Getting started

Why are we conducting this survey?

The purpose of this survey is to provide a picture of the social connections and experiences of people living in Canada. This survey collects information about social networks and well-being, community engagement, confidence in Canadian institutions, knowledge of Canadian history, and importance of national symbols. Results from this survey will provide important information on the diverse population living in Canada and will help decision makers develop programs and policies to better serve all people living in Canada.

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

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

Other important information

Authorization and confidentiality

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

Record linkages

To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the response burden, Statistics Canada will combine the information you provide with data from the 2021 Census, the Longitudinal Immigration Database, personal tax data and possible other surveys in the Survey Series on Social Connections.

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

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

Email: infostats@statcan.gc.ca

Telephone: 1-877-949-9492

Mail:

Chief Statistician of Canada

Statistics Canada

Attention of Director, Centre for Social Data Integration and Development

150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway

Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6

Respondent confirmation

The following questions are for [Name or email].

Is [Name or email] currently completing the survey?

• Yes
• No

Location of residence

In which province or territory do you live?

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

To determine which geographic region you live in, provide your postal code.

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

• Postal code

Please confirm your postal code. Is it [Postal code]?

1. Yes
2. No

What is your correct postal code?

• Postal code

Household composition

Including yourself, how many people live in your household?

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information, including who to include and not include.

• Number of people
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20 or more

Including yourself, how many of these people are 15 years of age or older?

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information, including who to include and not include.

• Number of people
  • 0
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20 or more

Sex, gender and age

The following questions are about sex at birth and gender.

What was your sex at birth?

Sex refers to sex assigned at birth.

• Male
• Female

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

Is it:

• Man
• Woman
• Or please specify in your own words
  • Specify your gender

Please verify that all of the information is correct.

If all the information is correct, press the Next button.

To make changes, press the Previous button.

Your information

Sex assigned at birth: [Male/Female/Information not provided]

Gender: [Male/Female/ Other specified gender/Information not provided]

What is your date of birth?

• Year
  • Min: 1901; Max: 2022
• Month
  • January
  • February
  • March
  • April
  • May
  • June
  • July
  • August
  • September
  • October
  • November
  • December
• Day
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31

What is your age?

• Age in years

Marital status

What is your marital status?

Is it:

• Married
  For Quebec residents only, select the "Married" category if your marital status is "civil union".
• Living common law
  Common law refers to two people who live together as a couple but who are not married, regardless of the duration of the relationship.
• Never married and not living common law
• Separated and not living common law
• Divorced and not living common law
• Widowed and not living common law

Place of birth, immigration and citizenship

Where were you born?

• Born in Canada
• Born outside Canada
  • Are you a Canadian citizen?
    • Yes, a Canadian citizen by birth
    • Yes, a Canadian citizen by naturalization
      Canadian citizen by naturalization refers to an immigrant who was granted citizenship of Canada under the Citizenship Act.
    • No, not a Canadian citizen
      • Are you a landed immigrant or permanent resident?
        A landed immigrant or permanent resident is a person who has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities.
        • No
        • Yes

In what year did you first become a landed immigrant or a permanent resident?

If exact year is not known, enter best estimate.

• Year of immigration

Life satisfaction

Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Very dissatisfied" and 10 means "Very satisfied", how do you feel about your life as a whole right now?

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

Sense of meaning and purpose

Using a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 means "Not at all" and 10 means "Completely", to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?

Would you say:

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

General health

The following questions are about health. By health, we mean not only the absence of disease or injury but also physical, mental and social well-being.

In general, how is your health?

Would you say:

• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

In general, how is your mental health?

Would you say:

• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

Resilience

Thinking about your life in general, how often would you say you have a hopeful view of the future?

Would you say:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

How often would you say you have people you can depend on to help you when you really need it?

Would you say:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

Thinking about your life in general, how often are you able to admit when you have done something wrong?

Would you say:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

Thinking about your life in general, how often are you able to bounce back quickly after hard times?

Would you say:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

When difficult things have happened in your life, how often have you learned something from those experiences?

Would you say:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

Loneliness

How often do you feel lonely?

Would you say:

• Always
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never

Life opportunities

Now, some questions about your standard of living and employment opportunities.

How does the standard of living in your current household compare with that of the household in which you were raised?

• Better
• About the same
• Lower
• Still live in the household where I was raised
• Was not raised in a household

Would you say that you have had better, about the same or worse employment opportunities in Canada than your parents or those who raised you had?

• Better
• About the same
• Worse

Social contact with relatives

Now a few questions about your relatives, including your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws.

In the past month, did you see in person or communicate with any of your relatives by telephone or any form of Internet communication?

e.g., text message, WhatsApp, Messenger, Facetime, online gaming, e-mail

Exclude relatives you live with.

• Yes
• No

In the past month, how often did you see any of your relatives in person?

Exclude relatives you live with.

• Everyday
• A few times per week
• Once a week
• 2 or 3 times per month
• Once per month
• Did not see any relatives in the past month

In the past month, how often did you communicate with any of your relatives by telephone or any form of Internet communication?

e.g., text message, WhatsApp, Messenger, Facetime, online gaming, e-mail

Exclude relatives you live with.

• Everyday
• A few times per week
• Once a week
• 2 or 3 times per month
• Once per month
• Did not communicate by telephone or any form of Internet communication with any relatives in the past month

Overall, how satisfied are you with your relationships with your relatives?

Include relatives you live with.

Are you:

• Very satisfied
• Satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied
• I don't have any living relatives

Why are you dissatisfied with your relationships with your relatives?

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Do not see them often enough
• See them too often
• Not enough communication
• They live too far away
• Do not share values
• Other
  • Specify other reason

Relatives you feel at ease with

How many relatives do you have who you feel close to, that is, who you feel at ease with, can talk to about what is on your mind, or call on for help?

Include relatives you live with.

• Number of relatives

Does this relative you feel close to live in the same city or region as you?

• Yes
• No

Of these [Number of relatives] relatives you feel close to, how many live in the same city or region as you?

• Number of relatives

Close friends

How many close friends do you have, that is, people who are not your relatives, but who you feel at ease with, can talk to about what is on your mind, or call on for help?

Include friends you live with.

• Number of close friends

Other friends

Not counting your close friends or relatives, approximately how many other friends do you have?

Include acquaintances as well as online friends.

Would you say:

• 1 other friend
• 2-5 other friends
• 6-9 other friends
• 10-14 other friends
• 15-19 other friends
• 20-49 other friends
• 50-79 other friends
• 80 or more other friends
• No other friends

Social contacts with friends

In the past month, how often did you see any of your friends in person?

Exclude friends you live with.

• Everyday
• A few times per week
• Once a week
• 2 or 3 times per month
• Once per month
• Did not see any friends in the past month

In the past month, how often did you communicate with any of your friends by telephone or any form of Internet communication?

e.g., text message, WhatsApp, Messenger, Facetime, online gaming, e-mail

Exclude friends you live with.

• Everyday
• A few times per week
• Once a week
• 2 or 3 times per month
• Once per month
• Did not communicate by telephone or any form of Internet communication with any friends in the past month

Overall, how satisfied are you with your relationships with your friends?

Are you:

• Very satisfied
• Satisfied
• Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied
• Dissatisfied
• Very dissatisfied

Why are you dissatisfied with your relationships with your friends?

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Do not see them often enough
• See them too often
• Not enough communication
• They live too far away
• Do not share values
• Other
  • Specify other reason

Characteristics of friends

Of all the friends you had contact with in the past month, approximately how many have the following characteristics?

a. Have the same mother tongue as you

The mother tongue is the first language learned in childhood and still understood.

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

b. Come from an ethnic group that is visibly different from yours

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

c. Have the same religion as you

If you have no religion, indicate how many of your friends also do not have a religion.

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

d. Identify as the same gender as you

Gender refers to an individual's personal and social identity as a man, a woman or a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman, for example, non-binary, agender, gender fluid, queer or Two-Spirit. It includes the concepts of gender identity and expression.

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

e. Have the same sexual orientation as you

Sexual orientation refers to being heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual or other sexual orientations.

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

f. Are around the same age group as you

Base your answer on what "same age group" means to you.

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

g. Have roughly the same level of education as you

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

h. Have roughly the same household income as you

• All
• Most
• About half
• A few
• None
• Don't know

Social contact with new people

In the past month, outside of work or school, how many new people did you meet either face-to-face or online?

• 1 new person
• 2 new people
• 3 new people
• 4 new people
• 5 new people
• 6 to 10 new people
• 11 to 19 new people
• 20 to 29 new people
• 30 new people or more
• None

People whom you know

Here is a list of jobs that people you know may have. These people could be family or relatives, close friends or someone else you know.

By knowing a person, we mean that you know them by name and well enough to contact them.

Do you know any people with the following jobs?

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Bus driver
• Senior executive of a large company
• Home or office cleaner
• Hairdresser or barber
• Human resources or personnel manager
• Lawyer
• Car mechanic
• Nurse
• Police officer
• School teacher
• None of these jobs

Participation in groups

The next questions are about formal and informal groups, organizations or associations to which you may belong.

In the past 12 months, did you regularly participate in activities or were you a member of any of the following groups, organizations or associations?

Include groups you are active in through the Internet.

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Sports organization
• Cultural, educational or hobby organization
  e.g., theatre group, book club, poker club
• Citizen's association, neighbourhood association or school group
  e.g., parents' association, student association, condo board
• Humanitarian or charitable organization or service club
  e.g., Meals on Wheels, United Way, UNICEF, Heart and Stroke Foundation, Distress Centre, Rotary Club, Red Cross
• Support group
  e.g., immigrants' group, new parents' group, substance use support group, mental health support group
• Professional association
  e.g., union, chamber of commerce
• Political or activist group
  e.g., political party, environmental group
• Religious-affiliated group
  • Exclude regular attendance at your place of worship.
• Other type of group, organization or association
  OR
  • Specify the other type of group, organization or association
• Not a member or participant in any groups, organizations or associations

What are the reasons you did not participate in activities or were not a member of any groups, organizations or associations?

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Lack of interest or motivation
• Lack of time
  e.g., because of work, school or family responsibilities
• Health, medical issues or disability
• Lack of access
  e.g., not available in your area, inaccessible transport
• Lack of information
  e.g., does not have the information related to the groups, organizations and associations available in your community
• Financial reasons
  e.g., cannot afford it or too expensive
• Language barrier
• Some other reason
  • Specify other reason

You mentioned having participated in the following groups, organizations or associations in the past 12 months:

[Sports organization/Cultural, educational or hobby organization/Citizen's association, neighborhood association or school group/Humanitarian or charitable organization or service club/Support group/Professional association/Political or activist group/Religious-affiliated group/Other type of group, organization or association]

On average in the past 12 months, how often did you participate in group activities and meetings in person?

