Requests for information – Crime and justice

Under the authority of the Statistics Act, Statistics Canada is hereby requesting the following information which will be used solely for statistical and research purposes and will be protected in accordance with the provisions of the Statistics Act and any other applicable law. This is a mandatory request for data.

Correctional services

Federal and provincial/territorial correctional services data on adults and youth supervised in corrections

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting information on individuals supervised under federal and provincial/territorial correctional services programs. The information requested relates to:

  • the characteristics of persons being supervised
  • their legal hold status while in correctional services
  • offences and conditions related to the various court orders
  • events related to the person that occur during the period of supervision such as temporary absences, rehabilitative programming and hearings and reviews
  • results of any needs assessments done on persons while in correctional services.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information such as name, date of birth, language, sex, marital status, education, Indigenous identity and visible minority group.  Personal identifiers (name, municipality, postal code, social insurance number, fingerprint section identification number, provincial/territorial health insurance number and provincial/territorial driver’s license number) are required to perform data linkages, for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be anonymized.

For more information, see the supplement to Statistics Canada’s Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for this request. Supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment related to the Canadian Correctional Services Survey (CCSS).

What years of data will be requested?

Annual data as of fiscal year 2022/2023 (ongoing), plus historical data from 2015/2016 to 2021/2022.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from:

Federal correctional services, provincial regulatory services and other provincial and territorial public administration.

Why is this information being requested?

These statistics will help provide valuable demographic information at a disaggregated level on the federal, provincial and territorial populations supervised under correctional services. The information will be used to inform correctional services programs, policy makers, researchers and other industry stakeholders on the social and economic context of the correctional population, including issues such as the overrepresentation of certain groups (e.g., Indigenous peoples and the Black population) within correctional services programs across the country.

Statistics on youth will provide information on issues specific to youth justice and key points in the youth justice process such as extrajudicial measures, and youth returning to custody during a period of community supervision.

Statistics Canada requires this information to create and publish statistics on adults and youth under supervision of correctional services programs in Canada. Statistics include average daily counts, which provide a snapshot of the corrections population on any given day, as well as admissions and intakes which measure the number of persons beginning periods of supervision in either custody or community supervision.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Correctional service programs have developed comprehensive information systems on their inmate populations, and are the only data source in Canada with the detailed administrative data required for conducting statistical research.

When will this information be requested?

June 2023 and onward (annually)

When was this request published?

June 8, 2023

Correctional Data for the 2021 Census of Population

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting data on correctional facilities and individuals residing in Canadian correctional facilities for the purpose of the 2021 Census of Population.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information such as the individual's name, date of birth, sex, date of admission to the facility, marital status and language spoken. Personal identifiers including name and date of birth are required to perform data linkages, for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized-person key, meaning individuals will be unidentifiable post linkage.

What years of data will be requested?

The data available on Census day, which is May 11, 2021.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from all federal, some provincial and territorial correctional services programs which include:

  • Correctional Service Canada
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Correctional Service-Justice and Public Safety
  • PEI Community and Correctional Services
  • New-Brunswick Public Safety
  • Quebec public safety and Ministry of Health and Social Services
  • Ontario Children Community and Social Services-youth division
  • Manitoba Justice- Corrections
  • Yukon Correctional Services and Yukon Health and Social Services
  • Northwest territories Department of Justice, Corrections Service
  • Nunavut Justice- Corrections.

Why is this information being requested?

In order to fulfill its mandate for the 2021 Census of Population, Statistics Canada requires these data to produce accurate population counts, as well as produce other valuable demographic information on the federal, provincial and territorial populations residing in correctional facilities. In the past, these data were collected through in-person enumeration. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the requirement to reduce face-to-face contact to mitigate public health risks, in-person enumeration is not possible in 2021. In lieu of enumeration, administrative data from each correctional service program in Canada will be used.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Correctional service programs have developed comprehensive information systems on their inmate populations and are the only data source in Canada with the detailed administrative data required for the Census.

