Survey of Household Spending 2021

Place of Residence Information

Q1. Verify and update any address information to correspond with this dwelling.

  • Apartment or unit (if applicable)
  • Number
  • Civic suffix
  • Street name
  • Street type
  • Street direction
  • City, municipality, town, village, Indian Reserve
  • Province or territory
  • Postal code
  • Telephone number (including area code)
  • Extension number (if applicable)

Q2. Is the mailing address of this dwelling different from the one specified in the previous question?

  1. Yes (Specify the mailing address) e.g., Rural route, PO box, Lot and Concession or General Delivery
  2. No

The next questions refer to your household's usual place of residence and collective dwellings. To make sure you are asked the right questions, we need to correctly identify the dwelling in which you live.

Q3. Is the address displayed on the previous screen your household's usual place of residence?

The usual place of residence is the dwelling where a household usually lives and typically corresponds to the address on the driver's licence.

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q4. Does your household live in a collective dwelling?

Include:

  • residences for non-autonomous senior citizens
  • school residences
  • hotels and motels
  • halfway houses
  • work camps
  • camps occupied by military personnel only
  • lodging and rooming houses
  • religious and other communal dwellings
  1. Yes

    In which type of collective dwelling does your household live?

    1. A residence for non-autonomous senior citizens (dwelling without a kitchenette)
    2. A school residence
    3. A hotel or a motel (Is this your household's usual place of residence?)
    4. A halfway house
    5. A work camp
    6. A camp occupied by military personnel only
    7. A lodging or a rooming house (Was the room number included in the address?)
    8. A religious or other communal dwelling, e.g., a Hutterite colony
  2. No

Household Information

The next few questions ask for important information about the people in your household.

Q5. Including yourself, how many persons are staying at this address?

Include all persons who have their main residence at this address, even if they are temporarily away.

Q6. [Please provide your first name, last name, and age./Beginning with yourself, please provide the first name, last name, and age of all the people usually living at this address.]

To add or remove a person, return to the previous question and change the number of persons staying at this address. Review and enter the names of the household members in the table.

Q7. Verify that you are listed first and all of the information is correct.

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

To make changes, press the Previous button.

Q8. The following section asks questions about each member of your household. Press the Start button to provide the information for each person.

Q9. What is [your/NAME's] date of birth?

Q10. What is [NAME's] relationship to you?

  1. Husband or wife
  2. Common-law partner
  3. Father or mother
  4. Son or daughter (birth, adopted or step)
  5. Brother or sister
  6. Foster father or mother
  7. Foster son or daughter
  8. Grandfather or grandmother
  9. Grandson or granddaughter
  10. In-law
  11. Other related
  12. Unrelated

Q11. What is [your/NAME's] 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:

  1. Male
  2. Female
  3. Or please specify (Specify this person's gender)

Q12. What is [your/NAME's] marital status?

Is it:

  1. Married

    For Quebec residents only, select the "Married" category if your marital status is "civil union".

  2. Living common law

    Two people who live together as a couple but who are not legally married to each other.

  3. Never married (not living common law)
  4. Separated (not living common law)
  5. Divorced (not living common law)
  6. Widowed (not living common law)

Q13. What is the highest certificate, diploma or degree that [you/NAME's] [have/has] completed?

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

Q14. Currently, what is [your/NAME's] main activity?

Is it:

  1. Working at a job, a business or self-employed
  2. Looking for work
  3. Going to school
  4. Doing household work
  5. Caring for family members including young children
  6. Retired
  7. Experiencing a long term illness or disability
  8. Doing volunteer work
  9. No main activity
  10. Other (Specify the other main activity)

This completes the questions for [HHMEMBER].

Press the Return to Summary button to return to the household members list.

Dwelling Information

The next section refers to the characteristics and tenure of your dwelling.

Q15. In what type of dwelling do you live?

Would you say:

  1. A single detached
  2. A semi-detached or double

    i.e., side by side

  3. A garden home, town house or row house
  4. A duplex

    i.e., one above the other

  5. A low-rise apartment of fewer than 5 stories or a flat
  6. A high-rise apartment of 5 stories or more
  7. A hotel, rooming or lodging house or camp
  8. A mobile home
  9. Other (Specify the other type of dwelling)

Q16. In what year was this dwelling originally built?

If exact year is not known, give your best estimate.

Q17. Is this dwelling in need of any repairs?

Exclude desirable remodelling or additions.

Would you say:

  1. No, only regular maintenance is needed, for example, painting, furnace cleaning
  2. Yes, minor repairs are needed, for example, missing or loose floor tiles, bricks or shingles, defective steps, railings or siding
  3. Yes, major repairs are needed, for example, defective plumbing or electrical wiring, structural repairs to walls, floors or ceilings

Q18. How many bedrooms are in this dwelling?

Count all rooms designed as bedrooms, even if they are now used for something else. Also count basement bedrooms and rooms that are used as bedrooms now, even if they were not originally built as bedrooms.

Do not count rooms used solely for business purposes.

Q19. When did [you/your household] move to this dwelling?

Record the first year and month that any current household member moved to the dwelling.

Year, Month

Q20. Is this dwelling owned by a member of this household?

Would you say:

  1. Yes, owned, even if it is still being paid for
  2. No, rented, even if no cash rent is paid

Q21. Is there a mortgage on this dwelling?

Exclude other types of financing.

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q22. If you were to sell this dwelling today, how much would you expect to sell it for?

Q23. How many cellphones [do you/does your household] have?

Exclude cellphones used for work only.

Q24. Which of the following services [do you/does your household] have?