Exclude group activities and meetings on the Internet.

Would you say:

• At least once a week
• A few times a month
• Once a month
• Three or four times a year
• Once or twice a year
• Not in the past year
• Never

On average in the past 12 months, how often did you participate in group activities and meetings on the Internet?

Exclude group activities and meetings in person.

Would you say:

• At least once a week
• A few times a month
• Once a month
• Three or four times a year
• Once or twice a year
• Not in the past year
• Never

Sense of belonging

How would you describe your sense of belonging to your local community?

Would you say:

• Very strong
• Somewhat strong
• Somewhat weak
• Very weak
• No opinion

How would you describe your sense of belonging to Canada?

Would you say:

• Very strong
• Somewhat strong
• Somewhat weak
• Very weak
• No opinion

Trust in people

Generally speaking, would you say that most people can be trusted or that you cannot be too careful in dealing with people?

Would you say:

• Most people can be trusted
• You cannot be too careful in dealing with people

Confidence in Canadian institutions

Using a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 means "No confidence at all" and 5 means "A great deal of confidence", please answer the following questions.

How much confidence do you have in the following Canadian institutions?

a. The police

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

b. The justice system and courts

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

c. The school system

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

d. The Federal Parliament

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

e. Banks

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

f. Major corporations

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

g. Local merchants and business people

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

h. The Canadian media

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

i. The healthcare system

• 1 No confidence at all
• 2  
• 3  
• 4  
• 5 A great deal of confidence

Shared values

The next questions ask about the extent to which you agree with a number of Canadian values.

To what extent do you personally agree with the following values?

a. Human rights

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

b. Respect for the law

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

c. Gender equality

Press the help button (?) for additional information on gender equality.

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

d. English and French as Canada's official languages

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

e. Ethnic and cultural diversity

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

f. Respect for Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) cultures

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

And now some questions about how you feel Canadians in general share these same values.

To what extent do you feel that Canadians share the following values?

a. Human rights

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

b. Respect for the law

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

c. Gender equality

Press the help button (?) for additional information on gender equality.

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

d. English and French as Canada's official languages

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

e. Ethnic and cultural diversity

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

f. Respect for Indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) cultures

• To a great extent
• To a moderate extent
• To a small extent
• Not at all

How proud are you to be Canadian?

Are you:

• Very proud
• Proud
• Somewhat proud
• Not very proud
• Not proud at all
• No opinion

How proud are you to live in Canada?

Are you:

• Very proud
• Proud
• Somewhat proud
• Not very proud
• Not proud at all
• No opinion

Knowledge of Canadian history

How would you rate your knowledge of Canadian history?

Is it:

• Excellent
• Very good
• Good
• Fair
• Poor

Importance of national symbols

When thinking of Canadian identity, how important are the following symbols to you?

a. The Canadian flag

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

b. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

c. The art and culture of Indigenous people (First Nations, Métis and Inuit)

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

d. The national anthem "O Canada"

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

e. The RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police)

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

f. Hockey

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

Importance of Canadian Institutions

In your opinion, how important are each of the following institutions to Canadian identity?

a. Arts and cultural institutions

Include theatres for live performances, museums, art museums, art galleries and planetariums.

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

b. Heritage sites and institutions

Include historic sites, historic buildings, botanical gardens, aquaria, zoological sites, national parks, provincial parks and reserves, conservancy sites and other conservation areas.

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

Discrimination

The next questions are about your possible experiences with discrimination or unfair treatment in Canada.

In the past five years, have you experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly by others in Canada because of any of the following?

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• Your Indigenous identity
• Your ethnicity or culture
• Your race or skin colour
• Your religion
• Your language
• Your accent
• Your physical appearance
  Include discrimination on the basis of weight, height, hair style or colour, clothing, jewelry, tattoos and other physical characteristics.
  Exclude discrimination on the basis of skin colour.
• Your sex
  Sex refers to sex assigned at birth.
• Your sexual orientation
  e.g., heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual
• Your gender
  Gender refers to an individual's personal and social identity as a man, a woman or a person who is not exclusively a man or a woman, for example, non-binary, agender, gender fluid, queer or Two-Spirit. It includes the concepts of gender identity and expression.
• Your age
• A physical or mental disability
• Some other reason
  • Specify other reason
  OR
• Did not experience discrimination

In what types of situations have you experienced discrimination or been treated unfairly by others in Canada in the past five years?

Select all that apply.

Would you say:

• In a store, bank or restaurant
• When attending school or classes
• On the Internet, including social media platforms
• At work or when applying for a job or promotion
• When seeking or applying for housing
  e.g., buying or renting
• When interacting with the police
• When interacting with the courts
• When crossing the border into Canada
  Exclude incidences of discrimination upon leaving Canada.
• While attending social gatherings or among friends or family
• While using public areas, such as parks and sidewalks
• While using transport systems, such as buses, trains, taxis or planes
• When seeing a medical health professional or in other health care settings
  Medical health professionals may include doctors, nurses, physiotherapists. In health care settings may include at hospitals, clinics, dental offices.
• Any other situation
  • Specify other situation

Main activity

Last week, was your main activity working at a paid job or business, looking for paid work, going to school, caring for children, household work, retired or something else?

Was it:

• Working at a paid job or business
• Vacation from paid work
• Looking for paid work
• Going to school, including vacation from school
• Caring for children
• Household work
• Retired
• Maternity, paternity or parental leave
• Long term illness
• Volunteering
• Care-giving other than for children
• Other

Education

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

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

Indigenous identity

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

First Nations (North American Indian) includes Status and Non-Status Indians.

If 'Yes', select the responses that best describes you now.

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

Sociodemographic characteristics

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

Select all that apply.

Are you:

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

Long-term conditions

The following questions are about any long-term conditions you may have.

Do you have any of the following difficulties?

Include only difficulties or long-term conditions that have lasted or are expected to last for six or more months.

Select all that apply.

Do you have:

• Difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses or contact lenses
• Difficulty hearing even when using a hearing aid or cochlear implant
• Difficulty walking, using stairs, using your hands or fingers or doing other physical activities
• Difficulty learning, remembering or concentrating
• Emotional, psychological or mental health conditions
  e.g., anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, anorexia
• Other health problem or long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six or more months
  OR
• I do not have any difficulty or long-term condition that has lasted or is expected to last for six or more months

Do you identify as a person with a disability?

A person with a disability is a person who has a long-term difficulty or condition, such as vision, hearing, mobility, flexibility, dexterity, pain, learning, developmental, memory or mental health-related impairments, that limit their daily activities inside or outside the home such as at school, work, or in the community in general.

• Yes
• No

Religion

What is your religion?

Specify your denomination or religion, even if you are not currently a practicing member of that group.

e.g., Roman Catholic, United Church, Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, Muslim, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Greek Orthodox

• Religion
  To search for a religion, type the first few letters to narrow down the choices.
  Note: If the religion is not listed, select "Other".
  • Specify the religion
  
  OR
• No religion

How important are your religious or spiritual beliefs to the way you live your life?

Are they:

• Very important
• Somewhat important
• Not very important
• Not at all important

Language

Can you speak English or French well enough to conduct a conversation?

• English only
• French only
• Both English and French
• Neither English nor French

What language do you speak most often at home?

• English
• French
• Other
  • Specify other language

What is the language that you first learned at home in childhood and still understand?

If you no longer understand the first language learned, indicate the second language learned.

• English
• French
• Other
  • Specify other language

Sexual orientation

What is your sexual orientation?

Would you say you are:

• Heterosexual
• Lesbian or gay
• Bisexual
• Or please specify in your own words
  • Specify your sexual orientation

Total household income

Now a question about total household income.

In which of the following groups did your total household income by all household members, from all sources, before taxes and deductions, fall for the year ending December 31, 2024?

Income can come from various sources such as from work, investments, pensions or government. Examples include Employment Insurance, social assistance, child benefits and other income such as child support, spousal support (alimony) and rental income.

Capital gains should not be included in the household income.

• Total household income
  • Less than $5,000
  • $5,000 to less than $10,000
  • $10,000 to less than $15,000
  • $15,000 to less than $20,000
  • $20,000 to less than $30,000
  • $30,000 to less than $40,000
  • $40,000 to less than $50,000
  • $50,000 to less than $60,000
  • $60,000 to less than $70,000
  • $70,000 to less than $80,000
  • $80,000 to less than $90,000
  • $90,000 to less than $100,000
  • $100,000 to less than $125,000
  • $125,000 to less than $150,000
  • $150,000 to less than $200,000
  • $200,000 to less than $250,000
  • $250,000 and over

Total personal income

Now a question about total personal income.

In which of the following groups did your total personal income, from all sources, before taxes and deductions, fall for the year ending December 31, 2024?

Income can come from various sources such as from work, investments, pensions or government. Examples include Employment Insurance, social assistance, child benefits and other income such as child support, spousal support (alimony) and rental income.

Capital gains should not be included in the household income.

• Total personal income
  • Less than $5,000
  • $5,000 to less than $10,000
  • $10,000 to less than $15,000
  • $15,000 to less than $20,000
  • $20,000 to less than $30,000
  • $30,000 to less than $40,000
  • $40,000 to less than $50,000
  • $50,000 to less than $60,000
  • $60,000 to less than $70,000
  • $70,000 to less than $80,000
  • $80,000 to less than $90,000
  • $90,000 to less than $100,000
  • $100,000 and over

Future surveys

Statistics Canada is looking for volunteers to participate in select surveys to gather information on important social topics that will aim to fill data and knowledge gaps. By participating, you will support decision makers in developing programs and policies to better serve all people living in Canada.

Please note that participation in these future surveys on social topics is voluntary and you can choose not to participate even after we have contacted you. However, your participation is important so that information collected is as accurate and complete as possible.

Please provide the following information so we can contact you by email or telephone to participate in upcoming surveys.

Note: Regardless of whether you agree to participate, your household will remain eligible for other Statistics Canada surveys.

• Email address
  Example: user@example.gov.ca
• Phone number
  Example: 123-123-1234

Thank you for agreeing to participate in future surveys. Press the Next button to continue.

Date: October 2024

Program manager: Director, Centre for Income and Socioeconomic Well-being Statistics
Director General, Labour Market, Education and Socioeconomic Well-being Branch

Reference to Personal Information Bank (PIB):

Personal information collected through the Canadian Housing Survey (CHS) is described in Statistics Canada’s “Housing Data” Personal Information Bank (PIB).

