In October 2024, 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.

SAT_Q01 / EQ 2 - Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Very dissatisfied" and 10 means "Very satisfied", in general, how satisfied [are/is] [you/Respondent name/this person] with [your/his/her/their] main job or business?

0. Very dissatisfied
1.  
2.  
3.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
8.  
9.  
10. Very satisfied

ACL_Q01 / EQ 3 - At [your/Respondent's name/this person’s] main job, [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have access to additional leave specifically dedicated to care responsibilities for children or adults in [your/his/her/their] family?

1. Yes
2. No

ACL_Q02 / EQ 4 - Is this leave paid?

1. Yes
2. No

CHS_Q01 / EQ 5 - Over the last month, that is since [September] 15 to today, how difficult or easy was it for your household to meet its financial needs in terms of transportation, housing, food, clothing and other necessary expenses?

Would you say:

1. Very difficult
2. Difficult
3. Neither difficult nor easy
4. Easy
5. Very easy

The balance sheet is derived, for the most part, using data already produced by the Agriculture Division. Since the capital value series uses reference data at July 1 while the balance sheet uses data at December 31, estimates for the two series are not the same. Also, the capital value series includes the personal share of assets while the balance sheet (set 2) excludes it.

In this series, data are provided only for the Balance Sheet of the Agricultural Sector (set 2). This is because set 2 most closely reflects the assets employed in the production of agricultural products. The other sets of balance sheet accounts are available on request. The four sets of aggregate balance sheets produced for Canadian agriculture are described in the attached document: Description of assets, liabilities, equity, and financial ratios.

Although not published in the capital value series, the components of farm real estate, machinery and livestock are available as a result of the estimation process used to derive the capital value and depreciation series. The business share of homes, autos and trucks are estimated using the same assumptions used in the depreciation series.

The value of assets obtained from the capital value and depreciation series represents roughly 90% of the total value of assets in the balance sheet. These estimates are considered to be of good quality. Further data quality is available by referring to the Value of farm capital (record number 3471) and Farm operating expenses and depreciation charges (record number 5214).

The other long-term assets, which include long-term investments as well as AgriInvest balances, represent roughly 1%.

The year-end value of crops, obtained from the Farm Prices Unit, represents roughly 3% of the total values of assets, and is considered to be of good quality.

The other four components of assets (cash, bonds and savings; accounts receivable; inputs; and quota) represent roughly 7% of the value of total assets. They are derived using Farm Credit Canada (FCC) survey data for the years 1980, 1983, 1987, 1989 and 1991 and the Farm Financial Survey (FFS) since 1993. In intervening years, interpolations are made.

Total liabilities are derived from the debt outstanding series of the Farm debt outstanding (record number 3472). Total debt outstanding is split between current and long-term liabilities using ratios derived from the FCC or FFS survey data. These sources are considered to be of good quality.

The personal share of long-term debt is excluded using the ratio of farm real estate excluding the personal share to farm real estate including it. It is assumed that none of the current liabilities are for personal use. These assumptions are considered reasonable.

Estimates of the balance sheet components are calculated for each province and year. Canada level estimates are derived by summing provincial estimates. Annual financial ratios are calculated separately for each province and Canada.

As the balance sheet is essentially an integrated account, incorporating data from other data series, the revision process is determined by the various sources (farm debt outstanding, farm capital value, and value added account). For a better understanding of this process, users should refer to the section of the concepts and methods of these bulletins.

Current assets are the sum of cash, bonds, and savings; accounts receivable; and inventories.

Cash, bonds, and savings estimates for sets 1 and 3 are based on FCC or FFS survey data. For sets 2 and 4, adjustments are made to exclude the personal share of farm household cash, bonds and savings. It is assumed that two-thirds of the total cash, bonds, and savings relate to the personal share of farm households. This assumption is based on U.S. farm balance sheet data. Thus, two-thirds of the estimate is deducted to exclude the personal share of farm households.

Accounts receivable estimates are based on FCC or FFS survey data. There is no adjustment between sets.

Inventory estimates are based on several sources including the Production of Poultry and Eggs survey (record number 5039) and the  Biannual Livestock Survey (record number 3460)  There are three components of inventories: poultry and market livestock; crops; and inputs. All of the value of inventories is assumed to pertain to farm businesses. Estimates for sets 2, 3 and 4 are the same as those for set 1.

The year-end value of poultry and market livestock is the sum of year-end values for poultry plus market livestock. These are derived by multiplying inventory figures by value per head data (from administrative sources). Market livestock include beef slaughter heifers, steers, calves, pigs other than boars or sows, and market lambs. The value of fur animals intended for pelting is not calculated separately as most fur animals are pelted in the fall.