Include services received from telecommunication providers.

Exclude online streaming services, e.g., Netflix, Crave.

Select all that apply.

  • 1. Landline telephone service
  • 1. Television service
    • What type of television services [do you/does your household] have?
      Select all that apply. 1. Cable
    • 1. Satellite dish
    • 1. Phone line or IPTV
    • 1. Other (Specify the other type of service)
  • 1. Internet access from your dwelling
    • What type of internet connections [do you/does your household] have?
      Select all that apply. 1. Fibre-optic
    • 1. Cable
    • 1. High speed telephone or DSL
    • 1. Dial-up through telephone line
    • 1. Satellite
    • 1. Wireless
      Include cellphones, tablets, sticks and fixed wireless connections.
      Exclude wireless routers.
    • 1. Other (Specify the other type of connection)

Dwelling Expenses

The survey only collects information about household expenses.

Exclude expenses charged against business or rental income.

The next section refers to mortgage related expenses.

Q25. How many mortgages [do you/does your household] currently have on this dwelling?

Q26. Press the Start button to provide the mortgage information.

Q27. How much was the last regular payment for this mortgage?

Include premiums for mortgage-related insurance and property taxes if they are part of the mortgage payments.

Exclude any irregular or lump sum payments.

Q28. What was the payment frequency?

Was it:

  1. Weekly
  2. Biweekly
  3. Semi-monthly
  4. Monthly
  5. Every two months
  6. Quarterly
  7. Annually
  8. Other (Specify the other payment frequency)

Q29. Were the premiums for mortgage-related insurance included in this mortgage payment?

Mortgage-related insurance includes mortgage life insurance, loan insurance and disability insurance.

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q30. Were the property taxes included in this mortgage payment?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q31. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what was the total premium paid for mortgage-related insurance for this mortgage?

Include mortgage life insurance, loan insurance and disability insurance even if included in the mortgage payments.

Q32. What is the balance owing for this mortgage?

Q33. For this mortgage, in which of the following groups is your current balance owing?

Is it:

  1. Less than $25,000
  2. $25,000 to less than $50,000
  3. $50,000 to less than $75,000
  4. $75,000 to less than $100,000
  5. $100,000 to less than $150,000
  6. $150,000 to less than $200,000
  7. $200,000 to less than $250,000
  8. $250,000 to less than $300,000
  9. $300,000 to less than $500,000
  10. $500,000 or more

Q34. What is the amortization period for this mortgage, i.e., the total number of years you agreed to pay off the mortgage in full?

Is it:

  1. Less than 10 years
  2. 10 to 14 years
  3. 15 to 19 years
  4. 20 to 24 years
  5. 25 years
  6. 30 years
  7. 35 years
  8. 40 years
  9. Other (Specify the other amortization period)

This completes the questions for [MORTGAGE]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of mortgages.

[This section refers to other expenses related to this dwelling. The survey only collects information about household expenses. Exclude expenses charged against business or rental income. The next section refers to expenses related to this dwelling.]

Q35. How much was [your/your household's] last payment for the following?

  1. Home insurance

    Payment frequency for home insurance

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  2. Condominium fees

    Include strata fees.

    Payment frequency for condominium fees

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually

Q36. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Property and school taxes

    Include special service charges and local improvements.

    Include taxes even if included in mortgage payments.

  2. Legal charges related to the dwelling

    Include title searches and title transfers.

  3. Registration fees, renewal fees, early renewal fees or closing penalties associated with mortgages

    Exclude mortgage payments.

  4. Other fees related to the dwelling (Specify the other fees)

    Include:

    • building permits
    • appraisals and inspections
    • surveying fees
    • special assessments for condo owners
    • pad rental for mobile homes.

The next section refers to the purchase and sale of your principal residences.

Exclude:

  • purchase and sale of secondary residences
  • dwellings bought or sold solely for business purposes, e.g., dwellings purchased solely for renting
  • dwellings bought or sold for persons who are not household members.

Q37. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how many principal residences did [you/your household] purchase?

Q38. Press the Start button to provide information about the purchase of the residence.

Q39. What was the purchase price of this principal residence?

Exclude adjustments to property taxes and heating oil.

Q40. How much did [you/your household] pay for the land transfer tax, the welcome tax and the land registration fees for this residence?

This completes the questions for [purchased residence]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of residences purchased.

Q41. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how many principal residences did [you/your household] sell?

Q42. Press the Start button to provide information about the sale of the residence.

Q43. What was the selling price of this principal residence?

Q44. How much did [you/your household] pay for real estate commissions for this residence?

Include fixed fees paid to online real estate brokers, e.g., Purplebricks, For Sale By Owner, DuProprio.

Report as an amount or a percentage.

  1. Amount
  2. Percentage

    At two decimal places, e.g., 4.25%

This completes the questions for [residence sold]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of residences sold.

The survey only collects information about household expenses.

Exclude expenses charged against business or rental income.

The next section refers to expenses related to this dwelling.

Q45. How much was [your/your household's] last payment for the following?

  1. Rent

    Payment frequency for rent

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  2. Tenants' insurance

    Payment frequency for tenants' insurance

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  3. Parking

    Exclude parking included in rent.

    Payment frequency for parking

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually

Q46. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what additional amounts were paid to the landlord which were not included in regular rent payments, e.g., security deposits?

Q47. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on improvements, renovations, repairs and maintenance for this dwelling?

Exclude amounts reimbursed by the landlord.

Q48. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Legal charges related to the sale of the residence

    Include title searches and title transfers.

