Census Data at Dissemination Block Level

Question:
I have a researcher really wanting to get ahold of Census data (2011 & 2016) for NS at the Dissemination Block level. Do we have access to this level of geography (if so – any guidance for grabbing it would be amazing) or should I refer to the local RDC?

Answer:
Subject matter had the following to relay:

“Data for dissemination blocks is not available as part as standard products, besides for population and dwelling counts through our GeoSuite tool.

Other data is available through custom tabulations (additional  suppression is applied). The RDC file only goes down to the Dissemination Area (DA) level.”

PCCF+ - Neighbourhood Income Variables

Question:
In PCCF+ 7B, ten neighbourhood income quintile and deciles variables are available - BTIPPE, ATIPPE, QABTIPPE, QNBTIPPE, DABTIPPE, DNBTIPPE, QAATIPPE, QNATIPPE, DAATIPPE, and DNATIPPE ( see PCCF+ 7B Reference Guide, page 17). Prior to PCCF+ 7B, four neighbourhood income (within CMA/CA and national) quintile and decile variables are available – QAIPPE, QNIPPE, DAIPPE, and QDNIPPE (see for example PCCF+ 6D Reference Guide, page 15).

My question is which of the ten PCCF+7B correspond to the earlier definition of the neighbourhood income quintile and decile?

Answer:
We’ve received the following response from subject matter:

In previous versions, the quintiles were based only on After-Tax (AT) income.

So:

QAIPPE = QAATIPPE quintiles, area-based
QNIPPE = QNATIPPE quintiles, national
DAIPPE = DAATIPPE : deciles, area-based
DNIPPE = DNATIPPE : deciles, national

Deprivation Data at DA and CT Level

Question:
I am helping a professor develop a health geography assignment using Canada-wide marginalization data that allows students to explore the modifiable aerials units problem (MAUP) by comparing different geographies of the same dataset (eg. using the CT and DA level of the Canadian Marginalization index). This data exists for the 2006 Canadian Marginalization index (CAN-MARG) at the DA and CT level however, the product seems to have only been continued in 2011 and 2016 for Ontario.  As the years pass, it’s harder to rationalize using the 2006 data in order to get a national picture.

I recently discovered the “Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD)”. It seems like a great fit, but I am wondering if it is available at the CT level? If not, could I get an estimate on a custom tab?

I am aware the 2016 deprivation index is available for 2016 however, it also only appears to be available by DA https://open.canada.ca/data/dataset/c595f11f-5d24-421f-9d9b-d63cd5333904 -- any leads to CT level data for comparison would be helpful.

Answer:
I’ve received the following response from subject matter:


“Unfortunately, the CIMD is only available at the DA level. She can link the CIMD using geographic information (e.g. address, postal code). The client can consult the user guide for additional information on postal code information, specifically the postal code conversion file:  https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/45200001.”

Census Tract Pairs (Journey to Work)

Question:
I have a researcher looking for a dataset that would contain a list of pairs of Census tracts where one CT represents a person’s home location and the other their work location, along with the number of people who make that specific commute (based on the Census Journey to Work questions). Is this data available, perhaps as a custom tabulation?

Answer:
We’ve received the following response from the regional office:

“Yes it is possible.  It would be CT of residence by CT of work within a CMA or CA.
He is looking for specifics CMAs/CAs and for other variables?”

Crime Data at Census Tract Level

Question:
A researcher is looking for crime data at the CT level for 2016 and 2011. As far as I know, data from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey is only available at the provincial or CMA level. I have seen some CT tabulations for Montreal (2001) and Toronto (2006) but that’s all. Short of custom tabulation, is there any other source for this data?

Answer:
Subject matter has responded with the following:

“The Montreal and Toronto reports in question were really one off special analytical products, outside the normal geographical scope of the UCR.  


The lowest geography that the UCR is published at is the police service boundary level, then it goes to CMA, then CANPROV.”

Labour Force Survey Custom Tab Questions

Question:
I have a researcher who is interested in a custom tab from the Labour Force Survey. Can you confirm that the following would be available as a custom tab?

He is looking at assessing socio-economic impacts of changes in the forest products sector – both mill closures and start-ups of new biorefinery ventures – and would like to develop a socio-economic index (or measures) that can be incorporated into Canmet ENERGY (part of Natural Resources Canada) I-BIOREF biorefinery simulation model.

Here are the specifications for the data he is interested in from the LFS. The attached excel file provides an illustration of the data output framework that he would like to see. It also includes a list of all the NAICS and NOC codes he is looking for.