The “Housing Data” PIB (StatCan PPU 143) is published on the Statistics Canada website under the latest Information about Programs and Information Holdings chapter.

Description of statistical activity:

Under the authority of the Statistics Act,^Footnote1 Statistics Canada has been conducting the Canadian Housing Survey since 2018.

Sponsored by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), this voluntary survey which is conducted every two years collects information about housing needs and experiences from a sample of approximately 120,000 Canadian households. The survey provides information on housing conditions and how they may change over time. The content and scope of the questions which include core housing need, dwelling and neighbourhood satisfaction, housing moves, housing aspiration, housing discrimination, and other aspects of well-being related to housing, has been developed in consultation with a broad range of stakeholder including other federal agencies, specifically:

• Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
• Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities of Canada, and
• Office of the Federal Housing Advocate.

In June, 2019, Parliament passed the National Housing Strategy Act which affirmed for the first time in federal legislation that housing is a fundamental human right in Canada. In response, the CMHC created the National Housing Strategy (NHS) which is an $82+ billion plan that aims to strengthen the middle class, cut chronic homelessness in half and fuel the Canadian economy. The human rights-based approach to housing adopted in the Act and the NHS underlines that housing must provide more than four walls and a roof. It should be equitable and accessible to all without discrimination based on gender, race, Indigenous identity, disability, faith, place of birth, age, family status, sexual orientation, gender identity or other factors.

To support new housing data and research under the NHS, CMHC engaged Statistics Canada to expand the Canadian Housing Survey (CHS) to include questions on age, sex at birth, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, immigration and citizenship, ethnic and cultural origins, religion, long-term conditions and disability, and marital status.

The CHS asks that the survey be completed by the household member with the most knowledge of the household's housing situation. This includes minor respondents aged 15-17 years old. Proxy response is accepted for questions about other household members. This allows one household member to answer questions on behalf of any or all other household members.

To reduce the burden on respondents and enhance CHS data, survey responses are linked to the Administrative Personal Income Masterfile (APIM). This allows for accurate personal and household income information. Statistics Canada’s microdata linkage and related statistical activities were assessed in Statistics Canada’s Generic Privacy Impact Assessment.^Footnote2 All data linkage activities are subject to established governance,^Footnote3 and are assessed against Statistics Canada’s principles of necessity and proportionality.^Footnote4 All approved linkages are published on Statistics Canada’s website.^Footnote5

Aggregate survey results will be published in The Daily (the Agency's official release bulletin) summarizing the survey findings along with data tables and Public Use Microdata File (PUMF).^Footnote6 Data is fully anonymized and non-confidential, without any direct personal identifiers, which prevents the possibility of identifying individuals.

Deemed employees^Footnote7 from the CHMC and public university researchers with vetted and approved research projects will access the data file, with all personal identifiers removed, in Statistics Canada's Research Data Centres (RDC)^Footnote8 and will only be permitted to release aggregate results, which are fully anonymized and non-confidential.

There are no data sharing agreements in place for the Canadian Housing Survey.

Reason for supplement:

While the Generic Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) addresses most of the privacy and security risks related to statistical activities conducted by Statistics Canada including the Canadian Housing Survey, this supplement addresses privacy and security risks associated with the new collection of sensitive sociodemographic information of adults and minors particularly through proxy response for other members of the household. As is the case with all PIAs, Statistics Canada's privacy framework ensures that elements of privacy protection and privacy controls are documented and applied^Footnote.

Necessity and Proportionality

The collection and use of personal information for the Canadian Housing Survey can be justified against Statistics Canada’s Necessity and Proportionality Framework:

1. Necessity:

   In keeping with Statistics Canada’s mandate to provide statistical information and analysis on Canada’s socioeconomic conditions that can be used to develop and evaluate public policies and programs, as well as improve public and private decision making for the benefit of all Canadians, the CHS will provide a broad range of stakeholders with an understanding of the housing conditions and experiences of Canadian households, including housing inequalities directly related to sociodemographic inequalities.

   The CHS collects a variety of information that speaks to the expenses and other conditions related to housing as they relate to all members of a household, including those that are part of otherwise unidentified minority groups in all housing situations. In response to housing precarity including ongoing affordability problems, there are emergent trends leading to undesired sharing and overcrowding. In the context of the CHS, vulnerable individuals may not be responsible for housing decisions in the household and therefore were not previously represented in statistics derived based solely on the characteristics of the responding member of the household. To fill that gap, the CHS will now request that the respondent answer on behalf of all members of the household. Collection of additional sociodemographic information for other members of the household is necessary to address data needs derived from the National Housing Strategy Act through a rights-based approach to housing research.

   There is also a specific need to gather sociodemographic characteristics for minors as they are seldom responsible for making housing decisions and were not generally previously represented in household statistics based on the responding member. Further, to express the depth and variety of housing needs for population groups that are typically underrepresented in household-level statistics, population-level statistics that represent diverse population groups, including those who identify as 2SLGBTQI+, are required. National Point in Time studies have shown that despite comprising only 5 to 10% of all youth, 21% of homeless youth identified as 2SLGBTQI+, and transgender youth experienced even higher rates.^Footnote9 This overrepresentation among young Canadians demonstrates a need for more housing data for these groups. The extent to which minors are impacted by these and other housing issues also needs to be expressed for the survey to fulfil its objective of informing the National Housing Strategy.

2. Effectiveness - Working assumptions:

   To help address new and emerging data priorities, the CHS content was reviewed and updated to reflect the changing data needs of stakeholders. New thematic content modules have been introduced to inform on housing aspirations, discrimination, and harassment. The new content was tested by Statistics Canada’s Questionnaire Design Resource Centre to ensure the concepts were well-understood by Canadians.

   In the context of the right to housing, this new content is particularly relevant as it can be disaggregated by the population groups identified in the National Housing Strategy, as a way to specifically demonstrate the impacts on the various demographic groups that have been previously mentioned. Discrimination and harassment are often experienced by racialized and other minority groups and the right to adequate housing dictates that housing must provide protection from harassment, among others, and all people should have equitable access without discrimination. The extent to which minors are impacted by these and other housing issues is an important indicator of housing needs examined in the survey to address the objective of informing the National Housing Strategy and allow for the proper program and policy measures to be adopted to address these issues.

3. Proportionality:

   The sample size of 120,000 dwellings across the 10 Canadian provinces has been assessed by methodologist as required to publish reliable estimates on key indicators including core housing needs of Canadian households for the 10 provinces, and housing markets in select Census Metropolitan Areas.^Footnote10 This sample size also helps to protect the privacy and confidentiality of respondents, particularly the diverse population groups that this survey aims to address.

   Respondents aged 15 years and older can respond to the CHS on behalf of themselves and all members of the household. In keeping with Statistics Canada internal policy and consistent with guidance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada,^Footnote11 parental or legal guardian consent of eligible minors (15 years and older) will not be sought as it is deemed the minor is reasonably expected to understand the nature of the questions and make an informed decision regarding their participation, the responses, and the use of the personal information provided through the survey.

   The public benefits of collecting these sociodemographic characteristics and the subsequent data products that will be derived are expected to inform policies, laws, programs and support services^Footnote12 aimed at improving housing conditions and experiences of Canadian residents and speak to housing equity in the context of the right to housing in Canada including currently unknown housing inequities for vulnerable groups.

   While most sociodemographic characteristics are asked for all household members, sexual orientation will only be asked for household members that are 15 years or older. In some cases, persons between the ages of 15 and 17 years could be responding on behalf of the household, or in households of their own. In these cases, not asking the question for this age group could lead to underestimation of housing needs for sexually diverse population groups.

4. Alternatives:

   While alternative data are available on housing conditions, including the Census of Population, these alternatives do not elaborate on individual and household experiences. No other quality data source of self-reported housing experience and sociodemographic characteristics that influence housing experiences currently exists. The CHS is specifically aimed at filling this gap.

Mitigation factors:

Some demographic questions in the Canadian Housing Survey can be considered sensitive, particularly when asked of minors aged 15 or older. The overall risk of harm to the survey respondents has been deemed manageable with existing Statistics Canada safeguards that are described in Statistics Canada’s Generic Privacy Impact Assessment, of which the following are of particular importance for this initiative, and some additional measures:

• Information about the survey, including a copy of the survey questionnaire, will be publicly available on Statistics Canada's website before the start of collection.
• Individuals selected to participate in the survey will be clearly informed of the survey's purpose and topics and informed that their participation is voluntary prior to beginning the questionnaire.
• The survey questions that relate to housing discrimination, forced moves and lifetime experience of homelessness could be sensitive or triggering for some respondents. Respondents will be informed of the potentially sensitive nature of the survey content via a letter and a survey brochure prior to participation.
• A specific response category of “I don’t know how this person defines their sexual orientation” was considered for the sexual orientation question. However, the results of testing indicated that the additional response category was not needed since respondents use the “or, please specify” open text box option to report additional responses such as “I don’t know”. This is consistent with other sociodemographic questions (e.g., gender, population group, ethnic origins or cultural origins, religion etc.)
• Information on support services and resources for housing provided by CMHC will be made available to respondents on the survey questionnaire and on Statistics Canada’s website.

Conclusion:

This assessment concludes that, with the existing Statistics Canada safeguards, any remaining risks are such that Statistics Canada is prepared to accept and manage the risk.

Formal approval:

This Supplementary Privacy Impact Assessment has been reviewed and recommended for approval by Statistics Canada’s Chief Privacy Officer, Director General for Modern Statistical Methods and Data Science, and Assistant Chief Statistician for Social, Health and Labour Statistics. 

The Chief Statistician of Canada has the authority for section 10 of the Privacy Act for Statistics Canada, and is responsible for the Agency's operations, including the program area mentioned in this Supplementary Privacy Impact Assessment.

This Privacy Impact Assessment has been approved by the Chief Statistician of Canada.

Administrative enforcement actions

Administrative activities are those enforcement mechanisms employed by the Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) itself. Administrative enforcement actions include traces, demands for information from the payor or from others, garnishments, actions against land registration, personal property liens, writs of execution, collection calls, credit bureau reporting, motor vehicle license interventions, and other actions (includes, for example, hunting and fishing license restrictions).

Administrative enforcement actions under federal legislation

Under the three parts of the federal Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (FOAEAA), Maintenance Enforcement Programs can access different services provided by the Family Law Assistance Service (FLAS) of the federal Department of Justice. Part I allows for requests to search various federal databanks to determine the location of the payor. Part II allows for the interception of federal money owing to a payor.