  2. Registration fees, renewal fees, early renewal fees or closing penalties associated with mortgages
  3. Other fees related to the sale of the residence (Specify the other fees)

    Include:

    • building permits
    • appraisals and inspections
    • surveying fees.

The next section refers to spending on utilities.

Exclude expenses already included in condo fees and rent payments.

Q49. How much was [your/your household's] last payment for the following?

Exclude rental of heating equipment.

  1. Water and sewage charges

    Include pumping services and water tankers that deliver water and fill water tanks at private homes.

    Payment frequency for water and sewage charges

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  2. Electricity

    Payment frequency for electricity

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  3. Natural gas

    Payment frequency for natural gas

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually

Q50. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Propane

    Include propane for barbecues.

  2. Heating oil, wood and other fuel

    Include wood, charcoal and wood pellets used for heating, cooking or for pleasure, e.g., fireplace.

  3. Rental of heating equipment

    e.g., hot water tank and propane tank

The next section refers to spending on repairs, maintenance, improvements and renovations.

Exclude:

  • expenses for vacation homes, secondary residences, rented principal residences and other properties
  • expenses charged against business or rental income.

Q51. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following for [the principal residence which was sold/the current principal residence/all residences including the current principal residence and the principal residence which was sold]?

  1. Repairs and maintenance
    Work to keep the property in working order without improving its quality.

    e.g., painting a fence, replacing a broken windowpane or replacing a furnace filter

  2. Improvements and renovations
    Work that leads to an increase in value and overall quality of the property.

    e.g., adding to the structure, installing a pool, adding a new fence, replacing windows or installing a new furnace

Q52. How much was spent on contract work or hired labour for the following?

Include the cost of materials if they were billed with the labour.

Report as an amount or a percentage.

  1. Repairs and maintenance

    You reported [RR_Q010].

  2. Improvements and renovations

    You reported [RR_Q030].

Secondary Residence Expenses

The next section refers to spending on secondary residences and other properties.

Exclude dwellings owned by the household, but rented out for the whole year, as they are considered a business.

Q53. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how many secondary residences did [you/your household] own?

A secondary residence is defined as any other dwelling used by the household as secondary living quarters, e.g., cottages, hobby farms or summer residences.

Include timeshares and properties outside of Canada.

Exclude moveable secondary residences, e.g., trailers or motor homes.

Q54. Press the Start button to provide information about each secondary residence.

Q55. Was this secondary residence purchased in the 12 month period between [DT_12M]?

  1. Yes (What was the purchase price?)

    If [you are/your household is] not the sole owner of the secondary residence, report only [your/your household's] portion of the expense.

  2. No

Q56. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend for this secondary residence on the following?

Exclude expenses charged against business or rental income.

  1. Mortgage payments
  2. Property taxes, school taxes, water and sewage charges
  3. Property insurance
  4. Electricity and fuel charges

    Include natural gas and wood.

  5. Home security and communication services

    Include landline telephone, television, satellite radio and Internet.

Q57. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend for this secondary residence on the following?

Exclude expenses charged against business or rental income.

  1. Repairs and maintenance
  2. Improvements and renovations
  3. Other expenses

    Include:

    • condominium and strata fees
    • survey costs
    • timeshare arrangements
    • legal fees
    • mortgage-related insurance premiums.

    Exclude snow removal, garbage disposal and groundskeeping services.

This completes the questions for [secondary residence]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of secondary residences.

Q58. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how many secondary residences did [you/your household] sell?

Q59. Press the Start button to provide information about each secondary residence sold.

Q60. What was the selling price?

If [you are/your household is] not the sole owner of the secondary residence, report only [your/your household's] portion of the sale.

Q61. What were the real estate commissions?

Include fixed fees paid to online real estate brokers, e.g., Purplebricks, For Sale By Owner, DuProprio.

Report as an amount or a percentage.

  1. Amount
  2. Percentage

    At two decimal places, e.g., 4.25%

This completes the questions for [secondary residence sold]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of secondary residences sold.

Other Property Expenses

Q62. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how many other properties did [you/your household] own?

Include land, lots and dwellings owned and not used.

Exclude:

  • principal and secondary residences
  • rental or business property
  • farm property.

Q63. Press the Start button to provide information about the other properties.

Q64. Was this other property purchased in the 12 month period between [DT_12M]?

  1. Yes (What was the purchase price?)

    If [you are/your household is] not the sole owner of this property, report only [your/your household's] portion of the expense.

  2. No

Q65. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend for this other property on the following?

Exclude expenses charged against business or rental income.

  1. Mortgage payments
  2. Improvements, renovations, repairs and maintenance
  3. Other expenses

    Include:

    • property taxes
    • survey costs
    • appraisal fees
    • utilities.

This completes the questions for [other properties]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of other properties.

Q66. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how many other properties did [you/your household] sell?

Include land, lots and dwellings owned and not used.

Q67. Press the Start button to provide information about the other properties sold.

Q68. What was the selling price?

If [you are/your household is] not the sole owner of the secondary residence, report only [your/your household's] portion of the sale.

Q69. What were the real estate commissions?

Include fixed fees paid to online real estate brokers, e.g., Purplebricks, For Sale By Owner, DuProprio.

Report as an amount or a percentage.

  1. Amount
  2. Percentage

    At two decimal places, e.g., 4.25%

This completes the questions for [other properties sold]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of other properties sold.

Household Furnishings Expenses

The next section refers to spending on household furnishings and equipment.

Include:

  • new and used goods
  • gifts purchased for persons who are not household members
  • purchases for use in principal residences, secondary residences or other properties
  • the total cost of goods purchased even if not fully paid at the time of purchase, e.g., installment plans and "buy now, pay later" agreements
  • taxes, customs duties and any additional charges.