• Number of total workers (all industries)
• Employment income (all workers/all industries)
• Number of workers by industry – NAICS
• Total Employment Income by industry – NAICS
• Number of Employees by Occupation – NOC
• Highest level of Education attainment
• Geographic areas – the CA’s specified will be the focus of case study examinations within my research because each exhibits particular characteristics of change / rejuvenation with respect to the forest sector. The CA’s are: Corner Brook, NL; Val d’Or, QC; Thunder Bay, ON; and Prince George, BC. Additionally, it would also be very useful to obtain the data for two Census Subdivisions in Québec – La Tuque and Matagami – as these two communities exhibit forest industry change characteristics that are not readily observable elsewhere.
• Time frame – the overall time period of focus / interest is 2000 – 2017. Monthly data is not essential – annualised or December end-of-year data would work just fine. My objective in pursuing the LFS data is to obtain more frequent tracking of changes in the communities than is achievable from the Census data.

Answer:

I’ve received the following response from subject matter:

“The level of detail requested is too high for the CA geography.

The Labour force survey is not designed for this level of granularity.”  

2001 to 2016 DA Correspondence File

Question:
A doctoral student is interested in comparing certain variables in the 2001 and 2016 census at the DA level.  They would like to standardize the DAs a certain year, preferably 2001.  There are correspondence files on the StatsCan website at https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/catalogue/92-156-X for each census year relative to the previous census year for 2001 to 2016 (i.e., 2016 to 2011, 2011 to 2006, 2006 to 2001).  However, the student would like to use a correspondence file for 2016 to 2001, if it exists as one file.  Is anyone aware of such a file?  I realize the same task could likely be accomplished programmatically with the three correspondence files available, but I think for this student (and to be honest, for me) it would be easier with one file.

Alternately, is there a way to obtain data for a specific geographic region (Toronto) for the two census years aggregated to 2001 or 2016 DA levels?  For example, in Dataverse we have a semi-custom tabulation https://dataverse.scholarsportal.info/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.5683/SP2/QNO5JG of certain census data from 1971-2011 standardized to 2016 DA geographies, but it doesn’t contain the variables the student is looking for.

Answer:
It looks as if (on our end) we’d have to go the custom tabulation route. Please let me know if you would be interested in pursuing this and I will have the proper individuals get in touch with you.

GSS Victimization - Territories and Geography

Question:
I have a question about microdata files available for the GSS (victimization) cycle 28, or previous. A researcher is interested in joining data from this survey with data from the Census and therefore requires more detailed geographic information than what is available with the DLI PUMF. In the PUMF, the geographic variables only 'go down' to the provincial level. The restricted dataset has many more geographic variables available, which would be better in this case.

However, the microdata files aren't consistent with their inclusion of data from the territories vs provinces. None of the DLI PUMFs contain data from the territories. The cycle 28 RDC dataset only contains variables for responses from the provinces, while the cycle 23 RDC dataset only contains responses from the territories.

Are there any microdata datasets (RDC/DLI) that contain responses from both the provinces and territories, that will have more specific geographic variables?

Answer:
I’ve received the following response from subject matter:

“It is never a good idea to ‘join data’ from two different surveys, given differences in in their populations, methodologies and time frames.

In general, the GSS is only carried out in the provinces, the exception being the Victimization cycle, last completed in 2014.

As of 2019, the GSS targets a sample size of approximately 20,000 respondents. Sometimes a cycle has a higher target sample size if funding has been received for an oversample, either in the form of a geographical sample top-up (i.e., adding more units in certain geographic areas),  a targeted oversample (e.g. focussing on immigrants, youth, or another population group), or a general oversample (i.e., increasing the raw sample size). With a final sample of 20,000 respondents, basic survey estimates are usually available for the national and regional levels, and for some provinces and census metropolitan areas. Depending on the survey topic, the sample size may be sufficient to produce estimates for certain population groups such as lone parent families, certain visible minority groups or seniors.”

Location of shape files and DA information for past of Saskatchewan and NWT

Question:
I need to find a shape file for the northern part of Saskatchewan.  We are putting together a map of the Athabasca Watershed which goes into northern Saskatchewan and very southern part of NWT

Are these available through DLI along with the DA population.