The value of crops is derived by adding year-end values for wheat excluding durum, durum wheat, oats, barley, rye, corn, flaxseed, canola, soybeans, mustard seed, canary seed, sunflower seed, dry peas, chickpeas, lentils, tobacco, and potatoes. These year-end values are derived by multiplying averages of December and January prices by year-end stocks estimates.

Estimates of the value of inputs are based on FCC or FFS survey data.

Prior to 1991, the value of household contents is derived from the value of homes. Household contents are assumed to be 60% of the value of homes. This assumption is based on the structure of home insurance policy packages where coverage on contents is generally insured at 60% of the dwelling value. For each set, the value of household contents is calculated to be 60% of the corresponding value of homes. As described later, the value of homes estimate varies from set to set as adjustments are made to exclude the personal share and the portion leased from non-operator landlords.

Quota estimates for all sets are based on FCC or FFS survey data.

For all sets the year-end value of breeding livestock is the sum of year-end values for bulls, dairy cows, beef cows, dairy heifers, beef replacement heifers, boars, sows, rams, ewes, replacement lambs and breeding stock on fur farms. These are derived by multiplying inventory values by value per head data (from administrative sources). The value of animals on fur farms is derived by multiplying the number of animals on farms at year end by a value per head which is based on changes in pelt prices. Data for animals on fur farms are obtained from the Livestock Section of Agriculture Division and may include some animals which were not pelted during the normal fall pelting season.

There are three components of machinery: autos, trucks, and other machinery.

Auto and truck estimates for sets 1 and 3, as well as other machinery estimates for all sets, are derived from Agriculture Division's capital value series (included in this publication). July 1 values are averaged to estimate year-end values. For the most current year, the July 1 value is used as a proxy for the year-end value. Auto and truck estimates for sets 2 and 4 exclude the personal share of farm operator households.

There are three components of farm real estate: land, service buildings and homes. Estimates of these values for set 1 are derived from Agriculture Division's capital value of land and buildings series. July 1 values are averaged to estimate year-end values. For the most current year, the July 1 value is used as a proxy for the year-end value.

For set 2, the values of land and service buildings are the same as those in set 1. The farm business portion of homes is derived by multiplying the value of homes in set 1 by 15%. It is assumed that 15% of the farm operator's home is used for farm business purposes. This approach is consistent with that used in related series.

For set 3, the value of farm real estate owned by nonoperator landlords is excluded by multiplying estimates of land, service buildings and homes from set 1 by annual provincial ratios. These ratios are based on land tenure data from the FCC or FFS surveys.

For set 4, both the personal household share of the value of homes and the value of real estate leased from nonoperator landlords need to be excluded. Estimates of the value of land and service buildings are the same as those for set 3, but the value of homes from set 3 is multiplied by 15% to obtain the business share.

Other long-term assets include long-term investments based on the Farm Financial Survey, as well as AgriInvest balances (beginning in 2008). Prior to the end of the programs in 2007, and the subsequent closure of all the producer accounts in 2009, Net Income Stabilization Account (NISA) balances and, in Québec, balances in the "Compte de stabilisation du revenu agricole" (CSRA), were also included. AgriInvest, CSRA and NISA balances are all from administrative data. This series starts in 1991.

Total assets are the sum of current assets, quota, breeding livestock, machinery, farm real estate and other long-term assets.

Current liabilities are based on Agriculture Division's total debt outstanding series. Estimates of total debt outstanding for each province are multiplied by ratios of current debt to total debt which are derived from FCC or FFS survey data. No adjustments are made.

For set 1, long-term liabilities are calculated as total debt outstanding less current liabilities. Long-term liabilities are then adjusted to exclude the portions for non-operator landlords and farm operator households.

For set 2, the value of long-term liabilities (excluding the farm household) is calculated by multiplying estimates of long-term liabilities from set 1, by the ratio of the total value of farm real estate from set 2 (which excludes households), to the total value of farm real estate including households from set 1.

For set 3, the value of long-term liabilities (excluding the non-operator landlord's share) is calculated by multiplying estimates of long-term liabilities from set 1, by the ratio of the total value of farm real estate from set 3 (which excludes the non-operator landlord's share), to the total value of farm real-estate including the non-operator landlord's share from set 1.