Exclude:

  • purchases for a dwelling rented to another household
  • expenses charged against business or rental income.

Q70. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Furniture for indoor and outdoor use

    Include mattresses, home-made and home-finished furnishings.

    Exclude rental costs.

  2. Rugs, mats and under-padding

    Exclude wall-to-wall carpeting.

  3. Works of art, carvings and other decorative ware

    Include vases, candlesticks, figurines and wall hangings.

    Exclude curtains.

Q71. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following household appliances?

Include built-in appliances.

  1. Refrigerators and freezers
  2. Microwave ovens and cooking appliances

    Include stoves, ranges, convection ovens and barbecues.

    Exclude small electric food preparation appliances, e.g., electric grills, toaster ovens, toasters, coffee makers, kettles, blenders, electric knives and bread makers.

  3. Washers, dryers and dishwashers
  4. Air conditioners, portable humidifiers and dehumidifiers

    Exclude central air conditioners and heat pumps.

Q72. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Power lawn, garden and snow removal equipment

    Include mowers, tractors, snowblowers, rotary tillers and hedge trimmers.

  2. Power tools

    Include electric drills, circular saws, sanders, jigsaws, motors and pumps.

Q73. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on rental, maintenance, repair and services for household items?

e.g., services for carpet cleaning, rental of power tools, service agreements for appliances, lawn or snow removal equipment tune-ups and making keys.

Q74. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

Exclude value of equipment when part of a plan with a communications service provider.

  1. Purchase of telephones, cellphones, answering and fax machines

    Include devices only.

  2. Smartwatches, fitness trackers and other wearable technology devices and accessories?
  3. Tablets

    e.g., iPad and Galaxy Tab

  4. E-book readers

    e.g., Kobo and Kindle

Q75. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Portable and non-portable audio equipment and home theatre systems

    Include headphones and smart speakers, e.g., Google Home and Amazon Echo.

    Exclude televisions, DVD and Blu-Ray players.

  2. Cameras, camcorders and drones

    Include parts, accessories and equipment.

  3. Televisions
  4. Video and television components

    Include media streaming players, video recorders, DVD and Blu-Ray players and other related parts and accessories.

    Exclude game consoles.

Q76. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on desktop computers, laptops and other types of computer hardware?

Include accessories, parts and equipment.

Exclude video game consoles and tablet computers.

Q77. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on rental, maintenance, repair and services for electronic equipment?

Include repairs of cellphones, computers, audio and video equipment, configuration and restoration of computers, maintenance, protection or insurance plans offered by telecommunication service providers or electronic devices sellers.

Exclude expenses for communication services.

Communication Service Expenses

The next section refers to spending on home security and communication services.

Communication services include landline telephone, cellphone, pager, television, satellite radio and Internet.

Include services used in your principal residence and rented accommodations, e.g., vacation homes rentals, campgrounds and accommodations rented by household members while away at school or working away from home.

Exclude:

  • services associated with secondary residences and other owned properties
  • services included in rent or condominium fees
  • expenses charged against business or rental income.

Q78. [Do you/Does your household] pay for two or more services together as a package or bundle?

Include:

  • home security services
  • landline telephone
  • cellphone and pager
  • television and satellite radio
  • Internet.
  1. Yes
  2. No

Q79. How many bundles [do you/does your household] have?

Q80. Press the Start button to provide information about each bundle.

Q81. How much was [your/your household's] last payment for [bundle]?

Include:

  • installation
  • service charges
  • long distance charges after discounts
  • equipment rental charges.

Q82. What was the payment frequency for [bundle]?

  • 4. Monthly
  • 5. Every two months
  • 6. Quarterly
  • 7. Annually

Q83. Which of the following services are included in [bundle]?

Select all that apply.

  • 1. Landline telephone
  • 1. Cellphone and pager
  • 1. Television and satellite radio
  • 1. Internet
  • 1. Home security services

Q84. Are you able to provide the cost of each service included in [bundle]?

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q85. What was the cost of each service included in [bundle]?

  1. Landline telephone
  2. Cellphone and pager
  3. Television and satellite radio

    Include:

    • movie rentals and special events paid to television providers
    • satellite radio for vehicles, e.g., Sirius XM.
  4. Internet
  5. Home security services

    Include monitoring and response.

    Exclude installation charges and equipment, e.g., fire extinguishers and alarm systems.

This completes the questions for [bundle]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of your bundles.

Q86. [Do you/Does your household] pay for additional home security and communication services, e.g., landline telephone, cellphone, pager, television, satellite radio and Internet?

[Remember to include/Include] any payments made for non-household members.

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q87. [Excluding any bundles, how much was/How much was] [your/your household's] last payment for the following services?

[Remember to include/Include] any payments made for non-household members.

Include:

  • service charges
  • long distance charges after discounts
  • equipment rental charges
  • installation charges, except for home security.
  1. Landline telephone

    Payment frequency for landline telephone

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  2. Cellphone and pager

    Payment frequency for cellphone and pager

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  3. Television and satellite radio

    Include:

    • movie rentals and special events paid to television providers
    • satellite radio for vehicles, e.g., Sirius XM.

    Exclude video streaming subscriptions, e.g., Netflix.

    Payment frequency for television and satellite radio

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  4. Internet

    Payment frequency for Internet

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually
  5. Home security services

    Include monitoring and response.

    Exclude installation charges and equipment, e.g., fire extinguishers and alarm systems.