Canada Revenue Agency is the source for most intercepted dollars (includes income tax refunds, the Goods and Services Tax rebates, and the Canada Carbon Rebate). Part III allows the MEP to apply through FLAS to the applicable federal department to have federally- administered licenses suspended or denied. This encompasses passports and certain transport (aviation and marine) licenses.

Under the Garnishment Attachment and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA), federal employee salaries and pensions are subject to garnishment to fulfill child and spousal support obligations under a court order or court registered agreement.

Arrears

Arrears refer to money owing from earlier missed payments. As a result of either a court order or voluntary payment arrangement, an amount of arrears may end up being subject to a schedule. As long as the payment schedule is being adhered to, it is likely no additional enforcement action will be taken. Any non-scheduled arrears are those arrears which are owed from an earlier time, and for which there is no payment schedule established. The full amount is due and enforceable.

It is possible for a case to have arrears and be in compliance with total expected payments at the same time. This would be the situation if the payor were making all the current payments due, including the scheduled arrears payment.

Assignment status

This identifies whether the recipient is receiving social assistance and has had his or her case formally assigned to the Crown, or it may signify that arrears exist and that when collected, should be used to recover Social Assistance payments previously paid. Monies that are collected on behalf of the recipient on social assistance are either paid directly back to the provincial/territorial government or are reported and then deducted from the next assistance cheque.

Authority for the order

Support obligations enforced by the MEPs are the product of a court order or an agreement between the recipient and the payor. Orders for support may be the result of consent between the parties or a contested court hearing, and may be granted either under the federal divorce legislation, or the applicable provincial/territorial maintenance legislation.

Beneficiary

The beneficiary is the person(s) entitled to the benefit of the support payment, and is named in the support order. The beneficiary may be children only, spouse only, or both. In a very small number of cases in some jurisdictions, the beneficiary may also be a parent of the payor.

Collection calls

This refers to an enforcement activity that involves the phoning of payors to demand payment.

Collection rate

Total amounts received by the maintenance enforcement programs for a group of cases over the fiscal year that are divided by total amounts due (excluding interest on arrears) over the same time period. A rate of 100% would mean the amount received equalled the amount due.

Committal hearing

This refers to the hearing held when a payor defaults on an order where the penalty is jail.

Compliance rate

For purposes of the survey, compliance means that at least the amount expected in a month is received or applied (essentially advanced payment received in a prior month is applied against a payment due in the current month when no payment is received, so that the case does not go into arrears). Cases in compliance may also have arrears. The determination of compliance is only made against the current amount due in a month (excluding interest on arrears).

The rate is the proportion of cases with an amount due that were in compliance in a given month. Full compliance rate is the percent of cases that made their payment in full and partial compliance rate is the percent of cases that made partial payment.

Court enforcement actions

Court-based enforcement involves court and judge time and is generally employed as a last resort. These tend to be more serious enforcement actions, involving default hearings, issuing of warrants, and default orders, and may culminate in fines or jail.

Credit Bureau reporting

Credit Bureau reporting occurs when a MEP advises the Credit Bureau of payors who are in arrears. This lets other potential credit granters know of the debt so they will take this into consideration before allowing the payor to take on a new obligation that might be affected by the support obligation.

Default hearings

A hearing before a master/court administrator or judge to determine what action may be appropriate in the face of a failure to make support payments.

Demand for information

This includes all demands (usually letters) sent where the maintenance enforcement program is asking for information. Letters can be sent to the recipient, the payor, or some other party, such as an employer.

Demand for payment

This includes all demands (usually letters) sent where the maintenance enforcement program is asking for payment. The letter could be to the payor or some other party, such as an employer who has not sent in the money from a garnishment order, for example.

Event-driven payments

Amounts that are due because of some situation that has arisen if provided for in the order or agreement. For instance, an event-driven payment could be for tuition, dental work or lessons.

Examination of payor

This refers to any and all activity taken by the maintenance enforcement program to examine a payor with respect to assets and liabilities. In some jurisdictions, this action can be undertaken by administrative staff, or court administrators.

Federal garnishment

Garnishments made pursuant to the Queen’s Regulations and Orders, and the Garnishment, Attachment and Pension Diversion Act (GAPDA ). (The Queen's Regulations and Orders remain as such [March 2025] despite the passing of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022.)

Federal licence suspension

This refers to the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Part III) which allows the denial of passports, aviation licences, and marine certificates.

Federal trace

This refers to the request for a federal trace under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Part I).

Garnishment and attachment

This refers to the legal redirection of money owed to a support payor by another person or a corporation. A garnishment is referred to as a wage attachment in some jurisdictions. Most MEPs are able to issue their own garnishments and attachments, without court involvement.

Interception of federal funds

Under the Family Orders and Agreements Enforcement Assistance Act (Part II), the maintenance enforcement program can intercept federal funds, such as income tax refunds, Employment Insurance benefits, Old Age Security, Canada Pension Plan benefits, the Goods and Services Tax rebates, the Canada Carbon Rebate (formerly Climate Action Incentive), and (prior to April 1, 2013) interest on regular Canada Savings Bonds.

Interjurisdictional Support Orders (ISO) status

Interjurisdictional Support Orders (ISO) status distinguishes between three types of cases that comprise the caseload of every maintenance enforcement program (MEP):

• Non-ISO cases: These are typically cases where the payor and recipient live in the jurisdiction where the case is registered. Only one MEP manages the case.
• ISO-in cases: These are cases where the MEP has been asked to provide enforcement by another jurisdiction because the payor is known to reside or have assets in the MEP's jurisdiction. The case is referred to as an ISO-out in the other jurisdiction, and the two reciprocating MEPs work together to manage the case.
• ISO-out cases: These are cases that have been sent to another jurisdiction for enforcement. If the payor lives out-of-province, and the recipient and child beneficiaries are in-province, the case is referred to as an ISO-out case in the enforcing MEP. The case is referred to as an ISO-in in the other jurisdiction, and the two reciprocating MEPs work together to manage the case.

Jurisdictional garnishment

This refers to the formal process whereby an amount is deducted from a payor's salary or wages, or other source of income on a regular basis.

Land registration

This refers to actions taken to encumber the sale of specific real estate. A support order may be registered in the Land Registry Office in the jurisdiction against the payor's land. Upon registration, both the ongoing support obligation and any arrears owing become a charge on the property. The charge may be enforced by sale of the land.

Maintenance enforcement plan trace

This refers to all attempts to find the payor using jurisdictional information banks.

Motor vehicle license intervention

A motor vehicle license intervention may be placed in order to prevent the renewal of licenses (and in some jurisdictions, motor vehicle- related services) and/or suspension of driving privileges prior to satisfying the support obligation.

Other payments due to the jurisdiction

Some jurisdictions charge fees or penalties against the payor. Some common examples of fees include default penalties for missed or late payments, and charges for NSF cheques. Other payments due to the jurisdiction excludes interest on arrears.

Payor

The payor is the person named in the order/agreement who provides the support payments. Some maintenance enforcement programs refer to the payor as the "debtor" or "respondent". The payor is usually the non-resident parent of the child beneficiaries.

Personal property lien

Support payments in arrears can be registered as a lien or charge against any personal property (e.g. motor vehicle) owned or held by the support payor in the jurisdiction. Registration affects the ability of the payor to sell or finance the encumbered personal property.

Provincial agreement

Domestic contracts, such as paternity agreements or separation agreements, between the payor and recipient can be filed in court and enforced by a MEP under provincial/territorial legislation, provided the agreement meets jurisdictional requirements for enforcement.

Provincial order

This refers to a court order for support made under provincial/territorial legislation.

Random rounding

Survey of Maintenance Enforcement Programs (SMEP) data have been subjected to a confidentiality procedure known as "random rounding" to reduce the likelihood of associating the data with any identifiable individual. The technique of random rounding provides protection against disclosure, but does not add significant distortion to the data. In this report, all SMEP data involving counts of individuals or cases are randomly rounded either up or down to the nearest multiple of 5. Thus, a case count of 32 would become either 30 or 35 when rounded.

Recipient of child and spousal support

The recipient is the person named in the order/agreement to receive the support and is generally the parent with whom the children live. Sometimes the recipient is a grandparent or another person responsible for the children. The money the recipient receives could be for the benefit of the recipient, for dependent child(ren), or for both. Some Maintenance Enforcement Programs refer to the recipient as the "creditor" or "claimant".

Regular payments

This refers to the amount ordered or agreed to, expressed as a monthly payment due and includes the regular ongoing amount due in one month. Scheduled arrears are not included.

Schedule arrears payments

Occasionally, arrears are subject to a repayment schedule. Scheduled arrears payments are the schedule amounts due each month (or some other scheduled interval, such as weekly or quarterly) that the payor is required to make in order to pay off arrears. If the payor makes his or her scheduled arrears payment, then usually the MEP will not take further enforcement. However, if these payments are missed, MEPs will then take enforcement action against the payor.

Total payments

This refers to all monies for support, expressed as a monthly payment. This amount includes the regular amount expected for a given month plus scheduled arrears, event-driven payments, and fees, costs and penalties due (excluding interest on arrears).

Voluntary payment arrangement

This refers to an arrangement made by the maintenance enforcement program and agreed to by the payor where a voluntary payment schedule is established. The voluntary assignment of wages is included.

Writ of execution

This refers to the actions taken by the maintenance enforcement program that result in payment, for example the seizure and sale of a payor's assets.

Why are we conducting this survey?

This survey collects data from common carrier railways operating in Canada which are essential for the analysis of the railway transport industry and to assess its contribution to the Canadian economy. These data provide input into Canada's System of National Accounts for the calculation of the Gross Domestic Product and are used by various government departments to develop policy and to monitor the industry.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research pur2poses.

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

Other important information

Authorization to collect this information

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

Confidentiality

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

Record linkages

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

Data sharing agreements

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

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

For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon.

The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to companies operating within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data, and mailing it to the following address:

Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Centre for Energy and Transportation Statistics
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at infostats@statcan.gc.ca or by fax at 1-514-496-4879.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with Transport Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada. Railway carriers which are not federally regulated may object to sharing their information with Transport Canada and/or Environment and Climate Change Canada by writing to the Chief Statistician.

Business or organization and contact information

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

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

• Legal name

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

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

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

• Operating name

The operating name, which is different from the legal name, is a name the business or organization is commonly known as for day-to-day activities and which is used to advertise and promote itself. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Legal Name

Operating Name (if applicable)

2. Verify or provide the contact information for the designated contact person for the business or organization, and correct information if needed.