For set 4, the non-operator landlord's share and the personal household share of long-term liabilities are both excluded. Values of long-term liabilities from set 3 (which exclude the non-operator landlord's share), are multiplied by the ratio of the total value of farm real estate from set 4 (which excludes the farm household), to the total value of farm real estate including the farm households from set 3.

Total liabilities are the sum of current and long term liabilities.

Equity equals total assets less total liabilities.

The balance sheet is used to derive all of the liquidity and solvency ratios.

To calculate the profitability and financial efficiency ratios, the balance sheet and the value added account are both used.

The current ratio (CA/CL) is calculated as current assets (CA) divided by current liabilities (CL).

The acid-test (quick) ratio [(C+AR)/CL] is cash and marketable securities plus accounts receivable, divided by current liabilities. To calculate this ratio, the value of cash, bonds and savings (C) is used as a proxy for cash plus marketable securities. The acid-test ratio is calculated as cash, bonds and savings (C) plus accounts receivable (AR), divided by current liabilities (CL).

The debt structure ratio (CL/TL) is the current liabilities (CL) divided by total liabilities (TL).

The leverage ratio (TL/E) is calculated as total liabilities (TL) divided by equity (E).

The equity ratio (E/TA) equals equity (E) divided by total assets (TA).

The debt ratio (TL/TA) is calculated as total liabilities (TL) divided by total assets (TA).

The capital turnover ratio (R/TA) is calculated as revenue divided by total assets. For our purposes, revenue (R) is derived from the value added account by summing: sales of agricultural products, sales of non-agricultural products, and other sources of the value of production. The value used for total assets (TA) is the value of total assets at the beginning of the period in which revenues were earned (i.e. the value of total assets at December 31 of the previous year).

Return on assets equals net income before taxes (NIBT) plus interest (I) expense divided by average total assets (ATA). For set 1, net income before taxes plus interest expense is derived from the value added series by adding rent to non-operators, corporate profits, wages to family, unincorporated operator returns and interest. For sets 2 and 4, wages to family are not included. Rent to nonoperators is not included for sets 3 and 4. Average total assets (ATA) are calculated as the average of total assets at the beginning and end of the year. Thus, return on assets is calculated as [(NIBT+I)/ATA].

Return on equity consists of net income divided by average equity. Because of the difficulty involved in separating the value of income taxes attributable to farm income from that attributable to non-farm income, income tax expense cannot be estimated for the agricultural sector. Thus, net income after taxes cannot be estimated for the agricultural sector, so net income before taxes (NIBT) is used a proxy for net income. For set 1, net income before taxes is derived from the value added series by adding rent to non-operators, corporate profits, wages to family, and unincorporated operator returns. For sets 2 and 4, wages to family are not included. Rent to nonoperators is not included for sets 3 and 4. Average equity (AE) is calculated as the average of equity at the beginning and end of the year. Thus, return on equity is calculated as (NIBT/AE).

The interest coverage ratio [(NIBT+I)/I] is defined as net income before taxes plus interest expense, divided by interest expense. The method for deriving the numerator (NIBT+I) is described in the earlier paragraph on the return on assets. The denominator (interest expense) is also from the value added account.

Center for Energy and Transportation Statistics (CETS)
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 steam that is consumed can either be produced by the establishment (self-generated) or received by the establishment (purchased). Report steam used as fuel for the production process, and steam used for atomization or as feed in process application as non energy use. However, steam consumed for own use should not be.

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". The consumption of the self-generated steam should be reported under the steam consumption section.

Amount consumed as fuel: The quantity of the energy commodity used to power production processes, heating, on-site transportation.

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, please report, in gigajoules, the amount sold to external clients.

Section 5

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.

From October-December 2024, the following questions measuring the Labour Market and Socio-economic Indicators were added to the Labour Force Survey as a supplement.

The purpose of this survey is to identify changing dynamics within the Canadian labour market, and measure important socio-economic indicators by gathering data on topics such as type of employment, quality of employment, support payments and unmet health care needs.

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 and Socio-economic 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.

Employee block

The following questions test a new way of measuring temporary employment. Some questions address topics that were previously covered by the Labour Force Survey, but in a slightly different way.

LMI_Q01 / EQ 2 - What type of contract or agreement, [do/does] [you/Respondent name/this person] have in [your/his/her/their] main job?

Is it:

1. Permanent or until retirement
2. Ongoing with no specified end date
   Exclude temporary or seasonal contracts that are regularly renewed.
3. For a specific duration
   e.g., seasonal, term Include temporary or seasonal contracts that are regularly renewed.
4. Until a task or project is completed

LMI_Q02 / EQ 3 - Which of the following applies to [your/Respondent's name/this person's] main job?

