This Reporting Guide is to assist in the completion of the Annual Return of “Broadcasting Distribution” Licensee (Form no 5-5300-53.1).

Survey Objective

This survey collects financial and operating data for the statistical measurement and analysis of the broadcasting distribution industry. These data will be aggregated to produce national and regional estimates of the performance of your industry. Those estimates are used by the regulator and policy departments, the private sector, international organizations, academics, analysts and the general public to better understand this sector's contribution to the Canadian economy. Selected results will be published in Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 56-209-X.

Confidentiality Statement

This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada 1985, Chapter S19. Completion of this questionnaire is a legal requirement under this Act.  Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from publishing or releasing any statistics which would divulge information obtained from this survey relating to any identifiable business without the previous written consent of that business. The data on this questionnaire will be treated in confidence, used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form only. The confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act are not affected by the Access to Information Act or any other legislation. Please note that Statistics Canada does not share any individual responses with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Agreements and Regulations

In order to avoid duplication and ease the burden on respondents, Statistics Canada has entered into the following data sharing agreements concerning this Broadcasting Distribution Survey:

• Under section 11 of the Statistics Act with the “Institut de la statistique du Québec” for the sharing of information from this survey for broadcasting undertakings in Quebec.  The Quebec Statistics Act includes the authority for the collection of this information and the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of information as the Federal Statistics Act;

• Under section 12 of the Statistics Act with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for all broadcasting undertakings in Canada.  This information is required by the Commission under the authority of the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act and the regulations and conditions of licence thereunder.  Statistics Canada is collecting the information on behalf of the Commission. The Commission will retain a copy of the questionnaire thus satisfying the requirements of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations or conditions of licence for broadcasters in Canada to provide this type of information to the Commission on or before November 30 of each year for the year ending on the previous August 31; and

• Under section 12 of the Statistics Act with the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage for all broadcasting undertakings in Canada, the “Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine” for broadcasting undertakings in Quebec, and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade for broadcasting undertakings in Ontario. The agreements we have with these agencies require that they keep the information confidential and only use it for statistical and research purposes.  In the case of the agreements with these three agencies, respondents may object to the sharing of their information by giving notice in writing to the Chief Statistician and returning the letter of objection in a separate envelope addressed to:  Chief, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Section, Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, 100 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway, Room 1506, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0T6, Telephone:  (613) 951-1891, Facsimile:  (613) 951-0009. E-mail: heidi.ertl@statcan.gc.ca

Change of Ownership

When a change of ownership has been approved by the CRTC, within 90 days thereof, the former licensee will file with Statistics Canada a copy of an annual return covering the period of operations from September 1 to the day of transfer.  The new licensee will file an annual return from the day of transfer to August 31. In some cases, the new licensee elects to file an annual return for the full broadcast year. In either case, the licensee should indicate on the return, which period they are filing.

Completion of the Return

Please note that since 2006, the reporting to Statistics Canada and the CRTC have been integrated and simplified. The revised reporting procedures are outlined below.

In past years, licensees were asked to complete:

• a detailed Annual Return for each class 1 or 2 licensed broadcasting distribution undertaking not exempted by the CRTC from this requirement (to satisfy CRTC regulations);
• a combined report for all class 3 systems not exempted by the CRTC from this requirement (to satisfy CRTC regulations);
• a simplified combined provincial report for class 2 or 3 systems exempted from this requirement by the CRTC (to satisfy the requirements of Statistics Canada).

The relevant reports were combined by Statistics Canada to produce aggregate statistics for the industry.

As of the 2006 broadcasting year, the requirements of both organizations are merged and licensees are asked to complete a single Annual Return that combines all licensed undertakings located within a province, whether these undertakings are exempted or not to file a Return with the CRTC. For example, a licensee that operates 15 undertakings in two Provinces would be required to submit two Provincial reports. 

These revised procedures apply to the portion of Annual Return shared by Statistics Canada and the CRTC. It has been notably simplified compared to the previous class 1 or 2 detailed Annual Returns.  It now consists of the following sections:

• Licensee information (page 2) – This section collects contact information and management certification. You need only complete one per licensee.

• International payments and receipts (page 3) – This section collects payments to, and receipts from, non-residents programming and others services.  Please report for all systems, exempted or not to file a Return with the CRTC.  You need only complete one per licensee.

• Summary revenues and expenses (page 4) – This section collects revenues and expenses by type. It has been made simpler by combining basic and non-basic programming services and by reducing the amount of information collected. 

• Employment information (page 5) – This section collects labour cost and employment information. This section has been made simpler by combining basic and non-basic services.

• Summary of fixed assets (page 5) – This section collects the value of assets by type. This section has been made simpler by combining basic and non-basic services.

• Affiliation payments and subscribers (page 6) – This section collects data on payments made to Canadian and non-Canadian pay and specialty programming undertakings. Note that these questions now pertain to payments made for all pay and specialty programming services whether offered in your basic or non-basic tier(s).

• Cable access and subscribers (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers to your basic programming services, the number of homes passed by (with access to) your network in the province and the total number of homes in your licensed area(s).

• Internet access services (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers to your Internet access services, the number of homes passed where (with access to) Internet service is available and the revenues generated by the provision of Internet services.

• Digital television (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers with a digital set-top box, the number of homes passed where (with access to) digital service is available and the revenues generated by the provision of programming services to subscribers with a digital set top box.

• Video-on-demand (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of homes passed where (with access to) video-on-demand service is available.

• Telephone services (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers to your telephone services, the number of homes passed where (with access to) telephone service is available and the revenues generated by the provision of telephone services.

• Reporting summary for combined undertakings by province (page 7 – new reporting document as of 2007) – This section collects data on the number of subscribers, the revenue per category for each non exempted systems included in the combined report by province, as well as the total number of subscribers and revenue by category for the total of exempted systems included in the combined report by province.

Please note that the CRTC requires licensees to continue filing information for each class 1 or class 2 licensed undertaking it operates for the following type of information, unless it has been exempted from doing so by a specific decision:

• financial contribution to the creation and production of Canadian programming;
• community programming hours and direct operating expenses;

Separate forms are provided in this package for you to complete if this requirement applies to your organization. Instructions appear on the form.

The reporting period to be covered by this Annual Return is the broadcasting year, that is, the 12-month period from September 01, 2008 to August 31, 2009.

If your organization operates different types of broadcasting distribution undertaking(s), a separate Annual Return must be completed to report the specific results of each type (cable, DTH, MDS). Annual Returns specific to programming undertakings ((e.g.: Conventional television, radio, specialty television) must also be completed and are available from Statistics Canada at the address on page 2 of this guide.

Important:   If you are missing any of the forms mentioned above, please contact Statistics Canada at the address listed on page 2 of this guide.

Subject to (i) and (ii) below, please enclose three copies of the licensee’s audited Financial Statement for the 12 month period ending August 31, 2009 three completed copies of this Return and one completed copy of CRTC forms:

• (i) Subject to (ii) below, all licensees must file audited financial statement at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31. (See the attached Appendix)
• (ii) other than licensees who are public companies, all licensees of cable undertaking having no single undertaking of more than 6000 subscribers at August 31, 2009 may, in lieu of audited financial statements, file non-audited financial statements at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31. (See the attached Appendix)

The return is to be typed or legibly written.  A postage paid addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience.  If you have any queries regarding this questionnaire, please contact the:

• Unit Head
  Broadcasting Section,
  Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division,
  Statistics Canada,
  100 Tunney’s Pasture Driveway
  Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0T6.
  Telephone:  (613) 951-0390,
  Facsimile:  (613) 951-9920.
  E-mail: dany.gravel@statcan.gc.ca

CRTC and STC File Numbers

The CRTC and STC file number should be entered at the bottom of all pages, so that these pages can be related to the broadcasting distribution licensee.  The CRTC file number is the seven-digit number to the right of the word “CRTC File” on the cover page, the STC file number is the four-digit number to the right of the word STC on the cover page.

Definitions

Licensee – A Corporation, organization or person licensed by the CRTC to carry on a broadcasting distribution undertaking as set out in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.

Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking – includes cable distribution undertakings, direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distribution undertakings and radio communication distribution undertakings that provide a broadband subscription-based service comparable to that provided by Cable distribution undertakings.

Reporting unit – is the smallest unit capable of reporting revenues, expenses, profits and assets on behalf of the undertaking.  A reporting unit may consist of (a) a single broadcasting distribution undertaking or (b) a combination of broadcasting distribution undertakings systems operated as a single unit or entity.

SECTION “1” – LICENSEE (COMPANY) INFORMATION

Page 2:  Licensee Information

On this page please report the basic contact changes of ownership (if any) within the period starting September 01, 2008 to August 31, 2009. Please do not forget to complete the management certification section.

Page 3:  International Payment and Receipts

Please report all commercial, financial, professional, technical, administrative and management services, royalties, patents, copyrights, advertising, commissions, salaries, insurance premiums and claims, equipment rentals, computer services and all other receipts from and payments to non-residents for services which are directly remitted or charged to accounts.  Merchandise exports and imports, travel and freight and shipping transactions are to be omitted.  All amounts are to be reported net of withholding taxes.

