire amount was previously entered.

Total personal income (INC1)

Total personal income (INC1)
INC1_R05	Now a question about total personal income.
INC1_Q05 Q18	What is your best estimate of your total personal income, before taxes and deductions, from all sources during the year ending December 31, 2025?
	Income can come from various sources such as from work, investments, pensions or government. Examples include Employment Insurance, social assistance, child benefits and other income such as child support, spousal support (alimony) and rental income. Capital gains should not be included in the personal income.
INC1_Q10 Q19	For the year ending December 31, 2025, can you estimate in which of the following groups your total personal income fell?
	Was it:
	1. Less than $30,000, including income loss
	2. $30,000 and more
INC1_Q15 Q19	Please indicate the income range
	1. Less than $5,000
	2. $5,000 to less than $10,000
	3. $10,000 to less than $15,000
	4. $15,000 to less than $20,000
	5. $20,000 to less than $25,000
	6. $25,000 to less than $30,000
INC1_Q20 Q19	Please indicate the income range
	1. $30,000 to less than $40,000
	2. $40,000 to less than $50,000
	3. $50,000 to less than $60,000
	4. $60,000 to less than $70,000
	5. $70,000 to less than $80,000
	6. $80,000 to less than $90,000
	7. $90,000 to less than $100,000
	8. $100,000 and over

Introduction to the disability screening questions (PDSQ)

Introduction to the disability screening questions (PDSQ)
PDSQ_R05	In order to reduce the length of the questionnaire and to obtain additional information about the relationship between income and persons with and without a disability, one person has been randomly selected in your household for the next set of questions. In your household, you have been selected.

Disability screening questions (DSQ)