1. It is a seasonal job
   e.g., [you/Respondent name/this person] only work[s]during a specific season
2. It covers a period of training
   e.g., apprentice, trainee, etc.

OR

3. None of the above

LMI_Q03 / EQ 4 - In [your/his/her/their] main job, [are/is] [you/Respondent's name/this person] paid by a private employment or placement agency that is different from the company or organization [you/he/she/this person] work[s] for?

1. Yes, paid by a private placement agency
2. No

LMI_Q04 / EQ 5 - What is the total duration of [your/Respondent's name/this person's] contract or agreement in [your/his/her/their] main job?

1. Less than 3 months
2. From 3 months to less than 6 months
3. From 6 months to less than 12 months
4. 12 months or longer

OR

5. Casual job with no specific end date

LMI_Q05 / EQ 6 - In [your/Respondent's name/this person's] main job, [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have a specific number of hours [you/he/she/they] [are/is] supposed to work?

1. Yes
2. No

HRS_Q01 / EQ 7 - [Are/Is] [you/Respondent name/this person] at least guaranteed that [you/he/she/they] will get some work or hours in [your/his/her/their] main job?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No minimum number of hours guaranteed, contacted when needed

LMI_Q06 / EQ 8 - What would you say best describes [your/Respondent's name/this person's] current situation in [your/his/her/their] main job?

[you/Respondent name/this person]:

1. Work[s] based on a series of successive contracts with the same employer
   e.g., [your/his/her/their] employer renews [your/his/her/their] contract Include situations with short breaks between contracts
2. [Have/Has] a casual job with an employer that lets [your/his/her/their] choose when [you/he/she/they] work[s]
   e.g., can decide which days or shifts [you/he/she/this person] work[s].
3. Only work[s] when called-in or assigned a shift by [your/his/her/their] employer
4. Work[s] based on a series of successive contracts with different employers
   Include situations with short breaks between contracts
5. Work[s] as a day labourer
   e.g., hired and paid by the day or for a single shift
6. [Have/Has] received a permanent job offer
7. Will return to school or do something else at the end of [your/his/her/their] contract
8. [Are/Is] uncertain about [your/his/her/their] future contract situation
9. None of these

REAT_Q01 / EQ 9 - [Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] want a permanent job at this time?

1. Yes
2. No

REAT_Q02 / EQ 10 - What is the main reason why [you/Respondent name/this person] [do/does] not want a permanent job?

Would you say:

1. To combine employment with education
2. To combine employment with a pension
3. To combine employment with caring for children
4. To combine employment with other family or care responsibilities
5. Other reason

Self-employed block

You mentioned earlier that [you/Respondent name/this person] [are/is] self-employed in [your/his/her/their] [main/other] job. The following section of the survey will refer to this as [your/ respondent name's/this person's] [main/other] business.

LMI_Q07 / EQ 11 - What is the main reason why [you/Respondent name/this person] [are/is] self-employed in [your/his/her/their] [main/other] job?

Is it:

1. To have autonomy and control over work hours, wage rate or location
2. Unable to find work as an employee
3. [To earn more money than [you/Respondent name/this person] would as an employee]/ To earn extra money]
4. To engage in work that [you/he/she/this person] [are/is] passionate about
5. Lost job as an employee
6. To practice or master a new skill
7. To work in [your/his/her/their] field of expertise
8. To join or take over a family business
9. To achieve a better work-life balance
10. To experience less stress or for health reasons
11. Other

LMI_Q08 / EQ 12 - [Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] have any partners or co-owners in [your/his/her/their] [main/side] business?

1. Yes
2. No

LMI_Q09 / EQ 13 - [Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] [or your partners/or your company/, your partners or company/your company] own or lease a building or space dedicated to [your/his/her/their] [main/side] business?

1. Yes
2. No

LMI_Q10 / EQ 14 - In [your/Respondent's name/this person's] [main/side] business, [are/is] [you/he/she/they] required to belong to a professional association or regulatory college to do [your/his/her/their] job?

1. Yes
2. No

LMI_Q11 / EQ 15 - Does [your/Respondent's name/this person's] [main/side] business operate…?

1. All year round
2. During most of the year
3. During a specific season
4. Intermittently

EMP_Q01 / EQ 16 - How many employees in total work at [your/Respondent's name/this person's] business?

1. 5 or less
2. 6 to 20
3. 20 to 99
4. 100 to 500
5. Over 500

LMI_Q12 / EQ 17 - What is the current mix of clients in [your/Respondent's name/this person's] main business?

