Free Data: Changes to Statistics Dissemination Policy and Impact on the Community Data Program
CCSD is in regular communication with Statistics Canada and is aware of the emerging approach being taken regarding dissemination of standard tables and liberalization oflicensing restrictions. The full details of that approach are still being spelled out, with many unanswered questions affecting the needs of members of Community Data Consortia:
· What products will beconsidered “standard”?
· What geographies will be considered “standard”?
· How will the cost of non-standard / customized products be affected?
· How will Statistics Canada’s capacity to respond to our customized data requests be affected?
· How will the changes at Statistics Canada affect other Federal Government departments like Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation?
· What kinds of licensing restrictions should our program put in place to non-membersinterested in accessing the data we acquire at great cost?
While many of these details arestill being worked out, the 2012-2017 CCSD Community Data Program has been designed in anticipation of this approach and other changes taking place at Statistics Canada:
1. The Program will continue to focus on acquiring customized data sets and customized geographies not available as free online products.
2. The Program is partnering with organizations other than Statistics Canada to include a wider diversity of small area data products and analytical tools not freely available.
3. Consistent with its capacity building mandate, the Program will assist members in accessing free data, from Statistics Canada and other organizations.
We look forward to reading your collective questions, concerns and insights regarding this important subject. Please post here!
Update from Amanda Colina at Statistics Canada
We can expect that standard products that are now online (CANSIM) will be free. This includes standard tables and products such as Labour Force Historical Review.
We can expect to continue to pay for anything custom, including custom geographies, custom tabs, Small Area Administration Data (Taxfiler), and Canadian Business Patterns.
We can also expect changes to licensing fees that will apply to all of Statistics Canada data. It will likely look something like the “Open Geography Licensing Agreement” http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/geo/bound-limit/licen...
Today! Consultation on Open Government Initiative
Tell Us What You Think
Since March 2011, the Government of Canada has taken steps to enhance Canadians’ access to data and information to engage Canadians and create opportunities for dialogue.
The Government of Canada is currently seeking your feedback.
Canada’s Open Government consultation is taking place from December 6, 2011, to January 16, 2012. Comments will be posted to this site daily and a summary report highlighting the main themes emerging from the consultation will be made available weekly. You can preview the consultation questions on the Open Government site.
Participate in the consultation
In addition to the online consultations, Treasury Board Secretariat President, Tony Clement will host a moderated tweet chat on Open Government on December 15. This will provide an additional way to take part in this important discussion. The English tweet chat on Open Government will take place on December 15 from 5:00 to 5:45 p.m. EST with a French chat occurring from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m. EST. The hashtag for the English session is #opengovchat and #parlonsgouvert for the French session. The discussion will be hosted on the official Treasury Board Secretariat Twitter accounts @TBS_Canada (English) and @SCT_Canada (French).
A final report on the findings from this consultation will be posted to this site in March 2012. Your input will help define areas of focus for the future of Canada’s Open Government initiative, including Canada’s Open Government action plan for the international Open Government Partnership.
We look forward to receiving your input.
http://open.gc.ca/consult/menu-eng.asp
Open Data Pilot Project
The release of Statistics Canada data is part of the Open Data Pilot Project (www.data.gc.ca).
2011 Census geographic products released today
Available today are four geographic products from the 2011 Census: Boundary Files, Road Network File, Correspondence Files and the Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names. These products represent the first suite of geographic products released from the 2011 Census.
Boundary Files provide geographic limits used for census dissemination and a framework for mapping and spatial analysis. Digital files depict the full extent of the geographic areas, including the coastal water area. Cartographic files depict the geographic areas using only the major land mass of Canada and its coastal islands.
These files contain boundaries of standard geographic areas in effect on January 1, 2011. Digital and cartographic boundary files, portrayed in latitude and longitude coordinates, are available for provinces and territories, census divisions, economic regions, federal electoral districts (2003 Representation Order), census consolidated subdivisions, census subdivisions, census metropolitan areas / census agglomerations, census tracts, dissemination areas and dissemination blocks.