Disability screening questions (DSQ)
DSQ_R01	The following questions are about difficulties you may have doing certain activities. Only difficulties or long-term conditions that have lasted or are expected to last for six months or more should be considered.
DSQ_Q01 Q20	Do you have any difficulty seeing?
	Would you say:
	1. No
	2. Sometimes
	3. Often
	4. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q02 Q21	Do you wear glasses or contact lenses to improve your vision?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q03 Q22	[Which/With your glasses or contact lenses, which] of the following best describes your ability to see?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty seeing
	2. Some difficulty seeing
	3. A lot of difficulty seeing
	4. You are legally blind
	5. You are blind
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q04 Q23	How often does this [difficulty seeing/seeing condition] limit your daily activities?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q05 Q24	Do you have any difficulty hearing?
	Would you say:
	1. No
	2. Sometimes
	3. Often
	4. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q06 Q25	Do you use a hearing aid or cochlear implant?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q07 Q26	[Which/With your hearing aid or cochlear implant, which] of the following best describes your ability to hear?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty hearing
	2. Some difficulty hearing
	3. A lot of difficulty hearing
	4. You cannot hear at all
	5. You are deaf
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q08 Q27	How often does this [difficulty hearing/hearing condition] limit your daily activities?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q09 Q28	Do you have any difficulty walking, using stairs, using your hands or fingers or doing other physical activities?
	Would you say:
	1. No
	2. Sometimes
	3. Often
	4. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_R10	The following questions are about your ability to move around, even when using an aid such as a cane.
DSQ_Q10 Q29	How much difficulty do you have walking on a flat surface for 15 minutes without resting?
	This refers to your regular walking pace. If you use an aid for minimal support such as a cane, walking stick or crutches, please answer this question based on your ability to walk when using these aids.
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do at all
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q11 Q30	How much difficulty do you have walking up or down a flight of stairs, about 12 steps without resting?
	This refers to your regular walking pace. If you use an aid for minimal support such as a cane, walking stick or crutches, please answer this question based on your ability to walk when using these aids.
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do at all
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q12 Q31	How often [does this difficulty walking/does this difficulty using stairs/do these difficulties] limit your daily activities?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q13 Q32	How much difficulty do you have bending down and picking up an object from the floor?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do at all
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q14 Q33	How much difficulty do you have reaching in any direction, for example, above your head?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do at all
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q15 Q34	How often [does this difficulty bending down and picking up an object/does this difficulty reaching/do these difficulties] limit your daily activities?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q16 Q35	How much difficulty do you have using your fingers to grasp small objects like a pencil or scissors?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do at all
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q17 Q36	How often does this difficulty using your fingers limit your daily activities?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_R18	The following questions are about pain due to a long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more.
DSQ_Q18 Q37	Do you have pain that is always present?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q19 Q38	Do you [also] have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q20 Q39	How often does this pain limit your daily activities?
	If you have both pain that is always present and pain that reoccurs from time to time, consider the pain that bothers you the most. If your pain is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q21 Q40	When you are experiencing this pain, how much difficulty do you have with your daily activities?
	If you have both pain that is always present and pain that reoccurs from time to time, consider the pain that bothers you the most. If your pain is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do most activities
	9. Don't know
DSQ_R22	Please answer only for difficulties or long-term conditions that have lasted or are expected to last for six months or more.
DSQ_Q22 Q41	Do you have any difficulty learning, remembering or concentrating?
	Would you say:
	1. No
	2. Sometimes
	3. Often
	4. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q23 Q42	Do you think you have a condition that makes it difficult in general for you to learn? This may include learning disabilities such as dyslexia, hyperactivity, attention problems, etc.
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q24 Q43	Has a teacher, doctor or other health care professional ever said that you had a learning disability?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q25 Q44	How often are your daily activities limited by this condition?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q26 Q45	How much difficulty do you have with your daily activities because of this condition?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do most activities
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q27 Q46	Has a doctor, psychologist or other health care professional ever said that you had a developmental disability or disorder? This may include Down syndrome, autism, Asperger syndrome, mental impairment due to lack of oxygen at birth, etc.
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q28 Q47	How often are your daily activities limited by this condition?
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q29 Q48	How much difficulty do you have with your daily activities because of this condition?
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do most activities
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q30 Q49	Do you have any ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion?
	Exclude occasional forgetfulness such as not remembering where you put your keys.
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q31 Q50	How often are your daily activities limited by this problem?
	If the problem is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using your medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q32 Q51	How much difficulty do you have with your daily activities because of this problem?
	If the problem is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do most activities
	9. Don't know
DSQ_R33	Please remember that your answers will be kept strictly confidential.
DSQ_Q33 Q52	Do you have any emotional, psychological or mental health conditions?
	For example, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, anorexia, etc.
	Would you say:
	1. No
	2. Sometimes
	3. Often
	4. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q34 Q53	How often are your daily activities limited by this condition?
	If the condition is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q35 Q54	When you are experiencing this condition, how much difficulty do you have with your daily activities?
	If the condition is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do most activities
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q36 Q55	Do you have any other health problem or long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more?
	Exclude any health problems previously reported.
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q37 Q56	How often does this health problem or long-term condition limit your daily activities?
	If you have more than one other health problem or condition, please answer based on the health problem or condition that limits your daily activities the most.
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_R38	The following questions are about pain due to a long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more.
DSQ_Q38 Q57	Do you have pain that is always present?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q39 Q58	Do you [also] have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes
	2. No
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q40 Q59	How often does this pain limit your daily activities?
	If you have both pain that is always present and pain that reoccurs from time to time, consider the pain that bothers you the most. If your pain is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Rarely
	3. Sometimes
	4. Often
	5. Always
	9. Don't know
DSQ_Q41 Q60	When you are experiencing this pain, how much difficulty do you have with your daily activities?
	If you have both pain that is always present and pain that reoccurs from time to time, consider the pain that bothers you the most. If your pain is controlled by medication or therapy, please answer this question based on when you are using medication or therapy.
	Would you say:
	1. No difficulty
	2. Some difficulty
	3. A lot of difficulty
	4. You cannot do most activities
	9. Don't know

Unmet health care needs (UCN)

Unmet health care needs (UCN)
UCN_Q005 Q61	During the past 12 months, was there ever a time when you felt that you needed health care, other than homecare services, but you did not receive it?
	1. Yes
	2. No
UCN_Q010 Q62	Thinking of the most recent time you felt this way, why didn't you get care?
	Select all that apply.
	1. Care not available in the area
	2. Care not available at time required (for example, doctor busy, away from office or no longer at that practice, inconvenient hours)
	3. Do not have a regular health care provider
	4. Waiting time too long
	5. Appointment was cancelled
	6. Felt would receive inadequate care
	7. Cost
	8. Decided not to seek care
	9. Doctor didn't think it was necessary
	10. Transportation issue
	11. Other
UCN_Q015 Q63	Again, thinking of the most recent time, what was the type of care that was needed?
	Select all that apply.
	1. Treatment of a chronic physical health condition diagnosed by a health professional
	2. Treatment of a chronic mental health condition diagnosed by a health professional
	3. Treatment of an acute infectious disease (for example, cold, flu and stomach flu)
	4. Treatment of an acute physical condition (non-infectious)
	5. Treatment of an acute mental health condition (for example, acute stress reaction)
	6. A regular check-up (including pre-natal care)
	7. Care of an injury
	8. Dental care
	9. Medication or prescription refill
	10. Other
UCN_Q020 Q64	Did you actively try to obtain the health care that was needed?
	1. Yes
	2. No
UCN_Q025 Q65	Where did you try to get the service you were seeking?
	Select all that apply.
	1. A doctor's office
	2. A hospital outpatient clinic
	3. A community health centre [or CLSC]
	4. A walk-in clinic
	5. An emergency department or emergency room
	6. Other