Is [your/Respondent's name/this person's] main business:

1. Mostly based on getting new clients
2. Based on an equal mix of new and returning clients
3. Mostly based on returning clients
4. Based on a single client

OR

5. [Your/Respondent's name/This person's] main business has not had any clients yet

LMI_Q13 / EQ 18 - Would [you/Respondent name/this person] be able to continue operating [your/his/her/their] main business for the next five years based on returning or existing clients alone?

1. Yes
2. No

LMI_Q14 / EQ 19 - To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? In normal times, it is easy for [you/Respondent name/this person] to find new clients in [your/his/her/their] main business.

1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree

CLI_Q01 / EQ 20 - [Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] currently have contracts with any of the following types of clients in [your/his/her/their] main business?

	Yes	No
Private businesses
Non-profit organizations or charities
Government agencies or departments
Private individuals

LMI_Q16 / EQ 21 – Thinking of [your/Respondent's name/this person's] largest contract, what is the total duration of that contract?

Is it:

1. Less than 3 months
2. From 3 months to less than 6 months
3. From 6 months to less than 12 months
4. 12 months or longer

LMI_Q17 / EQ 22 - During the last 12 months, did [you/Respondent name/this person] have any full days with no clients or work in [your/his/her/their] main business even though [you/he/she/they] wanted to work?

1. Yes
2. No

LMI_Q18 / EQ 23 - What would you say is [your/Respondent's name/this person's] main business over the next 12 months?

[Do/Does] [you/Respondent name/this person] plan to:

1. Expand and hire [more] employees
2. Expand without hiring [more] employees
3. Keep things about the same
4. Scale-down the business
5. Stop working or close the business

LMI_Q19 / EQ 24 - What is the main reason why [you/Respondent's name/this person] expect[s] to stop working or close [your/his/her/their] main business?

1. Low sales
2. Clients pay late or do not pay
3. Excess debt
4. Issues with suppliers
5. Lack of access to financing
6. Other business reasons
7. To accept a job with more income
8. To accept a job with more benefits
9. Attending school
10. Family responsibilities
11. Retirement
12. Health
13. Other personal reasons
14. Other

LFI_CHECK1 / EQ 25 - Last week, did [you/he/she/this person] work at a job or business?

1. Yes
2. No

LFI_CHECK2 / EQ 26 - Last week, did [you/he/she/this person] have a job or business from which [you/he/she/this person] [was/were] absent?

1. Yes
2. No

LFI_CHECK3 / EQ 27 - Did [you/he/she/this person] have more than one job or business last week?

1. Yes
2. No

LFI_CHECK4 / EQ 28 - Was this because [you/he/she/this person] changed employers?

1. Yes
2. No

LFI_CHECK5 / EQ 29 - [Has/Have] [you/Respondent's name/this person] ever worked at a job or business?

1. Yes
2. No

LFI_CHECK6 / EQ 30 - When did [you/Respondent's name/this person] last work?

Year:
Month:

LMI_Q20 / EQ 31 - [Excluding [your/his/her/their] main job or business, [has/have]/Have/Has] [you/Respondent's name/this person]] earned any money by freelancing, doing a paid gig, or completing a short-term job or task during the last 12 months?

1. Yes
2. No

LMI_Q21 / EQ 32 - [Was/Were] this freelancing, paid gig, or short-term task or job one of the jobs [you/Respondent name/this person] had last week, or something else entirely?

1. Yes, one of the jobs or businesses [you/Respondent name/this person] had last week
2. No, it was something else

EMP_Q02 / EQ 33 - [Was/Were] [you/Respondent name/this person] paid as an employee when [you/he/she/this person] freelanced, did a paid gig, or got paid to do a short-term task or job in the last 12 months?

1. Yes, only as an employee
2. Yes, both as an employee and as a self-employed worker
3. No, only as a self-employed worker

LMI_Q24 / EQ 34 - When was the last time [you/Respondent name/this person] freelanced, did a paid gig, or got paid to do a short-term task or job?

1. Last week or after
2. In the last 3 months, but before last week
3. In the last 3 to 6 months
4. In the last 6 to 12 months

SCC1_Q05 / EQ 35 - In the last 12 months, did [you/respondent name] receive support payments from a former spouse or partner?

1. Yes
2. No

SCC1_Q10 / EQ 36 - What is your best estimate of the amount of support payments [you/he/she/this person] received in the last 12 months?