When will this information be requested?

This information will be requested for Census day, which is May 11, 2021.

When was this request published?

February 23, 2021

Courts

Case, support and enforcement data

What information is being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting statistical and descriptive information on child and spousal support payments from British Columbia and Manitoba maintenance enforcement programs.

The requested data will complement data already held by Statistics Canada from other provinces.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information such as:

  • last name (Soundex Code)
  • sex
  • date of Birth
  • location
  • postal Code of the payor and recipient
  • social assistance status of recipient
  • number of children receiving support
  • date of birth of child
  • payor identification number
  • recipient identification number
  • identification number for child(ren)

Other variables that may be requested and used in isolation to identify an individual person include Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) issued Case Identification Number, Court Case Identification Number, Database Linking Number, Reciprocal Jurisdiction (MEP issued) Case Identification Number.

Personal identifiers are required to perform data linkages for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized person key.

What years of data will be requested?

Statistics Canada will be requesting monthly data on a quarterly basis.

From whom will the information be requested?

BC Family Maintenance Agency
Manitoba Maintenance Enforcement Program

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada requires this information to create and publish statistics on the volume and type of cases enrolled, enforcement actions taken, support amounts due and compliance with support payments, among other measures. These statistics will be used by policy makers, researchers and stakeholders to support the administration of justice nationally by providing data about caseload and case characteristics.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

These organizations are tasked with enforcing support payments in their respective province or territory with registered cases.

When will this information be requested?

April 2023

When was this request published?

April 18, 2023

Data on human rights complaints

What information is being requested?

In response to a pilot project that Statistics Canada is undertaking with the Department of Justice (DoJ), Statistics Canada will seek information related to the formal complaint case (e.g., area of discrimination, grounds for discrimination, case outcomes), details surrounding the hearing process, if applicable, and details pertaining to any appeals (where available).

What personal information is included in this request?

This request includes personal information, on the complainant, such as: 

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Date of birth
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • Mailing address

Personal identifiers are required to perform data linkages, for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized person key, meaning individuals will not be identifiable once the data has been linked.

For more information, see the supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for this request.

Human Rights Tribunal Pilot Project - Supplement to Human Rights Cost Recovery Project

What years of data will be requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting data from 2000 to 2023.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from various human rights jurisdictions at both the federal and provincial level.

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting these data from different tribunals and commissions to provide valuable new insights at federal and provincial levels. Information on the impacts of filing a human rights complaint will help identify the characteristics of complainants of discrimination and harassment and will shed light on their outcomes. This information can be used by policy makers, and researchers to make better evidence-based decision-making at local, provincial, and national levels.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Human rights commissions and tribunals are responsible for collecting and maintaining administrative data on human rights complaints at both the federal and provincial level.

When will this information be requested?

Winter 2023

When was this request published?

January 29, 2024

Crimes and offences

Uniform Calls for Service Reporting Program (UCSR)

What information is being requested?

The Uniform Calls for Service Reporting Program (UCSR) is requesting from police services data on their events of calls for service. The requested information will include indicators that describe the nature of each event such as the initial and final call type, the location where the event took place, and outcomes of the call.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request does not contain any personal information.

What years of data will be requested?

In 2022/2023, the requested data will be for events of calls for service which took place in the 2023 calendar year. Moving forward in 2023/2024 the program intends to continue requesting this data monthly.

From whom will the information be requested?

All Canadian police services such as municipal and First Nations police services, provincial police services, and at the federal level.

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada requires this information to create and publish statistics on the nature and extent of events of calls for service for which police services are required to respond to.

Preliminary studies conducted by Statistics Canada on calls for service have shown that a large proportion of these events are not criminal in nature. As such they are not captured within other sources of police-reported data at Statistics Canada, such as the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR).

These statistics will help to shed light on issues that affect the well-being and safety of communities, as well as inform on the broader scope of police interactions with the public beyond those which relate to criminal matters.