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

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

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

• Operational
• Not currently operational - e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership
  Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
  • Seasonal operations
    • When did this business or organization close for the season?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
  • Ceased operations
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Bankruptcy
      • Liquidation
      • Dissolution
      • Other - Specify the other reasons why operations ceased
  • Sold operations
    • When was this business or organization sold?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the buyer?
  • Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
    • When did this business or organization amalgamate?
      • Date
    • What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
    • What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
  • Temporarily inactive but expected to reopen
    • When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
      • Date
    • When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
      • Date
    • Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
  • No longer operating because of other reasons
    • When did this business or organization cease operations?
      • Date
    • Why did this business or organization cease operations?

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

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

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

The NAICS Industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.

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

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

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

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

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

Short-haul freight rail transportation

This Canadian industry comprise establishments primarily engaged in operating railways for the transport of goods on a rail line that does not comprise a rail network.  A short-haul railway line usually takes goods from one or more points to a point on the larger transportation network, which is usually a mainline railway, but may be a trans-shipment point onto another transportation mode.

Example(s):

• belt line railways
• containerized transportation, short-haul railway
• logging railways
• railway transportation, freight, short-haul

Exclusion(s):

operating switching and terminal railways (See 488210 – Support activities for rail transporation)

Description and examples

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

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

e.g. (for example), breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity

5. You indicated that (Activity) is not the current main activity. Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as (Activity)?

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

Reporting period information

1. What are the start and end dates of this business's or organization's most recently completed fiscal year?

Note: For the survey, the end date should fall between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.

Here are twelve common fiscal periods that fall within the targeted dates:

• May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024
• June 1, 2023 to May 31, 2024
• July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
• August 1, 2023 to July 31, 2024
• September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024
• October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024
• November 1, 2023 to October 31, 2024
• December 1, 2023 to November 30, 2024
• January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
• February 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025
• March 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025
• April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

Here are other examples of fiscal periods that fall within the required dates:

• September 18, 2023 to September 15, 2024 ( e.g. , floating year-end)
• June 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 ( e.g. , a newly opened business)

Enter:

• Fiscal year start date
• Fiscal year end date

Companies consolidated in this report

1. In 2024, what was the name of the company, relationship and percentage of control for each consolidated company?

Percentages should be rounded to whole numbers.

• Consolidated companies
  • Name of company
  • Relationship
  • Percentage of control
• Add Consolidated companies
  • Name of company
  • Relationship
  • Percentage of control
• Consolidated companies removed from this report
• No consolidated companies in this report.

Method of Collection

The next part of the questionnaire concerns the balance sheet and the income statement. For these questions, you have the option of attaching financial statements before continuing with the remainder of the questionnaire.

2. Will you be attaching financial statements?

• Yes
• No

Attach files

3. Attach the financial statements for the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1. If you have revised financial statements for the previous year, attach those as well.

Include:

• balance sheet (assets, liabilities and shareholders' equity)
• income statement (revenues and expenses).

To attach files

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

Note:

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

Balance sheet - assets

Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA) and Related Railway Records as prescribed by the Canadian Transportation Agency, are used by all railways under federal jurisdiction. These accounts are also used for railway carriers whose data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act. Further information can be found on the Canadian Transportation Agency website.

4. What were this business's current and non-current assets?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Balance sheet - liabilities

5. What were this business's current and non-current liabilities?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

6. What were this business's shareholders' equity?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Statement of income - revenues

7. What were this business's revenues?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Statement of income - expenses

8. What were this business's expenses?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Statement of income

9. What was this business's net income?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Type of operations

10. For the reporting period ending as reported in question 1, what type of operations did this business conduct which generated any revenue?

Select all that apply.

• Freight operations
• Passenger operations

Detailed passenger revenues

11. For the amount of passenger revenue in year ending as reported in question 1, what was the breakdown for the following?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Summary of property accounts

12. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, which of the following property accounts and accumulated amortization did this business have?

Include owned or leased property.

Select all that apply.

Track and roadway:

The accounts in this group are designed to record the costs of maintaining the track and roadway and some related structures. Parts of the track and roadway include grading, rail, ties, paved concrete track bed, other track materials, ballast, track laying and surfacing, bridges, culverts, tunnels, fences, snow sheds and rock sheds, public improvements, and other right-of-way property.

Buildings and related machinery and equipment:

This group consists of accounts which record the cost of buildings, their machinery, power systems and moveable equipment. Buildings and related machinery and equipment accounts include office and common buildings, office and common buildings moveable equipment and machinery, passenger stations, passenger station moveable equipment, roadway buildings, roadway buildings machines and moveable equipment, equipment repair shops, and shop machinery and moveable equipment.

Leasehold improvements:

Improvements made to property which is held under lease, where such improvements revert to the lessor upon termination of the lease and the lessee is not reimbursed by the lessor for the improvements. Exclude any such cost related to railway lines held under long-term lease i.e., where the term of the lease exceeds the normal service life of the assets involved.

Signals, communications and power:

This group consists of accounts which record the costs of signals, rail communications and electrified rail systems and their attendant power systems.

Signals could include but are not limited to: a complete or partial signal system, switch machine, a complete or partial traffic control or C.T.C. system installation with associated parts.

Communications and power could include but are not limited to:

• outside plant equipment such as a complete building, loading systems, complete installations of pneumatic tubes
• inside plant equipment such as a telex, teletype, facsimile, ticket or other similar transmitting or receiving equipment, radio for communication, traffic switching system, power plant equipment.

For additional details on signals, communications and power, consult the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Terminals and fuel stations:

This group consists of accounts which record the cost of terminals and fuel stations. For terminals include intermodal terminals, rail freight terminals and marine terminals. For fuel stations include a complete fuel supply system, including appurtenances, a pumphouse, a fuel oil storage tank (large), and pumping machinery.

Rolling stock – revenue service:

Transportation equipment on wheels owned by a rail carrier. This includes locomotives (e.g., a locomotive unit, a robot car, a generator car, a major spare component), freight cars (a complete car) and passenger cars (e.g., a complete car, including motor equipment of motor driven car).

Intermodal equipment consists of accounts which record the cost of:

• intermodal terminal handling equipment such as mobile gantry cranes, top lifters, and yard tractors
• trailers, semi-trailers, containers, chassis and bogies used in intermodal rail operations
• highway tractors used in intermodal transportation.

Work equipment and roadway machines:

This group consists of accounts which record the cost of work equipment and roadway machines. For work equipment, include the cost of equipment permanently mounted for movement on tracks provided for the purpose of maintaining, improving or constructing ways and structures. For roadway machines, include a complete machine for the maintenance and for construction of tracks, bridges and signals, including accessories.

Other Equipment:

This group consists of accounts which record the costs of rail marine equipment, buses and miscellaneous equipment.

• Track and roadway
• Buildings and related machinery and equipment
• Leasehold improvements
• Signals, communications and power
• Terminals and fuel stations
• Rolling stock - revenue service
• Include locomotives.
• Intermodal equipment
• Work equipment and roadway machines
• Other equipment

13. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's balances for the following property accounts that are subject to amortization?

This information is used for the calculation of the net book value of property accounts.

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

14. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's balances for the following property accounts not subject to amortization?

Note: For more details about accounts, please refer to the Uniform Classification of Accounts (UCA).

Units of measure for operating statistics

15. Which units of measure will be used to report operating statistics?

Distance

• Kilometres
• Miles

Weight

• Metric tonnes
• Imperial tons

Operating statistics

16. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's train - Distance (kilometres/miles)?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Distance please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Train-kilometres or train-miles:

A train-kilometre or train-mile is the movement of a train over one kilometre of track or one mile of track.

• Freight trains
• Passenger trains
• Total transportation service (Sum of Freight and Passenger trains)

17. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's train - hours?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

Train hours:

Train hours are measured as the time taken by a train between departure and arrival station, minus time spent in train switching en route.

• Freight trains
• Passenger trains
• Total transportation service (Sum of Freight and Passenger trains)

18. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's horsepower – Distance (kilometres/miles)?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Distance please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Horsepower-kilometres or horsepower-miles:

Horsepower miles and kilometers are the result of multiplying the horsepower of each locomotive by its locomotive (or "diesel") unit-kilometres or locomotive unit-miles.

• Freight trains
• Passenger trains
• Total transportation service (Sum of Freight and Passenger trains)

19. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's locomotive unit - Distance?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Distance please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Locomotive unit:

A piece of railway rolling stock containing engines used to propel a train along the track but not capable itself of accommodating passengers or freight. Such units may be used singly (with a crew cab) or in conjunction with other units, with all such units usually being controlled from the cab of one of the units.

Locomotive unit-kilometres or locomotive unit-miles:

A locomotive unit-kilometre or a locomotive unit-mile is the operation of a locomotive unit over a kilometre or a mile of track. VIA trains are considered part of the operating carrier's operations.

Train:

A unit or a combination of units of equipment (exclusive of light locomotives) equipped with self-contained motor equipment for movement over tracks. A self-propelled car moving on its own is a train, as is a multi-car freight train.

Train switching:

Switching service performed by train locomotives at terminals and at stations en route.

Yard switching:

Switching service performed by locomotives in yards where regular switching is performed, including both terminal switching and transfer operations within yard limits.

Helping:

The act of adding motive power for a specific portion of a movement due to grading, or some other specific requirement. For example, many train require a helper as they move through various sections of the Rockies due to the extreme grade (positive and negative).

Doubling:

A term used for many different activities, but is synonymous with helping i.e., double-headers add one locomotive to the head of the train to help push or pull.

Light locomotive:

A locomotive operating without cars attached.

20. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's passenger car - Distance?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Distance please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Passenger car-kilometres or passenger car-miles:

Kilometres or miles run by passenger cars, including both loaded and empty car-kilometres or both loaded and empty car-miles. Passenger car-kilometres or passenger car-miles in VIA trains may be recorded by both VIA and the operating carrier.

Conventional train:

A conventional train would include head-end cars (e.g., baggage, combination and battery charger cars), meal service and lounge cars (e.g., club cars with meal service and dome cars), sleeping cars and coach cars.

Rail diesel car:

A self-propelled passenger train car, with the power supplied in much the same way as a diesel electric locomotive.

Commuter car:

A car designed for carrying commuter traffic. Include all car types (head-end cars, meal service and lounge cars, sleeping cars, coach and rail diesel cars) used in commuter service.

21. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's freight car - Distance?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Distance please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Freight car-kilometres or freight car-miles:

A freight car-kilometre or a freight car-mile is the movement of a freight car over one kilometre or one mile of track.