Line 4 The European Union, excluding the United Kingdom and France, consists of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland,  Germany, Greece, The Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Line 6 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, excluding Japan, United States and European Union are:  Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Korea.

SECTION “2” SYSTEM INFORMATION

Pages 4 to 6 are for the reporting of information relating to the provision of services. Please complete a single section 2 that combines all licensed undertakings located within a province, whether these undertakings are exempted or not to file with the CRTC. If your organization operates undertakings in two provinces, you should return two completed section 2.

Page 4:  Summary of revenues and expenses

Column 1 Revenues and expenses for basic and non-basic programming services should be reported in this column.

Column 2 Revenues and expenses for exempt programming services such as classified advertising, teleshopping/general services, and infomercials, should be reported in this column. The detailed revenue by type should be reported in the “EXEMPT PROGRAMMING” section at the bottom of page 4.

Column 3 Revenues and expenses for non-programming services such as channel lease, internet access services and telephony should be reported in this column. The detailed revenue by type should be reported in the “NON-PROGRAMMING SERVICES” section at the bottom of page 4.

Column 4 In this column please report the total of all the services by revenue and expenses category (the sum of columns 1, 2 and 3).

Gross revenue from exempt programming and non-programming services

The detailed revenues reported here should equal the totals reported in the summary section (column 2 and 3).

Total Remuneration

Line 1 “Salaries and Wages” should include payments for regular hours worked, overtime, vacation and holidays, commissions paid to staff under the sales and promotion category, fringe benefits and director’s fees.

Line 2 “Average number of employees” should be the typical weekly average of full and equivalent part-time employees.  Where there are part-time employees include them as equivalent full-time employees by calculating their work time in proportion to a typical full week’s work.

Line 3 “Fringe benefits” should include the taxable items shown on employees’ T4 form such as profit sharing and bonus arrangements, the cost to the employer of providing retirement pensions to employees, whether or not under the Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan or other government pension plans and the cost of providing benefits such as group medical, group life, employment insurance, workers’ compensation and other employee benefits.  Do not include the value of board and lodging or other payments in kind.

Summary of fixed assets

Please note that the cost related to the installation of new subscriber drops and devices and/or the rebuilding/replacement of existing ones are to be dealt with in all case as capital expenditures.  This may not reflect the company’s tax or corporate practice, but is required for uniformity of reporting by all licensees. These costs will include:

1. Where licensee makes his own installation, the costs for labour and material (electronic equipment, miscellaneous hardware and wire); and
2. Where the licensee engages a contractor or other agent to make the installation, the amount paid or payable to such agent.

The costs of disconnections and reconnections of existing subscriber drops and the cost of complete removal of the service from any premises should be treated as expenses of the year in which they are incurred. (Amounts received from the subscribers for original connections or for reconnections are to be included in the licensee’s current income).

Affiliation payments and subscribers

Report the amounts paid to program suppliers under the terms of the Program Affiliation Agreement along with the number of subscribers for Canadian or non-Canadian Pay services.

Cable

Line 1 Direct subscribers - Household units billed directly by the licensee.  Each household unit to which the basic service is provided and for which the unit is billed directly for the service would be counted as one direct subscriber regardless of the number of additional outlets installed on the premises.

Line 2 Indirect subscribers -  Subscribers such as the owner or operator of a hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises to which service is provided by a licensee.  Each apartment in an apartment building where cost of basic service is included in tenant’s rent would be counted as one indirect subscriber.  Each hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises would be counted as one, regardless of the number of outlets (rooms) installed.

Line 3 Households with access to cable - Household units to which your signals are available irrespective of whether or not the household subscribes (homes passed).

Line 4 Households in licensed area - The total number of household units in the licensed area irrespective of whether these are passed by the undertaking’s terrestrial or over-the-air distribution facilities. The number should include all households in the area (i.e. apartments plus other single households).

Internet - Cable modem, satellite or MDS

Line 1 Subscribers to high speed Internet access services - The number of subscribers to retail Internet access services with this company and its affiliate.

Line 2 Revenues from high speed Internet access services - The amount before taxes that the licensee and its affiliates, charged and billed directly its retail Internet subscribers for the year.

Line 3 Households with access to high speed Internet - Household units that could subscribe to your Internet service if they so wished.

Digital Television

Line 1 Subscribers to digital services - Subscribers that have a digital set-top box, whether or they subscribe to one or many digital channels.

Line 2 Revenues from digital services - Revenues earned from the provision of programming services to subscribers that have a digital set-top box.

Line 3 Households with access to digital services - Household units that could subscribe to your digital television service if they so wished.

Video on demand

Household with access to Video-on-demand - Household units that could purchase video-on-demand if they chose to subscribe to your digital service.

Telephone

Line 1 Subscribers to telephone services by cable - The number of subscribers to your telephone services (IP or switched)

Line 2 Revenues from telephone services - The amount before taxes that the licensee and its affiliates, charged and billed directly to its telephone service customer.

Line 3 Households with access to telephone services - Household units that could subscribe to your telephone service if they so wished.

Page 7: Reporting Summary for Combined Undertakings

Class 1 and 2 undertakings must complete all columns.

Class 3 undertakings must only complete column 1.

APPENDIX

 

i) Where the year-end of the Parent is August 31, file non-audited statements at the licensee level and the audited consolidated statements of the Parent both for the 12 month period ending August 31.

ii) where the year-end of the Parent is other than August 31, file non-audited financial statements at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31 on which the licensee’s auditor has performed a Review Engagement and the audited consolidated financial statements for the Parent company’s most recently completed fiscal year ending immediately prior to the 31 August of the annual return being filed.

1. Audited Financial Statements:
   
   Licensees of cable undertakings having at least one undertaking with more than 6,000 subscribers as at August 31 of the annual return year being filed, must file audited financial statements along with the annual return.




 
2.  
3. Non-audited Financial Statements
   
   Although not subject to an audit by the licensee’s external auditors, they must nevertheless be prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (G.A.A.P.)* and be signed and dated by the licensee as follows:
   
   I,  (Name)  (Title)  am authorized to certify on behalf of   (Licensee)  that these financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (G.A.A.P.) and are true and complete in all respects to the best of my knowledge and belief.
   
   * Where the statements have not been prepared in accordance with G.A.A.P., please indicate the areas involved and how you treated them.
    
4. Licensees otherwise required to file audited financial statements and whose fiscal year end does not coincide with August 31 may, as an alternative to filing audited statements as at August 31, file non-audited financial statements at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31 on which the licensee’s auditor has performed a “Review Engagement” in accordance with section 8200 of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountant’s handbook (the “C.I.C.A. handbook”).  Licensees who elect to provide Review Engagement financial statements must also file, with their annual return, their audited financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year ending immediately prior to the 31 August of the annual return being filed.
5. Licensees otherwise required to file audited financial statements and whose statements are included in the audited consolidated statements of a Parent company may, where audited statements at the licensee level are not prepared, file financial statements as follows:

This Reporting Guide is to assist in the completion of the Annual Return of "Broadcasting Distribution" Licensee (Form no 5-5300-53.1).

Survey Objective

This survey collects financial and operating data for the statistical measurement and analysis of the broadcasting distribution industry. These data will be aggregated to produce national and regional estimates of the performance of your industry. Those estimates are used by the regulator and policy departments, the private sector, international organizations, academics, analysts and the general public to better understand this sector's contribution to the Canadian economy. Selected results will be published in Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 56-209-X.

Confidentiality Statement

This survey is conducted under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada 1985, Chapter S19. Completion of this questionnaire is a legal requirement under this Act. Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from publishing or releasing any statistics which would divulge information obtained from this survey relating to any identifiable business without the previous written consent of that business. The data on this questionnaire will be treated in confidence, used for statistical purposes and published in aggregate form only. The confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act are not affected by the Access to Information Act or any other legislation. Please note that Statistics Canada does not share any individual responses with the Canada Revenue Agency.

Agreements and Regulations

In order to avoid duplication and ease the burden on respondents, Statistics Canada has entered into the following data sharing agreements concerning this Broadcasting Distribution Survey:

• Under section 11 of the Statistics Act with the "Institut de la statistique du Québec" for the sharing of information from this survey for broadcasting undertakings in Quebec. The Quebec Statistics Act includes the authority for the collection of this information and the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of information as the Federal Statistics Act;

• Under section 12 of the Statistics Act with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for all broadcasting undertakings in Canada. This information is required by the Commission under the authority of the Broadcasting Act and the Telecommunications Act and the regulations and conditions of licence thereunder. Statistics Canada is collecting the information on behalf of the Commission. The Commission will retain a copy of the questionnaire thus satisfying the requirements of the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations or conditions of licence for broadcasters in Canada to provide this type of information to the Commission on or before November 30 of each year for the year ending on the previous August 31; and

• Under section 12 of the Statistics Act with the Federal Department of Canadian Heritage for all broadcasting undertakings in Canada, the "Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine" for broadcasting undertakings in Quebec, and the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade for broadcasting undertakings in Ontario. The agreements we have with these agencies require that they keep the information confidential and only use it for statistical and research purposes. In the case of the agreements with these three agencies, respondents may object to the sharing of their information by giving notice in writing to the Chief Statistician and returning the letter of objection in a separate envelope addressed to: Chief, Telecommunications and Broadcasting Section, Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Room 1506, Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0T6, Telephone: (613) 951-1891, Facsimile: (613) 951-0009. E-mail: heidi.ertl@statcan.gc.ca

Change of Ownership

When a change of ownership has been approved by the CRTC, within 90 days thereof, the former licensee will file with Statistics Canada a copy of an annual return covering the period of operations from September 1 to the day of transfer. The new licensee will file an annual return from the day of transfer to August 31. In some cases, the new licensee elects to file an annual return for the full broadcast year. In either case, the licensee should indicate on the return, which period they are filing.