The data will be used by policy makers, researchers, and all levels of government to make informed and decisions on addressing community needs.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

All police services are selected as data providers as the Uniform Calls for Service Reporting Program (UCSR) is a census of all events of calls for service across Canada.

When will this information be requested?

November 2023

When was this request published?

January 26, 2024

Police calls for service to inform opioid related overdoses

What information is being requested?

The data being requested pertain to police services in the region of Simcoe-Muskoka, Ontario for service relating to opioid overdoses.

The data are being requested to identify police attended overdoses and to examine the history of police contacts with groups of individuals, including minors, who experienced an opioid overdose.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information such as first name, last name, aliases, sex, birthdate, civic address, postal code, and telephone numbers; as well as information related to the suspected overdose incident including whether the individual was criminally charged, and the history of police contacts of the individual.

Personal identifiers including first and last name, aliases, sex, birthdate, address information, and telephone numbers are required to perform data linkages, for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized person key.

For more information, see the supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for this request.

Narcotics, Substance Use, and Community Well-Being Initiative

What years of data will be requested?

January 2015 to June 2019

From whom will the information be requested?

Provincial and municipal police services in the region of Simcoe-Muskoka, Ontario

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada is responding to the needs of federal, provincial and municipal stakeholders, such as the Simcoe-Muskoka Opioid Strategy (SMOS) group, who have asked for help in understanding the primary risk factors of the population most at-risk of a drug overdose. The information requested will be used to generate statistics to meet these data needs.

These statistics will help inform the categorization of the opioid crisis in this Ontario community and to add to the body of knowledge surrounding the social determinants of the opioid crisis. The resulting non-confidential statistics may be used by the police in efforts to fully understand the roots of the opioid crisis, the primary risk factors, and those who may be most at risk of opioid overdose, in order to identify and act on opportunities for intervention.

Statistics Canada will use this information for statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

These types of organizations collect and maintain up-to-date data on police calls for service.

When will this information be requested?

July 2020, with the inclusion of data from Rama Police Service being requested in January 2021

When was this request published?

December 22, 2020

Summary of Changes

December 2020 – Rama Police Service is being added as a participant in the study. There is no change to the information being requested.

Police calls for service related to drug overdoses

What information is being requested?

In response to the Edmonton Police Service's request to partner with Statistics Canada on their Psychoactive Substances and Community Safety Initiative, Statistics Canada is requesting information on police-attended overdoses and the history of contact police have had with groups of individuals, including minors, who have experienced a drug overdose.

The data being requested pertain to police services in the City of Edmonton, Alberta, for services relating to drug overdoses.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request contains personal information about the individual who experienced the overdose. Information such as first name, last name, aliases, sex, birthdate, civic address, postal code, and telephone numbers; as well as information related to the suspected overdose incident, including whether the individual was criminally charged, and the history of police contacts with the individual. Personal identifiers of the individual who experienced the overdose―including first and last name, aliases, sex, birthdate, address information, and telephone numbers―are required. This information is being requested to perform data linkages for statistical purposes only. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized-person key, meaning individuals will be unidentifiable post linkage.

For more information, see the supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for this request.

Narcotics, Substance Use, and Community Well-Being Initiative

What years of data will be requested?

Statistics Canada is requesting data from January, 2011 to June, 2020.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from the local police service in Edmonton, Alberta.

Why is this information being requested?

The Edmonton Police Service, in partnership with the Edmonton Psychoactive Substance Use Steering Committee, has asked Statistics Canada to assist in a collaborative project that will contribute to understanding the primary characteristics of the population most at risk of a drug overdose. This project will also inform federal, provincial and municipal stakeholders in their policy development pertaining to overdoses in Canada. The information requested will be used to generate statistics to meet these data needs.

