Access to data
Access to data
The university research community, including faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows and research staff, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit governments, organizations and businesses, can request access to Statistics Canada microdata.
Five university-based Research Data Centres (RDCs) in Quebec offer access to a wide range of de-identified and non-aggregated survey, administrative and integrated microdata for research purposes.
Access procedures
Anyone interested in accessing Statistics Canada microdata in an RDC must submit a research proposal on the Microdata Access Portal (MAP) and undergo a security check in order to be deemed a Statistics Canada employee.
For detailed procedure information, click here.
Advantages of microdata
The microdata available in the CIQSS CDRs offer greater granularity and more precise geographic information than the data available on the Statistics Canada website or in the public-use microdata files available to everyone. For example, while public census files cover 33 metropolitan areas (around 100,000 people), the detailed files available at CIQSS encompass 54,000 dissemination areas (around 400 to 700 people), offering a finer-grained perspective, while maintaining data confidentiality.
Does my project require microdata?
Before you begin the process of requesting access to confidential microdata, you should verify that no other Statistics Canada data source is suitable for your research. This CCDRN video will help you identify the appropriate Statistics Canada data access method for your project.
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Frequently asked questions
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