Completion of the Return

Please note that since 2006, the reporting to Statistics Canada and the CRTC have been integrated and simplified. The revised reporting procedures are outlined below.

In past years, licensees were asked to complete:

• a detailed Annual Return for each class 1 or 2 licensed broadcasting distribution undertaking not exempted by the CRTC from this requirement (to satisfy CRTC regulations);
• a combined report for all class 3 systems not exempted by the CRTC from this requirement (to satisfy CRTC regulations);
• a simplified combined provincial report for class 2 or 3 systems exempted from this requirement by the CRTC (to satisfy the requirements of Statistics Canada).

The relevant reports were combined by Statistics Canada to produce aggregate statistics for the industry.

As of the 2006 broadcasting year, the requirements of both organizations are merged and licensees are asked to complete a single Annual Return that combines all licensed undertakings located within a province, whether these undertakings are exempted or not to file a Return with the CRTC. For example, a licensee that operates 15 undertakings in two Provinces would be required to submit two Provincial reports.

These revised procedures apply to the portion of Annual Return shared by Statistics Canada and the CRTC. It has been notably simplified compared to the previous class 1 or 2 detailed Annual Returns. It now consists of the following sections:

• Licensee information (page 2) – This section collects contact information and management certification. You need only complete one per licensee.

• International payments and receipts (page 3) – This section collects payments to, and receipts from, non-residents programming and others services. Please report for all systems, exempted or not to file a Return with the CRTC. You need only complete one per licensee.

• Summary revenues and expenses (page 4) – This section collects revenues and expenses by type. It has been made simpler by combining basic and non-basic programming services and by reducing the amount of information collected.

• Employment information (page 5) – This section collects labour cost and employment information. This section has been made simpler by combining basic and non-basic services.

• Summary of fixed assets (page 5) – This section collects the value of assets by type. This section has been made simpler by combining basic and non-basic services.

• Affiliation payments and subscribers (page 6) – This section collects data on payments made to Canadian and non-Canadian pay and specialty programming undertakings. Note that these questions now pertain to payments made for all pay and specialty programming services whether offered in your basic or non-basic tier(s).

• Cable access and subscribers (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers to your basic programming services, the number of homes passed by (with access to) your network in the province and the total number of homes in your licensed area(s).

• Internet access services (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers to your Internet access services, the number of homes passed where (with access to) Internet service is available and the revenues generated by the provision of Internet services.

• Digital television (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers with a digital set-top box, the number of homes passed where (with access to) digital service is available and the revenues generated by the provision of programming services to subscribers with a digital set top box.

• Video-on-demand (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of homes passed where (with access to) video-on-demand service is available.

• Telephone services (page 6) – This section collects information on the number of subscribers to your telephone services, the number of homes passed where (with access to) telephone service is available and the revenues generated by the provision of telephone services.

• Reporting summary for combined undertakings by province (page 7 – new reporting document as of 2007) – This section collects data on the number of subscribers, the revenue per category for each non exempted systems included in the combined report by province, as well as the total number of subscribers and revenue by category for the total of exempted systems included in the combined report by province.

Please note that the CRTC requires licensees to continue filing information for each class 1 or class 2 licensed undertaking it operates for the following type of information, unless it has been exempted from doing so by a specific decision:

• financial contribution to the creation and production of Canadian programming;
• community programming hours and direct operating expenses;

Separate forms are provided in this package for you to complete if this requirement applies to your organization. Instructions appear on the form.

The reporting period to be covered by this Annual Return is the broadcasting year, that is, the 12-month period from September 01, 2008 to August 31, 2009.

If your organization operates different types of broadcasting distribution undertaking(s), a separate Annual Return must be completed to report the specific results of each type (cable, DTH, MDS). Annual Returns specific to programming undertakings ((e.g.: Conventional television, radio, specialty television) must also be completed and are available from Statistics Canada at the address on page 2 of this guide.

Important: If you are missing any of the forms mentioned above, please contact Statistics Canada at the address listed on page 2 of this guide.

Subject to (i) and (ii) below, please enclose three copies of the licensee's audited Financial Statement for the 12 month period ending August 31, 2009 three completed copies of this Return and one completed copy of CRTC forms:

• (i) Subject to (ii) below, all licensees must file audited financial statement at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31. (See the attached Appendix)
• (ii) other than licensees who are public companies, all licensees of cable undertaking having no single undertaking of more than 6000 subscribers at August 31, 2009 may, in lieu of audited financial statements, file non-audited financial statements at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31. (See the attached Appendix)

The return is to be typed or legibly written. A postage paid addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience. If you have any queries regarding this questionnaire, please contact the:

• Unit Head
  Broadcasting Section,
  Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division,
  Statistics Canada,
  100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
  Ottawa, Canada, K1A 0T6.
  Telephone: (613) 951-0390,
  Facsimile: (613) 951-9920.
  E-mail: dany.gravel@statcan.gc.ca

CRTC and STC File Numbers

The CRTC and STC file number should be entered at the bottom of all pages, so that these pages can be related to the broadcasting distribution licensee. The CRTC file number is the seven-digit number to the right of the word "CRTC File" on the cover page, the STC file number is the four-digit number to the right of the word STC on the cover page.

Definitions

Licensee – A Corporation, organization or person licensed by the CRTC to carry on a broadcasting distribution undertaking as set out in the Broadcasting Distribution Regulations.

Broadcasting Distribution Undertaking – includes cable distribution undertakings, direct-to-home (DTH) satellite distribution undertakings and radio communication distribution undertakings that provide a broadband subscription-based service comparable to that provided by Cable distribution undertakings.

Reporting unit – is the smallest unit capable of reporting revenues, expenses, profits and assets on behalf of the undertaking. A reporting unit may consist of (a) a single broadcasting distribution undertaking or (b) a combination of broadcasting distribution undertakings systems operated as a single unit or entity.

SECTION "1" – LICENSEE (COMPANY) INFORMATION

Page 2: Licensee Information

On this page please report the basic contact changes of ownership (if any) within the period starting September 01, 2008 to August 31, 2009. Please do not forget to complete the management certification section.

Page 3: International Payment and Receipts

Please report all commercial, financial, professional, technical, administrative and management services, royalties, patents, copyrights, advertising, commissions, salaries, insurance premiums and claims, equipment rentals, computer services and all other receipts from and payments to non-residents for services which are directly remitted or charged to accounts. Merchandise exports and imports, travel and freight and shipping transactions are to be omitted. All amounts are to be reported net of withholding taxes.

Line 4 The European Union, excluding the United Kingdom and France, consists of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, The Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Line 6 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, excluding Japan, United States and European Union are: Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Mexico, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and Korea.

SECTION "2" SYSTEM INFORMATION

Pages 4 to 6 are for the reporting of information relating to the provision of services. Please complete a single section 2 that combines all licensed undertakings located within a province, whether these undertakings are exempted or not to file with the CRTC. If your organization operates undertakings in two provinces, you should return two completed section 2.

Page 4: Summary of revenues and expenses

Column 1 Revenues and expenses for basic and non-basic programming services should be reported in this column.

Column 2 Revenues and expenses for exempt programming services such as classified advertising, teleshopping/general services, and infomercials, should be reported in this column. The detailed revenue by type should be reported in the "EXEMPT PROGRAMMING" section at the bottom of page 4.

Column 3 Revenues and expenses for non-programming services such as channel lease, internet access services and telephony should be reported in this column. The detailed revenue by type should be reported in the "NON-PROGRAMMING SERVICES" section at the bottom of page 4.

Column 4 In this column please report the total of all the services by revenue and expenses category (the sum of columns 1, 2 and 3).

Gross revenue from exempt programming and non-programming services

The detailed revenues reported here should equal the totals reported in the summary section (column 2 and 3).

Total Remuneration

Line 1 "Salaries and Wages" should include payments for regular hours worked, overtime, vacation and holidays, commissions paid to staff under the sales and promotion category, fringe benefits and director's fees.

Line 2 "Average number of employees" should be the typical weekly average of full and equivalent part-time employees. Where there are part-time employees include them as equivalent full-time employees by calculating their work time in proportion to a typical full week's work.