The Road Network File is a digital representation of Canada's national road network, containing information such as street names, types, directions and address ranges. In addition, on each side of every street arc there are unique identifiers and names for the following levels of geography: province/territory, census metropolitan area / census agglomeration, census subdivision.
Roads are ranked according to five levels of detail, suitable for mapping at small to medium scales. Applications may include mapping, geocoding, geographic searching, area delineation, and database maintenance as a source for street names and locations.
Three Correspondence Files provide tabular data showing the correspondence between two vintages of geographic areas. Each correspondence file contains a unique identifier for the 2011 Census geographic area and the corresponding unique identifier for the 2006 Census geographic area. In addition, a relationship flag indicates the degree of correspondence between the geographic areas, facilitating a comparison between 2011 and 2006 census years.
The Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names summarizes changes to municipal boundaries, status and names that occurred between January 2, 2006, and January 1, 2011. Municipal changes are based on information received through provincial and territorial gazettes, letters patent and orders-in-council.
Boundary files are available in three formats: ArcInfo®, Geography Markup Language and MapInfo®. The 2011 Census Boundary Files (92-160-X, 92-163-X, 92-168-X, 92-169-X, 92-171-X), and Boundary Files, Reference Guide (92-160-G) are now available at no cost from the Key resource module of our website, under Publications.
The Road Network File is available in three formats: ArcInfo®, Geography Markup Language and MapInfo®. The 2011 Census Road Network File (92-500-X, free), and Road Network File, Reference Guide (92-500-G, free) are now available.
Correspondence files are available in two formats: Excel® (.xlsx) and Text (.txt). The 2011 Census Correspondence Files (92-156-X, free), and Correspondence Files, Reference Guide (92-156-G, free) are now available.
The Interim List of Changes to Municipal Boundaries, Status, and Names, January 2, 2006 to January 1, 2011 (92F0009X, free), is now available in HTML and PDF formats.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Statistics Canada's National Contact Centre (613-951-8116 or toll-free 1-800-263-1136; infostats@statcan.gc.ca), Communications Division.
News so far...
So, its true! Standard tables from Statistics Canada will be free! That will include anything previously available online plus the possibility of some new stuff.
The Program can funnel resources into acquiring the custom and semi-custom products that will still require processing by Statistics Canada staff and will not be available for free. And the Program will still help members take full advantage of the open source, standard tables, that will be available on the Statistics Canada website.
Wonderful news!
More details from Statistics Canada
What will be available free on Statistics Canada’s website?
Statistics Canada's standard products — including CANSIM data, census data and geography products—will become available free of charge on our website as of February 2012 under a new Open Licence Agreement.
As a firststep, on November 29, 2011, the majority of standard geography data products from the 2011 and 2006 censuses will be offered free of charge under the new agreement.
In February 2012, the 2011 Census standard products available on our website will be offered free of charge at all geography levels. Most of the standard geography data products from the 2001 Census will also become available for free on that date.
The new Open Licence Agreement will be posted on the Statistics Canada website on November 29, 2011.
Why is Geography data being released first?
Geography data are the first product line being prepared. The products being released November 29 (with no data) are establishing a framework for the future release of data products from the 2011 Census.
What is being released November 29?
The products being released are all described in the Preview of Geography Products that was released on our website a few months ago. The link to Geography preview is attached. It will explain what Geography products are coming out tomorrow and those that will follow.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/bsolc/olc-cel/olc-cel?catno=92-144-x&lang=eng
When will 2011 Census data be released, and at what level of geography?
The actual data from the 2011 Census starts to come out on February 8, 2012 with the first release of the Population and Dwelling (P&D) counts. All P&D data down to the 'Block' level of data will be released (as FREE). Descriptions of data products being released for P&D and the remaining releases (including downto what levels of geo) are noted in the Census Preview of products and services that was released on September 21, 2011. The link is attached below.
http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2011/ref/preview-avantgout/index-eng.cfm
Embassy reports Statistics Canada move to open data
November 25, 2011
"Statistics Canada to make all online data free"
Read the article from Embassy here