Postal Codes Shape File

Question:

Hello DLI,

A researcher has asked me if there are postal code shapefiles available. We initially looked at the shapefiles for FSA boundaries from StatsCan, but those areas are too big for the researchers needs. Any advice? Thanks!

Have a lovely day! 

Answer:

DMTI has shapefiles of FSAs and LDUs in their CanMap Postal Suite product.

What do you mean “too big”? If the extent is too large, you can clip the files to a geographic region using a GIS application. If the FSAs are too big (ie, too large an area), then the LDUs (six digit postal codes) may be sufficient.

Tax return data for postal codes

Question

I have a researcher who wants CRA tax return data at a six digit postal code level. Would this be a custom tabulation?

Answer

We would not release data down to the 6 digit postal code level, this would be a research proposal request in the RDCs.

For more information, see http://www.statcan.gc.ca/eng/rdc/process

Postal Codes and income

Question

I have been asked for help in finding most recent income levels and related postal codes. Also, separately, can I look up education levels and postal codes in same city?

Answer

They can find Income and Education data in the 2011 NHS profile here (they just need to type in the search):

http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E

For postal codes, they would need to contact the closes regional office for custom data request.

As well, the following may be of use/interest:

We have the census profile at the postal code level. The profile includes characteristics such as population, age, sex, dwellings, families, marital status and language.

Home
Census Program
Data products
Census Profile

We also have NHS Profile.
Home
Census Program
Data products, 2011
NHS Profile

Postal Code Boundary Data

Question 

I have a researcher who is looking for postal code boundary data for Ontario. She has postal code point data right now but needs to know the boundaries of each postal code. Where can I find this information?

Answer

The Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) provides a link between six-character postal codes and standard Census geographic areas such as dissemination areas, census subdivisions and census tracts. It also provides a latitude and longitude coordinate for a point representing the approximate location of the postal code to support mapping. You can access the PCCF files on the DLI FTP and EFT sites.

For more information, review the PCCF reference guide
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/92-153-g/92-153-g2011002-eng.htm

Income Data at Postal Code

Question

Are there any income data available at the postal code level. If yes, can you point me in the right direction?

Thank you.

Answer

The Profile for Canada, Provinces, Territories and Forward Sortation Areas, 2006 Census (94-581-XCB2006003) provides income data at the FSA level (first three characters of the postal code).

http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/rel/Rp-eng.cfm?TABID=1&LANG=E&A=R&APATH=3&DETAIL=0&DIM=0&FL=A&FREE=0&GC=01&GID=841141&GK=1&GRP=1&O=D&PID=94535&PRID=0&PTYPE=89103&S=0&SHOWALL=0&SUB=0&Temporal=2006&THEME=81&VID=0&VNAMEE=&VNAMEF=&D1=0&D2=0&D3=0&D4=0&D5=0&D6=0

The 2006 Census Census Tract Profiles include income data and have a search by postal code option which may be of interest to your client.

http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-597/index.cfm?Lang=E

Please let me know if these products don't meet your user's needs and I will be pleased to look into this further and to recommend other products.