Building Permits (BPER)

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Have you been invited to participate in this survey via email or mail? To log in to the survey, complete the following steps.

Step 1: Visit the electronic questionnaire portal and select Start my survey.

Step 2: Enter your secure access code (you will find this code in the invitation letter or email you previously received from Statistics Canada).

Step 3: Complete the survey.

Are you missing your secure access code, or do you need help?

Phone:

1-877-949-9492
(TTY: 1-800-363-7629)
Monday to Friday (except holidays) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern time

If you use an operator-assisted relay service, you can call us during regular business hours. You do not need to authorize the operator to contact us.

Email:

 

Results of this survey will enable Statistics Canada to estimate residential and non-residential construction activity at various geographical levels. The latter are published monthly, and are available on the Statistics Canada website.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes. In addition, information from partially completed or unsaved questionnaires may be retained and used.

Collection period:
From the first working day of each month to the 15th working day of each month
Collection methods:
Mail, electronic and telephone interview
Survey participation:
Mandatory under the Statistics Act
  • Block Information Confidentiality

    Confidentiality

    Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

    By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent, or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

  • Block Information on Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements and record linkage

    Data sharing agreements

    To reduce response burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them for statistical purposes only. Statistics Canada will share data from this survey only with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.

    Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must include substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.

    For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements, with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon. The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

    Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations. Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:

    Chief Statistician of Canada
    Statistics Canada
    Attention of Director, Investment, Science and Technology Division
    150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
    Ottawa, Ontario
    K1A 0T6

    You may also contact us by email, at statcan.esdhelpdesk-dsebureaudedepannage.statcan@statcan.gc.ca, or by fax, at 613-951-6583.

    For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

    Record linkage

    To enhance the data from this survey and reduce response burden, Statistics Canada may combine the information you provide with data from other surveys or administrative sources.

  • Block Information on Topics covered in the survey

    Topics covered in the survey

    The survey asks questions about

    • non-residential building construction and residential construction
    • number of units
    • number and total value of building permits.
  • Block Information on Published data

    Published data

    Statistics Canada publishes the results of its surveys in many formats. To find all the documents related to this survey, follow the links below and type the name of the survey in the search engine located at the left of your screen to filter the results.

    Data: You will find tables, profiles of a community or region, thematic maps, public use microdata files, and data visualization tools.

    Analysis: You will have direct access to Stats in brief (e.g., releases from The Daily, fact sheets), articles and reports, and journals and periodicals.

  • Block Information on Survey-specific questions

    Survey-specific questions

    What is the purpose of the Building Permits survey?

    The monthly Building Permits survey of Canadian municipalities collects data on the value of construction intentions for buildings in the non-residential sector and the number of dwellings authorized and value of construction projects in the residential sector. The survey also measures the number of dwelling units demolished.

    The Building Permits survey is mandatory because of its vital role in monitoring the economy. By accurately reporting your municipality’s activity you are contributing to the measure of the countries worth – the gross domestic product (GDP). All information collected helps provide a clearer picture of the Canadian economy.

    Who uses this information? Why is it important?

    Statistics Canada's business surveys provide both the private and public sectors with vital information that is used in their decision making processes. Many businesses and organizations need accurate information to track growth and changes in this industry.

    Industry associations, business analysts and investors use the data to better understand rapidly evolving business environments, such as new technologies and trade opportunities as well as investments in new product lines.

    Individual businesses use the information to monitor their performance against industry averages.

    Schools and universities use survey results to study the economy.

    Governments need the information to make decisions about labour and fiscal policies and business assistance programs for industries.

    When will the survey results be available?

    Survey results are released each month in The Daily, Statistics Canada's official release bulletin. The information is available approximately between 35 and 40 days after the calendar month.

  • For more information about this survey
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