Strategic Outcomes and Program Alignment Architecture 2016/2017

Strategic Outcome 1

Canadians have access to timely, relevant and quality statistical information on Canada's changing economy and society for informed debate, research and decision making on social and economic issues.

Program 1: Economic and Environmental Statistics

Through the Economic and Environmental Statistics program, Statistics Canada creates a trusted, relevant and comprehensive source of information on the entire spectrum of Canada's economy to inform public debate on economic issues; support economic policy development, implementation and evaluation; and guide business decision making. These statistics support various agreements and statutory requirements specified by legislations or regulations in such areas as taxation.

Sub-program 1.1: Macroeconomic Accounts

The Macroeconomic Accounts program provides a conceptually integrated framework of statistics and analysis for studying the evolution of the Canadian economy. The accounts are centred on the measurement of production of goods and services, and the purchase and sale of goods and services in domestic and international markets. Corresponding price indexes are derived, and estimates of economic activity in real or inflation-adjusted terms are prepared. Monetary flows are tracked among the five major sectors of the economy: households, non-profit institutions serving households, corporations (financial and non-financial), governments, and non-residents. Saving, investment, assets, liabilities, and national wealth are measured.

This program also produces statistics on international trade, economic transactions and on Canada's assets and liabilities with the rest of the world, of which the primary output is the balance of payments and the international investment position.

This program also produces financial and employment statistics for the Canadian public sector; more specifically, revenues, expenditures, assets, liabilities and debt statistics for the federal, provincial, territorial and municipal levels of government, including government health and education institutions.

The program supports various statutory requirements, including the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations, the Comprehensive Integrated Tax Coordination Agreement, and the Special Data Dissemination Standard with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Its outputs, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), balance sheet and financial flows, provincial economic accounts, the input–output tables and the various satellite accounts, such as the Tourism Satellite Account and the Pension Satellite Account, are vital to the policy development and program responsibilities of the Bank of Canada; Finance Canada; Industry Canada; Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada; and several other federal, provincial and territorial departments and agencies. Its outputs are also widely used in the private sector.

Sub-program 1.2: Industry Statistics

The Industry Statistics program plans, directs, coordinates and controls the provision of statistical information and advice on a broad range of industrial sectors. These range from distributive trades, manufacturing, transportation and other service industries, to governments, private organizations and institutions. It also produces timely statistics concerning the activities of the agriculture sector and its participants. This is achieved by conducting annual and sub-annual surveys of manufacturing, transportation and retail and wholesale trade. The program also includes annual and sub-annual surveys on farm income and prices, and crop and livestock production and inventories.

The program supplies the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts with data required by the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations, and the Special Data Dissemination Standard with the IMF. Data are required as part of Canada's participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement under the snapback provision and the Bank Act regulations, Section 427.

The program also satisfies the information requirements of Transport Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, other federal government departments, provincial governments, international organizations, industry associations, the academic community and the public at large.

The program also assists large, complex, business enterprises with data-collection requirements.

Sub-program 1.3: Economy-wide Business Statistics

The Economy-wide Business Statistics program plans, directs, coordinates and controls the provision of statistical information and advice on financial and taxation statistics for enterprises; capital spending; property values; consumer and industrial prices; small businesses; science, technology, innovation and the digital economy to governments, private organizations and institutions. The program also tracks the size, financial structure and ownership characteristics of the corporate sector in Canada and has responsibility for measuring production in the finance and insurance industries.

Data is produced on the Corporation Returns Act and the Financial and Taxation Statistics for enterprises, as well as Canada's merchandise export and import statistics and related price and volume indices (customs and balance of payments basis).

This program supplies the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts with data required by the Bretton Woods and Related Agreements Act, Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations and the Comprehensive Integrated Tax Coordination Agreement.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), and other price indexes (industrial product prices, services producer prices, non-residential construction prices, new housing prices, machinery and equipment prices, and farm input prices) are named in numerous acts (such as Canada Pension Plan Act and the Old Age Security Act) for various reasons: the adjustment of income tax basic deductions and inflation indicators in the Government of Canada–Bank of Canada Agreement on Inflation Control Targets.

The indexes are also required by the Canadian System of Macroeconomic l Accounts to satisfy the Fiscal Arrangements Act, and the Special Data Dissemination Standard with the IMF.