Line 3 "Fringe benefits" should include the taxable items shown on employees' T4 form such as profit sharing and bonus arrangements, the cost to the employer of providing retirement pensions to employees, whether or not under the Canada Pension Plan, Quebec Pension Plan or other government pension plans and the cost of providing benefits such as group medical, group life, employment insurance, workers' compensation and other employee benefits. Do not include the value of board and lodging or other payments in kind.

Summary of fixed assets

Please note that the cost related to the installation of new subscriber drops and devices and/or the rebuilding/replacement of existing ones are to be dealt with in all case as capital expenditures. This may not reflect the company's tax or corporate practice, but is required for uniformity of reporting by all licensees. These costs will include:

1. Where licensee makes his own installation, the costs for labour and material (electronic equipment, miscellaneous hardware and wire); and
2. Where the licensee engages a contractor or other agent to make the installation, the amount paid or payable to such agent.

The costs of disconnections and reconnections of existing subscriber drops and the cost of complete removal of the service from any premises should be treated as expenses of the year in which they are incurred. (Amounts received from the subscribers for original connections or for reconnections are to be included in the licensee's current income).

Affiliation payments and subscribers

Report the amounts paid to program suppliers under the terms of the Program Affiliation Agreement along with the number of subscribers for Canadian or non-Canadian Pay services.

Cable

Line 1 Direct subscribers - Household units billed directly by the licensee. Each household unit to which the basic service is provided and for which the unit is billed directly for the service would be counted as one direct subscriber regardless of the number of additional outlets installed on the premises.

Line 2 Indirect subscribers - Subscribers such as the owner or operator of a hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises to which service is provided by a licensee. Each apartment in an apartment building where cost of basic service is included in tenant's rent would be counted as one indirect subscriber. Each hotel, hospital, nursing home or other commercial or institutional premises would be counted as one, regardless of the number of outlets (rooms) installed.

Line 3 Households with access to cable - Household units to which your signals are available irrespective of whether or not the household subscribes (homes passed).

Line 4 Households in licensed area - The total number of household units in the licensed area irrespective of whether these are passed by the undertaking's terrestrial or over-the-air distribution facilities. The number should include all households in the area (i.e. apartments plus other single households).

Internet - Cable modem, satellite or MDS

Line 1 Subscribers to high speed Internet access services - The number of subscribers to retail Internet access services with this company and its affiliate.

Line 2 Revenues from high speed Internet access services - The amount before taxes that the licensee and its affiliates, charged and billed directly its retail Internet subscribers for the year.

Line 3 Households with access to high speed Internet - Household units that could subscribe to your Internet service if they so wished.

Digital Television

Line 1 Subscribers to digital services - Subscribers that have a digital set-top box, whether or they subscribe to one or many digital channels.

Line 2 Revenues from digital services - Revenues earned from the provision of programming services to subscribers that have a digital set-top box.

Line 3 Households with access to digital services - Household units that could subscribe to your digital television service if they so wished.

Video on demand

Household with access to Video-on-demand - Household units that could purchase video-on-demand if they chose to subscribe to your digital service.

Telephone

Line 1 Subscribers to telephone services by cable - The number of subscribers to your telephone services (IP or switched)

Line 2 Revenues from telephone services - The amount before taxes that the licensee and its affiliates, charged and billed directly to its telephone service customer.

Line 3 Households with access to telephone services - Household units that could subscribe to your telephone service if they so wished.

Page 7: Reporting Summary for Combined Undertakings

Class 1 and 2 undertakings must complete all columns.

Class 3 undertakings must only complete column 1.

APPENDIX

i) Where the year-end of the Parent is August 31, file non-audited statements at the licensee level and the audited consolidated statements of the Parent both for the 12 month period ending August 31.

ii) where the year-end of the Parent is other than August 31, file non-audited financial statements at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31 on which the licensee's auditor has performed a Review Engagement and the audited consolidated financial statements for the Parent company's most recently completed fiscal year ending immediately prior to the 31 August of the annual return being filed.

1. Audited Financial Statements:
   
   Licensees of cable undertakings having at least one undertaking with more than 6,000 subscribers as at August 31 of the annual return year being filed, must file audited financial statements along with the annual return.
2. Non-audited Financial Statements
   
   Although not subject to an audit by the licensee's external auditors, they must nevertheless be prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (G.A.A.P.)* and be signed and dated by the licensee as follows:
   
   I, (Name) (Title) am authorized to certify on behalf of (Licensee) that these financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (G.A.A.P.) and are true and complete in all respects to the best of my knowledge and belief.
   
   * Where the statements have not been prepared in accordance with G.A.A.P., please indicate the areas involved and how you treated them.
3. Licensees otherwise required to file audited financial statements and whose fiscal year end does not coincide with August 31 may, as an alternative to filing audited statements as at August 31, file non-audited financial statements at the licensee level for the 12 month period ending August 31 on which the licensee's auditor has performed a "Review Engagement" in accordance with section 8200 of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountant's handbook (the "C.I.C.A. handbook"). Licensees who elect to provide Review Engagement financial statements must also file, with their annual return, their audited financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year ending immediately prior to the 31 August of the annual return being filed.
4. Licensees otherwise required to file audited financial statements and whose statements are included in the audited consolidated statements of a Parent company may, where audited statements at the licensee level are not prepared, file financial statements as follows:

Table of contents

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Basis of Reporting
Instructions
Section A: Transaction-Based Accounts: Canadian Exchange Listed Equities
Section B: Fee-Based Brokerage Accounts (non-discretionary)
Section C: Advisor Managed Accounts (discretionary)

Text begins

The information collected in this quarterly survey will be used to produce a price index that measures the change in average prices charged for securities brokerage services in Canada. This pilot survey applies to registered Dealer/Broker firms in Canada that provide full-service brokerage services to retail clients.

The survey questionnaire is used to collect revenue and corresponding volume data on some of the full-service brokerage services provided to retail clients. The two main product types covered are transaction-based and fee-based accounts (fee-based brokerage and advisor managed).

Basis of Reporting

1. Client Type and Business Segment
   Retail Full-Service Brokerage only (exclude Discount/online)
2. Reporting Period
   Calendar Quarter (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, and Oct-Dec).
3. Combined Canadian Operations
   Data should be reported for all Canadian subsidiaries. Exclude operations from any foreign subsidiaries.
4. Currency
   All data should be reported in thousands of Canadian dollars.
5. Accounting
   Please report on an accrual basis for fee-based accounts and on a cash basis for transaction-based accounts.
6. Other
   Exclude any taxes collected for remittance to a government agency (GST/HST/QST).

Instructions

Section A: Transaction-Based Accounts: Canadian Exchange Listed Equities

An account in which Investment Advisors/Brokers charge clients a commission for every trade executed on their behalf. Commissions are usually charged based on a percentage of the principal value of trades or a flat dollar amount.

Please report only for purchases and sales of Canadian exchange listed equities executed on behalf of retail full-service brokerage clients.

Exclude:

• ‘new issue’ equities
• Discount/Online transactions

Notes:

1. When multiple fills are required to complete client orders, please collapse the fills to ensure that the total commissions charged and the corresponding total principal value of trades are aggregated and reported correctly.
2. Include transactions for fee-based brokerage accounts only in cases where clients are charged a commission for a trade that exceeded their trade allowance.
3. Include the total principal value of trades for trades that were executed for free.

Instructions:

For each Trade Value Range (A), please report the Total Commissions (B) earned in the calendar quarter and the corresponding Total Principal Value of Trades (C) on which the commissions were based.

1. Trade Value Ranges: The principal value of trades arranged in a series of ascending tiers.
2. Total Commissions: The sum of commissions earned in the calendar quarter for executing trade orders of Canadian exchange listed equities on behalf of retail full-service brokerage clients.
3. Total Principal Value of Trades: The sum of the principal values of trades that were executed during the calendar quarter.

Section B: Fee-Based Brokerage Accounts (non-discretionary)

An account similar to a transaction-based account except that clients are charged a fee typically based on a percentage of the market value of assets in the account or a flat annual fee rather than commissions on a per transaction basis. The account generally includes a trade allowance and the Investment Advisor/Broker is required to obtain the client’s approval before executing securities transactions on their behalf (non-discretionary)

Blended Pricing Model

A pricing model where the fee charged by Investment Advisors/Brokers is calculated based only on the market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household), regardless of the types of assets in accounts.

Examples:

• The fee is charged as a flat dollar amount or calculated as an annual percentage rate based on the total market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household).
• The fee is calculated by applying different rates to incremental dollar portions of  the total market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household) which are then blended together to derive the fee.

Instructions:

For each Account/Household Value Range (A), please report the Total Fees (B) earned for the calendar quarter and the corresponding Total Account/Household Values (C) on which the fees were based.

1. Account/Household Value Ranges: The market value of assets in accounts on which the fees were based, arranged in a series of ascending tiers.
2. Total Fees: The sum of investment advisory/brokerage fees earned for the calendar quarter. Excludes: taxes (GST, HST and QST) and administrative fees.
3. Total Account/Household Values: The sum of the market values of assets in accounts on which the fees were based (billable portion of account assets).

