Statistics - Canada

Table of contents:

1.   The collection 2.   Location 3.   Organization 4.   Subject access 5.   Computer access

6.   Major statistical compendia 7.   Census information 8.   Further information 9.   Appendix: Catalogue number components

1. The collection

Statistics Canada (www.statcan.ca/) is the major statistical gathering agency of the federal government. It publishes the "whole range of statistics on the economic and social activities of the Canadian people". There are daily, weekly, quarterly, annual and irregular publications. StatsCan also publishes the Census of Canada at five year intervals. The information is available in a variety of formats including print, microform and online. SFU Library is a "depository library" and automatically receives one copy of StatsCan paper format publications. Additional copies are selectively purchased for the Bennett Library collection and for the Belzberg Library at Harbour Centre. Increasingly, however, Statistics Canada is making more and more of their publications available electronically. You can search their site for information or you can browse through the index of downloadable publications .

2. Location

At the Bennett Library, most Statistics Canada publications are located on the second floor, and are arranged by the five digit Statistics Canada number. Census publications are filed by census year, then publication number (e.g., 1996 Census no. 92-350-PPB) at the end of the collection.

3. Organization

Statistics Canada publications are filed in numerical order by the five digit Statistics Canada catalogue number printed on each publication. The first two digits group the material by subject groups; the remaining three digits identify specific titles within a subject category. See the appendix at the end of this guide (taken from Appendix 1 of the Statistics Canada Catalogue).

4. Subject access

For current publications, search the Information on Products and Services Catalogue on the Statistics Canada Web site. You may also use the Canadian Research Index (formerly Microlog), which provides excellent keyword access, to find Statistics Canada publications. A print Statistics Canada Catalogue is available (Belzberg Reference & Bennett Reference Desk HA 744 Z9231; Bennett Stats Can 11-204). For pre-1980 statistics, see the Historical catalogue of Statistics Canada publications, 1918-1980 (Bennett Stats Can 11-512).

How Stats Can conducts its surveys is explained in these publications:

Survey methodology. Statistics Canada.	Bennett Stats Canada  12-001
Survey sampling: a non-mathematical guide. 2nd ed. 1993.	Bennett Stats Canada  12-602E

5. Computer access

1.  Via the Web:

You can either search the Statistics Canada Web site directly or you may browse through the index of downloadable Statistics Canada publications . Made available to depository services libraries, this index is more of a subject guide. You can browse by category or use the <control> + F shortcut to 'find' publications by keyword. Updated regularly, these publications are available in either html or pdf format.

2.  Via CANSIM:

StatsCan data is computer-accessible in the CANSIM (Canadian Socio-economic Information Management system) database. The information is of two types:

1. Time series data showing changes over a period of time.
2. Cross-classified data showing the relationships between different phenomena at a given point in time.

You can access CANSIM either through the Research Data Library (RDL) or through the SFU Library Home Page. Click on the 'articles and databases' link in the Research Tools Section. Select the alphabetical list and then click on CANSIM. More information is available at the host site, Computing in the Humanities and Social Sciences (CHASS) at the University of Toronto. For help on searching CANSIM, please see the CANSIM guide

Other electronic products from StatsCan may be available through the RDL. Please consult the Research Data Library (LB 7400).

3.  Via E-Stat:

This database from Statistics Canada contains approximately 300,000 series selected from the CANSIM time series directory and 1986 census data featuring 414 census variables. In addition, you can create customized graphs and maps. Access E-Stat via the article indexes and databases alphabetical list on the SFU Library Home Page.

6. Major statistical compendia

There are several important handbooks which provide current and retrospective data for a broad range of topics. For example:

Canada year book. 1905-  Produced every two years, this handbook includes text and tables on natural resources, social and economic conditions, organizations, industry, finance and the legal system.	Bennett Stats Canada 11-402;  Belzberg Reference,  Bennett Reference Desk  HA 741 A2
Canadian economic observer. 1988-  A monthly summary of Canadian economic indicators and statistics with quarterly or monthly figures for the most recent two years. Includes seasonally adjusted major indicators and charts as well as articles on general economic conditions and special subjects. Continues Canadian statistical review (11-003, 1934-1988).	Belzberg Stats Canada,  Bennett Stats Canada  11-010
Historical statistics of Canada. 2nd ed. 1983.  Provides text and historical tables illustrating Canada's development from 1867 to 1975. The statistics are derived from many sources and include social, economic and political time series covering 22 topics. This information is also available at the StatsCan Web site.	Bennett Stats Canada  11-516;  Belzberg Reference,  Bennett Library,  Bennett Reference Desk  HA 746 H58 1983
Market research handbook. 1969-  Includes tables and charts on general economic indicators, socio-economic characteristics, personal income and expenditure, housing and household facilities, and merchandising and service industry data.	Bennett Stats Canada  63-224;  Belzberg Reference,  Bennett Reference  HF 5415.2 M37

