LibGuides: Data and Statistics: DLI and RDC

Levels of Access

Handout about Stat Can's Continuum of Access
Differences between publicly available datasets, DLI datasets, and RDC datasets.

Data Liberation Initiative (DLI)

The Data Liberation Initiative (DLI) is a subscription plan providing unlimited access to Statistics Canada Public Use Microdata files (PUMFs), databases and geographic files to students and faculty at participating institutions in accordance with their Conditions of Use. Easy access to the DLI files for Dalhousie researchers is provided through the SDA@CHASS or Nesstar interfaces. Access to the PCCF or PCCF+ products is available to the Dalhousie community on request, email Sai.Chua@Dal.Ca.

Browse the DLI collection
Click on "All products" to find data for a specific survey in the DLI collection, or search in Nesstar.

Canadian Census Analyser
The Canadian Census Analyzer allows users to download data from the Canadian census at many different levels of geography.
CANSIM via CHASS
A Statistics Canada computerized database which contains over 720,000 time series covering a wide variety of social and economic aspects of Canadian life. Scroll down to select CANSIM (@CHASS)
Nesstar
Nesstar allows users to view metadata about Canadian microdata surveys and download this microdata in various formats.

Odesi (search only)
Dalhousie does not subscribe to Odesi, but you can use it to do a variable search for Statistics Canada microdata available in the DLI collection. One important exception: microdata from many CORA opinion polls are available for download in Odesi.

PCCF and PCCF+
Linkages between postal codes and Stat Can's geography available on request.

SDA@CHASS
SDA is a data delivery and analysis system. SDA@CHASS provides access to: Canadian microdata (mainly survey data available from Statistics Canada DLI); aggregate census data; plus a few other collections of data. Users can analyze datasets online, download data, or consult relevant documentation.
Trade Analyser
This database includes tables for world trade, and separate extensive tables for Canadian imports and exports. Scroll down at select Trade Analyser.

Exercises and Tutorials

Canadian Census Analyser

The Canadian Census Analyser allows you to quickly extract data from census profiles, from 1961 to 2011, as well as access microdata from the census not available on Statistic Canada's website.

Canadian Census Analyser
Access the interface.

Canadian Census Analyser - 2011 CD version (Slides and screen recordings)
Short demonstration (with no audio) of how to access the Canadian Census Analyser and how to download data by census division.

Canadian Census Analyser - Data by Dissemination Area
Explains how to use the CHASS Canadian Census Analyzer to obtain census or NHS data by dissemination area for various Nova Scotia locations.
Census Analyser Exercise
Use the Canadian Census Analyser to look at levels of higher education achieved across Nova Scotia by Census Division.

Using Excel with the Canadian Census Analyser (Slides and screen recordings)
Short demonstration (with no audio) on how to use Excel to work with files generated from the Canadian Census Analyzer.

Census Analyser Excel Exercise
Format the file obtained in the Canadian Analyser Exercise in Excel.

Odesi

Dalhousie does not subscribe to Odesi, but you can use it to do a variable search for Statistics Canada microdata available in the DLI collection. One important exception: microdata from many CORA opinion polls are available for download in Odesi.

Odesi (search only)
Access the interface.

Odesi (PDF Presentation)
How to search metadata of Public Use Microdata Files (PUMFs) in Odesi.
Odesi exercise - Smoking version
Locate microdata surveys with a variable about smoking in Odesi.
Odesi Exercise - Unemployment version
Locate microdata surveys about unemployment in Odesi.

SDA

SDA allows you to download microdata from Statistics Canada's surveys, and also to create online cross-tabs.

SDA@CHASS
Access the interface.

SDA (PDF Presentation)
Quick summary of how to access SDA and available instructional material.

Accessing SDA@CHASS (video)
Video showing how to download a microdata dataset from Statistics Canada in the SDA interface.
Using SDA@CHASS to View Data (video)
How to create online cross-tabs from Statistics Canada microdata using SDA@CHASS.

SDA Exercise - CCHS
Create online cross-tab tables and download the Canadian Community Health Survey in SDA.
SDA Exercise - SLID
Create online cross-tab tables and download the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics in SDA

Nesstar

Nesstar allows you to download microdata from Statistics Canada's survey, and also to create online cross-tabs.

Nesstar
Access the interface.

Nesstar (PDF Presentation)
How to access Nesstar.

Research Data Centres (RDC)

When the DLI does not meet your data needs, you may need to apply to use microdata files inside a Statistics Canada Research Data Centre.

ARDC
The Atlantic Research Data Centre is located within the South Learning Commons, inside the Killam Library.
The RDC Program
Provides access to Statistics Canada’s confidential microdata files (which are used when the PUMFs do not meet a researcher’s needs).
Application Process
Access to an RDC is available only to researchers with approved projects.