Statistics Canada Data Research Articles

Building access to linked data for program evaluation: lessons and opportunities from the evaluation of a pan-Canadian skills training initiative

In recent years, Canada’s statistical agency (Statistics Canada) has developed sophisticated linkage infrastructure through their Social Data Linkage Environment (SDLE), linking internal data sets held by Statistics Canada and external data held by researchers. While the SDLE presents an opportunity for better measurement of the effectiveness of policies and programs, to date it has not been used for this purpose outside of government, instead largely supporting academic research projects. This session presents a novel approach to program evaluation in the Canadian context, using the SDLE Statistics Canada administrative data alongside independently collected program data from multiple service providers to evaluate the outcomes and effectiveness of a portfolio of skills training programs. Our approach aims to both rigorously evaluate the long-term outcomes of participants in this portfolio of public skills training programs, and develop a replicable proof-of-concept for using linked data infrastructure in Canada to support program evaluations. Through this initiative, we identify the key design features needed to support this use case for linked data, including study design parameters, necessary datasets and linkage processes, and privacy and data governance policies. Finally, we identify opportunities for future replication of this approach in Canada, including strategies for expedited linkage and analysis of evaluation results that maintain privacy requirements. We find that using the SDLE infrastructure for program evaluation is both feasible and desirable, however barriers exist to replicating this approach, including sectoral capacity for collecting linkable data, and transposing linkage and confidentiality rules from an academic research to a program evaluation context.

Birth and postnatal outcomes among infants of immigrant parents of different admission categories and parents born in Canada: a population-based retrospective study.

Most studies of disparities in birth and postnatal outcomes by parental birthplace combine all immigrants into a single group. We sought to evaluate heterogeneity among immigrants in Canada by comparing birth and postnatal outcomes across different immigration categories. We conducted a population-based retrospective study using Statistics Canada data on live births and stillbirths (1993-2017) and infant deaths (1993-2018), linked to parental immigration data (1960-2017). We classified birthing parents as born in Canada, economic-class immigrants, family-class immigrants, or refugees, and evaluated differences in preterm births, small-for-gestational-age (SGA) and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) births, stillbirths, and infant deaths among singleton births by group. Among 7 980 650 births, 1 715 050 (21.5%) were to immigrants, including 632 760 (36.9%) in the economic class, 853 540 (49.8%) in the family class, and 228 740 (13.4%) refugees. Compared with infants of Canadian-born birthing parents, infants of each of the 3 immigrant groups had higher risk of preterm birth, SGA birth, and stillbirth, but lower risk of LGA birth and neonatal death. Compared with infants of economic-class immigrants, infants of refugees had higher risk of early preterm birth (0.9% v. 0.8%, adjusted risk ratio [RR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.15) and LGA birth (9.2% v. 7.5%, adjusted RR 1.12, 95% CI 1.10-1.15), but lower risk of SGA birth (10.2% v. 11.0%, adjusted RR 0.92, 95% CI 0.90-0.94), while infants of family-class immigrants had higher risk of SGA birth (12.2% v. 11.0%, adjusted RR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.02). Risk of stillbirth, neonatal death, and overall infant death did not differ significantly among immigrant groups. Heterogeneity exists in outcomes of infants born to immigrants to Canada across immigration categories. These results highlight the importance of disaggregating immigrant populations in studies of health disparities.

