Question:
It was my understanding that with the Statistics Canada Open License, members of the public could access to PUMFs as long as they signed an agreement…?
Answer:
As of October 2018, PUMFs fall under the Statistics Canada Open Licence. More information on what users can now do with the data can be found here: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/reference/licence and FAQs here: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/reference/licence-faq. An agreement does not need to be signed in order for members of the public to access the PUMFs.
Follow-up Questions:
When I look at PUMFs on StatCan.gc.ca, I see that they’re available to the public via the data portal if they fill out the order form. Does this mean that a member of the public requesting a PUMF via statcan.gc.ca would still be asked to pay, while a member of the public requesting the PUMF from a DLI member institution would be able to access it free of charge?
Follow-up Answer:
As always, you can get PUMFs for free from subject matter. There is not yet a central location for free download of PUMFs however, but it’s in the works!
Follow-up Question:
Another question about the PUMF Open License, this one from a researcher. They ask:
Does that mean that PUMFs acquired via DLI could be shared outside of the institution without restriction, e.g. packaged as part of a textbook for broad dissemination?
Follow-up Answer:
PUMFs acquired via the DLI can be shared outside of the institution, provided that StatCan is cited in the documentation.
