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| The Data: Coverage, Periodicity, and Timeliness | ||||||||||||
| Coverage characteristics | 5.1.1 Statistical presentation Data are disseminated on unemployment numbers (thousands of persons). "Unemployed persons" are defined as those, 15 years of age and older, who, during the reference week, were available for work and were either on temporary layoff, had looked for work in the past four weeks, or had a job to start within the next four weeks. The data are obtained from the monthly Canadian Labour Force Survey (L.F.S.), which is representative of the Canadian non-institutional population 15 years of age and older. The survey coverage excludes residents of long-term care health facilities (more than six months), members of the Canadian armed forces, and persons living on Indian reserves. Information is collected for those in the North West Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut but is excluded from the total estimates for Canada. The survey uses a reference week concept to measure labour market activity, and the reference week is typically the week containing the fifteenth day of the month. The L.F.S. provides a number of key labour market measures that generally conform to ILO concepts and definitions. The data are seasonally adjusted. | |||||||||||
| Periodicity | 4.1.1 Periodicity Monthly | |||||||||||
| Timeliness | 4.1.2 Timeliness No later than 10 working days after the end of the reference month. | |||||||||||
| Access by the Public | ||||||||||||
| Advance dissemination of release calendar | 5.1.3 Advance release calendar The precise release dates for the next 15 months are announced in "The Daily" (Cat. no. 11-001-XWE) in November of each year. In addition, the precise release dates for at least the upcoming four months are listed on Statistics Canada's Internet website (http://www.statcan.ca/english/Release Index.htm). | |||||||||||
| Simultaneous release to all interested parties | 5.1.4 Simultaneous release The data are made available to journalists through press lockup at 06:30 EST on the day of release. The data, available to all interested parties, are subsequently released as follows:
On the same day the data are published in the monthly publication "Labour Force Information" catalogue 71-001-XWE. | |||||||||||
| Integrity | ||||||||||||
| Dissemination of terms and conditions under which official statistics are produced, including those relating to the confidentiality of individually identifiable information | 0.1.1 Responsibility for collecting, processing, and disseminating statistics Statistics Canada All statistics collected and published by Statistics Canada are governed by the Statistics Act of 1985. The Statistics Act requires Statistics Canada to "collect, compile, analyze, abstract, and publish information on the economic, social and general conditions of the country and its citizens." Without limiting the generality of this coverage, the Statistics Act directs the Chief Statistician to produce statistics on a very detailed list of specific matters, such as health and welfare, education, wholesale and retail trade, public administration, community, business and personal services, labour and employment to name a few. 0.1.3 Confidentiality of individual reporters' data Statistics Canada Under the Act, Statistics Canada cannot publish, or otherwise make available to any individual or organization, statistics that would enable the identification of any individual person or entity. To balance Statistics Canada's extensive powers to collect information, mostly through mandatory reporting, the Statistics Act establishes the rigorous legal obligation for the Agency to keep the respondent's information in trust. The legislation makes a formal commitment to respondents that the information they provide will never be released to anyone in a form that will identify them without their authorization. Respondents who believe that providing the Agency with information will not identify them are much more likely to answer truthfully and to cooperate with the collector. Much of the Agency's credibility rests on confidentiality protection as a bedrock condition of operation. Given its critical importance, this commitment to confidentiality is found not only in the law but also in the culture of Statistics Canada. 0.1.4 Ensuring statistical reporting Statistics Canada The legislation which assigns to Statistics Canada its wide scope for data collection also makes it mandatory for all respondents to provide the information requested unless an order is obtained to make response voluntary. The Statistics Act considers refusals or the provision of false or misleading information as criminal offences subject to penalties. In general, economic surveys are mandatory. The legislation does not contain one clearly articulated provision that conveys the obligation of respondents to provide requested information. The Agency relies on a combination of sections to establish that obligation. For all surveys, section 3 sets out the general mandate of Statistics Canada to collect information, and section 22 sets out the matters about which it is to collect. For surveys involving the completion of forms, subsection 23(2) requires that respondents answer the inquiries made on forms they receive and return them to Statistics Canada. Subsection 31(b) establishes that those respondents who refuse or neglect to furnish any information or to fill in the form to the best of their knowledge, who do not return the form or who knowingly gives false or misleading information are guilty of an offence. In the case of collection of information not involving forms, subsection 31(a) establishes that persons who refuse or neglect to answer or who willfully answer falsely any question asked by Statistics Canada are guilty of an offence. 