Financial Survey of Canadian Water Carriers

Detailed information for 1998

The survey collects financial and operational data from Canadian-domiciled water carriers.

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

Description

The survey collects financial and operational data from Canadian-domiciled water carriers. The data are used as input to the Canadian System of National Accounts, by Transport Canada and other federal and provincial government departments, by transportation companies, consulting firms and universities. The information is used for the analysis of transportation activity, for marketing and economic studies, and industry performance measures.

Statistical activity

This statistical activity is part of a set of surveys measuring various aspects of activities related to the movement of people and goods. These surveys are grouped as follows:

Transportation by air includes records related to the movement of aircraft, passengers and cargo by air for both Canadian and foreign air carriers operating in Canada as well as the financial and operating characteristics of Canadian air carriers. These data are produced by the Aviation Statistics Centre.

Transportation by rail includes records relating to rail transportation in Canada, and between the United States and Canada.

Transportation by road includes records relating to all road transport in Canada. In addition to surveying carriers and owners of registered motor vehicles, certain programs rely on aggregation of provincial and territorial administrative records.

Reference period: Calendar year

Collection period: third quarter

Subjects

• Transportation
• Transportation by water

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The target population includes all companies domiciled in Canada whose principal activity is marine transport as defined in sub-sector 483 of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), with reported operating revenues or expenses of $500,000 or more. This population includes for-hire, government and own account carriers. Their vessels may be registered in Canada or abroad and their activities may or may not take place in Canadian ports. Excluded from the target population are companies that operate private pleasure craft, fishing boats, defence vessels, tour boats and bareboat charters.

Instrument design

The current questionnaire was developed in 1995 as a modification of an existing questionnaire. Changes were made based on consultations with users. The revised questionnaire was tested through simulation interviews with respondents.

Sampling

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

Data sources

Responding to this survey is mandatory.

Data are collected directly from survey respondents, extracted from administrative files and derived from other Statistics Canada surveys and/or other sources.

A mail census is carried out annually for all private carriers and for those for-hire and government carriers reporting total gross operating revenues of $500,000 and more in the previous year. In 1988 the threshold was $250,000 and prior to 1988, this threshold was set at $100,000. Differentiated questionnaires are employed, suited in length and complexity to the type and size of the water carrier operation being surveyed. The different phases of production are listed in order of execution. Collection of the survey documents is conducted by Transportation Division in Ottawa.

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