Loaded:

Revenue freight originating directly on the track belonging to the respondent, including revenue freight received from private, non-reporting industrial sidings; freight received from switching roads connecting with the respondent where such freight has not previously been given line-haul transportation; freight received from other modes of transport; freight re-shipped following milling or fabrication at some point in transit; and idler or trailer cars.

Empty:

Freight cars without load, and flat cars loaded with railroad owned or controlled highway trailers or containers, moving without revenue waybill, excluding company service equipment designed for use exclusively in work service.

22. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's gross Weight — Distance (tonne-kilometres/ ton-miles)?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Weight — Distance please refer to the weight and distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Gross metric tonne-kilometres or gross ton-miles:

The movement of a metric tonne or an imperial ton of rail equipment and intermodal equipment (including freight) over one kilometre or one mile of track. This covers all movements over the carrier's tracks except switching operations, including operations by other carriers.

Caboose:

A freight train car usually attached to the rear of the train for the use of workers in giving and receiving signals, handling car records, and performing other duties.

23. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's total number of freight cars?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

Loaded:

Revenue freight originating directly on the track belonging to the respondent, including revenue freight received from private, non-reporting industrial sidings; freight received from switching roads connecting with the respondent where such freight has not previously been given line-haul transportation; freight received from other modes of transport; freight re-shipped following milling or fabrication at some point in transit; and idler or trailer cars.

Empty:

Freight cars without load, and flat cars loaded with railroad owned or controlled highway trailers or containers, moving without revenue waybill, excluding company service equipment designed for use exclusively in work service.

24. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's work train's operating statistics?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Train-distance, Total locomotive-distance, Total passenger car-distance and Total freight car-distance please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Work train service:

A service performed by a train engaged in company service for which no revenue is received.

Train-kilometres or train-miles:

A train-kilometre or train-mile is the movement of a train over one kilometre or mile of track.

Locomotive unit-kilometres or locomotive unit-miles:

A locomotive unit-kilometre is the operation of a locomotive unit over a kilometre or mile of track. VIA trains are considered part of the operating carrier's operations.

Passenger car-kilometres or passenger car-miles:

Kilometres or miles run by passenger cars, including both loaded and empty car-kilometres or car-miles. Passenger car-kilometres or passenger car-miles in VIA trains may be recorded by both VIA and the operating carrier.

Freight car-kilometres or freight car-miles:

A freight car-kilometre or freight car-mile is the movement of a freight car over one kilometre or one mile of track.

25. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's operating statistics related to revenue passengers?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Number of revenue passenger — Distance, please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Revenue passenger:

A person travelling on a train by right of fare.

Revenue passenger-kilometres or revenue passenger-miles:

The movement of a revenue passenger over a distance of one kilometre or one mile. Revenue passenger-kilometres or revenue passenger-miles are derived by multiplying the number of revenue passengers by distance travelled.

• Number of revenue passengers carried
  • Inter-city
  • Commuter

• Number of revenue passenger - Distance (kilometres/miles)
  • Inter-city
  • Commuter

26. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's operating statistics related to revenue and non-revenue freight?

Include all equipment, owned or foreign, operated in business's trains.

For Weight carried and Weight received from Canadian connections, please refer to the weight unit of measure selected in question 15.

For Weight — Distance, please refer to the distance unit of measure selected in question 15.

Canadian connections:

Traffic received directly from connecting Canadian rail carriers and receipts from other modes of transport (excluding car ferries) when these move at joint rates on through billing, or when a previous rail haul is indicated.

• Gross revenue freight
  • Weight carried (tonnes/tons)
  • Weight – Distance (tonnes-kilometers/ton-miles)
  • Weight received (tonnes/tons) from Canadian connections - Included in revenue freight weight carried.
• Gross revenue and non-revenue freight
  • Weight carried (tonnes/tons)
  • Weight – Distance (tonnes-kilometers/ton-miles)

Employees, service hours and compensation

27. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were this business's number of employees, number of service hours and total compensation?

Report the number of hours in exact hours e.g., 37.

Number of employees:

The number of employees is equal to the count of employees made each month throughout the year. The count is not restricted to the number of personnel actually on duty, and includes all other regularly assigned employees and those on vacation or sick leave with pay. Exclude persons on leave without pay or under suspension.

Service hours paid:

Hours paid for time actually worked plus time for such items as vacation, holiday, leaves of absence when paid for, and applies to all employees.

Total compensation:

Total compensation is the gross amount paid to employees including vacations, holidays, leaves of absence with pay and before deductions for income tax. Exclude retroactive wage increases, which, although paid during the current year, pertain to a prior period.

General employees:

This employee group is involved in all operations and transactions related to the railway as a whole and includes general administration, employee benefits, taxes, insurance, purchasing and material stores. The functions performed in this classification are required to support the overall railway enterprise.

Road maintenance employees:

These rail employees are involved in the construction and maintenance of all track, structures and signal, communications and power facility installations.

Equipment maintenance employees:

These rail employees are involved in the maintenance and servicing of all motive power, car, shop and power plant equipment.

Transportation employees:

These rail employees are involved with scheduling, dispatching and operating trains and other ancillary services, the operation of terminal facilities and the distribution of cars and motive power. This function is also responsible for the movement of merchandise by means of the integration of express and less than carload operations.

Highway transport (rail):

These non-rail employees are responsible for non-integrated cartage and highway services ancillary to rail operations.

Outside operations:

These non-rail employees work in operations such as hotels which are operated both in terms of revenues and expenses separate and apart from actual rail operations.

Unit of measure for fuel consumption

28. Which unit of measure will be used to report fuel consumption?

• Litres
• Imperial gallons
• U.S. gallons

Fuel consumption by location

29. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, in which of the following geographical locations did this business consume fuel?

Select all that apply.

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

Fuel consumed by motive power equipment

30. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what was the total cost for fuel consumed by this business?

Indicate the amounts of fuels consumed by all railway rolling stock by this business.

CAN$ '000 (Thousands of Canadian Dollars)

31. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, how much fuel was consumed in each of the following categories?

Indicate the amounts of fuels consumed by all railway rolling stock in the service of this business.

Yard switching:

Switching service performed by locomotives in yards where regular switching is performed, including both terminal switching and transfer operations within yard limits.

Work train service:

A service performed by a train engaged in company service for which no revenue is received.

32. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, of the total diesel consumed and total crude consumed, what is the breakdown of the fuel consumption per geographical location?

Indicate the amounts of fuels consumed by all railway rolling stock in the service of this business.

For Diesel and Crude please refer to the fuel consumption unit of measure selected in question 28.

Kilometres of track operated by location

33. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, in which of the following geographical locations did this business operate track?

Select all that apply.

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

Distance of track operated

Non-owned track includes track operated under lease, contract, trackage or running rights, or jointly owned.

Trackage rights or running rights:

Trackage rights in the United States or running rights in the United Kingdom is an agreement between railroad companies in which the owner of tracks grants another railroad company some use of them. These deals can be long-term or short-term; can include the right to serve customers on the line or not; and can be exclusive or not.

Jointly owned track:

Railway tracks owned by one carrier and used jointly by two or more carriers.

First main (road) operated:

It is equivalent to the length of single or first main track, measured by the distance between terminals over which railway transportation service is conducted. Exclude parallel, yard and siding trackage.

Second and other main track operated:

This is equivalent to the length of track in a second line running parallel to first main track where double track, triple track, etc., is laid on the same road-bed.

Passing tracks and crossovers:

Length of track parallel to first or other main track designated for meets and overtakes (passing) of trains and track provided for movement of trains between main tracks.

Industrial tracks and spurs:

A switching track serving industries such as mines, mills, smelters and factories.

Yard tracks:

A complex series of railroad tracks for storing, sorting, loading or unloading, railroad cars or locomotives. Railroad yards have many tracks in parallel for keeping rolling stock stored off the mainline, so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic. Railroad cars are moved around by specially designed yard switchers, a type of locomotive.

Distance of track operated - Newfoundland and Labrador

34. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Prince Edward Island

35. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Nova Scotia

36. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - New Brunswick

37. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Quebec

38. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Ontario

39. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Manitoba

40. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Saskatchewan

41. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Alberta

42. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - British Columbia

43. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Yukon

44. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Northwest Territories

45. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - Nunavut

46. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Distance of track operated - United States

47. What was the distance of owned track operated and non-owned track operated?

Inventory of locomotive equipment

48. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were the number, aggregate horsepower and the average age of this business's locomotives?

As per UCA Schedule A.

Aggregate horsepower:

Aggregate horsepower usually refers to the sum of all the horsepower for the locomotives for a given train movement. For example, if there were two 4000 h.p. locomotives on the train, its aggregate horsepower would be 8000 h.p.

Inventory of freight car equipment

49. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were the number and aggregate car capacity of this business's freight cars?

As per UCA Schedule C.

For Aggregate car capacity please refer to the weight unit of measure selected in question 15.

Box car:

A box car is a closed railroad car with a roof and a door which is used for general service.

Hopper car:

A car which moves dry bulk freight and usually unloads through gravity by vents on the underside.

Gondola car:

A car with sides and ends but no top, used for hauling commodities such as sand, gravel and coal.

Flat car:

A railroad car without raised sides or ends.

Tank Car:

A railroad car that has a large tank for transporting liquids, semi-liquids or gases in bulk.

Inventory of passenger car equipment

50. For the fiscal year ending as reported in question 1, what were the number of this business's passenger cars?

As per UCA Schedule H.

Aggregate car capacity:

Aggregate car capacity is the aggregate capacity of all cars in a fleet or for a specified movement. For example, if you have a 6 car train and each car can carry 100 metric tonnes of goods, the aggregate car capacity is 600 metric tonnes.

Head-end car:

A passenger train car designed for transporting mail, baggage, etc. and not equipped to accommodate passengers. Include baggage, combination, and battery charger cars.

Meal service and lounge car:

A car designed for providing meal service and lounge facilities on a passenger train.

Sleeping car:

A car containing private sleeping rooms or seats that can be made up into berths available to passengers holding tickets for sleeping car travel.

Coach:

A term commonly used to designate passenger cars which are used for day travel. They are fitted with conventional or reclining seats.

Rail diesel car:

A self-propelled passenger train car, with the power supplied in much the same way as a diesel electric locomotive.

Commuter car:

A car designed for carrying commuter traffic. Include all car types (head-end cars, meal service and lounge cars, sleeping cars, coach and rail diesel cars) used in commuter service.

Changes or events

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

Select all that apply.

