Natural Gas Transport and Distribution Annual

Detailed information for 2015

This annual survey collects data on the general position of Canadian companies primarily engaged in the transportation and distribution of natural gas.

Data release - March 22, 2017

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

Description

This annual survey collects data on the general position of Canadian companies primarily engaged in the transportation and distribution of natural gas. The survey collects financial, employment, income and balance sheet information as well as engineering and operating statistics.

These data are required for integration into the input-output sector of the Canadian System of National Accounts. Data are intended for use by survey respondents, federal departments and agencies, provincial ministries and authorities, industry associations, industry analysts, the press and the general public to assess trends in the natural gas transport and distribution sector of the Canadian economy.

Reference period: Calendar year

Subjects

• Business performance and ownership
• Energy
• Financial statements and performance
• Pipelines

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The universe is comprised of all companies classified as operating in natural gas distribution (NAICS 221210) or in natural gas pipeline transportation (NAICS 486210) according to the North American Industry Classification System. The target population is those companies found on Statistics Canada's Business Register and classified to NAICS codes 221210 and 486210.

Instrument design

The questionnaire was designed using Statistics Canada questionnaire design standards. The design was done in consultation with the survey's partners. The questionnaire is respondent completed in paper format delivered by mail, fax or in electronic format.

The questionnaires are subject to regular revision to reflect changes in industry classification and information requirements.

Sampling

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

Data are collected for all units of the target population, therefore, no sampling is done.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2016-03-14 to 2016-06-12

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents.

The data are collected through a mail-out/mail-back process, while providing respondents with the option of telephone or other electronic filing methods. Follow-up procedures are applied when a questionnaire has not been received after a pre-specified period of time: respondents are phoned or sent a fax to remind them to send their questionnaire in order to maximize the survey response rate.

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

Error detection

Data processing procedures identify missing data, data entry errors, assess validity of reported data . Macro-level edits detect unusual data fluctuations within a current survey period.

Imputation

Some respondents may be unable to respond or may be late in responding. In such cases, missing data may be imputed based on historical information, for example, data from the same quarter of the previous year or other data sources.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

In order to ensure the accuracy and consistency of the data, the results of the survey are reconciled with other Statistics Canada energy surveys such as Gas Utilities/Transportation and Distribution Systems (survey ID # 2149). Other federal departments, provincial and territorial authorities routinely monitor the data.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

In order to prevent any data disclosure, confidentiality analysis is done using the Statistics Canada Generalized Disclosure Control System (G-Confid). G-Confid is used for primary suppression (direct disclosure) as well as for secondary suppression (residual disclosure). Direct disclosure occurs when the value in a tabulation cell is composed of or dominated by few enterprises while residual disclosure occurs when confidential information can be derived indirectly by piecing together information from different sources or data series.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

Revisions may be performed for previous years.

Data accuracy

The survey is a census of the target population. As a consequence, under-coverage is minimal, and minimal bias resulting from non-response is introduced. Major revisions are incorporated as required.