These statistics will inform the categorization of the drug overdose crisis in Edmonton, Alberta and add to the knowledge surrounding the social determinants of the crisis. The resulting non-confidential statistics will be used by the police in an effort to fully understand the roots of the overdose crisis, the primary risk factors, and to identify those who may be most at risk of a drug overdose. This initiative will help policy and decision makers to identify, plan and act on opportunities for intervention.

This information will be used for statistical and research purposes only.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

This information is being requested from the local police service in the City of Edmonton, Alberta in response to a request for Statistics Canada to partner on this project.

When will this information be requested?

February 2021.

When was this request published?

February 5, 2021

Case information from the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline

What information is being requested?

As part of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, Statistics Canada has been working with federal, provincial and territorial governments to examine the feasibility of using administrative data on human trafficking to supplement current statistics. As part of these discussions, the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics (CCJCSS) at Statistics Canada has been working with the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT), to acquire and examine administrative data related to CCTEHT's Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.

Statistics Canada is requesting information on: the age, gender, immigration status and/or ethnicity of victims; the type of trafficking (e.g. sexual exploitation or forced labour); and other relevant characteristics of trafficking including high-level geographic information and industry (in the case of labour trafficking).For more information, see the supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for this request.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request does not include any personal identifying information. While information on age, gender, and immigration status of victims will be collected, no data are released that could identify an individual or company.

For more information, see the supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment for this request.

Supplement to Statistics Canada's Generic Privacy Impact Assessment related to the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline Feasibility Study Data Acquisition Project

What years of data will be requested?

All data held at the time of the request.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information will be requested from the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.

Why is this information being requested?

Rates of police-reported human trafficking in Canada have increased considerably over the past decade and Canada has continued its efforts to combat this crime. Most notably, in 2019, as part of the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline was launched to help victims and survivors of all forms of human trafficking access services and the supports they need. Data collected through the hotline will help in better understanding vulnerable populations, gaps in services for victims and survivors, as well as assist in developing better law enforcement programs to target human trafficking.

Statistics Canada is requesting this information in order to address data gaps on human trafficking in Canada that cannot be addressed using data already held by the Agency on incidents reported by police. Beyond providing a more expanded measure of the number of human trafficking victims in Canada, this initiative aims to use data from the CCTEHT to answer broader questions on the characteristics of these victims, information on recruitment and other relevant characteristics of trafficking.

Having these data presented alongside official police-reported statistics will be valuable to policy makers, researchers and the justice community to support evidence-based decision-making on policy and programmatic efforts to effectively prevent and respond to human trafficking in Canada.

This information will be used for statistical and research purposes only.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Statistics Canada has been working with Public Safety Canada and other federal and provincial partners in order to improve national information on human trafficking. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT) has been included in these discussions as an important additional source of information.

The CCTEHT provides a national hotline to provide support to victims of human trafficking that may or may not be reported to police. In addition, the organization works to support research that will increase awareness and education about human trafficking in Canada.

When will this information be requested?

This information was requested in 2018 and onward.

What Statistics Canada programs will primarily use these data?

Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics

When was this request published?

November 16, 2021

Other content related to Crime and justice

Drug seizure data from the Health Canada Drug Analysis Service (DAS) lab

What information is being requested?

Data from analyzed drug seizure samples is being requested. This includes:

  • the province or territory where the samples come from
  • where the samples were seized
  • the dates for when the results and samples were returned to clients
  • the city of clients that submitted samples
  • the dates for when the samples were received at the DAS Lab
  • a short description of each sample (i.e., whether it is a plant material, powder, tablet, residue, paper, crystal, etc.)
  • drug names

What personal information is included in this request?

This request does not contain any personal information.

What years of data will be requested?

Current and historical data held at time of request.

From whom will the information be requested?

Health Canada Drug Analysis Service (DAS) Lab.

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada requires this information to create and publish statistics on emerging drugs identified through wastewater samples. These statistics will help determine how our wastewater data align to and, potentially, complement drug seizure data.