Population-Based Differences in Cancer Incidence between Immigrants and Non-Immigrants in Canada from 1992-2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate if there are differences in cancer incidence between immigrants and non-immigrants in Canada. We hypothesized that immigrants have lower cancer incidence compared to non-immigrants. In this retrospective study, a linked-database approach was employed using Statistics Canada data. The Canadian Cancer Registry and Canadian Vital Statistics Database were linked with the 1991 Census cohort and the cohort was followed from 1992-2015 for cancer incidence. Excluded persons included Census non-respondents, institutional residents, those living on reserves and those less than 25 years of age. Sampling and bootstrap weights were used to ensure the sample represented the Canadian population and for statistical analyses. Total unweighted and weighted sample was 2,585,160 and 17,002,560, respectively which provided adequate power to answer the research question. Multivariate logistic regression and cox regression models included age, sex, household income, marital status, highest degree of education, knowledge of Canada's official languages (English or French), immigrant status and region of birth. Subcategories of immigrants were created based on time spent in Canada (0-4, 5-9, 10-19, 20+ years). Raw data showed that 16.8% of immigrants and 15.9% of non-immigrants had cancer. After adjusting, logistic regression analyses showed that immigrants had lower odds of any cancer diagnoses in comparison with non-immigrants (OR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.92,0.93], p<.001), as well as lung (OR = 0.74, 95% CI [0.72-0.75], p<.001); breast (OR = 0.96, 95% CI [0.94-0.98], p = .001); colorectal (OR = 0.93, 95% CI [0.91-0.95], p<.001) and head and neck cancer (OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.81-0.90], p<.001). However, immigrants had higher odds of stomach cancer and non-cervix gynecological cancers (OR = 1.39, 95% CI [1.32-1.46]; OR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.02-1.10]), respectively. Hazard ratios were lower for immigrants in comparison to the Canadian-born but increased based on time spent in Canada (0-4 years: 0.77, 95% CI [0.71-0.84], p<.001; 5-9 years: 0.82, 95% CI [0.75-0.89], p<.001; 10-19 years: 0.90, 95% CI [0.82-0.98], p = .011). This study demonstrates a significant difference in cancer incidence between immigrants and non-immigrants. These results support current research in the observation of a 'healthy immigrant effect' (HIE) which convey that immigrants have better health outcomes than their native-born counterparts, with the effect decreasing over time spent in the host country. Since we controlled for demographic and socio-economic factors, we propose other factors to be contributing to the HIE such as individual-level health behaviors including smoking, diet and access to screening services. While it points to a HIE, we propose this phenomenon to be more complex due to the possibility of under-reporting of cases or differences in health behaviors, warranting further studies in this area.

Exploring the intersectionality of characteristics among those who experienced opioid overdoses: A cluster analysis.

As Canada continues to experience an opioid crisis, it is important to understand the intersection between the demographic, socioeconomic and service use characteristics of those experiencing opioid overdoses to better inform prevention and treatment programs. The Statistics Canada British Columbia Opioid Overdose Analytical File (BCOOAF) represents people's opioid overdoses between January 2014 and December 2016 (n = 13,318). The BCOOAF contains administrative health data from British Columbia linked to Statistics Canada data, including on health, employment, social assistance and police contacts. Cluster analysis was conducted using the k-prototypes algorithm. The results revealed a six-cluster solution, composed of three groups (A, B and C), each with two distinct clusters (1 and 2). Individuals in Group A were predominantly male, used non-opioid prescription medications and had varying levels of employment. Individuals in Cluster A1 were employed, worked mostly in construction, had high incomes and had a high rate of fatal overdoses, while individuals in Cluster A2 were precariously employed and had varying levels of income. Individuals in Group B were predominantly female; were mostly taking prescription opioids, with about one quarter or less receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT); mostly had precarious to no employment; and had low to no income. People in Cluster B1 were primarily middle-aged (45 to 65 years) and on social assistance, while people in Cluster B2 were older, more frequently used health services and had no social assistance income. Individuals in Group C were primarily younger males aged 24 to 44 years, with higher prevalence of having experienced multiple overdoses, were medium to high users of health care services, were mostly unemployed and were recipients of social assistance. Most had multiple contacts with police. Those in Cluster C1 predominantly had no documented use of prescription opioid medications, and all had no documented OAT, while all individuals in Cluster C2 were on OAT. The application of machine learning techniques to a multidimensional database enables an intersectional approach to study those experiencing opioid overdoses. The results revealed distinct patient profiles that can be used to better target interventions and treatment.

Burden of Severe Illness Associated With Laboratory-Confirmed Influenza in Adults Aged 50-64 Years, 2010-2011 to 2016-2017.

Understanding the burden of influenza is necessary to optimize recommendations for influenza vaccination. We describe the epidemiology of severe influenza in 50- to 64-year-old residents of metropolitan Toronto and Peel region, Canada, over 7 influenza seasons. Prospective population-based surveillance for hospitalization associated with laboratory-confirmed influenza was conducted from September 2010 to August 2017. Conditions increasing risk of influenza complications were as defined by Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization. Age-specific prevalence of medical conditions was estimated using Ontario health administrative data. Population rates were estimated using Statistics Canada data. Over 7 seasons, 1228 hospitalizations occurred in patients aged 50-64 years: 40% due to A(H3N2), 30% A(H1N1), and 22% influenza B. The average annual hospitalization rate was 15.6, 20.9, and 33.2 per 100 000 in patients aged 50-54, 55-59, and 60-64 years, respectively; average annual mortality was 0.9/100 000. Overall, 33% of patients had received current season influenza vaccine; 963 (86%) had ≥1 underlying condition increasing influenza complication risk. The most common underlying medical conditions were chronic lung disease (38%) and diabetes mellitus (31%); 25% of patients were immunocompromised. The average annual hospitalization rate was 6.1/100 000 in those without and 41/100 000 in those with any underlying condition, and highest in those with renal disease or immunocompromise (138 and 281 per 100 000, respectively). The case fatality rate in hospitalized patients was 4.4%; median length of stay was 4 days (interquartile range, 2-8 days). The burden of severe influenza in 50- to 64-year-olds remains significant despite our universal publicly funded vaccination program. These data may assist in improving estimates of the cost-effectiveness of new strategies to reduce this burden.

