PACP Committee News Release
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Standing Committee on Public Accounts |
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Comité permanent des comptes publics |
For immediate release
NEWS RELEASE
STATISTICS CANADA ENSURES THE QUALITY OF ITS INFORMATION BUT NEEDS TO MEET USER NEEDS MORE FULLY
Ottawa, November 19, 2014 -
Overall, Statistics Canada applied its quality assurance framework but it needs to make sure that its products are relevant to user needs, especially for small geographic areas, according to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts’ report presented today in the House of Commons by Committee Chair David Christopherson.
Statistics Canada provides a vitally important service to governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations and researchers by generating statistical information about Canada’s demographics, society and economic conditions.
In its Spring 2014 Report, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) released a performance audit that examined whether Statistics Canada ensures the quality of key socio-economic information it produces and generates this information efficiently and in response to priority user needs. The OAG concluded that Statistics Canada applied its quality assurance framework to ensure the quality of the statistics programs examined by the OAG, but improvements are needed to better meet user needs. For example, the need for data from small geographic areas and subpopulations was not being fully met.
In its report, the Committee notes that Statistics Canada has developed a strong reputation for the quality of its data, methodologies and its efficiency. In order to maintain that reputation, Statistics Canada continuously needs to ensure that its quality framework is up to date and is being implemented.
In order to make sure that Statistics Canada addresses the OAG’s recommendations and continues to produce high-quality statistical products in an efficient manner, the Committee recommends that Statistics Canada provide the Committee with a report by 30 April 2015 outlining its progress in implementing the recommendations.
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