Question
Is a record layout file available for the export and import files in the Canadian International Merchandise Trade database? For example for the year 2014, I can't find the record layout for the export file (ex201412.dat) or the import file (im201412.dat) in the EFT. But, after some searching online I found this record layout (this is for the export data, can't find one for the import data). It seems to cover all the years and is very helpful with figuring out the structure of the export and import files. Here are some other ones online as well for exports and imports.

Is it possible to add this record layout file for both exports and imports for each year? Or is it somewhere else?

Answer
If I understand correct, you are asking us to add a record layout to the EFT?

In the DLI we have up to 2014 data.  The Canadian International Merchandise Trade Database is now maintained online. Data on Canadian international merchandise trade for December 2015 will be released on February 5, 2016.

[Here are] other release dates.

You have the concepts of the elements in the database here.

Followup Question
Yes, I am asking to have the record layout file added to the EFT. The online version of the Canadian International Trade Database is a great resource when smaller amounts of data are needed. But, the files on the EFT are helpful when researchers need a larger part of the data. 

Followup Answer
I inquired with subject matter regarding record layout of CIMT and this is their response:
“Unfortunately, there is no record layout available for the Canadian International Merchandise Trade database since there is no data extraction possible. We have a record layout for the clients that are asking/buying us data which refers to their order.”
They informed me that they were unaware were that text file on the IMDB was generated.

Upon further investigation, I went digging into the EFT to ensure that we were not missing anything regarding the International Merchandise Trade Data. I noted in the doc folder for 2014 as you referenced an .xls file that provides the record layouts under various tabs.
/MAD_DLI_IDD_DAM/Root/trade_commerce/international-merchandise-data-by-commodity-classification/2014/doc

Employment Figures for all Manufacturing Plants Over Time

Question

Does anyone know of a resource that would allow someone to track employment figures for all manufacturing plants over time (including plant opening/closures, etc.)? The student would want to be able to merge these data with data from other sources (particularly Compustat), so would need geographic and SIC characteristics, etc.

I doubt that this would be available through Statistics Canada due to confidentiality restrictions, but would be delighted to hear otherwise!

Would CDER be able to assist with this request?

Answer

I will look into it here to confirm if the data would be available or not. I am not sure CDER would be the best option regardless as access is rather restrictive:

The CDER operates entirely on a cost-recovery basis. Researchers wishing to access data must submit a research proposal and be able to cover all project costs, including a peer review of their project proposal and a review to ensure that the project falls under Statistics Canada's mandate.

All microdata files used for approved projects are only accessible at Statistics Canada's head office, located at Tunney's Pasture in Ottawa, Ontario. Once a project is approved, researchers will have to complete the security screening process and take the Statistics Canada Oath of office in Section 6(1) of the Statistics Act.

From Manufacturing and wholesale trade division:
The ASML principal statistics are available in CANSIM table 301-0008. As for the commodities produced, we have an internal database from which we extract the codes the client needs. We ask that the client sends us the list of codes, geographical areas and reference periods he needs and we can provide him with a cost estimate and a sample of what is available. Therefore, he can see in advance if there will be any confidential cells in the set of data he asked for.

Employment figures are available in CANSIM except for reference years 2013 and 2014 where they were not collected. Please note that there will be breaks in the series throughout those years.

CANSIM tables:
[Geography seems to be at the provincial level only]
301-0008 RY 2012 to 2015
301-0006 RY 2004 to 2012
301-0003 RY 1990 to 2003
301-0001 RY 1981 to 1997

From Labour Statistics Division:
SEPH and LFS does not produce detailed data for manufacturing plants per say and could not provide any information pertaining to ‘’plant opening/closures’’.

We can however provide monthly or annual employment estimates by industry i.e. 31-33 Manufacturing.

Data of employment for all employees is available at a 4 digit level on CANSIM with the Survey of Employment, Payrolls and Hours (SEPH).

For monthly seasonally adjusted data the client can access CANSIM table: 281-0063 from jan. 2001 to nov. 2016

The annual data can be accessed on CANSIM table: 281-0024 from 2001 to 2015; 2016 data will be available March 31st 2017.

For the monthly table he will have to access the ‘’add/remove data’’ feature tab at the top of the page and then select each individual 4 digit North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) variant under manufacturing sector in step 3 starting at Manufacturing code 31-33

As for the LFS data on CANSIM, the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for manufacturing is limited to a 2 digit level.