    Payment frequency for home security services

    • 4. Monthly
    • 5. Every two months
    • 6. Quarterly
    • 7. Annually

Child Care Expenses

The next question refers to spending on child care and children's camps.

Q88. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Child care outside the home
  2. Child care inside the home

    Include occasional babysitting.

  3. Children's camps

    e.g., day camps and summer camps

Regular Expenses

The next section refers to spending on food, beverages, cannabis, cigarettes and gasoline. The reference period is 2 weeks.

Include expenses for all household members.

Include all taxes, tips and delivery fees.

Q89. In the 2-week period between [DT_DAYSTART] and [DT_DAYEND], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Alcoholic beverages purchased in stores

    Include purchases made in liquor stores, beer stores, wine stores and grocery stores.

    Exclude non-alcoholic beer and wine.

  2. Alcoholic beverages purchased in bars, cocktail lounges and restaurants
  3. Food and non-alcoholic beverages purchased from restaurants, vending machines and lunch programs

    Include:

    • home delivery, fast-food restaurants, snack bars, cafeterias, bars, coffee shops and caterers
    • online food ordering services, e.g., Uber Eats and SkipTheDishes.

    Exclude alcoholic beverages.

  4. Food and non-alcoholic beverages purchased in stores and markets

    Include self-made beer and wine.

    Exclude non-food items and alcohol bought with your groceries.

  5. Ready-to-cook meal delivery services

    Include meal kit delivery businesses, e.g., Goodfood, Chefs Plate and HelloFresh.

Q90. In the 2-week period between [DT_DAYSTART] and [DT_DAYEND], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Cannabis for non-medical use

    Include all cannabis products.

    Exclude cannabis prescribed by a doctor.

  2. Cigarettes

    Exclude e-cigarettes.

  3. Other tobacco products and smokers' supplies

    Include e-cigarettes.

Q91. In the 2-week period between [DT_DAYSTART] and [DT_DAYEND], how much did [you/your household] spend on gasoline?

Exclude expenses charged against business income and expenses that will be reimbursed.

Clothing Expenses

The next section refers to spending on clothing and footwear. The reference period is 3 months.

Include:

  • new and second-hand clothing
  • gifts for persons who are not household members
  • purchases for unborn children
  • sales taxes.

Q92. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following footwear categories?

Include shoes, sandals, boots and slippers.

Exclude sport or activity-specific footwear, e.g., running shoes, cleats or skates.

  1. Footwear for women and girls 14 and over
  2. Footwear for men and boys 14 and over
  3. Footwear for children under 14

Q93. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following clothing categories?

Exclude rented clothing.

  1. Clothing for women and girls 14 and over
  2. Clothing for men and boys 14 and over
  3. Clothing for children under 14

Include cloth diapers.

Exclude diaper service.

Q94. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Athletic footwear

    Include running shoes.

    Exclude sport or activity-specific footwear, e.g., skates, cleats, dance shoes, bowling shoes and fisherman's boots.

  2. Accessories

    Include gloves, hats, mitts, purses, ties, belts, wallets and umbrellas.

  3. Watches and other jewellery

    Exclude smartwatches, fitness trackers and other wearable electronic devices.

Q95. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on material used to make clothing, e.g., fabric, knitting yarn, thread and other notions?

Exclude yarn used for crafting and cloth for curtains and furnishings.

Q96. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on coin-operated washers or dryers, dry-cleaning and laundry services?

Include diaper service and self-service dry cleaning.

Exclude disposable items, e.g., diaper liners.

Q97. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on services related to footwear, jewellery and clothing?

Include:

  • tailoring and dressmaking
  • clothing and costume rental
  • clothing repair, alteration and storage
  • purse, shoe, jewellery and watch repair
  • engraving of jewellery.

Health Care Expenses

The next section refers to spending on health care.

Include:

  • direct costs, i.e., out-of-pocket expenses incurred by household members for all personal health care received
  • amounts not covered by insurance, e.g., exclusions, deductibles and expenses over limits.

Exclude payments that have been or will be reimbursed.

Q98. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], what were [your direct costs/the direct costs to members of your household] for the following?

  1. Medicines, drugs and pharmaceutical products prescribed by a doctor
  2. Cannabis for medical use prescribed by a doctor

    Include all cannabis products.

  3. Non-prescribed medicines, drugs and pharmaceutical products

    Include headache and pain remedies, vitamins, herbal and homeopathic remedies.

  4. Non-prescribed eyewear and eye care goods

    Include eyeglass cases and supplies for contact lenses.

  5. Other health care supplies and goods

    Include first aid kits, bandages, thermometers and elastic hosiery.

Q99. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what were [your direct costs/the direct costs to members of your household] for health care equipment?

Include:

  • CPAP machines
  • hearing aids
  • wheelchairs
  • three or four-wheeled scooters
  • hospital beds
  • patient lifts.

Q100. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what were [your direct costs/the direct costs to members of your household] for the following?

  1. Prescription eyewear

    Include contact lenses, eyeglasses, frames and insurance on lenses.

  2. Eye care services

    Include eye exams, eye surgery, e.g., laser eye surgery.

  3. Dental care, orthodontics and periodontics

Q101. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what were [your direct costs/the direct costs to members of your household] for weight control programs, quit-smoking programs and other medical services, e.g., ambulances, rental of medical equipment and laboratory services?

Exclude expenses for weight control and smoking cessation programs in a hospital or from a physician or other health care practitioner.

Q102. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what were [your direct costs/the direct costs to members of your household] for the following?

  1. Hospital care, nursing homes and other residential care facilities

    Include all charges, e.g., telephone and TV rentals.