Financial difficulty due to disability (FDD)

Financial difficulty due to disability (FDD)
FDD_Q05 Q66	In 2025, have you and your household experienced significant financial difficulty because of a long term disability or health problem of a member of you household?
	Would you say:
	1. Yes, sometimes
	2. Yes, often
	3. No

Owners and renters (DWL)

Owners and renters (DWL)
DWL_R05	The next series of questions will be about your dwelling.
DWL_Q05 Q67	Is this dwelling part of a condominium development?
	1. Yes
	2. No
DWL_Q10 Q68	Is this dwelling in need of any repairs?
	Do not include desirable remodelling or additions.
	Would you say:
	1. No, only regular maintenance is needed, (for example, painting, furnace cleaning)
	2. Yes, minor repairs are needed, (for example, missing or loose floor tiles, bricks or shingles, defective steps, railing or siding)
	3. Yes, major repairs are needed, (for example, defective plumbing or electrical wiring, structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings)

Owners (OWN)

Owners (OWN)
OWN_Q05 Q69	Does anyone in your household operate a farm on this property?
	1. Yes
	2. No
OWN_Q10 Q70	Does anyone in your household operate a business from this dwelling or property?
	Property is interpreted as the land and buildings associated with the dwelling.
	1. Yes
	2. No
OWN_Q15 Q71	How many bedrooms are there in this dwelling?
	Count all rooms designed as bedrooms even if they are now used for something else. Also count basement bedrooms and rooms that are used as bedrooms now, even if they were not originally built as bedrooms. Do not count rooms used solely for business purposes.
OWN_Q20 Q72	Is there a mortgage on this dwelling?
	1. Yes
	2. No
OWN_Q25 Q73	Are property taxes included in your mortgage payments?
	1. Yes
	2. No
OWN_Q30 Q74	Do you have more than one mortgage on your dwelling?
	1. Yes
	2. No
OWN_Q35 Q75	How often do you make regular mortgage payments?
	1. Weekly
	2. Every two weeks
	3. Twice a month
	4. Monthly
	5. Quarterly
	6. Twice a year
	7. Annually
	8. Other – Specify
OWN_Q45 Q76	How much do you pay for each of these regular mortgage payments, including your property taxes?
	Exclude irregular and lump sum payments.
OWN_Q50 Q77	How much do you pay for each of these regular mortgage payments?
	Exclude irregular and lump sum payments.
OWN_Q55 Q78	How much do you pay monthly for all these mortgages, including your property taxes?
	Exclude irregular and lump sum payments.
OWN_Q60 Q79	How much do you pay monthly for all these mortgages?
	Exclude irregular and lump sum payments.
OWN_Q65 Q80	What is the total annual property tax bill for this dwelling?
	Include school taxes, special service charges and local improvements.
OWN_Q70 Q81	Is water included in the payments just mentioned?
	Payments just mentioned could include mortgage payments and property taxes.
	1. Yes
	2. No
OWN_Q75 Q82	What is the regular monthly condominium fee for this dwelling?
OWN_Q80 Q83	Are any of the following items included in the payments just mentioned?
	Payments just mentioned could include mortgage payments, property taxes and condo fees. Select all that apply.
	1. Electricity
	2. Heating fuel
	3. Water
	4. None of the above

Food security (FSC)

