Privacy and confidentiality

We know your information is important to you. We have high standards for keeping your information private, secure and confidential.

Statistics Canada does not release any information that identifies an individual, household, business or agricultural operation without their consent, or as authorized by the Statistics Act. Final results are carefully screened before release to prevent published statistics from being used to derive information.

The Statistics Act has very strict rules to keep your information safe from unauthorized access. We also use strong encryption technologies and a secure network to maintain high standards of privacy, security and confidentiality.

Statistics Canada employees are responsible for ensuring the security of confidential information, and face severe penalties for any breach of confidentiality. Only employees who need to view confidential files as part of their duties are authorized to access them, except for specific and limited situations.

On this page

Authorized disclosures

Statistics Canada is allowed to disclose identifiable information when the respondent has given written consent to release it. The Act also allows the Chief Statistician to authorize the disclosure of certain data related to companies and organizations, without the consent of the respondent, only in specific and limited situations.

Data sharing agreements

To reduce duplication and make it easier for respondents, Statistics Canada may enter into data sharing agreements with government departments or corporations to share information collected from surveys. Statistics Canada has active agreements with over 100 organizations.

To reduce duplication and make it easier for respondents, Statistics Canada may enter into data sharing agreements with government departments or corporations to share information collected from surveys. Statistics Canada has active.

Each organization receiving data from Statistics Canada must agree to comply with specific terms and conditions regarding access, confidentiality and security of the information they receive. Learn more about the obligations and duties of receiving organizations.

Administrative data

Administrative data are pieces of information collected by government agencies and private companies for their own use. For example, this could include tax records, health records or business transactions. By using this existing data, we can reduce the number of surveys we need to conduct, which means less work for Canadians. It also helps us save money, work more efficiently, and improve the quality and speed of our statistical reports. These data are used only for creating statistics or conducting research.

Microdata linkage

To reduce response burden and improve data quality and consistency, Statistics Canada may combine survey information with data from other surveys or administrative sources. We also link different administrative files. Respondents are notified that their responses may be combined with other survey or administrative data. Learn more about microdata linkages.

Principles of privacy

Statistics Canada adheres to 10 privacy principles when collecting information. Statistics Canada has completed Privacy Impact Assessments to evaluate any privacy, confidentiality, or security risks related to the collection, use, or sharing of personal information. These assessments help us identify and address potential privacy risks and keep your information safe. For more information see Statistics Canada’s Directive on Conducting Privacy Impact Assessments.

Information collected under the Corporations Returns Act

In addition to our primary mandate, Statistics Canada also administers the Corporations Returns Act, which monitors the extent of foreign control over Canadian corporations. The information collected under the Corporations Returns Act is the only instance where Statistics Canada is authorized to release certain non-financial information about specific corporations.