  2. General practitioners, family doctors and specialists

    Include uninsured services, e.g., doctor's notes, renewals of prescriptions by phone, tests required for insurance and services received in private clinics.

    Include acupuncture expenses if the acupuncturist is a medical doctor.

Q103. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], what were [your direct costs/the direct costs to members of your household] for other health care practitioners?

Include physiotherapists, massage therapists, chiropractors, dietitians, nutritionists, homeopaths, podiatrists, osteopaths, acupuncturists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, naturopaths, nurses and attendant care workers.

Exclude non-therapeutic massage therapists and acupuncturists who are medical doctors.

  1. For in-home care
  2. For care outside the home

Q104. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on premiums for the following?

  1. Private health and dental insurance plans

    Include group insurance plans financed in part by employers.

    Exclude public health plans, e.g., provincially or territorially administered hospital, medical and drug plans.

  2. Life, term and endowment insurance

    Include:

    • disability insurance if included in a life insurance plan
    • group insurance
    • loan insurance.

    Exclude premiums paid for mortgage life insurance.

  3. Accident or disability insurance

    Include group insurance plans financed in part by employers.

Vehicle Expenses

The next section refers to spending on vehicles, e.g., cars, vans and trucks.

Include all vehicles owned, leased, traded-in, sold or operated at any time during the last 12 months.

Exclude expenses charged against business income.

Q105. How many vehicles did [you/your household] own, lease, trade-in, sell or operate in the 12-month period between [DT_12M]?

Include vehicles not owned by your household only if expenses were incurred, e.g., parking, insurance premiums or registration fees.

Exclude rented or recreational vehicles.

Q106. Press the Start button to provide information about each vehicle.

Q107. Describe the year, make and model of this vehicle.

If unable to provide year, make and model, enter any other description, e.g., blue car.

Q108. Which of the following best describes this vehicle?

Is it:

  1. A car
  2. A van or mini-van
  3. A truck or SUV

    Include jeeps.

Q109. What was the status of this vehicle at the end of last month?

Was it:

  1. Owned by a member of your household
  2. Leased by a member of your household
  3. Sold, traded-in or returned to dealership
  4. Owned or leased by non-household member
  5. Other (Specify the other ownership status)

Q110. Was this vehicle purchased in the 12-month period between [DT_12M]?

Include vehicles previously leased and purchased during the last 12 months.

Exclude vehicles purchased exclusively for business.

  1. Yes
  2. No

Q111. Was this vehicle purchased from a dealer or private household?

  1. A dealer

    Was this vehicle new or used?

    1. New
    2. Used
  2. A private household

Q112. What was the purchase price [after the trade-in allowance and manufacturer's rebates were deducted/] for this vehicle?

Include all sales taxes.

Q113. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following for this vehicle?

  1. Lease payments

    Exclude operating costs and vehicles leased exclusively for business.

  2. Other leasing costs

    Include deposits and closing costs.

    Exclude any amounts credited for a trade-in vehicle used towards a lease down payment or vehicles leased exclusively for business.

This completes the questions for [vehicle]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of vehicles.

The reference period is 3 months for the next question only.

[For the next questions, combine expenses for all vehicles. /The next questions refer to other vehicle-related expenses.]

Q114. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on all parking costs?

[Include parking costs at place of residence. /Exclude parking costs at place of residence. /]

Include parking at work, school, hospital, airport, park-and-ride and parking meters.

Exclude money paid for traffic and parking tickets.

Q115. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Vehicle maintenance and repairs

    Include oil and tire changes, tune-ups, car washes, emissions tests, brakes and body work.

    Exclude amounts paid by insurance, amounts paid by persons who were not members of your household and towing fees.

  2. Tires, batteries and other parts and supplies purchased separately

    Include mufflers, spark plugs, oil and windshield washer fluid.

  3. Accessories and attachments

    Include alarm systems, car starters, radios, block heaters, car top carriers and seat covers.

Q116. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Vehicle registration fees

    Registration fees are also referred to as "renewing plates", "tags" or "vehicle licence".

    Include insurance that is paid with registration fees.

  2. Insurance premiums

    Exclude insurance that is paid with registration fees.

  3. Auto association fees, towing, toll and bridge fees, security and communication services, e.g., OnStar

    Exclude satellite radio, e.g., Sirius XM.

Q117. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Drivers' licences and tests

    Include government insurance if part of the fee.

  2. Driving lessons

    Include:

    • the cost of using a driving school vehicle to take a driving test
    • driving lessons for other types of vehicles, e.g., motorcycles.
  3. Rental fees for cars, vans and trucks

    Include:

    • mileage
    • insurance charges
    • taxes
    • drop-off fees
    • rental fees for moving vehicles
    • annual dues and usage fees for car sharing services, e.g., Vrtucar, Communauto and Zipcar.

    Exclude amounts paid by insurance.

  4. Children's car seats and boosters

    Include gifts.

    Exclude combination stroller, carrier and car seat systems.

Transportation and Accommodation Expenses

The next section refers to spending on transportation services and accommodations.

Include:

  • deposits even if services will be received after the reference period
  • expenses made in Canada and outside Canada.

Exclude expenses charged against business income and expenses that will be reimbursed.

The reference period is 3 months for the following question only.

Q118. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. City or commuter bus, subway, streetcar and commuter train
  2. Peer-to-peer ride services, e.g., Uber and Lyft

    Exclude car sharing services, e.g., Vrtucar, Communauto and Zipcar.