• Strike or lock-out
• Exchange rate impact
• Price changes in goods or services sold
• Contracting out
• Organizational change
• Price changes in labour or raw materials
• Natural disaster
• Recession
• Sold business or business units
• Expansion
• New or lost contract
• Acquisition of business or business units
• Other
  • Specify the other change or event
• No changes or events

Contact person

2. Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information. Is (Provided Given Name, Provided Family Name) the best person to contact?

• Yes
• No

Who is the best person to contact about this questionnaire?

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

Feedback

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

Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.

• Hours
• Minutes

4. Do you have any comments about this questionnaire?

Enter your comments

Business or organization information

1. Which of the following categories best describes this business or organization?

• Government agency
• Private sector business
• Non-profit organization
  • Who does this organization primarily serve?
    • Households or individuals
      e.g., child and youth services, community food services, food bank, women's shelter, community housing services, emergency relief services, religious organization, grant and giving services, social advocacy group, arts and recreation group
    • Businesses
      e.g., business association, chamber of commerce, condominium association, environmental support or protection services, group benefit carriers (pensions, health, medical)
• Don't know

Business or organization information

2. In what year was this business or organization first established?

Please provide the year this business or organization first began operations.

Year business or organization was first established:
OR
Don't know

• Approximately how long ago was this business or organization first established?
  • 2 years ago or less
    Established in 2025, 2024, or 2023.
  • 3 to 10 years ago
    Established in 2015 to 2022.
  • 11 to 20 years ago
    Established in 2005 to 2014.
  • More than 20 years ago
    Established in 2004 or earlier.
  • Don't know

3. Over the last 12 months, which of the following international activities did this business or organization conduct?

Select all that apply.

• Export or sell goods outside of Canada
  Include both intermediate and final goods.
• Export or sell services outside of Canada
  Include services delivered virtually and in person.
  e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
• Make investments outside of Canada
• Sell goods to businesses or organizations in Canada who then resold them outside of Canada
• Import or buy goods from outside of Canada
  Include both intermediate and final goods.
• Import or buy services from outside of Canada
  Include services received virtually and in person.
  e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
• Relocate any business or organizational activities or employees from another country into Canada
  Exclude temporary foreign workers.
• Relocate any business or organizational activities or employees from Canada to another country
• Engage in other international business or organizational activities
• OR
• None of the above

4. Over the next three months, how are each of the following expected to change for this business or organization?

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

• Number of employees
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Vacant positions
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Sales of goods or services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Selling price of goods or services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Demand for goods or services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Imports of goods or services
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Exports of goods or services
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Operating income
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Operating expenses
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Profitability
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Cash reserves
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Capital expenditures
  e.g., machinery, equipment
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Training expenditures
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Marketing and advertising budget
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know
• Expenditures in research and development
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don't know

Business or organization obstacles

5. Over the next three months, which of the following are expected to be obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

• Shortage of labour force
• Recruiting skilled employees
• Retaining skilled employees
• Shortage of space or equipment
• Cost of inputs
  An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
  e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
• Costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
• Inflation
• Interest rates and debt costs
  e.g., borrowing fees, interest payments
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
• Maintaining inventory levels
• Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
• Fluctuations in consumer demand
• Attracting new or returning customers
• Lack of financial resources
• Technological limitations
• Regulatory constraints
• Cost of insurance
• Transportation costs
• Obtaining financing
• Increasing competition
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services to customers in other provinces or territories
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
• Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
• Other obstacle
  • Specify other obstacle:
• OR
• None of the above

Flow condition: If at least two obstacles are selected in Q5, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q7.

Display condition: Display in Q6 the obstacles selected in Q5.

6. Of the obstacles selected in the previous question, which obstacle is expected to be the most challenging over the next three months?

• Shortage of labour force
• Recruiting skilled employees
• Retaining skilled employees
• Shortage of space or equipment
• Cost of inputs  
  An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
  e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
• Costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
• Inflation
• Interest rates and debt costs
  e.g., borrowing fees, interest payments
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
• Maintaining inventory levels
• Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
• Fluctuations in consumer demand
• Attracting new or returning customers
• Lack of financial resources
• Technological limitations
• Regulatory constraints
• Cost of insurance
• Transportation costs
• Obtaining financing
• Increasing competition
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services to customers in other provinces or territories
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
• Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
• Other obstacle

Flow condition: If “Cost of inputs” is selected in Q5, go to Q7. Otherwise, go to Q8.

7. Over the next three months, which of the following costs of inputs are expected to be obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

• Cost of labour
• Cost of capital
• Cost of energy
• Cost of raw materials
• OR
• Don't know

Flow condition: If “Shortage of labour force”, “Recruiting skilled employees”, or “Retaining skilled employees” is selected in Q5, go to Q8. Otherwise, go to Q9.

Labour challenges

8. Over the next three months, what are the expected impacts of labour-related obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

• Management working increased hours
• Existing staff working increased hours
• Hire less suitable candidates
• Hire temporary foreign workers
• Reduce goods and services offered by this business or organization
• Delays in providing goods and services to customers
• Limitation on the business’ or organization’s growth
• Other impact
  • Specify other impact:

• OR
• Don’t know
• OR
• None of the above

Flow condition: If “Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada”, “Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad”, or “Maintaining inventory levels” is selected in Q5, go to Q9. Otherwise, go to Q12.

Display condition: If “Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada”, “Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad”, or “Maintaining inventory levels” is selected in Q5, display in Q9.

Supply chain challenges

9. How long does this business or organization expect the following to continue to be an obstacle?

• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
  • Less than 3 months
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months to less than 12 months
  • 12 months or more
  • Don't know
• Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
  • Less than 3 months
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months to less than 12 months
  • 12 months or more
  • Don't know
• Maintaining inventory levels
  • Less than 3 months
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months to less than 12 months
  • 12 months or more
  • Don't know

10. Over the last three months, how have supply chain challenges experienced by this business or organization changed?

Supply chain challenges include difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada or abroad and difficulty maintaining inventory levels.

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

• Supply chain challenges have worsened
  • Which of the following factors have contributed to these challenges?
    Select all that apply.
    • Increased prices of inputs, products or supplies
    • Increased delays in deliveries of inputs, products or supplies
    • Supply shortages resulted in fewer inputs, products or supplies being available
    • Supply shortages resulted in no inputs, products or supplies available
    • Other factor
      • Specify other factor:
    • OR
    • Don't know
• Supply chain challenges have remained about the same
• Supply chain challenges have improved

11. Over the next three months, how does this business or organization expect supply chain challenges to change?

Supply chain challenges include difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada or abroad and difficulty maintaining inventory levels.

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

• Supply chain challenges are expected to worsen
• Supply chain challenges are expected to remain about the same
• Supply chain challenges are expected to improve

Flow condition: If “Government agency” was selected in Q1, go to Q14. Otherwise, go to Q12.

Display condition: If “Non-profit organization” is selected in Q1, do not display “Transfer the business” or “Sell the business” in Q12.

Expectations for the next year

12. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to do any of the following?

Select all that apply.

• Expand current location of this business or organization
• Expand operations of this business or organization internationally
• Expand operations of this business or organization into a new province or territory within Canada
• Move operations of this business or organization to another location within the province or territory
• Move operations of this business or organization to another province or territory within Canada entirely
• Expand this business or organization to other locations within the same province or territory
• Expand this business or organization without increasing physical space
  i.e., hiring more staff who will work remotely, or expanding online sales capacity
• Restructure this business or organization
  Restructuring involves changing the financial, operational, legal or other structures of the business or organization to make it more efficient or more profitable.
• Acquire other businesses, organizations or franchises
• Invest in other businesses or organizations
• Merge with other businesses or organizations
• Reduce the physical space of this business or organization
• Scale down operations of this business or organization to within a single province or territory within Canada
• Transfer the business
• Sell the business
• OR
• Close the business or organization
• OR
• Don't know
• OR
• None of the above

Flow condition: If “Acquire other businesses, organizations or franchise” was not selected in Q12, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q14.

13. Are any of the following barriers which prevent this business or organization from pursuing the acquisition of another business, organization or franchise?

Select all that apply.

• Lack of financial resources or access to capital
• Limited knowledge of available acquisition opportunities and financing options
• Difficulty identifying businesses that align with our strategic goals
• High acquisition costs or valuation concerns
• Uncertainty around economic conditions
• e.g., U.S. tariffs, inflation
• Limited internal capacity to manage or integrate an acquisition
• Regulatory or legal complexities involved in acquisitions
• Risk aversion or preference to focus on organic growth
• Other barrier
  • Specify other barrier:
• OR
• No interest in pursuing acquisitions currently
• OR
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Export or sell goods outside of Canada” or “Export or sell services outside of Canada” was selected in Q3, go to Q14. Otherwise, go to Q15.

Trade

14. Over the last 12 months, what percentage of this business’ or organization’s sales were made directly to clients or customers in the United States?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage of sales made directly to clients or customers in the United States:
OR
Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Import or buy goods from outside of Canada” or “Import or buy services from outside of Canada” was selected in Q3, go to Q15. Otherwise, go to Q16.

15. Over the last 12 months, what percentage of this business’ or organization’s purchases were made directly from suppliers in the United States?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage of purchases made directly from suppliers in the United States:
OR
Don’t know

16. What level of impact would each of the following have on this business or organization?

• The imposition of tariffs by the United States on imports from Canada
  • High impact
  • Medium impact
  • Low impact
  • No impact
  • Don’t know
• The imposition of tariffs by Canada on imports from the United States
  • High impact
  • Medium impact
  • Low impact
  • No impact
  • Don’t know
• The elimination of trade barriers between provinces
  • High impact
  • Medium impact
  • Low impact
  • No impact
  • Don’t know

17. Over the last three months, has this business or organization taken any of the following actions to mitigate risks associated with any tariffs applied by the United States on imports from Canada?

Select all that apply.

• Sought alternative customers outside the United States
• Sought alternative suppliers outside the United States
• Increased domestic sourcing
• Delayed major investments or expenditures
• Delayed Canadian investment or expansion plans
• Acquired or partnered with United States-based businesses as a beachhead strategy
• Explored trade-related financial tools
  e.g., currency hedging, insurance
• Established operations in the United States
• Increased inventory or stockpiled goods
• Invested in technology improvements
  e.g., technology adoption, automation
• Other actions
  • Specify other actions:
• OR
• No actions have been taken
• OR
• Don’t know

United States administration

18. Over the next 12 months, how is this business or organization expected to be impacted for each of the following as a result of the new United States administration?