Asset-Class Based Pricing Model

A pricing model where the fee charged by Investment Advisors/Brokers is calculated based on both the types and market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household).  Note: This survey only includes data for the Equity and Fixed Income pricing models.

Examples:

• The asset types in the account or group of accounts (household) are analyzed and categorized as either Equity or Fixed Income based on a set proportion of total value.  The fee is then calculated by applying the rate from the designated asset price list to the total market value.
• The market value of the account or group of accounts (household) is separated by asset class and the value of each class is priced according to the separate asset price lists.

Instructions:

For each Account/Household Value Range (A), report the Total Fees (B) earned for the calendar quarter and the corresponding Total Account/Household Values (C) on which the fees were based.

1. Account/Household Value Ranges: The market value of assets in accounts on which the fees were based, arranged in a series of ascending tiers.
2. Total Fees: The sum of investment advisory/brokerage fees earned for the calendar quarter. Excludes: taxes (GST, HST and QST) and administrative fees.
3. Total Account/Household Values: The sum of the market values of assets in accounts on which the fees were based (billable portion of account assets).

Section C: Advisor Managed Accounts (discretionary)

An account similar to a fee-based brokerage account except that the Investment Advisor/Broker acts as the portfolio manager and has been given the discretionary authority to make investment decisions on behalf of the client rather than obtaining their approval to execute each transaction.  Fees are typically calculated based on a percentage of the market value of assets. Note: this survey excludes wraps or any third party managed accounts.

Blended Pricing Model

A pricing model where the fee charged by Investment Advisors/Brokers is calculated based only on the market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household), regardless of the types of assets in accounts.

Examples:

• The fee is charged as a flat dollar amount or calculated as an annual percentage rate based on the total market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household).
• The fee is calculated by applying different rates to incremental dollar portions of  the total market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household) which are then blended together to derive the fee.

Instructions:

For each Account/Household Value Range (A), report the Total Fees (B) earned for the calendar quarter and the corresponding Total Account/Household Values (C) on which the fees were based.

1. Account/Household Value Ranges: The market value of assets in accounts on which the fees were based, arranged in a series of ascending tiers.
2. Total Fees: The sum of investment advisory/brokerage fees earned for the calendar quarter. Excludes: taxes (GST, HST and QST) and administrative fees.
3. Total Account/Household Values: The sum of the market values of assets in accounts on which the fees were based (billable portion of account assets).

Asset-Class Based Pricing Model

A pricing model where the fee charged by Investment Advisors/Brokers is calculated based on both the types and market value of assets in the account or group of accounts (household).  Note: This survey only includes data for the Equity and Fixed Income pricing models.

Examples:

• The asset types in the account or group of accounts (household) are analyzed and categorized as either Equity or Fixed Income based on a set proportion of total value.  The fee is then calculated by applying the rate from the designated asset price list to the total market value.
• The market value of the account or group of accounts (household) is separated by asset class and the value of each class is priced according to the separate asset price lists.

Instructions:

For each Account/Household Value Range (A), report the Total Fees (B) earned for the calendar quarter and the corresponding Total Account/Household Values (C) on which the fees were based.

1. Account/Household Value Ranges: The market value of assets in accounts on which the fees were based, arranged in a series of ascending tiers.
2. Total Fees: The sum of investment advisory/brokerage fees earned for the calendar quarter. Excludes: taxes (GST, HST and QST) and administrative fees.
3. Total Account/Household Values: The sum of the market values of assets in accounts on which the fees were based. (billable portion of account assets).

Integrated Business Statistics Program (IBSP)

Reporting Guide

This guide is designed to assist you as you complete the 2016 Annual End-Use of Natural Gas Survey. If you need more information, please call the Statistics Canada Help Line at the number below.

Your answers are confidential.

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.

Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Help Line: 1-877-604-7828

Table of contents

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A - Reporting Instructions
B - Definitions
C - Electric power generation
D - Agriculture, hunting and trapping industries
E - Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction
F - Forestry, logging and support activities
G - Construction
H - Manufacturing
I - Road transportation
J - Retail Pump
K - Pipeline transportation and natural gas distribution
L - Public administration
M - Commercial and institutional
N - Residential
O - Metric Conversion Factors

Text begins

A - Reporting Instructions

Please report information for the period of January to December, 2016.

Please complete all sections as applicable.

If the information requested is unknown, please provide your best estimate.

B - Definitions

Direct Sales
Represents direct, non-utility, sales for consumption, where the utility acts solely as the transporter.

Sales to ultimate industrial consumers for end-use
Gas sold to customers engaged in a process that creates or changes raw or unfinished materials into another form or product. Includes firm, interruptible and buy/sell agreements.

Sales to ultimate commercial consumers
Gas sold to customers engaged in wholesale or retail trade, governments, institutions, office buildings, etc.

Sales to ultimate residential consumers
Gas sold usually for domestic purposes (for example, heating: space, water, cooking, etc.).

C - Electric power generation

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in the generation of bulk electric power, by hydro-electric power, fossil fuel, nuclear or other processes. NAICS code 22111. Exclude establishments primarily engaged in transmitting and/or distributing electric power which should be reported in question 13 - "Commercial and institutional".

D - Agriculture, hunting and trapping industries

Include all sales to establishments with land holdings primarily engaged in agricultural, hunting and trapping activities and also establishments primarily engaged in providing support activities. Included are activities such as mushroom growers, greenhouses, nurseries and floriculture production, aquaculture, harvesting of wild animals, game retreats and hunting preserves. NAICS codes 111, 112, 1142, 1151 and 1152.

E - Mining, Oil and Gas Extraction

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in: mining, beneficiating or otherwise preparing iron ores. NAICS code 21221; the exploration for and/or production of crude oil and natural gas, whether by conventional or non conventional methods. NAICS code 211; contract drilling operations for crude oil and natural gas as well as services incidental to oil and gas extraction. NAICS codes 213111, and 213118; mining activities other than iron mines, crude oil and natural gas extraction and crude oil and natural gas support activities. This category includes metal mines, non metal mines, stone quarries and sand and gravel pits. NAICS codes 212, 213117 and 213119 (excl. 21221).

F - Forestry, logging and support activities

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in growing and harvesting timber including those performing particular support activities related to logging and forestry. NAICS codes 113 and 1153.

G - Construction

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in the construction of buildings, highways, dams etc., and those providing services to the construction industry. Also include special trade contractors primarily engaged in construction work in such specialties as plumbing, carpentry, painting, roofing, etc.. NAICS code 23. Exclude any offsite transportation fuel use, which should be included in road transportation.

H - Manufacturing

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in the manufacturing of products. Ex: food, textile, clothing, leather, plastics, rubber, paper, wood, furniture products, iron and steel mills and ferro-alloy, cold-rolled steel shape and steel foundries, alumina and aluminum production and non-ferrous metal smelting and refining, fabricated metal product, machinery, computer and electronic product, electrical equipment, appliance, component and transportation equipment, cement, petroleum and coal products, chemical pesticide and fertilizer, etc.

I - Road transportation

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in the truck transportation of goods, transit and ground passenger transportation (urban transit systems, interurban and rural bus transportation, taxi and limousine services, school and employee bus transportation, charter bus industry, limousine service to airports and stations, shuttle services and special needs transportation), scenic and sightseeing transportation, and support activities for road transportation. Include those establishments primarily providing specialized services to this category, such as freight forwarders, marine shipping agents and customs brokers. NAICS codes 484, 485, 4871, 4879, 4884-4889. Fuels used for heating and cooling buildings and offices should be reported in question 13 - "Commercial and institutional".

J - Retail Pump

Include all sales to establishments engaged in retailing motor fuels to the general public by means of retail pumps (including marinas), irrespective of the type of ownership or operation. Establishments that operate gasoline stations on behalf of their owners and receive a commission on the sale of fuels are also included. NAICS code 447. Fuels used for heating and cooling buildings and offices should be reported in question 13 - "Commercial and institutional".

K - Pipeline transportation and natural gas distribution

Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in operating pipelines for the transport of natural gas, crude oil and other products. Also included are establishments engaged in the distribution of natural gas through a system of mains. This category covers codes 486 and 2212. . Fuels used for heating and cooling buildings and offices should be reported in question 13 - "Commercial and institutional".

L - Public administration

Include all sales to establishments of federal, provincial and municipal governments primarily engaged in activities associated with public administration. This includes such establishments as the Federal Public Service, the Department of National Defence, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and provincial and local administrations. This category covers NAICS code 91.

M - Commercial and institutional

Include all sales to establishments which are primarily engaged in other activities not previously specified.

