Third Canadian Statistics Advisory Council (CSAC) Meeting
Date: December 13th 2019, 8:00-4:00pm
Location: The Simon Goldberg Conference Room, R.H. Coats Building, 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa
CSAC members
Dr. Teresa Scassa (Chairperson), Gurmeet Ahluwalia, Anil Arora, David Chaundy, Annette Hester, Jan Kestle, Dr. Céline Le Bourdais, Gail Mc Donald, Dr. Howard Ramos, Dr. Michael Wolfson
External guests
- Hankook Kim, Senior project leader, Innovation, Science and Economic Development
Statistics Canada guests/support
Melanie Forsberg, Monia Lahaie, Jacques Fauteux, Lynn Barr-Telford, Martin St-Yves, Stephane Dufour, Greg Peterson, Eric Rancourt
Meeting agenda
| Time | Agenda Item | Lead Participant(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:45 - 8:00 | Arrivals and Coffee | CSAC Members | |
| 8:00 - 8:15 |
Chairperson introductory remarks and Roundtable
|
Teresa Scassa: Chairperson CSAC Members Assistant Chief Statisticians |
|
| 8:15 - 9:15 |
Responsiveness of the Statistical System: Social, Economic and Environmental Trends |
Anil Arora: Chief Statistician of Canada | |
| 9:15 - 10:35 |
Responsiveness of the Statistical System: Social, Economic and Environmental Trends (continued) Spotlight on:
|
Greg Peterson: Assistant Chief Statistician | |
| 10:35 - 10:45 | Health Break | ||
| 10:45 - 11:15 | Follow up discussion: Update on administrative data projects and implementation of proportionality framework | Eric Rancourt: Director General | |
| 11:15– 12:00 | Microdata Access and engagement Subgroup: Update and Discussion | 15 minute consultation with Statistics Canada | Lynn Barr-Telford: Assistant Chief Statistician Jacques Fauteux: Assistant Chief Statistician |
|
30 minute update/discussion for CSAC members |
CSAC members | ||
| 12:00 - 12:15 | Break and lunch will be set up in the Simon Goldberg Conference room | ||
| 12:15 - 13:00 | Working Lunch | Privacy Subgroup: Update and Discussion | CSAC Members |
| 15 minute consultations with Statistics Canada | Eric Rancourt: Director General | ||
|
30 minute update/discussion for CSAC members |
CSAC members | ||
| 13:00 - 13:10 | Break | ||
| 13:10 - 14:30 |
Discussion on Way Forward for the Council |
Teresa Scassa: CSAC Chairperson | |
| 14:30 - 14:45 | Health Break | ||
| 14:45 - 15:45 |
Continuation of Discussion on Way Forward for the Council and Future business |
Teresa Scassa: CSAC Chairperson | |
| 15:45 - 16:00 |
Future business |
||
Meeting summary
1. Chairperson introductory remarks and Roundtable
Dr. Teresa Scassa opened the meeting by welcoming members and guests to the third Canadian Statistics Advisory Council meeting. She provided an overview of the structure of the agenda for the third Council meeting.
2. Responsiveness of the Statistical System: Social, Economic and Environmental Trends
Anil Arora, Chief Statistician of Canada
The Chief Statistician of Canada provided a presentation that discusses the various investments the agency is making in data and analytics which is geared towards strengthening the relevance and responsiveness of the statistical system. The presentation provided an overview of current and emerging social, economic and environmental trends, and how Statistics Canada is responding. The presentation was followed by a question and answer period for the Council.
3. Measuring the digital economy and the impacts of digital transformation
Greg Peterson, Assistant Chief Statistician of Economic Statistics
Greg Peterson examined the emergence of the digital economy and the impacts digital transformation has on a national statistical organization and Canadians. Mr. Peterson discussed the priorities for measuring digital transformation and identified what Statistics Canada is currently doing to measure the changes of digital transformation. He also highlighted the next steps for the agency in terms of understanding the digital economy. Through insightful consultations and strong partnerships with stakeholders, associations, other government departments and international partnerships, the agency continues to implement and adapt new techniques and programs to measure these changes.
4. CCEI: Canadian Centre for Energy Information
Greg Peterson, Assistant Chief Statistician of Economic Statistics
Greg Peterson presented on the Canadian Centre for Energy Information (CCEI). This segment provided an overview of Statistics Canada's energy program and explained the purpose and benefits of establishing the Centre. He also discussed the deliverables and foundational work of the Centre. This gave an opportunity for Council members to advise on how the Centre will address data gaps in the industry and how the CCEI can strengthen partnerships amongst various communities.
5. Follow up discussion: Update on administrative data projects and implementation of proportionality framework
Eric Rancourt, Director General, Methodology
Eric Rancourt provided the Council with an update on the status on the administrative data projects and the application of the proportionality framework. CSAC members provided feedback and advice on the implementation of this new framework.
6. Microdata access and engagement subgroup: update and discussion
Lynn Barr-Telford, Assistant Chief Statistician of Social, Health and Labour Statistics
Jacques Fauteux, Assistant Chief Statistician of Strategic Engagement and Communications
The microdata access and engagement subgroup was one of the two subgroups formed as a result of the second CSAC meeting. The subgroup's mandate is to provide the Chief Statistician with advice on approaches to data sharing and methods of engagement with stakeholders. This segment of the agenda provided the subgroup time to discuss questions and concerns with the Statistics Canada. The discussion allowed members to further identify the purpose and work of the subgroup.
7. Privacy subgroup: update and discussion
Eric Rancourt, Director General, Methodology
The privacy subgroup was the second subgroup formed as a result of the second CSAC meeting. The subgroup's mandate is to provide the Chief Statistician with advice on how quality aspects such as relevance, accessibility, accuracy and timeliness in the production of information can continue to be achieved in the context of current privacy legislation and potential changes to it. The members of the Council were also briefed on the findings from the OPC investigation. Eric Rancourt explained the context of the findings, how Statistics Canada is acting on the recommendations while continuing to ensure we produce high quality data for Canadians.
8. Discussion on way forward for the Council
CSAC members
Council members discussed their various recent productive and informative engagements with Statistics Canada. The Council confirmed their mandate, mission statement and discussed the approach and focus of the annual report. In this segment, the members discussed their next steps and expectations for the next meeting.
9. Future Business
Dr. Teresa Scassa, Chairperson of CSAC
Dr. Teresa Scassa completed the meeting with closing remarks. She thanked members for their travels and look forward to their next meeting.