Answer:
I’ve received the following reply from subject matter:
“All our 2016 Census boundary files (including shapefiles) can be found here: http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/geo/bound-limit/bound-limit-2016-eng.cfm

We have provinces and territories, which the client might be interested in or they can search on Open Maps (Federal Geospatial Platform): https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset?collection=fgp&q=  Open Maps contains geography products from various Canadian government agencies, including Statistics Canada.”

Census Data (custom tabs in ODESI)

Question:
I have a researcher working with the tables giving the number of jobs located in each DA for 2006 and 2016(Place of Work DA from http://odesi2.scholarsportal.info/documentation/CENSUS/2016/cen16labour.html and http://odesi2.scholarsportal.info/documentation/CENSUS/2006/TBT/B2020/DOCS/cenb06labour.html), and they have noted a number of DAs missing. The notes section indicates that communities with fewer than 40 people are not included, but given that this data is for place of work are DAs not included if fewer than 40 people report the DA as their place of work (that is my reading based on the data in the table, but I would like to confirm)? If so, is there a possibility of a custom tab to get this data?

DAs missing from tables:

2016:

59530104

59530023

59530206

59530208

59530051

59530055

59530047

59530086

2006 and 2016:

59530049

59530050

Answer:
Subject matter confirmed the following:
Thank you for your query. You are correct. Place of work geography suppression is done on the employed labour force population who worked at home or had a usual place of work, not on the residential population. The minimum population threshold is 40 for any data.

A custom table would not have data for geographies suppressed under this rule.

Population of Alberta Files

Question:
I need to find the population of a number of municipalities in Alberta by dissemination area.  We are trying to create a map with population of part of Alberta.  The map is a river basin.  We have the shape files for the river basin, but I need the dissemination area data so that the files can be joined. 


Are these available on the DLI site?  I saw some files, but wasn't sure exactly which ones to download.

Answer:
I’ve consulted with subject matter on this one and they gave me the following information:

“The client can use Geosuite for this: https://geosuite.statcan.gc.ca/geosuite/en/index

1.      First, search for the province of Alberta. There will be a dropdown with the results, select it, and press the magnifying glass.

2.      Next, click on DA in the hierarchy chart (highlighted in yellow). A list of all of the DAs in Alberta will be listed below.

3.      You can now export this list and select only the columns needed for your analysis (i.e. DAuid and population). You can add or remove these columns with the Show/Hide columns button.

4.      You can now export your data into a .csv file. Note: If you selected specific columns, choose export selection. If you require all of the data that was first loaded, choose export all.

1996 Geographic Attribute File in SPSS

Question:
Does anyone have a SPSS or similar 1996 Geographic Attribute File (GAF) which they could please share as a zip file with us (or the SPSS command file used to prepare this file would be preferred).  As the attached record layout attests, this file has a large number of variables, so this would really save us time.

We are working on a good SPSS syntax file for the 1996 Postal Code Conversion File.  Typically we use GeoSuite for a good labels for Census geography names.  However “GeoRef” 1996 is not 64 bit compatible.

Answer:
There is a record layout in CSV format available in the download zip from the version of the 1996 GAF loaded in the GeoPortal

http://geo1.scholarsportal.info/#r/details/_uri@=3954137243

Not sure if it’s helpful or not, but the spatial data is available in .shp file format (not SPSS).

Food Availability

Question:
I have a researcher who is looking to find the type of data available in CANSIM table 32-10-0054-01 (food available per person per year), but at lower levels of geography (Provincial or even smaller). Specifically for the different types of pork listed in the table.

Is there any source that would do that?

Answer:
Here is the response from subject matter:

“Food available in Canada releases only Canada level.
Because it covers about 200 commodities together, all the commodities do not have the provincial level data. Especially, we do not have the lower level data for Pork. The data source is Market and Industry Service Branch (CFIA).”

Agriculture Census Restricted Microdata

Question:
I have a researcher who is wondering if it is possible to get access to restricted data from the AgCensus e.g, restricted-level geographies below CCS right to individual responses, likely through something akin to an RDC.  Is there a means to do this, or is the researcher dependent on custom tabulations?  I know that RDC’s don’t have AgCensus data, but I don’t know if there is another mechanism for this specialized product.

Answer from Subject Matter:
Subject matter has responded letting us know that the only option they would be able to provide would be in the way of a custom tab. They would need more information in order to give you a quote so please let me know if this is something your researcher would be interested in pursuing, otherwise the RDC’s might be the next best option.