  3. Taxi
  4. Other local passenger transportation, e.g., carpool, airport shuttle, limousine or ferry services and sightseeing tours

    Include annual subscription fees and additional fees for bicycle rental, e.g., Bixi.

Q119. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on package trips that included transportation?

Package trips offer a combination of services for which costs are not identified separately, e.g., transportation, accommodation, meals and sightseeing.

Q120. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

Exclude expenses previously reported in packages.

  1. Airplane
  2. Train, e.g., VIA Rail

    Include sleeping cars.

  3. Inter-city bus, e.g., Greyhound

    Inter-city buses run between cities and towns or between points on highways.

  4. Other inter-city passenger transportation, e.g., sightseeing tours, ferries, water taxis, river shuttles and carpooling

Q121. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on moving and storage services?

Include rental of storage space and expenses paid to companies offering moving, storage and packing services.

Exclude fees for moving trucks rented by the household.

Q122. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

Exclude expenses previously reported in packages with transportation.

  1. Hotels or motels
  2. Any other accommodations, e.g., cottage rentals, vacation home rentals, Airbnb rentals and campgrounds

    Include accommodations for household members away at school or temporarily away from home.

Recreational Vehicle Expenses

The next section refers to spending on bicycles and recreational vehicles. The reference period is 12 months.

Include all sales taxes.

Report purchase price after the trade-in allowance was deducted.

Q123. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], which of these vehicles did [you/your household] own or operate?

Exclude rented or leased vehicles.

Did [you/your household] own or operate:

  1. 1. Bicycles
    Exclude children's bicycles with wheels under 35 centimetres (14 inches).
  2. 1. Kayaks, canoes, rowboats, paddleboats or stand up paddle boards (SUP boards)
  3. 1. Sailboats
  4. 1. Motorized watercraft
    Include boats and personal watercraft.
  5. 1. Snowmobiles
  6. 1. Motorcycles, scooters or dirt bikes
  7. 1. Motor homes
  8. 1. Tent trailers
  9. 1. Fifth wheel or travel trailers
  10. 1. Truck campers
  11. 1. All-terrain vehicles (ATV)
  12. 1. Utility trailers
  13. 1. Other (Specify the other types of vehicles)

How much did [you/your household] spend on:

... the purchase?

Include amount only if purchased in the last 12 months.

... maintenance and repairs?

... parts and supplies?

... registration fees and licences?

In some provinces, government insurance fees are paid with registration fees.

Include insurance that is paid with registration fees.

... insurance premiums?

Exclude insurance that is paid with registration fees.

Q124. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on parking, storage fees and other dues for all recreational vehicles combined?

Include:

  • boat storage
  • harbour dues and mooring fees
  • hangar and airport fees.

Q125. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on rented or leased recreational vehicles?

The next section refers to spending on education, personal interest courses and recreation.

Exclude:

  • day care expenses
  • lodging expenses
  • expenses that have been or will be reimbursed.

Education and Recreation Expenses

Q126. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following tuition expenses?

Include direct costs only, i.e., out-of-pocket costs.

Exclude textbooks, school supplies, school trips and other educational services.

  1. Nursery school, kindergarten, elementary or secondary school

    Include special and private schools.

    Exclude day care expenses.

  2. University
  3. Other training, e.g., college, CEGEP, trade and professional institutions

Q127. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Textbooks

    Include digital and electronic textbooks.

  2. School supplies
  3. Other educational services (Specify the other educational services)

    Include:

    • tutoring
    • outings and field trips
    • school application fees
    • textbook rental
    • fees charged by the school for learning materials.

Q128. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on personal interest courses and lessons, e.g., music, dance, language, photography, computer, pottery, computer, first aid?

Exclude:

  • sports-related courses and lessons
  • membership fees and dues to join a sports team or a league
  • driving lessons.

Q129. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on books?

Include e-books.

Exclude textbooks, magazines and magazine subscriptions.

Q130. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on admission to the following?

  1. Movie theatres
  2. Live sporting events
  3. Live performing arts events

    Include plays, concerts and dance performances.

  4. Museums, historic sites, zoos, heritage facilities, ice shows, craft shows, fairs and festivals

Q131. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Sporting services

    Include:

    • entry fees and dues for ski hills, sports clubs, fitness centres, golf courses, fishing and hunting clubs
    • out-of-school individual and group lessons, e.g., aerobics, skating, swimming and other sports
    • hunting and fishing licences
    • rental of sport and activity-specific footwear, e.g., ski boots, golf shoes and skates.
  2. Recreational and leisure services

    Include:

    • admission fees to water parks, amusement parks and provincial parks
    • pin-ball machines, arcade games and other games for adults
    • party planning for receptions and events, e.g., children's birthday parties and weddings
    • services of mountain guides and tour guides
    • entrance fees for dancing establishments and nightclubs.

    Exclude games of chance.

  3. Rental, maintenance and repairs of recreation, sports, fitness and photographic equipment or musical instruments

    Exclude expenses for rental, maintenance and repairs of recreational vehicles, e.g., bicycles and kayaks.

Miscellaneous Expenses

The next section refers to miscellaneous expenses.

Q132. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Administration fees for brokers and commissions on stock and bonds
  2. Legal services, e.g., notary and lawyer fees

    Exclude expenses related to dwellings, e.g., purchase or sale of homes.

  3. Funeral services, tombstones, cemetery plot purchase and upkeep

    Include pre-paid funeral services.

    Exclude food and flowers.

  4. Fines

    Include money paid for traffic and parking tickets.