• Business uncertainty
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Sales in Canada
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Sales to the United States
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Sales to other countries excluding the United States
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Cost of material inputs
• Include domestic and imported goods.
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Cost of material inputs
• Include domestic and imported services.
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Selling price of goods or services offered by this business or organization
  • Higher
  • Unchanged
  • Lower
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know

Efficiency improvements

19. What is the primary factor limiting growth for this business or organization?

• Workforce skill shortages
• Outdated equipment or technology
• Supply chain disruptions
• High operational costs
• High cost and lack of availability of housing
• Other factor
  • Specify other factor:
• Don’t know

20. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to do any of the following as a primary focus?

• Investing in technology and automation
• Upskilling current employees
• Improving supply chain efficiency
• Reducing operational costs
• Expanding into new markets
• Expanding sales into existing markets
• Other factor
  • Specify other factor:
• Don’t know

Digital infrastructure

21. How important is investment in each of the following to the operations of this business or organization?

• Investment by government and telecom companies in broadband connectivity or 5G access
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Not relevant
  • Don’t know
• Investment by other businesses in smart technology, such as appliances or vehicles, that are able to connect to the internet
  Exclude smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desk computers.
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Not relevant
  • Don’t know
• Investment by this business or organization in smart manufacturing or infrastructure
  i.e., a manufacturing process where the facility’s software systems and platforms are on the cloud
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Not relevant
  • Don’t know
• Investment by this business or organization in artificial intelligence tools
  Artificial intelligence tools are software applications that use AI algorithms to perform specific tasks and solve problems.
  e.g., ChatGPT, Github CoPilot, DALL-E, Paradox
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Not relevant
  • Don’t know

22. Has this business or organization made investments in digital infrastructure in the past three years?

Digital infrastructure is the hardware, software, networks, equipment, services, and structures that support digital operations and services.

• Yes, significant investments
• Yes, moderate investments
• Yes, minor investments
• No investments, but planning to invest
• No investments and no plans to invest
• Don’t know

23. Which of the following is the primary barrier to adopting new or additional digital infrastructures in this business or organization?

• High costs of implementation
• Lack of technical expertise
• Limited access to infrastructure in your region
• Uncertainty about return on investment
• No barriers
• Not relevant to this business or organization

Technology

24. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to adopt or incorporate any of the following technologies?

Exclude technologies already adopted or incorporated, or enhancements to existing technologies.
Select all that apply.

• Software using artificial intelligence
  e.g., Generative AI, machine learning, predictive technology, virtual personal assistants, online customer support bots, image or speech recognition
• Hardware using artificial intelligence
  e.g., security cameras, GPS, graphical processing units (GPUs), computing chips
• Robotics
• Automation of certain tasks
  e.g., through the use of robots or computer algorithms
• Cloud computing
  Cloud computing: services that are used over the internet to access software, computing power, or storage capacity.
  e.g., Microsoft 365®, Google Cloud™, Dropbox™
• Collaboration tools
  e.g., Zoom™, Microsoft Teams™, Slack™
• Security software tools
  e.g., anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware, firewalls
• Software or databases for purposes other than telework and online sales
• Digital technology to move business operations or sales online (for purposes other than teleworking or remote working)
• Other technology
  • Specify other technology:
• OR
• Don’t know
• OR
• None of the above

Flow condition: If any of the options from “Software using artificial intelligence” to “Other technology” is selected in Q24, go to Q25. Otherwise, go to Q26.

25. Using a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means “not at all challenging” and 5 means “extremely challenging”, how challenging are the following for this business or organization when adopting or incorporating technologies?

• Reorienting business strategy and processes
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Retraining employees with skills to use new technologies and processes
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Hiring workers with skills to implement new technologies
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Finding external consultants to implement new technologies or update pre-existing technologies
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Accessing internal financing to invest in new technologies
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Accessing external financing to support the implementation of new technologies or update pre-existing technologies
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Finding suitable hardware or software vendors
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Ensuring high-speed connectivity
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Integrating new digital technologies into this business’ or organization’s existing technology infrastructure
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant
• Ensuring security and privacy of data
  • 1 – Not at all challenging
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5 – Extremely challenging
  • Not relevant

Flow condition: If “None of the above” was selected in Q24, go to Q26. Otherwise, go to Q27.

26. For which of the following reasons does this business or organization not plan to adopt any digital technologies over the next 12 months?

Select all that apply.

• This business or organization does not have the necessary financial resources
• This business or organization does not have the necessary human resources
• This business or organization has recently adopted digital technologies
• Other reason
  • Specify other reason:
• OR
• This business or organization does not need to adopt any digital technologies over the next 12 months
• OR
• Digital technologies are not relevant to this business or organization

Cybersecurity

27. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to take any new or additional cybersecurity actions?

• Yes
• No
  • What is the primary reason this business or organization does not plan to take any new or additional cybersecurity actions?
    • This business or organization does not need cybersecurity measures
    • This business or organization does not have the necessary financial resources
    • This business or organization has already implemented any necessary cybersecurity actions
    • Other reason
      • Specify other reason:
• Don’t know

Artificial intelligence

28. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in producing goods or delivering services?

e.g., machine learning, virtual agents, voice recognition

• Yes
  • What type of AI applications did this business or organization use in producing goods or delivering services?
    Select all that apply.
    • Machine learning
    • Natural language processing
    • Virtual agents or chat bots
    • Speech or voice recognition using AI
    • Recommendation systems based on AI
    • Large language models
    • Text analytics using AI
    • Data analytics using AI
    • Neural networks
    • Augmented reality
    • Decision making systems based on AI
    • Deep learning
    • Image or pattern recognition
    • Machine or computer vision
    • Robotics process automation
    • Biometrics
    • Marketing automation using AI
    • Other type
      • Specify other type:
    • OR
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Yes” is selected in Q28, go to Q29. Otherwise, go to Q32.

29. Which of the following changes did this business or organization make when using AI to produce goods or deliver services?

Select all that apply.

• Trained current staff to use AI
• Hired staff trained in AI
• Purchased computing power or specialized equipment
• Purchased cloud services or cloud storage
• Changed data collection or data management practices
• Developed new workflows
• Used vendors or consulting services to install or integrate AI
• Other change
  • Specify other change:
• OR
• Don’t know
• OR
• None of the above

30. To what extent has AI reduced tasks previously performed by employees?

• Large extent
• Moderate extent
• Small extent
• No extent
• Don’t know

31. How did the use of AI affect this business’ or organization’s total employment?

• Increased
• Decreased
• Did not change
• Don’t know

Liquidity

32. Does this business or organization have the cash or liquid assets required to operate for the next three months?

• Yes
• No
  • Will this business or organization be able to acquire the cash or liquid assets required?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don't know
• Don't know

Debt

33. Over the next three months, does this business or organization plan to apply to a financial institution for a new line of credit, a new term loan, a new non-residential mortgage, or refinancing of an existing non-residential mortgage?

Include commercial mortgages.

Exclude residential mortgages.

• Yes
  • What are the intended uses of this funding?
    Select all that apply.
    • Refinancing of existing debt
    • Non-residential investments
      i.e., machinery, equipment, R&D
    • Current expenditure
    • Business expansion
    • Financing the acquisition of another business
    • Other use
      • Specify other use
    • OR
    • Don't know

• No
  • Does this business or organization have the ability to take on more debt?
    Answer based on this business' or organization's ability, even if there are no plans to take on more debt.
    • Yes
    • No
      • For which of the following reasons is this business or organization unable to take on more debt?
        Select all that apply.
        • Cash flow
        • Lack of confidence or uncertainty in future sales
        • Request would be turned down
        • Too difficult or time consuming to apply
        • Interest rates are unfavourable
        • Payment terms are unfavourable
        • Credit rating
        • Other reason
          • Specify other reason:
        • OR
        • Not applicable
        • OR
        • Don't know
    • Don't know
• Don't know

Flow condition: If “Yes” was selected when asked if the business of organization plans to apply to a financial institution for a new line of credit, a new term loan, a new non-residential mortgage, or refinancing of an existing non-residential mortgage in Q33, go to Q34. Otherwise, go to Q35.

34. Who will provide the debt financing this business or organization plans to request?

Select all that apply.

• Private financial institution
  e.g., chartered banks

• Government agency
• Private markets
• Other source
  • Specify other source:

• OR

• Don’t know

Payments

35. Over the next three months, how confident is this business or organization in its ability to make its payments to suppliers and service providers in full and on time?

Exclude payments made to financial institutions.

• Very confident 
• Somewhat confident 
• Not at all confident
• Don't know

Working arrangements

36. Over the next three months, what percentage of the employees of this business or organization is anticipated to work on-site or work remotely?

Exclude employees that are primarily engaged in providing driving or delivery services or employees that primarily work at client premises, and contractors.

Working on-site refers to working from an office or job site, while working remotely refers to an employee working from home or another location of the employee's choosing, other than their regular on-site location.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

If the percentages are unknown, leave the question blank.

1. Work on-site exclusively
   Percentage of employees:
2. Work on-site most hours
   Percentage of employees:
3. Work approximately the same number of hours on-site and remotely
   i.e., 2-3 days per week on site
   Percentage of employees:
4. Work remotely most hours
   Percentage of employees:
5. Work remotely exclusively
   Percentage of employees:

Future outlook

37. Over the next 12 months, what is the future outlook for this business or organization?

• Very optimistic
• Somewhat optimistic
• Somewhat pessimistic
• Very pessimistic
• Don't know

Flow condition: If “Private sector business” was selected in Q1, go to Q38. Otherwise, go to “Contact Person”.

Ownership

(i) The groups identified within the following questions are included in order to gain a better understanding of businesses owned by members of various communities across Canada.

38. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by each of the following groups?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
If the business or organization is not owned by anyone that falls under that group, please enter "0".

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by women?
Percentage of business or organization owned by women:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?
Percentage of business or organization owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by immigrants to Canada?
Percentage of business or organization owned by immigrants to Canada:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by persons with a disability?
Percentage of business or organization owned by persons with a disability:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or two-spirited (LGBTQ2) people?
Percentage of business or organization owned by LGBTQ2 people:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities?
A member of a visible minority in Canada may be defined as someone (other than an Indigenous person) who is non-white in colour or race, regardless of place of birth.
Percentage of business or organization owned by visible minorities:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don't know

Flow condition: If more than 50% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities, go to Q39. Otherwise, go to "Contact person".

39. It was indicated that at least 51% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities. Please select the categories that describe the owner or owners.

Select all that apply.

• South Asian
  e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
• Chinese
• Black
• Filipino
• Latin American
• Arab
• Southeast Asian
  e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
• West Asian
• e.g., Afghan, Iranian
• Korean
• Japanese
• Other group
  • Specify other group:
• OR
• Prefer not to say