• Water transportation: Include all sales made to establishments primarily engaged in the water transportation of passengers and goods, using equipment designed for those purposes and provided by ships. Commercial fishing is also included. NAICS codes 1141, 483, 4872 and 4883. Fuels used for heating and cooling buildings and offices should be reported in question 13 - "Commercial and institutional".
• Warehousing and storage: Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in operating general merchandise, refrigerated and other warehousing and storage facilities. NAICS code 493.
• Wholesale and retail trade: The wholesale sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling merchandise and providing related logistics, marketing and support services. The retail sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise. NAICS codes 41, 44 and 45.
• Education, health care and social assistance: Educational services comprises all sales to establishments primarily engaged in providing instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects. The health care and social assistance sector comprises all sales to establishments primarily engaged in providing health care by diagnosis and treatment, providing residential care for medical and social reasons and providing social assistance. NAICS codes 61 and 62.
• Accommodation and food services: Include all sales to establishments primarily engaged in operating accommodation facilities, restaurants, take-out food and catering services, taverns, night clubs and bars. NAICS code 72.
• Water, Sewage and Other Systems, NAICS 2213; Postal Service, NAICS 91; Couriers and Messengers, NAICS 92; Information and Cultural Industries, NAICS 51; Finance and Insurance, NAICS 52; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, NAICS 53; Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, NAICS 54; Management of Companies and Enterprises, NAICS; Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services, NAICS 56; Arts, Entertainment and Recreation; NAICS 71, Other Services (except Public Administration), NAICS 81.
• Note: Exclude any offsite transportation fuel use, which should be included in road transport.

N - Residential

Include all sales destined to be used in a single residential meter service. (i.e. single family dwelling) or bulk residential metering service. (i.e. apartments, condominiums, etc.)

O - Metric Conversion Factors

To convert from

Metric Conversion Factors
Table summary
This table displays the results of Metric Conversion Factors. The information is grouped by To convert from (appearing as row headers), (appearing as column headers).

To convert from
Million cubic feet	Million cubic metres	Divide by
(106cf) – gas	(106m3)	35.315

Objectives, uses and users
Concepts, variables and classifications
Coverage and frames
Sampling
Questionnaire design
Response and non-response
Data collection and capture operations
Editing
Imputation
Estimation
Revisions and seasonal adjustment
Data quality evaluation
Disclosure control

1. Objectives, uses and users

1.1. Objective

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey (MRTS) provides information on the performance of the retail trade sector on a monthly basis, and when combined with other statistics, represents an important indicator of the state of the Canadian economy.

1.2. Uses

The estimates provide a measure of the health and performance of the retail trade sector. Information collected is used to estimate level and monthly trend for retail sales. At the end of each year, the estimates provide a preliminary look at annual retail sales and performance.

1.3. Users

A variety of organizations, sector associations, and levels of government make use of the information. Retailers rely on the survey results to compare their performance against similar types of businesses, as well as for marketing purposes. Retail associations are able to monitor industry performance and promote their retail industries. Investors can monitor industry growth, which can result in better access to investment capital by retailers. Governments are able to understand the role of retailers in the economy, which aids in the development of policies and tax incentives. As an important industry in the Canadian economy, governments are able to better determine the overall health of the economy through the use of the estimates in the calculation of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

2. Concepts, variables and classifications

2.1. Concepts

The retail trade sector comprises establishments primarily engaged in retailing merchandise, generally without transformation, and rendering services incidental to the sale of merchandise.

The retailing process is the final step in the distribution of merchandise; retailers are therefore organized to sell merchandise in small quantities to the general public. This sector comprises two main types of retailers, that is, store and non-store retailers. The MRTS covers only store retailers. Their main characteristics are described below. Store retailers operate fixed point-of-sale locations, located and designed to attract a high volume of walk-in customers. In general, retail stores have extensive displays of merchandise and use mass-media advertising to attract customers. They typically sell merchandise to the general public for personal or household consumption, but some also serve business and institutional clients. These include establishments such as office supplies stores, computer and software stores, gasoline stations, building material dealers, plumbing supplies stores and electrical supplies stores.

In addition to selling merchandise, some types of store retailers are also engaged in the provision of after-sales services, such as repair and installation. For example, new automobile dealers, electronic and appliance stores and musical instrument and supplies stores often provide repair services, while floor covering stores and window treatment stores often provide installation services. As a general rule, establishments engaged in retailing merchandise and providing after sales services are classified in this sector. Catalogue sales showrooms, gasoline service stations, and mobile home dealers are treated as store retailers.

2.2. Variables

Sales are defined as the sales of all goods purchased for resale, net of returns and discounts. This includes commission revenue and fees earned from selling goods and services on account of others, such as selling lottery tickets, bus tickets, and phone cards. It also includes parts and labour revenue from repair and maintenance; revenue from rental and leasing of goods and equipment; revenues from services, including food services; sales of goods manufactured as a secondary activity; and the proprietor’s withdrawals, at retail, of goods for personal use. Other revenue from rental of real estate, placement fees, operating subsidies, grants, royalties and franchise fees are excluded.

Trading Location is the physical location(s) in which business activity is conducted in each province and territory, and for which sales are credited or recognized in the financial records of the company. For retailers, this would normally be a store.

Constant Dollars: The value of retail trade is measured in two ways; including the effects of price change on sales and net of the effects of price change. The first measure is referred to as retail trade in current dollars and the latter as retail trade in constant dollars. The method of calculating the current dollar estimate is to aggregate the weighted value of sales for all retail outlets. The method of calculating the constant dollar estimate is to first adjust the sales values to a base year, using the Consumer Price Index, and then sum up the resulting values.

2.3. Classification

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey is based on the definition of retail trade under the NAICS (North American Industry Classification System). NAICS is the agreed upon common framework for the production of comparable statistics by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. The agreement defines the boundaries of twenty sectors. NAICS is based on a production-oriented, or supply based conceptual framework in that establishments are groups into industries according to similarity in production processes used to produce goods and services.

Estimates appear for 21 industries based on special aggregations of the 2012 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) industries. The 21 industries are further aggregated to 11 sub-sectors.

Geographically, sales estimates are produced for Canada and each province and territory.

3. Coverage and frames

Statistics Canada’s Business Register ( BR) provides the frame for the Monthly Retail Trade Survey. The BR is a structured list of businesses engaged in the production of goods and services in Canada. It is a centrally maintained database containing detailed descriptions of most business entities operating within Canada. The BR includes all incorporated businesses, with or without employees. For unincorporated businesses, the BR includes all employers with businesses, and businesses with no employees with annual sales that have a Goods and Services Tax (GST) or annual revenue that declares individual taxes.  annual sales greater than $30,000 that have a Goods and Services Tax (GST) account (the BR does not include unincorporated businesses with no employees and with annual sales less than $30,000).

The businesses on the BR are represented by a hierarchical structure with four levels, with the statistical enterprise at the top, followed by the statistical company, the statistical establishment and the statistical location. An enterprise can be linked to one or more statistical companies, a statistical company can be linked to one or more statistical establishments, and a statistical establishment to one or more statistical locations.

The target population for the MRTS consists of all statistical establishments on the BR that are classified to the retail sector using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) (approximately 200,000 establishments). The NAICS code range for the retail sector is 441100 to 453999. A statistical establishment is the production entity or the smallest grouping of production entities which: produces a homogeneous set of goods or services; does not cross provincial boundaries; and provides data on the value of output, together with the cost of principal intermediate inputs used, along with the cost and quantity of labour used to produce the output. The production entity is the physical unit where the business operations are carried out. It must have a civic address and dedicated labour.

The exclusions to the target population are ancillary establishments (producers of services in support of the activity of producing goods and services for the market of more than one establishment within the enterprise, and serves as a cost centre or a discretionary expense centre for which data on all its costs including labour and depreciation can be reported by the business), future establishments, establishments with a missing or a zero gross business income (GBI) value on the BR and establishments in the following non-covered NAICS:

• 4541 (electronic shopping and mail-order houses)
• 4542 (vending machine operators)
• 45431 (fuel dealers)
• 45439 (other direct selling establishments)

4. Sampling

The MRTS sample consists of 10,000 groups of establishments (clusters) classified to the Retail Trade sector selected from the Statistics Canada Business Register. A cluster of establishments is defined as all establishments belonging to a statistical enterprise that are in the same industrial group and geographical region. The MRTS uses a stratified design with simple random sample selection in each stratum. The stratification is done by industry groups (the mainly, but not only four digit level NAICS), and the geographical regions consisting of the provinces and territories, as well as three provincial sub-regions. We further stratify the population by size.

The size measure is created using a combination of independent survey data and three administrative variables: the annual profiled revenue, the GST sales expressed on an annual basis, and the declared tax revenue (T1 or T2). The size strata consist of one take-all (census), at most, two take-some (partially sampled) strata, and one take-none (non-sampled) stratum. Take-none strata serve to reduce respondent burden by excluding the smaller businesses from the surveyed population. These businesses should represent at most ten percent of total sales. Instead of sending questionnaires to these businesses, the estimates are produced through the use of administrative data.

The sample was allocated optimally in order to reach target coefficients of variation at the national, provincial/territorial, industrial, and industrial groups by province/territory levels. The sample was also inflated to compensate for dead, non-responding, and misclassified units.