Q133. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Service charges for banks and other financial institutions

    Include:

    • monthly bank charges
    • withdrawal fees
    • safety deposit box charges
    • annual fees for credit cards
    • fees related to annuity contracts and transfers to RRIFs.
  2. Financial services

    Include:

    • financial planning
    • tax preparation and advice
    • accounting services.

    Exclude income tax software.

  3. Government services

    Include:

    • passports and visas
    • birth certificates and citizenship certificates
    • marriage licences
    • NEXUS membership fees.

    Exclude:

    • vehicle registrations and drivers' licences
    • passport photo services and drivers' licence photo services
    • licences for hunting, fishing and firearms.

Q134. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Online and other wholesale and retail memberships

    Include memberships that provide advantages to members, e.g., Costco, Amazon Prime.

  2. Contributions and dues for social clubs, co-operatives, political and fraternal organizations and alumni associations

    Exclude professional association dues, union dues and charitable donations.

Q135. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Housekeepers, cleaners and house-sitters

    A house-sitter is a person who lives in or takes care of a home by agreement with the usual occupants while they are away.

  2. Snow removal, garbage disposal and groundskeeping services

    Include:

    • lawn mowing, trimming of hedges and shrubs
    • tree removal, planting, weeding, pruning and spraying
    • soil and plant testing
    • landscape design services and consulting services
    • water analysis.

Q136. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on digital services, i.e., online services?

Include:

  • music and video streaming, e.g., iTunes, Spotify and Netflix
  • online gambling and gaming, e.g., Xbox Live
  • web hosting services
  • online storage
  • online subscriptions, e.g., dating services, genealogy services and fantasy sports
  • online software subscriptions.

Exclude:

  • Internet versions of newspapers and magazines
  • expenses for goods and services purchased via Internet, e.g., clothes, books and plane tickets.

Q137. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Purchase of pets
  2. Pet food and pet-related goods
  3. Veterinarian services, kennels, grooming and other pet-related services

    Include pet insurance and items prescribed by a veterinarian, e.g., medicine and shampoo.

The reference period for the next few questions is 3 months.

Q138. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

Include tips.

  1. Hairdressing and barber services
  2. Other personal care services

    Include:

    • hair removal, manicures and facials
    • non-therapeutic massages
    • tattoos and piercings
    • spa services and non-surgical cosmetic services.

    Exclude expenses for massages as part of a medical treatment.

Q139. In the 3-month period between [DT_3M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Postage and delivery services

    Include:

    • parcel delivery and shipping
    • postage stamps
    • couriers
    • registered mail
    • post office boxes
    • fax services.

    Exclude memberships that provide free or faster shipping, e.g., Amazon Prime.

  2. Services related to reading materials

    Include:

    • photocopying services
    • library charges
    • book rentals
    • announcements, e.g., wedding, birth and death
    • classified ads in newspapers and online.
  3. Photographic services

    Include:

    • printing and mounting of photographs and posters
    • film processing and processing of digital images
    • school pictures
    • passport and drivers' licence photos
    • photographer's fees.

    Exclude cameras, photo paper and ink cartridges.

Donations and Gifts of Money

The next question refers to donations and gifts of money, including cheques and pre-paid credit cards.

Q140. In the 12-month period between [DT_12M], how much did [you/your household] spend on the following?

  1. Donations to religious and other charitable organizations

    e.g., workplace charitable campaigns, Heart & Stroke Foundation, Canadian Cancer Society, Red Cross and Amnesty International.

  2. Gifts of money given directly to persons living in Canada

    Exclude gifts of money exchanged between household members.

  3. Gifts of money given directly to persons living outside Canada

The next section asks about income and weeks worked. The questions are asked for each member of the household aged 16 years and over.

Income

Q141. Press the Start button to provide information about each household member listed below.

Now a question about total personal income.

Q142. What is your best estimate of [your/NAME's] total personal income, before taxes and deductions, from all sources during the year ending December 31, [DV_REFYEARMINUS1]?

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

Capital gains should not be included in the personal income.

Q143. In which of the following groups did [your/NAME's] total personal income fall for the year ending December 31, [DV_REFYEARMINUS1]?

Would you say:

  1. Less than $30,000 including income loss
  2. $30,000 or more

Q144. In which of the following groups did [your/NAME's] total personal income fall for the year ending December 31, [DV_REFYEARMINUS1]?

Would you say:

  1. Less than $5,000
  2. $5,000 to less than $10,000
  3. $10,000 to less than $15,000
  4. $15,000 to less than $20,000
  5. $20,000 to less than $25,000
  6. $25,000 to less than $30,000

Q145. In which of the following groups did [NAME's/your] total personal income fall for the year ending December 31, [DV_REFYEARMINUS1]?

Would you say:

  1. $30,000 to less than $40,000
  2. $40,000 to less than $50,000
  3. $50,000 to less than $60,000
  4. $60,000 to less than $70,000
  5. $70,000 to less than $80,000
  6. $80,000 to less than $90,000
  7. $90,000 to less than $100,000
  8. $100,000 and over

Q146. In [DV_REFYEARMINUS1], how many weeks [did you/did DT_NAME] work?

Include paid holidays.

  1. 30 hours or more per week
  2. Less than 30 hours per week

Q147. In [DV_REFYEARMINUS1], how much [did you/did NAME] pay or receive for support payments?

A support payment is an amount payable or receivable as an allowance on a periodic basis to support the recipient, children of the recipient or both.

Include alimony, separation allowance and child support.

Exclude gifts.

  1. Support payments paid to a former spouse or partner
  2. Support payments received from a former spouse or partner

This completes the questions for [each household member]. Press the Return to Summary button to return to the list of household members.

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