This information will be used by policy makers, researchers, and industry stakeholders (such as Public Health Agency of Canada, RCMP, provincial and municipal governments and public health authorities) to identify new drugs and paint a clearer picture of the drug landscape in Canadian cities.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

Health Canada’s DAS Lab analyzes drug seizure samples from municipalities across Canada. This is the only type of lab that collects the data that we need in Canada.

When will this information be requested?

August 2023 and onwards

What Statistics Canada programs will primarily use these data?

When was this request published?

August 24, 2023

National Fire Information Database

What information is being requested?

The National Fire Information Database (NFID) (pilot project) was developed by Statistics Canada in 2017. For the ongoing NFID production, StatCan will collect the data from 2015 onwards from the jurisdictions that provided data for the NFID pilot project. The jurisdictions that were not able to participate in the NFID pilot project in 2017 can provide the data from 2005 and onwards. The NFID contains data related to characteristics of fire incidents and victims (i.e., injuries, loss and deaths resulting from fires).

What personal information is included in this request?

The requested information includes personal identifiers, such as first name, last name, business name, sex, age and address information.

Personal identifiers are required to perform data linkages for statistical purposes only. Access to this information is strictly and securely limited to a small number of individuals, on a need-to-know basis. Once the data are linked, the personal identifiers will be replaced by an anonymized person key, meaning individuals will be unidentifiable post-linkage.

What years of data will be requested?

Data from year 2015 and ongoing are being requested.

From whom will the information be requested?

This information is being requested from:

  • The Offices of the Fire Marshal of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon;
  • The Offices of the Fire Commissioner of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador;
  • The Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management;
  • Québec Direction du développement en sécurité incendie;
  • The Canadian Armed Forces;

Why is this information being requested?

The National Fire Information Database (NFID) data will be used by Fire Marshals, Fire Commissioners, Chief Fire Officers and academic researchers to gain a greater understanding of the nature and extent of fire incidents across the country. Through the development of a geospatial tool using the NFID, Statistics Canada supports the capacity for fire services to identify and target communities that would most benefit from fire prevention treatments in order to not only prevent fires, but also to prevent injuries and deaths occurring as a result of fires. Statistics Canada is requesting this information in order to respond to these data needs.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

The organizations that collect and maintain data on fire incidents where fire services responded were selected.

When will this information be requested?

September 2022

When was this request published?

August 29, 2022

Police Services

Uniform Calls for Service Reporting Program (UCSR)

What information is being requested?

The Uniform Calls for Service Reporting Program (UCSR) is requesting from police services data on their events of calls for service. The requested information will include indicators that describe the nature of each event such as the initial and final call type, the location where the event took place, and outcomes of the call.

What personal information is included in this request?

This request does not contain any personal information.

What years of data will be requested?

In 2022/2023, the requested data will be for events of calls for service which took place in the 2023 calendar year. Moving forward in 2023/2024 the program intends to continue requesting this data monthly.

From whom will the information be requested?

All Canadian police services such as municipal and First Nations police services, provincial police services, and at the federal level.

Why is this information being requested?

Statistics Canada requires this information to create and publish statistics on the nature and extent of events of calls for service for which police services are required to respond to.

Preliminary studies conducted by Statistics Canada on calls for service have shown that a large proportion of these events are not criminal in nature. As such they are not captured within other sources of police-reported data at Statistics Canada, such as the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR).

These statistics will help to shed light on issues that affect the well-being and safety of communities, as well as inform on the broader scope of police interactions with the public beyond those which relate to criminal matters.

The data will be used by policy makers, researchers, and all levels of government to make informed and decisions on addressing community needs.

Statistics Canada may also use the information for other statistical and research purposes.

Why were these organizations selected as data providers?

All police services are selected as data providers as the Uniform Calls for Service Reporting Program (UCSR) is a census of all events of calls for service across Canada.

When will this information be requested?

November 2023

When was this request published?

January 26, 2024

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