Page 61 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 1

IPS57 Eric Rancourt
4. Sound Official Statistics
Application of the scientific approach takes place regularly throughout
Statistics Canada. One could consider numerous activities such as price index
development, production of national accounts and field and processing
operations, IT development and even HR, Finance and Communications as a
non-exhaustive list where the scientific approach is applied or could be more
explicitly applied.
We present below a brief outline of the scientific approach to the
modernization agenda for Statistics Canada to illustrate how it is
implemented:
1. Needs. As society is rapidly changing and becoming increasingly
complex through the data revolution, there are new needs for real-time
and more granular information to be released.
2. Observation. Statistics Canada has conducted an environmental scan
to assess the current state of data needs, the pertinent stakeholders,
the activities of other NSOs and academics as well as the types of data
that are already available.
3. Hypotheses. A modernization strategy was developed to focus on
user-centric service delivery based on such pillars as leading-edge
methods and data integration; statistical capacity building and
leadership; sharing and collaboration; a modern workforce and a
flexible workplace. The hypothesis is that modernizing statistical
programs in this way will improve several aspects of Statistics Canada
such as relevance and timelines.
4. Check point. The strategy was discussed in committees within Statistics
Canada as well as with other departments, the Minister of Innovation,
Science and Economic Development and with other national statistical
offices. A strong governance was put in place with a modernization
head and a modernization steering committee.
5. Test / Do. Four pathfinder projects were identified to test the
modernization agenda. They were the measurement of cannabis,
transition to a low-carbon economy, international tourism to Canada
and foreign-owned housing. Tests also involve new leading-edge
methods such as modelling in the form of projects involving small area
estimation or machine learning.
6. Analysis. Lessons learned were studied and a decision was made to
continue and expand modernization based on intelligence gathered by
the pathfinder projects.
7. Communication. Employees have been fully informed during the
process as were also stakeholders, decision makers and Canadians. For
example, an internal modernization bulletin is regularly issued to keep
all employees informed.

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