MRTS is a repeated survey with maximisation of monthly sample overlap. The sample is kept month after month, and every month new units are added (births) to the sample.  MRTS births, i.e., new clusters of establishment(s), are identified every month via the BR’s latest universe. They are stratified according to the same criteria as the initial population. A sample of these births is selected according to the sampling fraction of the stratum to which they belong and is added to the monthly sample. Deaths occur on a monthly basis. A death can be a cluster of establishment(s) that have ceased their activities (out-of-business) or whose major activities are no longer in retail trade (out-of-scope). The status of these businesses is updated on the BR using administrative sources and survey feedback, including feedback from the MRTS. Methods to treat dead units and misclassified units are part of the sample and population update procedures.

5. Questionnaire design

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey incorporates the following sub-surveys:

Monthly Retail Trade Survey - R8

Monthly Retail Trade Survey (with inventories) – R8

Survey of Sales and Inventories of Alcoholic Beverages

The questionnaires collect monthly data on retail sales and the number of trading locations by province or territory and inventories of goods owned and intended for resale from a sample of retailers. The items on the questionnaires have remained unchanged for several years. For the 2004 redesign, the general questionnaires were subject to cosmetic changes only. The questionnaire for Sales and Inventories of Alcoholic Beverages underwent more extensive changes. The modifications were discussed withstakeholders and the respondents were given an opportunity to comment before the new questionnaire was finalized. If further changes are needed to any of the questionnaires, proposed changes would go through a review committee and a field test with respondents and data users to ensure its relevancy.

6. Response and non-response

6.1. Response and non-response

Despite the best efforts of survey managers and operations staff to maximize response in the MRTS, some non-response will occur. For statistical establishments to be classified as responding, the degree of partial response (where an accurate response is obtained for only some of the questions asked a respondent) must meet a minimum threshold level below which the response would be rejected and considered a unit non-response.  In such an instance, the business is classified as not having responded at all.

Non-response has two effects on data: first it introduces bias in estimates when non-respondents differ from respondents in the characteristics measured; and second, it contributes to an increase in the sampling variance of estimates because the effective sample size is reduced from that originally sought.

The degree to which efforts are made to get a response from a non-respondent is based on budget and time constraints, its impact on the overall quality and the risk of non-response bias.

The main method to reduce the impact of non-response at sampling is to inflate the sample size through the use of over-sampling rates that have been determined from similar surveys.

Besides the methods to reduce the impact of non-response at sampling and collection, the non-responses to the survey that do occur are treated through imputation. In order to measure the amount of non-response that occurs each month, various response rates are calculated. For a given reference month, the estimation process is run at least twice (a preliminary and a revised run). Between each run, respondent data can be identified as unusable and imputed values can be corrected through respondent data. As a consequence, response rates are computed following each run of the estimation process.

For the MRTS, two types of rates are calculated (un-weighted and weighted). In order to assess the efficiency of the collection process, un-weighted response rates are calculated. Weighted rates, using the estimation weight and the value for the variable of interest, assess the quality of estimation. Within each of these types of rates, there are distinct rates for units that are surveyed and for units that are only modeled from administrative data that has been extracted from GST files.

To get a better picture of the success of the collection process, two un-weighted rates called the ‘collection results rate’ and the ‘extraction results rate’ are computed. They are computed by dividing the number of respondents by the number of units that we tried to contact or tried to receive extracted data for them. Non-monthly reporters (respondents with special reporting arrangements where they do not report every month but for whom actual data is available in subsequent revisions) are excluded from both the numerator and denominator for the months where no contact is performed.

In summary, the various response rates are calculated as follows:

Weighted rates:

Survey Response rate (estimation) =
Sum of weighted sales of units with response status i / Sum of survey weighted sales

where i = units that have either reported data that will be used in estimation or are converted refusals, or have reported data that has not yet been resolved for estimation.

Admin Response rate (estimation) =
Sum of weighted sales of units with response status ii / Sum of administrative weighted sales

where ii = units that have data that was extracted from administrative files and are usable for estimation.

Total Response rate (estimation) =
Sum of weighted sales of units with response status i or response status ii / Sum of all weighted sales

Un-weighted rates:

Survey Response rate (collection) =
Number of questionnaires with response status iii/ Number of questionnaires with response status iv

where iii = units that have either reported data (unresolved, used or not used for estimation) or are converted refusals.

where iv = all of the above plus units that have refused to respond, units that were not contacted and other types of non-respondent units.

Admin Response rate (extraction) =
Number of questionnaires with response status vi/ Number of questionnaires with response status vii

where vi = in-scope units that have data (either usable or non-usable) that was extracted from administrative files

where vii = all of the above plus units that have refused to report to the administrative data source, units that were not contacted and other types of non-respondent units.

(% of questionnaire collected over all in-scope questionnaires)

Collection Results Rate =
Number of questionnaires with response status iii / Number of questionnaires with response status viii

where iii = same as iii defined above

where viii = same as iv except for the exclusion of units that were contacted because their response is unavailable for a particular month since they are non-monthly reporters.

Extraction Results Rate =
Number of questionnaires with response status ix / Number of questionnaires with response status vii

where ix = same as vi with the addition of extracted units that have been imputed or were out of scope

where vii = same as vii defined above

(% of questionnaires collected over all questionnaire in-scope we tried to collect)

All the above weighted and un-weighted rates are provided at the industrial group, geography and size group level or for any combination of these levels.

Use of Administrative Data

Managing response burden is an ongoing challenge for Statistics Canada. In an attempt to alleviate response burden and survey costs, especially for smaller businesses, the MRTS has reduced the number of simple establishments in the sample that are surveyed directly and instead derives sales data for these establishments from Goods and Service Tax (GST) files using a statistical model. The model accounts for differences between sales and revenue (reported for GST purposes) as well as for the time lag between the survey reference period and the reference period of the GST file.

For more information on the methodology used for modeling sales from administrative data sources, refer to ‘Monthly Retail Trade Survey: Use of Administrative Data’ under ‘Documentation’ of the IMDB.

Table 1 contains the weighted response rates for all industry groups as well as for total retail trade for each province and territory. For more detailed weighted response rates, please contact the Marketing and Dissemination Section at (613) 951-3549, toll free: 1-877-421-3067 or by e-mail at retailinfo@statcan.

6.2. Methods used to reduce non-response at collection

Significant effort is spent trying to minimize non-response during collection. Methods used, among others, are interviewer techniques such as probing and persuasion, repeated re-scheduling and call-backs to obtain the information, and procedures dealing with how to handle non-compliant (refusal) respondents.

If data are unavailable at the time of collection, a respondent's best estimates are also accepted, and are subsequently revised once the actual data become available.

To minimize total non-response for all variables, partial responses are accepted. In addition, questionnaires are customized for the collection of certain variables, such as inventory, so that collection is timed for those months when the data are available.

Finally, to build trust and rapport between the interviewers and respondents, cases are generally assigned to the same interviewer each month. This action establishes a personal relationship between interviewer and respondent, and builds respondent trust.

7. Data collection and capture operations

Collection of the data is performed by Statistics Canada’s Regional Offices.

Weighted Response Rates

Respondents are sent a questionnaire or are contacted by telephone to obtain their sales and inventory values, as well as to confirm the opening or closing of business trading locations. Collection of the data begins approximately 7 working days after the end of the reference month and continues for the duration of that month.

New entrants to the survey are introduced to the survey via an introductory letter that informs the respondent that a representative of Statistics Canada will be calling. This call is to introduce the respondent to the survey, confirm the respondent's business activity, establish and begin data collection, as well as to answer any questions that the respondent may have.

8. Editing

Data editing is the application of checks to detect missing, invalid or inconsistent entries or to point to data records that are potentially in error. In the survey process for the MRTS, data editing is done at two different time periods.

First of all, editing is done during data collection. Once data are collected via the telephone, or via the receipt of completed mail-in questionnaires, the data are captured using customized data capture applications. All data are subjected to data editing. Edits during data collection are referred to as field edits and generally consist of validity and some simple consistency edits. They are used to detect mistakes made during the interview by the respondent or the interviewer and to identify missing information during collection in order to reduce the need for follow-up later on. Another purpose of the field edits is to clean up responses. In the MRTS, the current month’s responses are edited against the respondent’s previous month’s responses and/or the previous year’s responses for the current month. Field edits are also used to identify problems with data collection procedures and the design of the questionnaire, as well as the need for more interviewer training.

Follow-up with respondents occurs to validate potential erroneous data following any failed preliminary edit check of the data. Once validated, the collected data is regularly transmitted to the head office in Ottawa.

Secondly, editing known as statistical editing is also done after data collection and this is more empirical in nature. Statistical editing is run prior to imputation in order to identify the data that will be used as a basis to impute non-respondents. Large outliers that could disrupt a monthly trend are excluded from trend calculations by the statistical edits. It should be noted that adjustments are not made at this stage to correct the reported outliers.

The first step in the statistical editing is to identify which responses will be subjected to the statistical edit rules. Reported data for the current reference month will go through various edit checks.

The first set of edit checks is based on the Hidiriglou-Berthelot method whereby a ratio of the respondent’s current month data over historical (last month, same month last year) or auxiliary data is analyzed. When the respondent’s ratio differs significantly from ratios of respondents who are similar in terms of industry and/or geography group, the response is deemed an outlier.