SCC2_Q05 / EQ 37 - In the last 12 months, did [you/respondent name] make support payments to a former spouse or partner?

1. Yes
2. No

SCC2_Q10 / EQ 38 - What is your best estimate of the total amount [you/he/she/this person] paid in support payments in the last 12 months?

SCC3_Q05 / EQ 39 - In the last 12 months, did [you/respondent name] pay for child care, so that [you/he/she/they] could work at a paid job?

1. Yes
2. No

SCC3_Q10 / EQ 40 - What is your best estimate, of the total amount [you/he/she/this person] paid for child care in the last 12 months?

DSQ_Q01 / EQ 41 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent name] have any difficulty seeing?

Would you say:

1. No
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Always
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q02 / EQ 42 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] wear glasses or contact lenses to improve [your/his/her/their] vision?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q03 / EQ 43 - [With [your/his/her/their] glasses or contact lenses, which/Which] of the following best describes [your/respondent's name] ability to see?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty seeing
2. Some difficulty seeing
3. A lot of difficulty seeing
4. [You/He/She/They] [are/is] legally blind
5. [You/He/She/They] [are/is] blind
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q04 / EQ 44 - How often does this [difficulty seeing/seeing condition] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q05 / EQ 45 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have any difficulty hearing?

Would you say:

1. No
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Always
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q06 / EQ 46 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] use a hearing aid or cochlear implant?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q07 / EQ 47 - [With [your/Respondent's name/this person's] hearing aid or cochlear implant which/Which] of the following best describes [your/respondent's name] ability to hear?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty hearing
2. Some difficulty hearing
3. A lot of difficulty hearing
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot hear at all
5. [You/He/She/They] [are/is] Deaf
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q08 / EQ 48 - How often does this [difficulty hearing/hearing condition] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q09 / EQ 49 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have any difficulty walking, using stairs, using [your/his/her/their] hands or fingers or doing other physical activities?

Would you say:

1. No
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Always
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q10 / EQ 50 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/this person] have walking on a flat surface for 15 minutes without resting?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do at all
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q11 / EQ 51 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/this person] have walking up or down a flight of stairs, about 12 steps without resting?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do at all
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q12 / EQ 52 - How often [does this difficulty walking/does this difficulty using stairs/do these difficulties] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q13 / EQ 53 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent's name] 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/He/She/They] cannot do at all
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q14 / EQ 54 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/this person] have reaching in any direction, for example, above [your/his/her/their] head?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do at all
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q15 / EQ 55 - How often [does this difficulty bending down and picking up an object/does this difficulty reaching/do these difficulties] limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q16 / EQ 56 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent's name] have using [your/his/her/their] 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/He/She/They] cannot do at all
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q17 / EQ 57 - How often does this difficulty using [your/his/her/their] fingers limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q18 / EQ 58 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have pain that is always present?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q19 / EQ 59 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] [also] have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q20 / EQ 60 - How often does this pain limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q21 / EQ 61 - When [you/respondent's name] [are/is] experiencing this pain, how much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do at all
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q22 / EQ 62 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have any difficulty learning, remembering or concentrating?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q23 / EQ 63 - Do you think [you/respondent's name] [have/has] a condition that makes it difficult in general for [you/him/her/them] to learn? This may include learning disabilities such as dyslexia, hyperactivity, attention problems, etc.

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q24 / EQ 64 - Has a teacher, doctor or other health care professional ever said that [you/respondent's name] had a learning disability?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q25 / EQ 65 - How often are [your/his/her/their] daily activities limited by this condition?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q26 / EQ 66 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent's name] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities because of this condition?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do most activities
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q27 / EQ 67 - Has a doctor, psychologist or other health care professional ever said that [you/respondent's name] 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
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q28 / EQ 68 - How often are [your/respondent's name] daily activities limited by this condition?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q29 / EQ 69 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent's name] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities because of this condition?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do most activities
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q30 / EQ 70 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] have any ongoing memory problems or periods of confusion?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q31 / EQ 71 - How often are [your/his/her/their] daily activities limited by this problem?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q32 / EQ 72 - How much difficulty [do/does] [you/respondent's name] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities because of this problem?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do most activities
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q33 / EQ 73 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have any emotional, psychological or mental health conditions?

