CCHS 2.2 Synthetic Files

Questions

1. When will the CCHS 2.2 synthetic files be available?

2. The userguide (page 20, section 5.7, second paragraph) states:

"The reader should however note that the variable "aboriginal status" has been removed from the Public Use Microdata File for confidentiality purposes. This variable can only be accessed through the use of the master file which resides at Statistics Canada and in the Regional Data Centres or through the use of the share file in the provincial Ministries of Health, at Health Canada and at the Public Health Agency of Canada."

What is the share file? Does the researcher have access through the Saskatchewan Dept. of Health? Please note it is the aboriginal status variable that the researcher requires.

3. In the userguide (page 69, section 12.4, final paragraph) remote access service is described. We are wondering if this exists when there isn't (yet) a synthetic file?

Furthermore, the paragraph refers to the user as the 'purchaser'; are we correct in assuming DLI users are 'purchasers' via the DLI licence. As you know, there are no RDCs in Saskatchewan.

Answers

Because of the number of files resulting from the 2.2 survey (7 files) it is not possible, at this point, to create a synthetic files like it was done for the other surveys. Users would have to do some linkages between the 7 files and the chance of encountering problems and errors is too high. Methodologists have been asked to look at a possible strategy on what can be done in this case. This means, for the time being, that it is not possible to access these files. We will update you as soon as we get news from Methodology to let you know if we will be able or not to resolve that issue.

The share file is the file that we provide to the Provincial Health Department and Health Canada with the permission of the respondents(records from respondents who refuse to have their data shared with specific partners are taken out of the share file and appears only on the master file). Researchers are not given access to the share file in Health Departments. It's not part of the sharing agreements and the only way for a researcher to access the master file is through remote access or by presenting a project through the RDCs. Because there is no synthetic file at this point for 2.2, the remote access does not exist. We certainly hope methodologists do find a solution to that issue but until then, there is no remote access to 2.2.

Yes, through the DLI license, the DLI users are purchasers and yes that variable "aboriginal status" has been removed for confidentiality purposes and this is after discussions with the Micro data Release Committee who ensure that confidentiality is not threatened in any way.