Answer from DLI Members:
I see that the Canadian Centre for Data Development and Economic Research (CDER) has access to a microdata file called “Census of Agriculture Longitudinal File”:

Census of Agriculture Longitudinal File

• Nature: Longitudinal administrative database of farms.
• Usage: The database can be used to analyze the changes that occur on farms over time.
• Content: Unlike the traditional Census of Agriculture data set, which only covers a single year, the linked file connects multiple censuses (1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011). Variables of interest include farm type, farm size, inputs, technology, products as well as economic indicators.
• Coverage period: 1986 to 2011.
• For more documentation on each of the databases, or documentation on other databases, please contact CDER at statcan.cder-cdre.statcan@canada.ca

CDER operates on a cost-recovery basis. Projects must be approved, and access to the files is only available on-site in Ottawa.

The CDER is the repository for business and economic microdata files. The microdata that it provides are detailed enough for complex analyses. For business microdata files, the CDER ensures to maintain the confidentiality of the business respondents.

Answer from Subject Matter:
I find the Annual Crop Inventory to be really valuable since it’s a spatial product available over somewhat of a time series https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/ba2645d5-4458-414d-b196-6303ac06c1c9  (interesting accompaniment to the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI) which is pretty dated at this point).

Location of Work Question + Journey to Work Question

Question:
QUESTION 1
One of our researchers would like the number of jobs (including for workers who work at home) by census tract by location of work for all of Canada. They were told that they might be able to get this through the DLI. Because the researcher needs the location of work and not the location of the residence of the worker, the publicly available census data is no help.

I remember that a subject matter division shared a spreadsheet containing jobs by NAICS for DAs with us (and we were all very happy and grateful). But I can't seem to find a count of jobs by census tract by location of work. Am I missing something?

QUESTION 2
The same researcher would also love to have a table of distance from work to home by Census Tract, with extra bonus points if the "mode of commuting" variable is in there. Essentially, something like the default view of this data table (with no need for the "commuting duration", "time leaving for work", "age", or "sex" variables), but by CT instead of by CMA.

I don't suppose there's a table out there that I've missed that the researcher could use? The "Distance from home to work" variable isn't available in the census profiles.

Answer from DLI List:
Looks like there are some Census, Place of Work custom tabs available through the Map and Data Library, UofT:  https://dataverse.scholarsportal.info/dataverse/MDL?q=place+of+work

Not sure if that covers what you need though.

And, in ODESI there are commuting flows for 2006 CTs here: http://odesi2.scholarsportal.info/documentation/CENSUS/2006/TBT/B2020/DOCS/cenb06customtab.html

Recently, I think someone in the community asked about this data for 2016 because it was heavily written about in the media. It would be great to get a hold of the custom data if it exists or could be made.

Answer from Subject Matter:
I’ve spoken with subject matter and unfortunately information at the CT level is not publicly available (in standard products) for many variables, including journey to work given its precision. Because of this, the information will only be obtainable through a custom tabulation.

Historical Census population data by Census Tracts for 1941

Question:
A geography researcher is looking for historical Census population data by Census Tracts for 1941.

We have previously located:

1951                    https://archive.org/details/1951981951M5NO51953engfra
1956 &1961        https://archive.org/details/1961955281963engfra
1961                    http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/statcan/CS95-541-1961.pdf

The researcher believes there must be Census population data by Census Tracts for 1941 based on the “Census Years” documentation about Census Tracts  at http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/ref/dict/geo013-eng.cfm which indicates there were Census Tracts in 1941. 

Would it be possible to please request some help finding 1941 population data by Census Tracts, or to ask to what this documentation about Census Years is referring? 

Answer:
Here is the response from subject matter:

“The census tract program did start in 1941, however census tracts were called “social areas” when it started, and it seems that only Vancouver and Winnipeg were tracted at that time. Here is the link to that publication: https://archive.org/details/1941981941M32A161941ef

Are you looking for data from a specific area? I noticed the two first links are for Ottawa. This city was only first tracted in 1951 according to our publication “Census tract programme: A review 1941-1981”. I did find data by municipal ward for 1941, if it can be helpful at all: https://archive.org/details/1941981941P7NOA151941ef”

Stats Can Postal Code Conversion and Federal Riding data Files

Question:
Our data team has discovered a rather large discrepancy between the data sets that we received in 2017 and 2018.