7. Census information

Conducting and publishing the census at five year intervals is one of Statistics Canada's most important responsibilities. Census products are released as they are produced, beginning about one year following the census. Check Statistics Canada web site's The Daily and 2001 Census sites for announcements of latest releases and projected dates for as yet unreleased data. The 2001 Census Preview of Products and Services (Census 2001 no. 92-376-XIE) gives a description of census products and their projected release dates. For more information on the Canadian Census, please see the Library's Statistics - Canadian Census guide.

Stats Can produces a number of guides to assist census users. Helpful for the 2001 census are:

2001 census handbook. Includes a history of Canadian census taking, a description of procedures to protect confidentiality, a question-by-question outline of the 2001 census, a description of the census variables and geography and a section on data quality.	CENSUS 2001 no.92-379-XIE
2001 census dictionary. Provides detailed information on the concepts, variables and geographic elements of the 1996 census.	CENSUS 2001 no. 92-378-XIE
2001 census catalogue. Provides full product descriptions including information on release dates, medium and catalogue numbers. Also describes services available to census data users.	CENSUS 2001 no. 92-377-XIE
2001 census technical reports. The technical reports series looks at definitions, concepts and components of variables, collection and coverage, data evaluation and quality, historical comparability with previous censuses, etc. Each report covers one topic (e.g., Families). Two of these reports, Sampling and weighting and Coverage, give detailed information on data quality and methodology.	These reports usually begin appearing two to three years following the census.
2001 cesus standard product subsets. New for 2001, 2001 Census Standard Products Subsets provides detailed information about all census variables, by category. Updated periodically, this report will only be available via the Internet and will be subject to change.	CENSUS 2001 no. 92-400-XIE

The Library has the PCensus database for British Columbia for censuses since 1981 on standalone computers near the Bennett or Belzberg Library Reference Desks. The Research Data Library (LB 7400) also has census products on computer tape, including public use sample tapes and microdata for all of Canada.

8. Further information

Contact Statistics Canada by telephone (604) 666-3691 or by fax (604) 666-4863 if you cannot find the information you need. They are located in Vancouver at 600-300 W. Georgia St.

For information on British Columbia statistics, see the Library guide British Columbia Statistics.

9. Appendix: Catalogue number components

9.a General and Reference

10	Statistics Canada Metadata	15	System of Nation Accounts, Industry and Commodity Statistics
11	Compendia	16	Seasonal Variations, Environmental Publications
12	Reference and Working Manuals	17	Small Area Data
13	Income, National Accounts	18	Special Studies
14	Productivity

9.b Primary Industries

21	Farm Income, Value and General Production	25	Forestry
22	Farm Crops	26	Mining
23	Farm Livestock and Animal Products

9.c Manufacturing

31	General Surveys	42	Machinery and Transportation Equipment
32	Foods, Beverages and Tobacco	43	Electrical Equipment
33	Leather and Rubber Products	44	Non-metallic Mineral Products
34	Textiles and Apparel	45	Petroleum and Coal Products
35	Wood and Furniture Products	46	Chemicals
36	Paper Products and Printing	47	Miscellaneous Manufactures
41	Primary Metals (Manufactured) and Fabricated Metal Products

9.d Transportation - General

50	Transportation - General	54	Water Transport
51	Air Transport	55	Pipe Line Transport
52	Rail Transport	56	Communications
53	Road Transport	57	Other Utilities

9.e Commerce, Construction, Finance and Prices

61	Business Conditions	65	International Trade
62	Prices and Consumer Expenditure	66	International Travel
63	Merchandising and Services	67	Balance of Payments and International Investments
64	Construction and Housing	68	Government Finance

9.f Employment, Unemployment and Labour Income

71	Labour Force	74	Employee Pension Plans
72	Employment and Earnings	75	Labour Analysis and Employment Issues
73	Unemployment Insurance

9.g Education, Health, Culture and Social Issues

81	Education	85	Justice Statistics
82	Health Reports and Public Health	87	Culture Statistics
83	Hospitals and Health Personnel	88	Science and Technology
84	Vital Statistics	89	Social Analytical Studies

9.h Demographic and Intercensal Studies

91

Population Estimates, Projections and Analysis