No.

Recommendations

Statistics Canada Response

Action plans

Accountability

Timeline

1)

Para. 41 - In order to ensure the continued relevance of its data products, Statistics Canada should obtain, document, and analyze ongoing feedback from the full range of its data users.

Agreed.  Statistics Canada consults on a regular basis with its stakeholders and users through a range of mechanisms to obtain broad-based feedback across a wide array of program needs.  As many agency programs are primarily designed to meet the needs of federal and provincial policy departments, these consultations have focused on these users.  Starting in 2014, STC will plan its future consultation activities to ensure that the full range of users, including those from the private sector, municipalities and non-governmental organizations are consulted where appropriate, and the results of these consultations are documented and analyzed.

STC will plan its future consultation activities to ensure that the full range of users, including those from the private sector, municipalities and non-governmental organizations are consulted where appropriate, and the results of these consultations are documented and analyzed.

As part of Statistics Canada’s annual Integrated Strategic Planning Process, each field within Statistics Canada will complete an analysis of priorities and emerging issues in June of each year to inform the annual strategic planning process.  This analysis includes an environmental scan which summarizes feedback received from all its stakeholders and advisory committees.

Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Operations, and Communications

Assistant Chief Statistician, Economic Statistics

Assistant Chief Statistician, Social, Health and Labour Statistics

Starting April 1^st, 2014 and will be ongoing

2)

Para. 55 - Statistics Canada should assess the feasibility of more fully addressing user needs for data from small areas and subpopulations.

Agreed.  The Agency recognizes that there is a need for further small area data.  Starting in November 2013, STC initiated a more extensive dialogue with regional and local governments and agencies, private sector and non-governmental organizations on their needs and how they can be met within the constraints of available resources.  Due to the high cost of producing small area and small population data from surveys, most surveys are necessarily designed to produce data at the national, provincial and territorial levels.  STC continues to explore and use alternative sources to provide small area information in particular through an increased use of administrative data.  The Agency is further exploring innovative methods for the production of small area estimates, using surveys or combining them with other sources of information to enrich the information provided through its ongoing program.  As it does at the end of every Census cycle, the Agency is conducting an extensive evaluation of the 2011 NHS in order to further enhance its methodology and to address data requirements for sub-provincial geographic areas and subpopulations for the 2016 Census Program.

Beginning in November 2013, Statistics Canada initiated extensive dialogue with a number of municipalities to explore avenues for making effective use of existing administrative data held by municipalities to fill data gaps with particular attention being given to the need for small area information.

In early 2014, Statistics Canada recruited representation from the municipal government level to its National Statistics Council.  Council membership is being broadened to better represent the range of data users and stakeholders in the national statistical system.

Statistics Canada is undertaking two methodological studies:

• The first is to assess the feasibility of utilizing Canada Revenue Agency data files with the Census to replace the income question asked on the NHS in order to produce quality income data for an increased number of small regions.  This study will be completed in the fall 2014.
• The second is to study new methods that could be used to optimize data collection operations for the NHS in order to reduce the number of small areas and small populations that have low response rates, hence increase the numbers that could be published.  This could include new sampling methods, new dissemination approaches, or the re-definition of small areas. This study will be completed by the end of 2015.

Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Operations, and Communications

Assistant Chief Statistician, Economic Statistics

Assistant Chief Statistician Social, Health and Labour Statistics

Starting in November 2013 and will be ongoing

3)

Para. 45 - To ensure that its subject matter advisory committees support the Agency to better understand user needs, a formal and routine process should be implemented to ensure the full range of users is represented on them.  There should also be turnover in their membership to ensure the Agency is aware of, and responsive to, evolving needs.

Agreed.  In order to maintain the relevance and effectiveness of its programs, STC uses a range of mechanisms to consult widely and frequently with data users and stakeholders across a wide array of program areas.  The Agency will formalize its membership renewal process for subject matter advisory committees by January 2015 to ensure that the fullest possible range of users are represented on these committees and that the Agency is formally aware of and responsive to evolving user needs.

The Agency will formalize its membership renewal process for subject matter advisory committees by January 2015 to ensure that the fullest possible range of users is represented on these committees.

All Advisory Committees will be asked to review their mandates, directives, and their membership to ensure that the fullest possible range of users is represented and that members are the right complement to deliver on the committee’s mandate.

All new members appointed by the Chief Statistician to an Advisory Committee will be appointed on a three year term with the possibility of renewal. 

Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Operations, and Communications

Assistant Chief Statistician, Economic Statistics

Assistant Chief Statistician Social, Health and Labour Statistics

January 2015

4)

Para 61 - Statistics Canada should ensure that the guidance it provides for users of its data is comprehensive and up to date, and that it supports the needs of the full range of users.

The Agency recognizes the need to ensure that guidance it provides to users of its data is as comprehensive and up to date as possible.  As its core strategy to support users with the interpretation of the data, the Agency made a strategic direction to invest and develop the Integrated Meta Database.  To complement the Integrated Meta Database, the Agency will continue to provide as required and as appropriate, more detailed technical user guides for some of its main on-going statistical programs.  To further support users the Agency will identify by 2015 which statistical programs would require a more detailed and updated technical user guide and will ensure that these guides are updated on a more current basis as programs are redesigned.

The Agency will identify by 2015 which statistical programs would require a more detailed and updated technical user guide beyond the basic level of documentation provided for all programs.

On April 1, 2014, the Agency launched a quality review on ‘program documentation.’  The objective of this review is to assess the level, and the medium necessary for documentation for the statistical programs of the Agency, and the frequency for updating documentation. Recommendations from the review will be presented to the Agency’s Executive Management Board in the Fall of 2014.  Implementation of the recommendations would begin no later than January 2015. Timely updating of program documentation will be ensured through the Agency’s capital plan.

Assistant Chief Statistician, Analytical Studies, Methodology and Statistical Infrastructure

Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Operations, and Communications

Assistant Chief Statistician, Economic Statistics

Assistant Chief Statistician Social, Health and Labour Statistics

January 2015

5)

Para. 71 - Statistics Canada should systematically assess whether it should continue conducting cost-recovery work after external funding ceases to ensure that priority data needs are met.

Agreed.  The Agency’s cost-recovery program exists to provide other organizations with a mechanism to have a statistical program delivered when that program cannot be accommodated within STC’s base budget.  Starting in April 2014, the Agency will direct program managers to review any newly discontinued cost-recovery program.  In cases where these changes are considered to be of ongoing strategic importance for the national statistical systems, proposals should be submitted to the annual planning process for possible funding from the Agency’s base budget.  These proposals will be evaluated in light of competing priorities and proposals given available funding.

Beginning in the 2015/16 planning cycle the Agency will direct program managers to review all cost recovery programs including any newly discontinued ones.

This strategic review will be documented in the economic and social statistics domains and will be brought forward to the Executive Management Board for discussion in June of each year.

Following discussion and dependent on the outcome of the discussion, some of these programs may be brought forward as part of the Agency’s annual planning process for possible funding in the 2015/16 planning cycle from the Agency’s base budget.

Assistant Chief Statistician, Census, Operations, and Communications

Assistant Chief Statistician, Economic Statistics

Assistant Chief Statistician Social, Health and Labour Statistics

April 2014 and will be ongoing