1.1.1 Impartiality of statistics Statistics Canada Statistics Canada acts independently to establish the methods used in data estimation as well as the timing and content of all data releases. Data release dates are publicly announced and adhered to strictly.1.2.1 Disclosure of terms and conditions for statistical collection, processing, and dissemination Statistics Canada The Statistics Act can be accessed in English and in French on the Justice Canada Internet website (http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/S-19/index.html). 1.3.1 Guidelines for staff behavior Statistics Canada Before taking up duties under the Statistics Act, all employees and contractors, in accordance with section 6 must take and subscribe an oath (or solemn affirmation) that they will conform with the requirements of the Act in carrying out their duties and that they will not, without due authority, disclose or make known information that come to their knowledge by reason of their employment. This practice, in addition to being a requirement of the Act, is also designed to impress upon each employee the need for preserving the confidentiality of information in a graphic way. | |||||||||||
| Identification of internal government access to data before release | 1.2.2 Internal governmental access to statistics prior to release Information in the press release is provided, under strict embargo, to a small number of staff of the Department of Finance, the Office of the Privy Council, and Human Resources Development Canada for preparation of ministerial briefings on the afternoon before official release. | |||||||||||
| Identification of ministerial commentary on the occasion of statistical releases | 1.2.3 Attribution of statistical products Statistics Canada Statistics Canada is clearly identified by the STC logo and Corporate Image on all disseminated statistics produced and released by the Agency. Organizations or individuals using data produced by Statistics Canada are required to cite Statistics Canada as the data source. | |||||||||||
| Provision of information about revision and advance notice of major changes in methodology | 4.3.1 Revision schedule There are two periodic types of revisions:
4.3.2 Identification of preliminary and/or revised data Annual revisions are described in the "Notes" section of relevant publications and special notice is given in the monthly publication in advance of population revisions. Notice is also placed in the Statistics Canada Daily (http://www.statcan.ca) 1.2.4 Advance notice of major changes in methodology, source data, and statistical techniques. At the beginning of 1999, a major change of the coding of industries and occupations took place. The LFS now uses the 2002 North American Industry Classification (NAICS) instead of the 1980 Standard Industry Classification (SIC), and the 2001 National Occupational Classification Statistics (NOCS) has replaced the 1980 SOC. Historical data back to 1987 have been revised accordingly. The implementation of the new questionnaire followed an extensive process of user consultations, questionnaire development and questionnaire testing. The questionnaire was phased in over a five-month period between September 1996 and January 1997. | |||||||||||
| Quality | ||||||||||||
| Dissemination of documentation on methodology and sources used in preparing statistics | 5.2.1 Dissemination of documentation on concepts, scope, classifications, basis of recording, data sources, and statistical techniques Explanatory notes on the methodology are available in both electronic and hardcopy formats, including in the "Notes" section of "The Daily". Fuller documentation is available in the publication "Guide to the Labour Force Survey", available on the following Statistics Canada's Internet website (http://www.statcan.ca/english/concepts/labour). (See also summary methodology) | |||||||||||
| Dissemination of component detail, reconciliations with related data, and statistical frameworks that support statistical cross-checks and provide assurance of reasonableness | 4.2.2 Temporal consistency The current LFS questionnaire was introduced in 1997. At that time, significant changes were made to the questionnaire in order to address existing data gaps, improve data quality and make more use of the power of Computer Assisted Interviewing (CAI).4.2.3 Intersectoral and cross-domain consistency In addition to the monthly labour market measures, the household survey also provides a rich demographic data base and a supplementary survey capacity which is used to collect information on income, education, training, travel to work, health issues, etc. All other indicators disseminated by Statistics Canada which can affect the labour market are closely monitored. These are described in the "Guide to the Labour Force Survey 71-543-GIE." | |||||||||||
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