In 2017 (25-Aug-2017) we have received the following files:

  * pccfNat_AUG15_fccpNat.txt
  * pcfrfNatFED2013_AUG15_fcpcefNatCEF2013.txt

In 2018 (25-Jun-2018) we have received the following files:

  * pccfNat_fccpNat_062017.txt
  * pcfrf_NatFED2013_062017_fcpcefNatCÉF2013.txt

We have discovered that unusually  large number of postal codes is not getting a match in our system, that prompted us to compare 2017 and 2018 data files. We have discovered that 16,147 postal codes exist in 2017 data file but do not exist in 2018 data file. We have spot checked 74 postal codes on the Canada Post’s web site and have received positive confirmation for 50 of them, meaning that in 50 cases Canada Post web  site would return a list of addresses linked to the given postal code.

To this message is attached an excel file that lists all the postal codes that exist in 2017 file but do not exist in 2018 file.

Answer:
We received the following response from subject matter:

“After doing a little analysis with the provided list of postal code, 10419 postal code from your list are retired.  It is important to note that the PCCF based on 2016 geographies does not contain the retired postal code that retired before 2016.

Postal codes are intended for the distribution of mail by Canada Post. The files undergo changes on a regular basis. In some instances, postal codes are retired and re-birthed with a different deliver mode type or the address information for postal codes is changed, which can break our linkage for our geocoding process.

Many postal code did not go through our geocoding process, therefore did not make it to the PCCF file. Every release we are working on getting these postal code back in the product file. The vast majority of these linkages are created in an automated fashion at the dissemination area, dissemination block or block face level geographies.  Records that do not link are output for manual geocoding.  These records that were previously manually geocoded to the three principle geographies, will now be linked to the census subdivision geography only. They will include only postal codes that do not already appear (already have records) on the main processing table, PCINFO.  These records (postal codes) once linked to the CSD level geography, will then be appended to the PCCF and PCFRF product files.  They will not be written back to PCINFO, as the processing system (PCUS) will attempt to geocode these postal codes with each subsequent month of processing CPC data.

We are working diligently to continually improve the product with each release quarterly as we are working in improving our production tool. ”

CTs for NHS

Question:
Does anyone know where I might hunt down the NHS for Ontario that has all variables at the CT level? I found the Provincial/CD/CSD/DA file, but that’s it.


Any guidance? My researcher wants CT!

Answer:
The complete NHS Profile at CT level is available from Stat Can Census Program website at https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/download-telecharger/comprehensive/comp-csv-tab-nhs-enm.cfm?Lang=E. You’ll find the Ontario data file when you unzip the downloaded CSV or TAB file. The IVT (Beyond 20/20) files are available at https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/details/download-telecharger/comprehensive/comp-ivt-xml-nhs-enm.cfm?Lang=E.

1976 Boundary Files

Question:
I’m trying to track down 1976 CSD and CD boundary files for a researcher here at WLU. Do they exist? Is so, can some one point me in the direction of them? If they don’t exist, does anyone have the backstory on why digitization for this vintage never occurred?

Answer from DLI list:
[There is] a project at UofT to digitize historical census boundary files, in parallel with the OCUL-DATA Historical Census Project.

I am working with a student to create geospatial files for all the census boundaries – going back as far as we can. I believe he has just completed the prairie provinces for 1976.

The digitized maps are available through the Internet Archive – does your researcher need the geo-data or just the pdfs?

Answer from Subject Matter:
We received the following response from subject matter:

“Unfortunately, we do not have CSD/CD boundary files for 1976. We aren’t certain as to why this year was never digitized, however, some thoughts about it are:

— not everything was mapped in the 1970s, and thus there may not have been maps to digitize
— what was mapped tended to be skeletal road networks, and only in the larger population centres, so CD/CSD boundaries may not have existed on any maps
— mapping tended to be more for collection purposes rather than dissemination, so what exists is more for Enumeration Areas, not CD/CSDs, and again only in larger areas
— likely there have not been the financial or human resources to do this work, as Geo’s efforts are usually geared to future censuses, rather than capturing data from past censuses
— most of the older historical information that does exist in a digital format is not readily converted to shapefile or other spatial formats. As in they are old, mainframe files which need to be examined to see if we could even capture the data they contain.

There certainly is a lot of historical information available, but these specific boundaries do not exist in a digital format as of today.”

List of Census Tract Codes for the 2016 Census

Question:
I am looking for a list of all the Census Tract codes used in the 2016 Census. I would like the codes and the geographical location information for the code (i.e., where the is located in Canada).

Answer:
In this case it would be easier to use the CT boundary file.  If you download it from the appropriate Geography page and unzip it, you'll see that there is a dbf as part of the shapefile, and this will include the associated PR and CMA/CA.