Food security (FSC)
FSC_R010	The following statements may describe the food situation for your household in the past 12 months. Please indicate if the statement was often true, sometimes true or never true for you and other household members in the past 12 months.
FSC_Q010A Q84a	You and other household members worried that food would run out before you got money to buy more
	1. Often true
	2. Sometimes true
	3. Never true
FSC_Q010B Q84b	The food that you and other household members bought just didn't last and there wasn't any money to get more
	1. Often true
	2. Sometimes true
	3. Never true
FSC_Q010C Q84c	You and other household members couldn't afford to eat balanced meals
	1. Often true
	2. Sometimes true
	3. Never true
FSC_Q010D Q84d	You or other adults in your household relied on only a few kinds of low-cost food to feed the children because you were running out of money to buy food
	1. Often true
	2. Sometimes true
	3. Never true
FSC_Q010E Q84e	You or other adults in your household couldn't feed the children a balanced meal because you couldn't afford it
	1. Often true
	2. Sometimes true
	3. Never true
FSC_Q015 Q85	The children were not eating enough because you or other adults in your household just couldn't afford enough food.
	Would you say:
	1. Often true
	2. Sometimes true
	3. Never true
FSC_R020	The following few questions are about the food situation in the past 12 months for you or any other adults in your household.
FSC_Q020A Q86	In the past 12 months, since last [current month], did you or other adults in your household ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q020B Q86	How often did this happen?
	Was it:
	1. Almost every month
	2. Some months but not every month
	3. Only 1 or 2 months
FSC_Q025A Q87	In the past 12 months, did you (personally) ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money to buy food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q025B Q88	In the past 12 months, were you (personally) ever hungry but didn't eat because you couldn't afford enough food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q025C Q89	In the past 12 months, did you (personally) lose weight because you didn't have enough money for food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q030 Q90	In the past 12 months, did you or other adults in your household ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q035 Q90	How often did this happen?
	Was it:
	1. Almost every month
	2. Some months but not every month
	3. Only 1 or 2 months
FSC_R040A	Now, a few questions on the food experiences for children in your household.
FSC_Q040A Q91	In the past 12 months, did you or other adults in your household ever cut the size of any of the children's meals because there wasn't enough money for food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q040B Q92	In the past 12 months, did any of the children ever skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q040C Q92	How often did this happen?
	Was it:
	1. Almost every month
	2. Some months but not every month
	3. Only 1 or 2 months
FSC_Q040D Q93	In the past 12 months, were any of the children ever hungry but you just couldn't afford more food?
	1. Yes
	2. No
FSC_Q040E Q94	In the past 12 months, did any of the children ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?
	1. Yes
	2. No

School food programs (SFP)

School food programs (SFP)
SFP_R05	The next few questions are about school food programs. These programs provide regular meals or snacks to children in a school or school-related setting, typically for free, at a reduced cost, or based on ability to pay. "School food program" will be used to describe these types of meals and snacks throughout this section of the survey. This excludes food obtained at full cost from a canteen, cafeteria or caterer, or ordered from a restaurant, and occasional lunches such as "pizza days."
SFP_Q05 Q95	Does this child have access to a school food program, that is a program that provides regular meals or snacks in a school or school-related setting, typically for free, at a reduced cost, or based on ability to pay? Child's name
	1. Yes
	2. No
	3. Not applicable because this child does not go to school or is homeschooled
SFP_Q10 Q96	How often does this child usually eat meals or snacks from a school food program? If this child eats more than one type of meal or snack from a school food program, please answer based on the meal or snack they eat most often. Would you say:
	1. Never
	2. Less than once a week
	3. Once a week
	4. A few days a week
	5. Every school day
SFP_Q15 Q97	What type of meal or snack from the school food program does this child usually eat? Select all that apply. Would you say:
	1. Breakfast
	2. Lunch
	3. Snack
	4. Other - Specify
SFP_Q20 Q98	How is the cost determined for this school food program? Select all that apply. Would you say:
	1. It's free for all children
	2. Meals or snacks have a set cost that is the same for all children
	3. Cost is determined based on the family income
	4. Cost is based on a pay-what-you-can model
	5. Other - Specify
SFP_Q25 Q99	What are the benefits of this child's participation in the school food program? Select all that apply. Would you say:
	1. It saves money on food and groceries
	2. It saves time and energy on preparing food
	3. Child is less hungry while at school
	4. Child eats healthy food
	5. Child is more motivated to go to school
	6. Child is better able to focus in class
	7. Child feels included with other children
	8. Child learns about healthy food, where food comes from, or reducing food waste
	9. Other - Specify OR
	10. There is no benefit
SFP_Q30 Q100	Are there other types of regular meals or snacks available to this child for free or at a reduced cost from a school food program that they do not participate in? Exclude occasional meals such as pizza lunches.
	1. Yes
	2. No
SFP_Q35 Q101	Why does this child not participate [fully/every day] in the available school food program? Select all that apply. Would you say:
	1. The program cost is too high
	2. Child doesn’t like the food that much
	3. The program doesn’t meet child’s dietary needs (for example, nutritional, medical, or cultural)
	4. To prevent child from being singled out
	5. School food program meals or snacks should be reserved for families more in need
	6. Child does not need it, or does not need it every day
	7. The program is not offered every day
	8. Other - Specify

