As the national statistical office, Statistics Canada ensures Canadians have the key information on Canada's economy, society and environment that they need. The agency provides data and insights to help governments, businesses and individuals make informed decisions. For example, the information disseminated by the agency helps Canadians make choices about their households; enables small, medium and large companies make key business decisions; and provides government officials with vital evidence to help them promote economic growth, plan cities and roads, adjust pensions, and develop employment and social programs.
To remain relevant and respond to the needs of Canadians, Statistics Canada is modernizing to adapt to the changing reality in which data are a part of the everyday lives of Canadians. The agency has established objectives based on government priorities that will provide timely insights in a more tailored way to strengthen public trust in the agency and help it connect with Canadians, governments, businesses, academics, stakeholders, associations and other organizations. Furthermore, Statistics Canada will establish partnerships that will increase access to data while enhancing the relevance and social acceptability of the agency's activities, data and insights. Finally, the agency will develop a platform dedicated to providing Data Analytics as a Service (DAaaS), which will leverage cloud-delivery services and other technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning .This will be helpful for data scientists, researchers, academics and policy makers to access and visualize key information in a more agile and responsive way. This innovative platform will increase the presence of Statistics Canada products on a larger scale and benefit Canadians, who are looking for authoritative information to make important life decisions.
In today's digital reality, the need for more targeted, timely and detailed information continues to grow. To help meet these mounting needs, the agency has developed The Statistics Canada Data Strategy (SCDS), which will help manage and leverage the agency's data assets; enhance its data science practices and tools and provide a course of action to maintain public trust. The SCDS also outlines Statistics Canada's role in supporting and providing expertise to other government institutions (federal, provincial, and territorial), non-government organizations, the private sector, academia, and other national and international communities in the areas of data governance, stewardship, resources, trust and leadership. As the nation's trusted provider of high-quality data and information to support evidence-based decision-making, Statistics Canada is well-positioned to lead and will continue to do so by seeking the counsel of many high-level advisory groups, including the Canadian Statistics Advisory Council that will provide advice on the modernization of Canada's national statistical system.
In addition, the agency will continue to actively prepare for the 2021 Censuses of Population and Agriculture. Statistics Canada will continue to make progress on its long-term Census Program Transformation Project. It will explore alternative methodologies for the Census Program that will improve efficiency while maintaining the quality and relevance of its outputs, as well as the trust of Canadians. The Census program is very active in the international census community; various consultation activities are conducted with key countries on design of the questionnaire content and new census approaches and methodologies. The 2021 Censuses of Population and Agriculture will continue to provide the robust information infrastructure of the country.
Lastly, a modernized Statistics Canada will be well positioned to support the whole-of-government approach to collecting, using and sharing data. The agency will address data gaps in various sectors to continue providing information to support government priorities, such as strengthening the middle class; fighting climate change; and better understanding the opioid crisis and substance abuse and crime and community safety. In addition, through the Indigenous Statistical Capacity Development Initiative, Statistics Canada will continue to work with Indigenous peoples to better understand their information needs and assist them in building their own data and research capabilities. The agency will continue to disaggregate data on gender, race and other intersecting identities, and evaluate innovation-related programs using Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+).
Throughout the coming year, the agency will play a larger role in mobilizing data as a strategic asset and building statistical capacity among governments and Canadians. The agency is also adapting its products to provide greater insight and enriched data through visualizations and interactive communications products.
For more information on the Statistics Canada's plans, priorities and planned results, see the "Core responsibilities: planned results and resources, and key risks" section of this report.