Outcomes in octogenarians after thoracoabdominal and juxtarenal aortic aneurysm repair using fenestrated-branched devices justifies treatment

ObjectiveTo compare outcomes between octogenarians and nonoctogenarians undergoing thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair and juxtarenal aortic aneurysm repair using branched and/or fenestrated endovascular devices (F/BEVAR) and compare octogenarian survival to population survival statistics from Ontario, Canada. MethodsPatients who underwent F/BEVAR at a single institution between 2007 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed with a median follow-up of 3.3 years (interquartile range, 1.6-5.3). The median survival of an average 84-year-old Ontarian from Canada, adjusted for a male:female ratio of 4:1, was retrieved from publicly available Statistics Canada data. ResultsIn total, 68 octogenarians (25.8%) and 196 nonoctogenarians (74.2%) were included (mean age, 83.5 ± 3.0 vs 71.9 ± 5.8 years; P ≤ .001). The maximum aneurysm size was significantly larger in octogenarians (68.9 ± 11.4 mm vs 65.4 ± 10.0 mm; P = .017). No differences in the number of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repairs (29.4% vs 38.3%; P = .19) or operative technical success (92.6% vs 85.7%; P = .136) were observed between the two cohorts. Postoperatively, no significant differences in overall in-hospital mortality (7.3% vs 5.1%; P = .49), elective in-hospital mortality (6.1% vs 4.4%; P = .49), stroke (1.5% vs 3.6%; P = .384), or spinal cord ischemia (2.9% vs 9.2%; P = .094) were seen between octogenarians and nonoctogenarians. There was no difference in survival at 4 years between the two cohorts (62.9% vs 71.1%; P = .22), however, survival at 6 years was significantly lower for octogenarians (44.5% vs 64.1%; hazard ratio, 1.96; P = .02). The cumulative rate of reintervention (44.1% vs 41.3%; P = .84) and freedom from branch instability (67.6% vs 73.5%; P = .33) at 6 years were not different between the two groups. When comparing octogenarians who survived to discharge from index hospitalization after F/BEVAR with 84-year-old Ontarians unmatched for comorbidities, a survival difference of 4.8% and 11.1% was noted at 4 and 6 years, respectively. ConclusionsF/BEVAR in octogenarians is associated with no differences in technical success or postoperative adverse outcomes when compared with their younger counterparts. Octogenarians had increased mortality after 4 years and their survival at 4 years was comparable with that of an 84-year-old Ontarian. F/BEVAR was safe and effective in octogenarians deemed fit for intervention. Further research into preoperative patient selection and improving perioperative outcomes is needed.

The problem with parity: Women faculty and English doctoral programs in Canada

Featuring original data, this article examines an elaborate network of gendered patterns in the faculty labor pool for the twenty-two English doctoral programs in Canada. Although the gendered distributions seem to approach numerical parity, the more nuanced the analyses, the less equitable these distributions appear. When juxtaposed with Statistics Canada data on English doctoral recipients, such patterns betray unsettling structural inequities for women scholars. Women have earned over 60% of the English PhDs in Canada in the previous two decades, but these numbers have not materialized in the professoriat. Instead, a man with an English PhD has enjoyed a 50% greater chance than a similarly credentialed woman of garnering a tenure-track position, in departments both with and without doctoral programs. Women are more likely than men to teach in departments without PhD programs, to teach outside the tenure stream, and to be pushed out of academe altogether. Along with a constellation of frequently discussed impediments, one ubiquitous but unexamined logic understood to benefit women English PhD holders actually disadvantages them in competitions for tenure-track positions: the commonplace belief that numerical gender balance among tenure-track and tenured faculty in an English department constitutes parity. In practice, producing such gender balance not only fails to achieve equity in hiring but helps to facilitate the overhiring of men.

