Survey on Global Supply, Production and Distribution Chain Activities

Detailed information for 2022

The purpose of this survey is to measure the extent of Canadian businesses' activities related to global supply, production and distribution chain. This information is used in the preparation of Canada's Balance of International Payments statistics, which is a major input in the compilation of the Canadian Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

• Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s)
• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The survey collects information related to the purchase, production, and sale of goods abroad by Canadian businesses. It also gathers information on whether Canadian businesses perform manufacturing or processing work for other Canadian or foreign clients, and whether Canadian businesses hire other Canadian or foreign firms to perform the same type of work.

Reference period: Annual

Subjects

• Economic accounts
• International trade
• Manufacturing

Data sources and methodology

Target population

All Canadian businesses who are engaged in global production, supply and distribution activities.

Instrument design

From 2014 to 2016, questionnaire design specialists tested various versions of the questionnaire with a variety of respondents.

Sampling

This is a sample survey with a cross-sectional design.

This is a sample survey of business establishments classified both geographically and to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Canada 2022, with a cross-sectional design.

Sample size: 300

Sampling and sub-sampling: Many data sources were used in creating the sample. These sources provided signals on the nature of global production activities in which businesses are involved. Respondents were then chosen based on the type of global production activities they engaged in from their industries.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2023-04-03 to 2023-07-14

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

Data are collected primarily through electronic questionnaire. Follow-up for non-response and for data validation is conducted by email, telephone or fax.

A strategy to replace survey data with administrative data has been introduced to reduce the respondent burden and survey costs.

The strategy involves using the first round sample data to identify the goods crossing the border without ownership change. Once the survey results become available, data replacement may be used to produce estimates on such goods at the national level for the compilation of the Canadian Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Data integration combines data from multiple data sources including survey data collected from respondents, administrative data from the Canada Border Services Agency or other forms of auxiliary data when applicable. During the data integration process, data are imported, transformed, validated, aggregated and linked from the different data source providers into the formats, structures and levels required for processing. Administrative data are also used as an auxiliary source of data for editing and imputation when respondent data is not available.

View the Questionnaire(s) and reporting guide(s) .