The second set of edits consists of an edit known as the share of market edit. With this method, one is able to edit all respondents, even those where historical and auxiliary data is unavailable. The method relies on current month data only. Therefore, within a group of respondents, that are similar in terms of industrial group and/or geography, if the weighted contribution of a respondent to the group’s total is too large, it will be flagged as an outlier.

For edit checks based on the Hidiriglou-Berthelot method, data that are flagged as an outlier will not be included in the imputation models (those based on ratios). Also, data that are flagged as outliers in the share of market edit will not be included in the imputation models where means and medians are calculated to impute for responses that have no historical responses.

In conjunction with the statistical editing after data collection of reported data, there is also error detection done on the extracted GST data. Modeled data based on the GST are also subject to an extensive series of processing steps which thoroughly verify each record that is the basis for the model as well as the record being modeled. Edits are performed at a more aggregate level (industry by geography level) to detect records which deviate from the expected range, either by exhibiting large month-to-month change, or differing significantly from the remaining units. All data which fail these edits are subject to manual inspection and possible corrective action.

9. Imputation

Imputation in the MRTS is the process used to assign replacement values for missing data. This is done by assigning values when they are missing on the record being edited to ensure that estimates are of high quality and that a plausible, internal consistency is created. Due to concerns of response burden, cost and timeliness, it is generally impossible to do all follow-ups with the respondents in order to resolve missing responses. Since it is desirable to produce a complete and consistent microdata file, imputation is used to handle the remaining missing cases.

In the MRTS, imputation is based on historical data or administrative data (GST sales). The appropriate method is selected according to a strategy that is based on whether historical data is available, auxiliary data is available and/or which reference month is being processed.

There are three types of historical imputation methods. The first type is a general trend that uses one historical data source (previous month, data from next month or data from same month previous year). The second type is a regression model where data from previous month and same month, previous year are used simultaneously. The third type uses the historical data as a direct replacement value for a non-respondent. Depending upon the particular reference month, there is an order of preference that exists so that top quality imputation can result. The historical imputation method that was labelled as the third type above is always the last option in the order for each reference month.

The imputation method using administrative data is automatically selected when historical information is unavailable for a non-respondent. Trends are then applied to the administrative data source (monthly size) depending on whether the structure is simple, e.g. enterprises with only one establishment, or the unit has a more complex structure.

10. Estimation

Estimation is a process that approximates unknown population parameters using only part of the population that is included in a sample. Inferences about these unknown parameters are then made, using the sample data and associated survey design. This stage uses Statistics Canada's Generalized Estimation System (GES).

For retail sales, the population is divided into a survey portion (take-all and take-some strata) and a non-survey portion (take-none stratum). From the sample that is drawn from the survey portion, an estimate for the population is determined through the use of a Horvitz-Thompson estimator where responses for sales are weighted by using the inverses of the inclusion probabilities of the sampled units. Such weights (called sampling weights) can be interpreted as the number of times that each sampled unit should be replicated to represent the entire population. The calculated weighted sales values are summed by domain, to produce the total sales estimates by each industrial group / geographic area combination. A domain is defined as the most recent classification values available from the BR for the unit and the survey reference period. These domains may differ from the original sampling strata because units may have changed size, industry or location. Changes in classification are reflected immediately in the estimates and do not accumulate over time. For the non-survey portion, the sales are estimated with statistical models using monthly GST sales.

For more information on the methodology for modeling sales from administrative data sources which also contributes to the estimates of the survey portion, refer to ‘Monthly Retail Survey: Use of Administrative Data’ under ‘Documentation’ of the IMDB.

The measure of precision used for the MRTS to evaluate the quality of a population parameter estimate and to obtain valid inferences is the variance. The variance from the survey portion is derived directly from a stratified simple random sample without replacement.

Sample estimates may differ from the expected value of the estimates. However, since the estimate is based on a probability sample, the variability of the sample estimate with respect to its expected value can be measured. The variance of an estimate is a measure of the precision of the sample estimate and is defined as the average, over all possible samples, of the squared difference of the estimate from its expected value.

11. Revisions and seasonal adjustment

Revisions in the raw data are required to correct known non-sampling errors. These normally include replacing imputed data with reported data, corrections to previously reported data, and estimates for new births that were not known at the time of the original estimates.

Raw data are revised, on a monthly basis, for the month immediately prior to the current reference month being published. That is, when data for December are being published for the first time, there will also be revisions, if necessary, to the raw data for November. In addition, revisions are made once a year, with the initial release of the February data, for all months in the previous years. The purpose is to correct any significant problems that have been found that apply for an extended period. The actual period of revision depends on the nature of the problem identified, but rarely exceeds three years. The revision period can be extended when historical revisions or restratitfication are done.

Retail trade data are seasonally adjusted using the X12-ARIMA method. This consists of extrapolating a year's worth of raw data with the ARIMA model (auto-regressive integrated moving average model), and of seasonally adjusting the raw time series. Finally, the annual totals of the seasonally adjusted series are forced to the annual totals of the original series.

The seasonally adjusted data also need to be revised. In part, they need to reflect the revisions identified for the raw data. Also, the seasonally adjusted estimates are calculated using X-12-ARIMA, and are sensitive to the most recent values reported in the raw data. For this reason, with the release of each month of new data, the seasonally adjusted values for the previous three months are revised.  A seasonally adjusted time series is a time series that has been modified to eliminate the effect of seasonal and calendar influences. For this reason, the seasonally adjusted data allows for more meaningful comparisons of economic conditions from month to month.

Once a year, seasonal adjustments options are reviewed to take into account the most recent data. Revised seasonally adjusted estimates for each month in the previous years are released at the same time as the annual revision to the raw data. The actual period of revision depends on the number years the raw data was revised.

12. Data quality evaluation

The methodology of this survey has been designed to control errors and to reduce their potential effects on estimates. However, the survey results remain subject to errors, of which sampling error is only one component of the total survey error. Sampling error results when observations are made only on a sample and not on the entire population. All other errors arising from the various phases of a survey are referred to as nonsampling errors. For example, these types of errors can occur when a respondent provides incorrect information or does not answer certain questions; when a unit in the target population is omitted or covered more than once; when GST data for records being modeled for a particular month are not representative of the actual record for various reasons; when a unit that is out of scope for the survey is included by mistake or when errors occur in data processing, such as coding or capture errors.

Prior to publication, combined survey results are analyzed for comparability; in general, this includes a detailed review of individual responses (especially for large businesses), general economic conditions and historical trends.

A common measure of data quality for surveys is the coefficient of variation (CV). The coefficient of variation, defined as the standard error divided by the sample estimate, is a measure of precision in relative terms. Since the coefficient of variation is calculated from responses of individual units, it also measures some non-sampling errors.

The formula used to calculate coefficients of variation (CV) as percentages is:

CV (X) = S(X) * 100% / X
where X denotes the estimate and S(X) denotes the standard error of X.

Confidence intervals can be constructed around the estimates using the estimate and the CV. Thus, for our sample, it is possible to state with a given level of confidence that the expected value will fall within the confidence interval constructed around the estimate. For example, if an estimate of $12,000,000 has a CV of 2%, the standard error will be $240,000 (the estimate multiplied by the CV). It can be stated with 68% confidence that the expected values will fall within the interval whose length equals the standard deviation about the estimate, i.e. between $11,760,000 and $12,240,000.

Alternatively, it can be stated with 95% confidence that the expected value will fall within the interval whose length equals two standard deviations about the estimate, i.e. between $11,520,000 and $12,480,000.

Finally, due to the small contribution of the non-survey portion to the total estimates, bias in the non-survey portion has a negligible impact on the CVs. Therefore, the CV from the survey portion is used for the total estimate that is the summation of estimates from the surveyed and non-surveyed portions.

13. Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

Confidentiality analysis includes the detection of possible "direct disclosure", which occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of a few respondents or when the cell is dominated by a few companies.

About this guide

This guide lists sources of historical statistics produced by Statistics Canada and its predecessor agencies. The guide also lists sources of information about the history of the Canadian census, surveys and statistical programs, and Statistics Canada.

The guide is a starting point to assist with finding historical resources; it is not an exhaustive list. If you cannot find the information you're looking for, please see the section "Search tools." This section includes links to other guides and online catalogues, which support more exhaustive searches. You can also contact the Statistics Canada Library Reference Desk by email or by phone at 613-951-8219. We are open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday to Friday.

February 21, 2017 (Previous notice)

This is an information notice.

The Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 was approved as a departmental standard on January 16, 2017.

The classification provides standard names and codes for Canada's population centres and rural area. Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population: small population centres (population between 1,000 and 29,999), medium population centres (population between 30,000 and 99,999) and large urban population centres (population of 100,000 or more). The first use of the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 and its variant was in the 2016 Census. Starting in 2011, the term 'population centre' replaced the term 'urban area'.

The classification variant, the Population Centre and Rural Area Classification 2016 by Province and Territory, consists of the addition of two additional levels in the hierarchy of the classification: geographical regions of Canada, and provinces and territories. This allows for the classification of the population centre size class categories and rural area by provincial and territorial parts.

Contact information

For more information, please contact Standards Division.