What proportion of the price of a typical alcoholic beverage is taxation in Canada and why does it matter?

Canadian distillers and brewers have claimed that between 50% and 80% of the price of alcoholic drinks are government taxes. These claims were made in campaigns to decrease alcohol taxation. We investigated these claims using publicly available Statistics Canada data and provincial-level product sales data and breakdowns of the prices of typical alcohol beverages in major market sectors. In all cases, the rate of total sales tax and excise taxation are mostly between 20% and 30% of final retail prices, well below the industry claims.

An application and framework for evaluating emergency department networks using location analysis and geographic information systems

In this paper we use fundamental location science models to evaluate how well a network of Emergency Departments (EDs) covers a population and to investigate a number of realistic changes. The parameters for the models are determined using Statistics Canada data and geographical information systems. The fundamental models are reformulated to account for the location of existing facilities to support brownfield analysis and benchmarking of the existing ED networks found in three Canadian provinces. Focusing on one province, Nova Scotia, a number of changes to the network are investigated including adding and removing EDs and extending the province’s collaborative emergency centre program. By adapting the fundamental models and using standardized and publicly available data sets we provide a framework for other jurisdictions wanting to evaluate their ED networks and changes to them. This is a necessary step to optimize the capability, distribution, and mix of EDs in a given geographic region.

Women in the IT Sector: Queen Bee and Gender Judo Strategies

Women in IT are a minority and the situation is not improving. Data from Statistics Canada from 1991 to 2011 show the engineering sectors do not count very many women. Thus, it is observed that while Canada has policies on gender equity and women should be considered as having the right to work in any sector, the reality is quite different, as is indicated in Statistics Canada data. We observe a low presence of women in the IT sector, a well-paid sector that should be of interest, and women continue to be employed in traditionally female, often low-paid, occupations. We thus wanted to understand how women in IT deal with their minority status in this sector. What are the main obstacles minority women in the IT sector face in their day-to-day lives? How do they deal with these? Do they use ‘queen bee’ responses to be promoted? What is it in the IT sector that motivates their work? These are all questions that have interested us and the results help us to better understand the causes of women’s low representation in the IT sector. Our research is based on a qualitative approach, with interviews of women in the IT sector in Quebec (Canada).

How many alcohol-attributable deaths and hospital admissions could be prevented by alternative pricing and taxation policies? Modelling impacts on alcohol consumption, revenues and related harms in Canada.

In 2017, Canada increased alcohol excise taxes for the first time in over three decades. In this article, we describe a model to estimate various effects of additional tax and price policies that are predicted to improve health outcomes. We obtained alcohol sales and taxation data for 2016/17 for all Canadian jurisdictions from Statistics Canada and product-level sales data for British Columbia. We modelled effects of alternative price and tax policies - revenue-neutral taxes, inflation-adjusted taxes and minimum unit prices (MUPs) - on consumption, revenues and harms. We used published price elasticities to estimate impacts on consumption and revenue and the International Model for Alcohol Harms and Policies (InterMAHP) to estimate impacts on alcohol-attributable mortality and morbidity. Other things being equal, revenue-neutral alcohol volumetric taxes (AVT) would have minimal influence on overall alcohol consumption and related harms. Inflation-adjusted AVT would result in 3.83% less consumption, 329 fewer deaths and 3762 fewer hospital admissions. A MUP of $1.75 per standard drink (equal to 17.05mL ethanol) would have reduced consumption by 8.68% in 2016, which in turn would have reduced the number of deaths by 732 and the number of hospitalizations by 8329 that year. Indexing alcohol excise taxes between 1991/92 and 2016/17 would have resulted in the federal government gaining approximately $10.97 billion. We estimated this could have prevented 4000-5400 deaths and 43 000-56 000 hospitalizations. Improved public health outcomes would be made possible by (1) increasing alcohol excise tax rates across all beverages to compensate for past failures to index rates, and (2) setting a MUP of at least $1.75 per standard drink. While reducing alcohol-caused harms, these tax policies would have the added benefit of increasing federal government revenues.

The alcohol deficit: Canadian government revenue and societal costs from alcohol.