In January 2026, questions measuring the Labour Market Indicators were added to the Labour Force Survey as a supplement.

Questionnaire flow within the collection application is controlled dynamically based on responses provided throughout the survey. Therefore, some respondents will not receive all questions, and there is a small chance that some households will not receive any questions at all. This is based on their answers to certain LFS questions.

Labour Market Indicators

ENTRY_Q01 / EQ 1 - From the following list, please select the household member that will be completing this questionnaire on behalf of the entire household.

LEA_Q01 / EQ 2 - In the next 12 months, are you planning on leaving your main job or business?

1. Yes
2. No

LEA_Q02 / EQ 3 - What is the main reason why you are planning on leaving your main job or business?

1. To change careers
2. To retire             
3. To go back to school
4. Pay is too low
5. Workload is too heavy
6. Lack of flexibility to work from home
7. End of temporary contract
8. Would like more hours
9. To move
10. For career advancement
11. Personal or family responsibilities
12. Other

LEA_Q03 / EQ 4 - Did you do anything to look for a new job during the 4 weeks from Sunday, December 21 to Saturday, January 17?

1. Yes
2. No

LEA_Q04 / EQ 5 – How long have you been looking for a new job?

1. Less than one month
2. 1 month to less than 7 months
3. 7 months to less than 1 year
4. 1 to 2 years
5. Over 2 years

LEA_Q05 / EQ 6 - What impact is economic uncertainty due to international trade and tariffs having on your intentions to stay or leave your main job or business over the next 12 months?

1. More likely to stay because of economic uncertainty due to international trade and tariffs
2. More likely to leave because of economic uncertainty due to international trade and tariffs
3. No impact on your intention to stay or leave main job or business
4. Other

Think your Christmas tree knowledge is top notch? Time to put it to the test!

In this holiday special of Eh Sayers, our colleagues face off in a trivia showdown all about Canada’s Christmas tree industry.

Discover which nation first sparked the tradition, how much Canadian Christmas tree farmers earned in 2023, the surprising numbers behind exports and imports, and more festive facts.

After listening, you’ll be the go to expert on Christmas trees at your holiday party!

