1 Balancing the need for detail and confidentiality in the Canadian Census

ABSTRACT: Most modern censuses now accumulate a wealth of data that can be used to inform program and policy-making at the national, regional and even municipal level. However, in order to be of benefit, this wealth of data must be analyzed extensively. The needs of the research community have evolved in recent years towards increasing levels of detail, small area data, and micro-data. As a result, statistical agencies are placed in the position of balancing the need for detailed data with the need for confidentiality-protection. Canada bases its Census data-dissemination program on five general principles: maximize the amount of relevant analysis; protect confidentiality as a highest priority; tailor data products to user groups; produce accurate, accessible, relevant and timely data; and apply disclosure control methods without unduly restricting analytical potential. Statistics Canada improves access to detailed data by providing more census data for small areas, by increasing access to detailed tabulations and by increasing access to micro-data. Canada’s Census of Population uses two main methods of disclosure control in its tabular data, area suppression and random rounding. For its public-use micro-data files, it relies on data-reduction techniques. The 2001 Census Data Release approach features the Internet as the primary dissemination vehicle and data products designed to meet the needs of four major user groups