This summary article compares government revenue from the sale and distribution of alcohol to the societal costs caused by alcohol use for the year 2014. Statistics Canada data reported government revenue of $10.9 billion; however, this was offset by net societal costs of $14.6 billion, as reported by Canada's national substance use surveillance system, the Canadian Substance Use Costs and Harms project. The societal costs include health care, economic loss of production, criminal justice and other direct costs. Though revenue from alcohol sales has been described as a benefit to public coffers, accounting that includes costs incurred shows that all provinces and territories in Canada are running an alcohol deficit, totalling $3.7 billion nationally.

Brain cancer survival in Canada 1996-2008: effects of sociodemographic characteristics.

Literature suggests that factors such as rural residence and low socioeconomic status (ses) might contribute to disparities in survival for Canadian cancer patients because of inequities in access to care. However, evidence specific to brain cancer is limited. The present research estimates the effects of rural or urban residence and ses on survival for Canadian patients diagnosed with brain cancer. Adults diagnosed with primary malignant brain tumours during 1996-2008 were identified through the Canadian Cancer Registry. Brain tumours were classified using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (3rd edition) site and histology codes. Hazard ratios (hrs) and 95% confidence intervals (cis) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Events were restricted to individuals whose underlying cause of death was cancer-related. Postal codes were used to match patient records with Statistics Canada data for rural or urban residence and neighbourhood income as a surrogate measure of ses. Of 25,700 patients included in the analysis, 78% died during the study period, 21% lived in rural areas, and 19% were in the lowest income group. A modest variation in survival by rural compared with urban residence was observed for patients with glioblastoma (first 5 weeks after diagnosis hr: 0.86; 95% ci: 0.79 to 0.99) and oligoastrocytoma (first 3 years after diagnosis hr: 1.41; 95% ci: 1.03 to 1.93). Small effects of low compared with high income were seen for patients with glioblastoma (first 1.5 years after diagnosis hr: 1.15; 95% ci: 1.08 to 1.22) and diffuse astrocytoma (first 6 months after diagnosis hr: 1.17; 95% ci: 1.00 to 1.36). Our analysis did not yield evidence of strong effects of rural compared with urban residence or ses strata on survival in brain cancer. However, some variation in survival for patients with specific histologies warrants further research into the mechanisms by which rural or urban residence and income stratum influences survival.

LO37: Prevalence of cigarette smoking amongst adult emergency department patients

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is a priority public health concern, and a leading cause of death and disability globally. While the smoking prevalence in Canada is approximately 13-18%, the proportion of smokers among emergency department (ED) patients has been found to be significantly higher. This disparity primes the emergency department as a critical environment to provide smoking cessation counselling and support. Methods: A verbal questionnaire was administered to adult patients (18+) presenting to Royal University, Saskatoon City, and St. Paul's Hospital ED's. Patients were excluded if they were underage, too ill, or physically/mentally unable to complete the questionnaire independently. Patients’ smoking habits were also correlated with Fagerstrom tobacco dependence scores, chief complaints, Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS) scores, and willingness to partake in ED specific cessation counselling. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS software to determine smoking prevalence and compared to Statistics Canada data using chi-square tests. Results: In total, 1190 eligible patients were approached, and 1078 completed the questionnaire. Adult Saskatoon ED patients demonstrated a cigarette smoking prevalence of 19.6%, which is significantly higher than the general adult Saskatchewan public at 15.1% (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Comparing smoking and non-smoking cohorts, there are no significant differences in CTAS scores (p = 0.60). Of the proposed cessation interventions, ED cessation counselling was most popular among patients (62.4%), followed by receiving a pamphlet (56.2%), and being contacted by a smokers’ quit line (49.5%). Out of the smoking cohort, 51.4% indicated they want to quit smoking, and would be willing to partake in ED-specific cessation counselling, if available. Additionally, 88.1% of current smokers started smoking when they were less than 19 years old. Conclusion: The higher smoking prevalence demonstrated in ED patients highlights the need for a targeted intervention program that is feasible for the fast-paced environment. Quit attempts have been demonstrated to be more efficacious with repeated interventions, which could be achieved by training ED staff to conduct brief motivational interviews and faxing referrals to a smokers' quit line for follow-up. Furthermore, pediatric ED's could be a valuable location for cigarette smoking screening, as the majority began smoking in their adolescence.