Would you say:

1. No
2. Sometimes
3. Often
4. Always
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q34 / EQ 74 - How often are [your/his/her/their] daily activities limited by this condition?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q35 / EQ 75 - When [you/respondent's name] [are/is] experiencing this condition, how much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do most activities
5. Don't know

DSQ_Q36 / EQ 76 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have any other health problem or long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six months or more?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q37 / EQ 77 - How often does this health problem or long-term condition limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q38 / EQ 78 - [Do/Does] [you/respondent's name] have pain that is always present?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q39 / EQ 79 - [Do/Does] [you/he/she/this person] [also] have periods of pain that reoccur from time to time?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don't know

DSQ_Q40 / EQ 80 - How often does this pain limit [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. Never
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always
6. Don't know

DSQ_Q41 / EQ 81 - When [you/respondent's name] [are/is] experiencing this pain, how much difficulty [do/does] [you/he/she/they] have with [your/his/her/their] daily activities?

Would you say:

1. No difficulty
2. Some difficulty
3. A lot of difficulty
4. [You/He/She/They] cannot do most activities
5. Don't know

UCN_Q005 / EQ 82 - During the past 12 months, was there ever a time when [you/respondent's name] felt that [you/he/she/they] needed health care, other than homecare services, but [you/he/she/they] did not receive it?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No

UCN_Q010 / EQ 83 - Thinking of the most recent time [you/respondent's name] felt this way, why didn't [you/he/she/they] get care?

Would you say:

1. Care not available in the area
2. Care not available at time required (e.g. 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 / EQ 84 - Again, thinking of the most recent time, what was the type of care that was needed?

Would you say:

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 (e.g. cold, flu and stomach flu)
4. Treatment of an acute physical condition (non-infectious)
5. Treatment of an acute mental health condition (e.g. acute stress reaction)
6. A regular check-up (including pre-natal care)
7. Care of an injury
8. Dental care
9. Medication / Prescription refill
10. Other

UCN_Q020 / EQ 85 - Did [you/he/she/this person] actively try to obtain the health care that was needed?

Would you say:

1. Yes
2. No

UCN_Q025 / EQ 86 - Where did [you/he/she/this person] try to get the service [you/he/she/they] [were/was] seeking?

Would you say:

1. A doctor's office
2. A hospital outpatient clinic
3. A community health centre
4. A walk-in clinic
5. An emergency department or emergency room
6. Other

Resources

• Vancouver-based Canfor Corporation announced the closure of its Plateau and Fort St. John operations in northern British Columbia. Canfor said the closures will impact approximately 500 employees and will remove 670 million board feet of annual production from the B.C. operations. Canfor also said that the wind down of operations is expected to be complete by the end of the year.
• In a separate statement, Canfor announced it will indefinitely curtail one shift at its Darlington facility in South Carolina, reduce operating hours at its Estill, South Carolina and Moultrie, Georgia locations, and implement curtailments across other southern U.S. operations. Canfor said these changes will reduce production by approximately 215 million board feet on an annualized basis.
• The Government of Canada announced it will challenge, under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the U.S. Department of Commerce's decision to increase softwood lumber duties.
• Vancouver-based First Majestic Silver Corp. and Gatos Silver, Inc. announced they had entered into a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which First Majestic will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Gatos for a total implied equity value of approximately USD $970 million. First Majestic said the transaction is expected to close in early 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including shareholder approval, clearance under Mexican anti-trust laws, and approval of the listing of the First Majestic common shares to be issued under the transaction on both the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange.
• Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia-based Conuma Resources announced that mining operations at its Quintette coal mine had resumed after 24 years of care and maintenance.
• The Government of Ontario announced that it and Wataynikaneyap (Watay) Power were advancing the second phase of the Watay Power Transmission Project. The Government said that approximately 1,800 kilometres of transmission line are being built by Watay Power Transmission Project through a government loan of up to $1.34 billion for the project's construction costs and that once built, the Watay transmission line will connect more than 18,000 people in 16 remote communities.

Manufacturing

• Vancouver-based Methanex Corporation announced it had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Netherlands-based OCI Global's international methanol business, including OCI's interest in two methanol facilities in Texas and a currently idled methanol facility in the Netherlands, for USD $2.05 billion. Methanex said the transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to Regulatory and shareholder approval and other closing conditions including TSX approval for the issuance of Methanex shares to OCI.