Sub-program 1.4: Environmental Statistics

The Environmental Statistics program integrates environmental and socio-economic information into sets of statistics relevant for the analysis of relationships between human activity and the environment in Canada.

The primary outputs for this program are time-series estimates of various components of Canada's environmental wealth (water, ecosystems, sub-soil minerals), natural resource usage, pollution flows, environmental protection expenditures and household environmental behaviours. As well, a detailed, geographically referenced database is maintained, which facilitates environmental studies by eco-region or by drainage area.

The program includes an annual analytical publication entitled Human Activity and the Environment, which is widely used by schools, as well as by federal, provincial and territorial government policy makers. Short analytical articles are also released through the EnviroStats publication.

Program outputs are used by Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, provincial government departments, various media outlets, private sector organizations, international institutions, and the general public.

Sub-program 1.5: Analysis of Economic and Environmental Statistics

The Analysis of Economic and Environmental Statistics program directs, coordinates and conducts a broad range of data-development initiatives and statistical analyses on topics in macro- and microeconomics including productivity, firm entry and exits, and job creation and destruction.

These activities serve four main functions:

  1. To generate new data that can be used by the analytical community
  2. To demonstrate how these data can be used to provide analysis of relevant issues that dominate public debate
  3. To contribute to improved quality by vetting Statistics Canada data to assess their fitness for various uses
  4. To provide in-depth feedback and quality assurance to a wide range of the data-producing units within Statistics Canada.

The results of the data-development initiatives and analyses are disseminated through a number of different ways, including the Economic Insights publication; the Canadian Productivity Review and Canadian Economy in Transition and Economic Analysis Research Papers series; external academic journals; and presentations made at conferences.

The Analysis of Economic and Environmental Statistics program oversees the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research, which allows outside analysts from governments, research institutions and academia to make use of business microdata under controlled conditions within Statistics Canada for research purposes.

Strategic partnerships are entered into with highly trained economists to undertake important policy-relevant economic research on topics such as productivity, international trade, investment patterns and firm dynamics, while assuring the confidentiality and security of data.

Program 2: Socio-economic Statistics

Through the Socio-economic Statistics program, Statistics Canada provides integrated information and relevant analysis on the social and socio-economic characteristics of individuals, families, and households, as well as on the major factors that affect their well-being. This information is used to inform public debate on socio-economic issues; to support social policy development, implementation and evaluation; and to guide public and private decision making. These statistics support requirements specified by legislation or regulations in such areas as labour, immigration, official languages and employment equity.

Sub-program 2.1: Labour, Education, Income and Tourism Statistics

The Labour, Education, Income and Tourism Statistics program provides indicators that measure the economic well-being of Canadians based on information from the labour market, income, expenditures and wealth, pensions, housing and education fields. In addition, the program also provides statistics on tourism.

Indicators are produced at various frequencies. Labour market estimates, which are among the most timely and important measures of the overall performance of the Canadian economy, are reported monthly. A multi-dimensional picture of the financial well-being of Canadian families and individuals is provided through an annual survey on income and expenditures, as well as a periodic measurement of wealth. Indicators collected through tax data complete the picture. Information on pension funds is provided quarterly, and information on pension plans is provided yearly. The program also has a comprehensive set of pan-Canadian education statistics and analysis that is released yearly. Tourism indicators are released monthly.

The program supplies data to the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts, the Tourism Satellite Accounts, and the balance of payments.

The program collection mandate stems from requirements in the Employment Insurance Act, the Judges Act, the Senate and the House of Commons Act, the Canada Pension Plan Act, and the Quebec Pension Plan Act, and the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations.

The outputs of this program support economic, social and monetary policy, and governments, financial institutions and researchers alike rely heavily on these outputs to monitor the impact of policies and programs.

Specific user agencies include Finance Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Industry Canada, Destination Canada, and the Bank of Canada.

Sub-program 2.2: Health and Justice Statistics

The Health and Justice Statistics program provides statistical information and analysis about the state of health of Canadians, as well as criminal and civil justice in Canada. It also conducts the ongoing Canadian Community Health Survey and the Canadian Health Measures Survey, collects the data for and maintains Canada's vital statistics, as well as the Canadian Cancer Registry.