Combining feminist intersectional and community-engaged research commitments: Adaptations for scoping reviews and secondary analyses of national data sets

As Hankivsky &amp; Cormier (2011) and Denis (2008) note, the theoretical evolution of intersectionality has outpaced its methodological development. While past work has contributed to our understanding of how to apply intersectionality in research (CRIAW-ICREF &amp; DAWN-RAFH 2014; Morris &amp; Bunjan 2007; Simpson 2009), gaps persist. Drawing on a four-year community-university research collaboration called ‘Changing public services: Women and intersectional analysis’, we explore the incorporation of feminist intersectional and community-engaged research commitments into secondary data analyses, specifically a scoping review and secondary analyses of two Statistics Canada data sets. We discuss our application of these commitments across all stages of designing and undertaking these analyses, in particular drawing into focus the importance of dialogue and deliberation throughout our process. Our application of feminist intersectional and community-engaged commitments – including prioritising community benefit and practising self-reflexivity – revealed gaps and silences in the data, in turn improving our understanding of differences in people’s experiences, our critiques of policies and our identification of new research questions. The lessons learned, we conclude, are valuable for scholars, whether or not community engagement is central to their scholarly commitment.&#x0D; Keywordsfeminist intersectionality, community-engaged research, scoping review, logistic regression, community-university partnerships, Canadian public services

Forever young? The crisis of generational renewal on Canada's farms

There are fewer and fewer young people actively farming in Canada. Farmers under the age of 35 are leaving farming at twice the rate of the general farm population. As a result, Canada faces a crisis of generational renewal on its farms. This article explores the factors that mitigate against young people taking up farming. Using an analytical framework in part derived from the work of Henry Bernstein and applied to Statistics Canada data, the article demonstrates that there is an ongoing income crisis, a growing problem of farmland accessibility and costs associated with farm machinery, unrestrained increases in the power and profit-share of agribusiness transnationals, and a retreat of governments from public-interest regulation. In doing so, the article provides an evidence-based analysis of the structural factors and forces driving Canada's crisis of generational renewal on its farms.

Does a Growing Income Gap Affect Political Attitudes?

Few have asked about political implications of increasing income inequalities in Canada. Over several generations, those in higher echelons have enjoyed considerable growth, while those in lower tiers have seen no growth, or worse, declines. This leads us to ask whether there also exists a bifurcation of political attitudes, with those in the lower income tiers showing more negative orientations compared to those who fare much better. More precisely, we examine whether growing income inequality—mainly the growing income gap—has any measurable effect on political attitudes. We approach this study by incorporating econometric data from Statistics Canada and survey data from the Canadian Election Study, spanning from the early 1990s to 2011.

Statistics Canada Data Collection on Inuit: The Importance of Consultation and Context

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission underlined the importance of knowing the history and context of Indigenous peoples in Canada, and how today’s institutions continue to be shaped by this legacy with detrimental effects. This article applies that lens to Statistics Canada data collection and reporting on Indigenous groups, particularly Inuit. Statistics Canada has already made strides in terms of consultations with national Indigenous organizations, but improvements can be made in more accurately capturing and describing Indigenous populations. These include: reviewing the definition of Métis, developing methods to include reserves and institutions (“collective dwellings”) fully, outreach strategies and methodologies to include transient and homeless persons, and providing both past and present contextual information to understand better the data and to avoid inadvertently contributing to stereotypes.

Do Economic Principal Applicants Work in Their Intended Regulated Occupation? Introducing the National Household Survey and Immigration Landing File Linkage Database

Immigrants who come to Canada as economic principal applicants are selected for their potential to contribute to the Canadian economy. This research introduces a Statistics Canada data set, the 2011 National Household Survey and Immigration Landing File, which brings the pre- and post-landing information together. Occupational match rates and benchmarks are calculated for selected regulated occupations that are covered by the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Match rates are based on economic principal applicants’ intended four-digit National Occupation Code (NOC) occupations as stated on the Immigration Landing File (ILF) and their actual occupation as reported on the National Household Survey (NHS). This research highlights that that there is substantial variation among the five occupational categories that were selected for this study.

Employment Match Rates in the Regulated Professions: Trends and Policy Implications

This paper compares employment match rates for immigrants educated in a regulated profession with those of their Canadian-born and -educated counterparts. In particular, it examines Statistics Canada data for 2006 and 2011, analyzing trends and provincial comparisons over the five years following the implementation of Ontario’s fair access legislation. Overall, the findings support a continued role for fair access legislation to hold regulators accountable, stronger engagement with employers to promote immigrant hiring and retention, specialized advisement and training for alternative careers, and thoughtfully designed pre-arrival initiatives that reduce time away from professional practice without increasing barriers to immigration.