Other news

• The Bank of Canada reduced its target for the overnight rate by 25 basis points to 4.25%. The last change in the target for the overnight rate was a 25 basis points cut in July 2024. The Bank also said it is continuing its policy of balance sheet normalization.
• The Government of Canada announced a suite of reforms to mortgage rules, including increasing the $1 million price cap for insured mortgages to $1.5 million and expanding eligibility for 30 year mortgage amortizations to all first-time homebuyers and to all buyers of new builds. The Government said both are effective December 15, 2024.
• The Government of Canada announced additional measures to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals, including:
  • Announcing a further reduction in the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025;
  • Updating the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program this fall;
  • Limiting work permit eligibility, later this year, to spouses of master's degree students to only those whose program is at least 16 months in duration; and
  • Limiting work permit eligibility later this year to spouses of foreign workers in management or professional occupations or in sectors with labour shortages.
• The Northwest Territories' minimum wage increased from $16.05 to $16.70 per hour on September 1st.
• Montreal-based BCE Inc. announced it had reached an agreement to sell its ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. (MLSE) to Rogers Communications Inc. of Toronto for $4.7 billion. BCE said the transaction is expected to close in mid-2025, subject to relevant sports league and other customary approvals.
• On September 30th, the Port of Montreal announced that a partial strike affecting the Viau and Maisonneuve terminals had begun at 7:00 a.m. and would continue until October 3rd, at 6:59 a.m.

United States and other international news

• On September 28th, United States President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that major disasters exist in the States of Florida and North Carolina and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene beginning on September 23rd and continuing.
• The U.S. Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) lowered the target range for the federal funds rate by 50 basis points to 4.75% to 5.00%. The last change in the target range was a 25 basis points increase in July 2023. The Committee also said it will continue reducing its holdings of Treasury securities and agency debt and agency mortgage-backed securities.
• The European Central Bank (ECB) lowered the deposit facility by 25 basis points to 3.50%. The ECB also set the spread between the interest rate on the main refinancing operations and the deposit facility rate at 15 basis points and left the spread between the rate on the marginal lending facility and the rate on the main refinancing operations unchanged at 25 basis points. Accordingly, the interest rates on the main refinancing operations and the marginal lending facility were lowered to 3.65% and 3.90% respectively.
• The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to maintain the Bank Rate at 5.00%. The last change in the Bank Rate was a 25 basis points cut in August 2024.
• The Monetary Policy and Financial Stability Committee of Norway's Norges Bank left the policy rate unchanged at 4.5%. The last change in the policy rate was a 25 basis points increase in December 2023.
• The Bank of Japan announced it will encourage the uncollateralized overnight call rate to remain at around 0.25%.
• The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left the cash rate target unchanged at 4.35%. The last change in the cash rate target was a 25 basis points increase in November 2023.
• The Executive Board of Sweden's Riksbank lowered the repo rate by 25 basis points to 3.25%. The last change in the repo rate was a 25 basis points reduction in August 2024.
• Funds managed by New York-based Blackstone Real Estate Partners, Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, and Blackstone's private equity strategy for individual investors, along with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board announced they had entered into a definitive agreement to acquire AirTrunk of Australia, a data center platform, from Macquarie Asset Management and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board, for an implied enterprise value of over AUD $24 billion. Blackstone said the transaction is subject to approval from the Australian Foreign Investment Review Board.
• OPEC announced that eight participating countries which had previously announced additional voluntary production cuts, including Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, agreed to extend their additional voluntary production cuts of 2.2 million barrels per day for two months until the end of November 2024, after which these cuts will be gradually phased out on a monthly basis starting December 1, 2024.
• New York-based Verizon Communications Inc. and Frontier Communications Parent, Inc. of Texas announced they had entered into a definitive agreement for Verizon to acquire Frontier in an all-cash transaction valued at USD $20 billion. The companies said the transaction is expected to close in approximately 18 months, subject to approval by Frontier shareholders, receipt of certain regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.
• Maryland-based Constellation Energy Corporation announced the signing of a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft that will pave the way for the launch of the Crane Clean Energy Center (CCEC) and restart of Three Mile Island Unit 1 in Pennsylvania. Constellation said it expects the CCEC to be online in 2028.
• Sweden-based Northvolt AB, a battery developer and manufacturer, announced that measures related to its strategic review were expected to result in the redundancy of approximately 1,600 Northvolt employees in Sweden. Northvolt said this was a workforce reduction of approximately 20% at a global level and 25% in Sweden.

Financial market news

• West Texas Intermediate crude oil closed at USD $68.17 per barrel on September 30th, down from a closing value of USD $73.55 at the end of August. Western Canadian Select crude oil traded in the USD $51 to $60 per barrel range throughout September. The Canadian dollar closed at 74.08 cents U.S. on September 27th, down from 74.12 cents U.S. at the end of August. The S&P/TSX composite index closed at 24,000.37 on September 30th, up from 23,346.18 at the end of August.