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree - Statistics Canada

Host

Max Zimmerman

Guests

Miriam Kilby, Vince Germano, Tony Colasante

Listen to audio

2026 January – Intentions to leave job

2025 December - Digital Platform Employment

2025 November – Employability and job security

2025 October – Financial difficulty / Job satisfaction

2025 September - Skills match

2025 August - Reasons for multiple jobholding / Labour underutilisation

2025 July - Student work experience / Insecurity towards employment prospects

2025 June - Retirement / Actions taken to improve employment prospects

2025 May - Work Location / Commuting / Work Location Flexibility

2025 April - Flexible Work Schedules / Job Security

2025 March - Paid Leave / Benefits of self-employed workers

2025 February - Work Location / Remote work location / Willingness to move

2025 January - Intentions to leave job

2024 December – Digital Platform Employment

2024 November – Work location / Upskilling

2024 October - Financial difficulty / Access to care leave / Job satisfaction

2024 September - Skills match

2024 August - Work Location / Pay Satisfaction

2024 July - Childcare and career progression

2024 June - Work Location / Remote work location

2024 May - Work Location / Commuting / Work location flexibility

2024 April - Scheduling and work-life spillover / Occupation or industry change

2024 March - Career prospects / Reservation wage

2024 February - Work Location / Work Location Flexibility / Reservation Wage

2024 January - Intentions to leave job

2023 December - Digital Platform Employment

2023 November - Work location / Employability and job security / Immigrants' education and labour market experience

2023 October - Financial difficulty / Job satisfaction / Types of payment and unpaid wages

2023 August - Work location / Reasons for multiple jobholding

2023 July - Student work experience

2023 June - Retirement

2023 May - Work Location / Commuting

2023 April - Work stress and mental health absences

2022 December - Work location / Digital platform employment

2022 November - Work location / Upskilling

2022 October - Work location / Financial difficulty / Inflation responses

2022 September - Work location / Childcare and career progression

2022 August - Work location / Work values / Work ethic / Intentions to leave job

2022 July - Work location

2022 June - Work Location / Remote work location / COVID-19 Benefits

2022 May - Work Location / Commuting / Work location flexibility / COVID-19 Benefits

2022 April - Work location / Telework / Work schedules / COVID-19 Benefits

2022 March - Work location / Reservation wage / Career prospects / COVID-19 Benefits

2022 February - Work location / Reservation wage / Willingness to move / COVID-19 Benefits

2022 January - Work location / Intentions to leave job / COVID-19 Benefits

Questionnaires for the Monthly Supplement to the Labour Force Survey can be found at the following link: Other versions of the questionnaire - Labour Market Indicators

Resources

• Calgary-based Suncor Energy announced total capital expenditures are expected to be between $5.6 billion and $5.8 billion in 2026. Suncor said major economic investments planned or continuing in 2026 include in situ well pads, Mildred Lake East, West White Rose, Fort Hills North Pit development and the ongoing execution of the Petro-Canada retail network optimization plan.
• Calgary-based Cenovus Energy Inc. announced it expects capital investment to be between $5.0 billion and $5.3 billion in 2026. Cenovus said that included in the capital investment budget is sustaining capital of $3.5 billion to $3.6 billion, while an additional $1.2 billion to $1.4 billion of investment will be directed towards growth projects, including an expansion project at Christina Lake North.
• Calgary-based Imperial Oil Limited announced its capital and exploration expenditures are forecasted to be between $2.0 to $2.2 billion and would be focused on projects to strengthen long-term profitability, including progress on secondary bitumen recovery projects at Kearl, drilling at Cold Lake, and mine progression at both Kearl and Syncrude, as well as investments in digital infrastructure.
• Calgary-based Baytex Energy Corp. announced 2026 exploration and development expenditures of $550 million to $625 million. Baytex said maintenance capital would be $435 million and growth capital would be $50 million to $75 million.
• Calgary-based Enbridge Inc. announced it expects to deploy approximately $10 billion of growth capital in 2026, exclusive of maintenance capital.
• Toronto-based Vale Base Metals announced it had signed an agreement with Glencore Canada to jointly evaluate a potential brownfield copper development project at their adjacent properties in the Sudbury Basin. Vale said the project is estimated to produce 880 kt of copper over 21 years, with a capital cost of about USD $1.6 billion to USD $2.0 billion, and that a final investment decision is expected in the first half of 2027.
• Montreal-based Domtar Corporation announced it would permanently close operations at its Crofton, British Columbia, facility. Domtar said the decision will affect approximately 350 employees and will reduce Domtar's annual pulp production by approximately 380,000 air-dried metric tons of pulp.

Economic and fiscal updates

• The Government of Manitoba released its Fiscal and Economic Update on December 15th. The Government forecasts a $1.66 billion deficit in 2025-26 and real GDP growth of 1.1% in 2025 and 1.4% in 2026.
• The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador released its fall Fiscal and Economic Update on December 16th. The Government forecasts a $948 million deficit in 2025-26 and real GDP growth of 5.3% in 2025.
• The Government of Nova Scotia released its Forecast Update on December 18th. The Government forecasts a $1.29 billion deficit before contingency for 2025-26 and real GDP growth of 1.5% in 2025 and 1.3% in 2026.