Health information is used to assist and support health planners and decision makers at all levels of government, to sustain demographic and epidemiological research, and to report to the Canadian public about their collective health and health-care system. Vital statistics data are used by the Population Estimates Program, whose results, in turn, are used for the Equalization Program.

The National Justice Statistics Initiative strives to develop, implement and manage an effective national justice statistics program through the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, which is the operational arm of a federal–provincial–territorial partnership. The rationale for this program stems from a memorandum of understanding with Justice Canada, and Cabinet decisions where Statistics Canada was named a partner in the National Justice Statistics Initiative. The program administers several surveys on police-reported crime, homicide, police administration, adult and youth criminal courts, civil courts and adult corrections, as well as surveys on expenditures and personnel, and key-indicator reports on adult and youth corrections. The program also administers the Family Violence Statistical Program funded by the Family Violence Initiative.

Sub-program 2.3: Demographic, Aboriginal and other Social Statistics

The Demographic, Aboriginal and other Social Statistics program produces Canada's quarterly and annual post-censal and inter-censal population estimates and population projections, which are used by all levels of government, the private sector, researchers and non-government organizations. Population estimates are used to satisfy the statutory requirements of the Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations, including the Canada Health and Social Transfer, the Equalization Program, and the Wait Times Reduction Transfer. Territorial estimates are used in the Territorial Formula Financing. Population estimates are used to allocate federal seats to provinces under the Fair Representation Act.

Population estimates must be used in connection with the following legislations: the Canada Pension Plan Act, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board Act, the Canada Student Loans Act, and the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act. Data include components of population growth, namely estimates of births, deaths, immigration, total emigration, change in non-permanent residents, and inter- and intra-provincial migration.

This program also enables access to microdata for research purposes and produces information and analytic outputs on key social issues. Through the General Social Survey, information on immigration, visible minorities, religion, ethnicity, language, social identity, giving and volunteering, victimization, youth, families, gender, seniors, time use, care giving and receiving, and social well-being are collected. The information is used to support various pieces of legislation, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Citizenship Act, the Canadian Multiculturalism Act, the Official Languages Act, and the Employment Equity Act.

The Demographic, Aboriginal and other Social Statistics program provides information and subject-matter expertise to help support the policy interests of Employment and Social Development Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Justice Canada, Canadian Heritage, and Status of Women Canada. It is also responsible for providing subject-matter expertise, coordination and integration in the collection, analysis and dissemination of data about Aboriginal people, on topics such as education, use of Aboriginal languages, labour activity, income, health, communication technology, mobility, and housing conditions, which are used by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada and Aboriginal governments and organizations.

Sub-program 2.4: Analysis of Socio-economic Statistics

The Analysis of Socio-economic Statistics program plans, directs, coordinates and conducts a range of statistical analyses, as well as data-development initiatives and micro-simulation modelling. Results are disseminated through a variety of means including Statistics Canada's research paper series, in publications such as Economic Insights and Health Reports, in external academic journals and through presentations provided at conferences.

Substantive areas of analysis that are of interest to policy makers, academics, business leaders and individuals include population aging and its impacts on labour markets and health care needs; wait times and access to health care; Aboriginal health; the economic circumstances of immigrants; population health status and health systems; the impact of diseases and health determinants; trends in income distribution, including both low income and vulnerable populations; geographic patterns, including across Canada's major cities; labour force dynamics; education outcomes, labour compensation; and pensions and retirement adequacy.

These activities serve four main functions and audiences:

  1. Providing high-quality and often leading-edge analyses on important contemporary topics for the general public
  2. Providing information of direct relevance to matters of current policy concern
  3. Contributing, more generally, to the corpus of national and international research in the peer-reviewed literature
  4. Providing an important quality assurance role to verify the accuracy and relevance of the statistics produced in order to assist users in interpreting the data, and to develop relevant concepts for the production of statistics.

Program 3: Censuses

Through the Censuses program, Statistics Canada provides information on changes in the Canadian population, in demographic characteristics, and in the agricultural sector. This information serves as a basis for public and private decision making, and research and analysis in areas of concern to the Canadians. The program includes the Census of Population (including the National Household Survey) and the Census of Agriculture. Both the Census of Population and the Census of Agriculture are mandated by the Statistics Act; the Census of Population is also mandated in the Constitution Act.