For annual data, the client can consult table 282-0008
For monthly seasonality adjusted data, he can consult table 282-0088

2015 CCHS Data

Question
I have a researcher interested in accessing 2015 CCHS data, most specifically variables from the 2015 rapid response 'Risk Factors for Heart Disease'. She has a colleague that told her those data would be available in March, but I hadn't heard this and know that the 2014 data just recently became available.

In checking the DLI tentative release dates website it indicates that the release data for CCHS 2015-2016 PUMFs is Fall 217. Just want to confirm that this is correct, and also would this release would include the 'Risk Factors for Heart Disease' variables that she is interested in?

Answer

Currently the plan is to release the next CCHS PUMF (2015-2016) in the Fall of 2017. The PUMF will not include questions from the Rapid Response.

I confirmed with Subject Matter that there is nothing going in CANSIM, and there will be no pub. Rapid Response data are only available as custom tabs, or with access through an RDC.

I inquired if there was documentation, such as a zero count codebook that I could share. Their response was the following:

Right now, there is nothing available to us that we can send out to a researcher, but I think there will be. The RDCs should have the data from the RR in the next month or so.

STDs and Relationships - Current Data

Question
A researcher is looking for the most recent survey microdata on STD diagnosis broken down by type of STD, even if only HIV/AIDS together with type of relationship &/or partners data. She is aware she might be using master files.

The researcher has found the first two cycles of the NPHS (Health Component), but requires more recent data. She has explored the CCHS, but its yes/no question on a STD (s) is not detailed enough. I don’t think the Canadian Health Measures Survey covers infection markers much beyond hepatitis? We searched http://www120.statcan.gc.ca/dli/e2/var?fq but so far, we haven’t had much luck. Could you please advise us whether we have missed anything?

Answer
“Below is an article (females) which contains some info on STI’s (table 5).
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-503-x/2015001/article/14324-eng.htm

PHAC has a lot of information on Sexually transmitted infections. www.phac-aspc.gc.ca

As well here is a link to CHMS info:
CHMS http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/2013004/article/11777-eng.htm

Hope this info is of assistance.”

Statistics on Suicide

Question

I’m trying to help a Ph.D. student who’s working a project to compare suicide rates in the US and Canada, particularly the copycat effect. She’s been able to obtain figures for the U.S., in some cases at the county level, and she’s now trying to get Canadian data.

I’ve found a number of tables in CANSIM listing suicide or self-inflicted injury among the leading causes of death, but few of them are at a low enough level of geography or cover a long enough time period.

Most of those that are geographically detailed enough (102-4313, 102-4314 for example) appear to be based on 3 year averages.

She needs both greater frequency—annual figures at a minimum--and geographic detail--HR / Peer groups or, if possible, CMA-level.

Are there any sources available to us that might satisfy her data requirements short of referring her to the local RDC?

Answer

This would have to be a custom (costs associated) and the results would be rounded to a neighbouring multiple of 5.

February 1, 2017 release: Products and services, 2016 Census of Population (preview)

The 2016 Census Dissemination Project is pleased to provide information describing the 2016 Census of Population products and services that will be disseminated throughout the upcoming release cycle.

This ‘preview-type’ content is currently available through the ‘spotlight’ section of the census landing page and includes information for standard data, analytical, reference and census geography products, along with information on census and geography semi-custom/custom services. As of February 8, 2017, the content will be permanently stored under ‘Reference materials’ and specifically under ‘Other reference materials – Supporting information.’ We plan to update when additional information becomes available.

New Insights on Canadian Society (ICS) Study

Food insecurity among Inuit living in Inuit Nunangat

Insights on Canadian Society (ICS)

Using data from the 2012 Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), this study examines the prevalence of food insecurity among Inuit aged 25 and over living in Inuit Nunangat, and the factors associated with food insecurity among Inuit adults. Food insecurity can refer to situations when the amount of food purchased does not last and there is not enough money to buy more food, balanced meals are unaffordable, or household members cut the size of their meals or skip meals because there is not enough money for sufficient food. This study also discusses some of the health outcomes of Inuit adults who live in a food insecure household.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/170201/dq170201a-eng.htm

To access the study released today:
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2017001/article/14774-eng.htm