Other news

• The Government of Canada announced on December 12th the implementation of new measures announced by the Prime Minister on November 26th, designed to provide relief and clarity for Canadian manufacturers, including the temporary extension of the horizontal remission of Canadian tariffs on imports from the United States, and the reduction of tariff rate quota levels for imported steel products effective December 26, 2025.
• The Bank of Canada left its target for the overnight rate unchanged at 2.25%. The last change in the target for the overnight rate was a 25 basis points cut in October 2025.
• The Government of Quebec announced it had received notices from 39 unions affiliated with the Fédération du préhospitalier du Québec (FPHQ) that ambulance workers had announced their intention to go on an indefinite strike starting December 24th. The Government said there are sufficient services to ensure the health and safety of the population is not endangered.
• Montreal-based Transcontinental Inc. announced it had entered into a stock purchase agreement with ProAmpac Holdings Inc. of Ohio pursuant to which ProAmpac agreed to purchase all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of entities which carry on Transcontinental's Packaging Sector for an enterprise value of approximately $2.22 billion. Transcontinental said the transaction is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
• Montreal-based Laurentian Bank of Canada announced that (i) National Bank of Canada had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Laurentian Bank's retail and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) banking portfolios; and that (ii) Fairstone Bank of Canada had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all issued and outstanding common shares of Laurentian Bank for total cash consideration of approximately $1.9 billion, subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of key regulatory approvals. Laurentian Bank said the transactions are expected to close by late 2026.
• Montreal-based WSP Global Inc. announced it had entered into an agreement to acquire TRC Companies, a U.S. Power & Energy brand from Connecticut, for a total cash purchase price of approximately $4.5 billion. WSP said the acquisition is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction of certain customary closing conditions, including applicable regulatory approvals.
• Washington State-based Microsoft announced it was investing more than $7.5 billion in Canada in the next two years, including building new digital and AI infrastructure with new capacity beginning to come online in the second half of 2026. Microsoft said its investments in Canada will total $19 billion between 2023 and 2027.
• Toronto-based EQB Inc. and Loblaw Companies Limited of Brampton announced they had entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which EQB will acquire President's Choice Bank (PC Bank), PC® Financial Insurance Agency Inc., PC® Financial Insurance Brokers Inc., and certain other affiliated entities of PC Bank for an estimated total value of $1.3 billion. The companies said closing is expected to occur in 2026, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.
• The United Steelworkers union (USW) announced more than 1,000 layoffs at Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The union said the job losses were expected due to a transition to electric arc furnace steel production as well as the United States imposition of 50% tariffs on Canadian steel exports.

United States and other international news

• The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.50% to 3.75%. The last change in the target range was a 25 basis points cut in October 2025.
• The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate target unchanged at 3.60%. The last change in the cash rate target was a 25 basis points cut in August 2025.
• The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to reduce the Bank Rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%. The last change in the Bank Rate was a 25 basis points cut in August 2025.
• The European Central Bank (ECB) left its three key interest rates unchanged at 2.00% (deposit facility), 2.15% (main refinancing operations), and 2.40% (marginal lending facility). The last change in these rates was a 25 basis points reduction in June 2025.
• The Executive Board of Sweden's Riksbank left the repo rate unchanged at 1.75%. The last change in the repo rate was a 25 basis points reduction in September 2025.
• The Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee of Norway's Norges Bank left the policy rate unchanged at 4.00%. The last change in the policy rate was a 25 basis points decrease in September 2025.
• The Bank of Japan (BoJ) announced it will encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0.75%. The last change in the uncollateralized overnight call rate was a 25 basis points increase to 0.50% in January 2025.
• The eight participating OPEC+ countries - Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria, and Oman - reaffirmed their November 2, 2025 decision to pause production increments in January, February, and March 2026.
• New York State-based IBM and Confluent, Inc., a cloud-native streaming platform from California, announced they had entered into a definitive agreement under which IBM will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Confluent for an enterprise value of USD $11 billion. The companies said the transaction is expected to close by the middle of 2026, subject to approval by Confluent shareholders, regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
• New York-based Brookfield Asset Management and Qai, Qatar's AI company and a subsidiary of Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), announced a strategic partnership to establish a USD $20 billion joint venture focused on artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in Qatar and select international markets.
• California-based Netflix, Inc. and Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. announced they had entered into a definitive agreement under which Netflix will acquire Warner Bros. in a cash and stock transaction for a total equity value of USD $72.0 billion. The companies said the transaction is expected to close in 12-18 months, subject to required regulatory approvals, approval of Warner Bros. shareholders, and other customary closing conditions.

Financial market news

• West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed at USD $57.95 per barrel on December 31st, down from a closing value of USD $58.55 at the end of November. Western Canadian Select crude oil traded in the USD $42.00 to $48.00 per barrel range throughout December. The Canadian dollar closed at 72.96 cents U.S. on December 31st, up from 71.54 cents U.S. at the end of November. The S&P/TSX composite index closed at 31,712.76 on December 31st, up from 31,382.78 at the end of November.