Sub-program 3.1: Census of Population Program

The Census of Population program plans, develops and implements all collection, data processing and dissemination of the decennial and quinquennial censuses of population—Canada's national inventory of key socio‑economic phenomena.

The Census of Population program provides a statistical portrait of Canada and its people. The Census of Population produces population counts that are the basis for updating population estimates, which are used to determine transfer payments for Canada Health and Social Transfer, the Health Reform Transfer, Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing. The program is also the only source of standard information for low levels of geography and small populations, which are needed to meet legislative requirements, and to satisfy key policy requirements defined by government needs, or to satisfy non-governmental organizations' and businesses' need to plan and evaluate programs and make informed decisions. Because the Canadian census is conducted every five years, and the questions are similar, it is possible to compare results in order to see what changes to Canada's population have occurred over time.

The census includes every person living in Canada on Census Day, as well as Canadians living abroad, either on a military base, attached to a diplomatic mission, at sea, or in port aboard Canadian-registered merchant vessels. Persons in Canada, including those holding a temporary resident permit, study permit, or work permit, as well as their dependents, are also part of the census.

The Census of Population, mandated in the Constitution Act, underlies the delineation of federal electoral districts (therefore representation in the House of Commons) and plays a critical role in the Constitutional amending formula. The Fair Representation Act requires population estimates to determine the number of Federal Electoral Districts and the Federal Electoral Act requires the use of population counts to redraw the boundaries of these districts every 10 years.

This program is mandated in many statutes and acts including the Statistics Act, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act, the Federal–Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations, the Canada Council for the Arts Act, the Provincial Subsidies Act, the Railway Relocation and Crossing Act, the Industrial and Regional Development Act, the Income Tax Act, the Canada Pension Plan Act, the Old Age Security Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and constitutional amendments.

Sub-program 3.2: Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture program conducts the quinquennial Census of Agriculture, and produces and publishes economic series on the agriculture sector that flow to the Canadian System of Macroeconomic Accounts to form the agriculture component of the GDP, and thereby satisfy requirements of the Federal–Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Regulations.

Information from this program is used to improve the register of farms for the purpose of conducting surveys and censuses to ensure proper survey coverage using samples that are as small as statistically possible and thereby minimizing response burden. The program provides a comprehensive picture of the agriculture sector at the national, provincial and sub-provincial levels, and is mandated by the Statistics Act.

Small-area and benchmarking data, produced from the Census of Agriculture, are critical to industry structural analysis, crisis management, environmental programs, pesticide management, carbon credits, water-use planning and protection, rural development, and traceability. No other comprehensive source of these data currently exists, and coverage of farms of all sizes is important. In some sectors and regions, small farms are significant to the economy, and data are required for policy and program development.

Program 4: Statistical Infrastructure

Through the Statistical Infrastructure program, Statistics Canada administers activities and services that support a strong statistical system. These activities and services include development of sound statistical methodology, standardized concepts and classifications, development and provision of information about the agency's surveys and statistical programs; and the development and maintenance of registers of enterprises and addresses for statistical purposes. The activities and services also include data-collection for Statistics Canada's surveys, the production of Statistics Canada's catalogued publications, online databases; and the dissemination of Statistics Canada's official release vehicle. As well as the co-ordination of those aspects of the agency's Integrated Strategic Planning Process, which ensures the continuity and quality maintenance of programs.

Sub-program 4.1: Professional Statistical Services

The Professional Statistical Services program develops sound statistical methodology, standardized concepts and classifications (including geographic concepts) and information about the agency's surveys and statistical programs; and prepares and maintains registers of households, farms and other businesses and organizations for the purpose of conducting surveys and censuses.

This program is also responsible for acquiring statistical data from Canada Revenue Agency and other administrative sources to make these data available to other programs throughout the Agency. The program also undertakes methodological research activities aimed at providing practical solutions related to survey and questionnaire design, the analysis of survey data, and other specific topics and provides expert advice on survey methodology and quality assurance within and outside the Agency. The program also provides Agency-specific legal services relating to the Statistics Act and to data-sharing agreements.

In addition, the Professional Statistical Services program carries out research and development activities relating to a number of areas such as statistical methodology, data collection, and operational activities; and assists large, complex business enterprises with data-collection requirements.

Sub-program 4.2: Operational Statistical Services

The Operational Statistical Services program comprises those activities and services relating to the collection of data from respondents; the entry of data into computer systems; the coding of data into standard categories; and the processing of data obtained from other government organizations or administrative sources, rather than directly from respondents.

This program includes activities associated with the release of the Agency's information to the public. Examples include the production of online databases and the dissemination of Statistics Canada's official release vehicle, The Daily.

The program also oversees the hiring and training of interviewers to support ongoing, ad-hoc and cost-recovery surveys; and provides a data-user advisory services function through the Statistical Information Service.

Sub-program 4.3: Continuity and Quality Maintenance Program

The Continuity and Quality Maintenance program coordinates aspects of the Agency's Integrated Strategic Planning Process to ensure the continuity and quality maintenance of programs.

Strategic Outcome 2

Specific client needs for high-quality and timely statistical services are met.

Program 5: Cost-recovered Statistical Services

Through the Cost-recovered Statistical Services program, Statistics Canada produces on-demand, high-quality, cost-recovered statistical services that meet specific needs of federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients that are not met by the core statistical program.

Sub-program 5.1: Cost-recovered Services related to Economic and Environmental Statistics

The Cost-recovered Services related to Economic and Environmental Statistics program produces high-quality, cost-recovered economic and environmental outputs that meet the needs of specific federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients.

This program designs, implements, analyzes and disseminates the results of large-scale or complex surveys and newly created databases for external clients to provide useful information to the broadest possible spectrum of users. Examples include the financing surveys for small and medium-sized enterprises, the digital economy, Internet use, bio-products, business and household energy use, and household interaction with the environment.

Cost-recovered analytical projects, research and database creation, including those conducted at the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research, and micro-simulations are also part of this program.

Sub-program 5.2: Cost-recovered Services related to Socio-economic Statistics

The Cost-recovered Services related to Socio-economic Statistics program produces high-quality, cost-recovered socio-economic outputs that meet the needs of specific federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients.

This program designs, implements, analyzes and disseminates the results of large-scale or complex surveys and newly created databases for external clients to provide useful information to the broadest possible spectrum of users. Examples include surveys on public service employment, employment insurance and labour market, young Canadians, literacy and education, Aboriginal peoples, community-related activities such as resiliency, and health-related activities including tobacco use.

It also produces high-quality, cost-recovered programs that provide access to Statistics Canada's public-use and confidential microdata, including the Data Liberation Initiative, which provides access to Public Use Microdata Files in the libraries of post-secondary institutions. Other services include operating the Research Data Centres, which supply secure access to detailed microdata files in 26 universities and one research institute across Canada, as well as the Real Time Remote Access program, which provides access remotely, in more or less real time, to researchers who submit codes and receive automatically-vetted output back.

This program also includes cost-recovered analytical projects and research, the Longitudinal Immigration Database, and population projections for specific sub-populations (microsimulations) or based on customized sets of assumptions.

Sub-program 5.3: Cost-recovered Services related to the Censuses

The Cost-recovered Services related to the Census programs produces high-quality, cost-recovered outputs related to the censuses that meet the needs of specific federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients.

This program designs, implements, analyzes and disseminates the results of large-scale or complex surveys for external clients to provide useful information to the broadest possible spectrum of users. Examples include linking the census database to other surveys or administrative databases for analytical purposes, as well as producing statistics for small geographic areas.

Sub-program 5.4: Cost-recovered Services related to Statistical Infrastructure

The Cost-recovered Services related to Statistical Infrastructure program produces high-quality, cost-recovered outputs related to statistical infrastructures that meet the needs of specific federal, provincial and territorial institutions and other clients. An example is the imaging/data capture of the E311 Travel Declaration Cards for Canadians for the Canadian Border Services Agency and Services Canada.

As a member of the international statistical community, Statistics Canada is an active participant in the development of statistical methods, standards and techniques. The Agency engages with international organizations and other countries, with the aim of supporting Canada's international responsibilities in statistics, offering technical assistance, as well as enhancing its own statistical program

Program 6: Internal Services

Internal services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are Management and Oversight Services, Communications Services, Legal Services, Human Resources Management Services, Financial Management Services, Information Management Services, Information Technology Services, Real Property Services, Materiel Services, Acquisition Services, and Travel and Other Administrative Services. Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

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