Monthly Smelters and Metal Refineries Survey - 2022

The purpose of this monthly survey is to obtain information on the quantities of metal being produced by smelters and metal refineries in Canada, including Canadian production originating from external sources. Information from this survey is used for market analysis, industrial and regional development, establishing trade and tariff policies, and managing natural resources.

Your information may also be used by Statistics Canada for other statistical and research purposes.

Your participation in this survey is required under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Authorization to collect this information
Data are collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, Revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Confidentiality
By law, Statistics Canada is prohibited 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. Statistics Canada will use the information from this survey for statistical purposes only.

Record linkages
To enhance the data from this survey and to reduce the reporting burden, Statistics Canada may combine the acquired data with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Data sharing agreements
To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which have agreed to keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. Statistics Canada will only share data from this survey with those organizations that have demonstrated a requirement to use the data.
Section 11 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with provincial and territorial statistical agencies that meet certain conditions. These agencies must have the legislative authority to collect the same information, on a mandatory basis, and the legislation must provide substantially the same provisions for confidentiality and penalties for disclosure of confidential information as the Statistics Act. Because these agencies have the legal authority to compel businesses to provide the same information, consent is not requested and businesses may not object to the sharing of the data.
For this survey, there are Section 11 agreements with the provincial and territorial statistical agencies of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon.
The shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

Section 12 of the Statistics Act provides for the sharing of information with federal, provincial or territorial government organizations.
Under Section 12, you may refuse to share your information with any of these organizations by writing a letter of objection to the Chief Statistician, specifying the organizations with which you do not want Statistics Canada to share your data and mailing it to the following address:
Chief Statistician of Canada
Statistics Canada
Attention of Director, Mining, Manufacturing and Wholesale Trade Division
150 Tunney's Pasture Driveway
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0T6

You may also contact us by email at statcan.esd-helpdesk-dse-bureaudedepannage.statcan@canada.ca or by fax at 613-951-6583.

For this survey, there are Section 12 agreements with Natural Resources Canada, the statistical agencies of Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut as well as with the ministère des Finances du Québec, the ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques du Québec, the ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles du Québec, Transition énergétique Québec, the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, the Manitoba Ministry of Agriculture and Resource Development and the British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

For agreements with provincial and territorial government organizations, the shared data will be limited to information pertaining to business establishments located within the jurisdiction of the respective province or territory.

•Please report for all Canadian production including production originating from external sources.
•When precise figures are not available, provide your best estimates.

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier:1.

Verify or provide the business or organization's legal and operating name, and correct information if needed.
Note: Legal name should only be modified to correct a spelling error or typo.
Note: Press the help button(?) for additional information

• : Legal Name
• : Operating Name (il applicable)
  The operating name is a name the business or organization is commonly known as if different from its legal name. The operating name is synonymous with trade name.

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier:2.

Verify or provide the contact information of the designated business or organization contact person for this questionnaire and correct where needed.
Note: The designated contact person is the person who should receive this questionnaire. The designated contact person may not always be the one who actually completes the questionnaire.

• : First name
  Last name
  Title
  Preferred language of communication
  English
  French
  Mailing address (number and street)
  City
  Province, territory or state
  Postal code or ZIP code
  Country
  Canada
  United States
  Email address Exemple: user@example.gov.ca
  Telephone number (including area code) Exemple: 123-123-1234
  Extension number (if applicable)
  Fax number (including area code)

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier:3.

Verify or provide the current operational status of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.

• : Operational
• : Not currently operational e.g., temporarily or permanently closed, change of ownership
  Why is this business or organization not currently operational?
• : Seasonal operations
  When did this business or organization close for the season?
  Date
  When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
  Date
• : Ceased operations
  When did this business or organization cease operations?
  Date
  Why did this business or organization cease operations?
  Bankruptcy
  Liquidation
  Dissolution
  Other - Specify the other reasons why the operations ceased
• : Sold operations
  When was this business or organization sold?
  Date
  What is the legal name of the buyer?
• : Amalgamated with other businesses or organizations
  When did this business or organization amalgamate?
  Date
  What is the legal name of the resulting or continuing business or organization?
  What are the legal names of the other amalgamated businesses or organizations?
• : Temporarily inactive but will re-open
  When did this business or organization become temporarily inactive?
  Date
  When does this business or organization expect to resume operations?
  Date
  Why is this business or organization temporarily inactive?
• : No longer operating due to other reasons
  When did this business or organization cease operations?
  Date
  Why did this business or organization cease operations?

Business or organization and contact information - Question identifier:4.

Verify or provide the current main activity of the business or organization identified by the legal and operating name above.
Note: The described activity was assigned using the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).

Description and examples
: This is the current main activity
: This is not the current main activity
Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

This question verifies the business or organization's current main activity as classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is an industry classification system developed by the statistical agencies of Canada, Mexico and the United States. Created against the background of the North American Free Trade Agreement, it is designed to provide common definitions of the industrial structure of the three countries and a common statistical framework to facilitate the analysis of the three economies. NAICS is based on supply-side or production-oriented principles, to ensure that industrial data, classified to NAICS, are suitable for the analysis of production-related issues such as industrial performance.
The target entity for which NAICS is designed are businesses and other organizations engaged in the production of goods and services. They include farms, incorporated and unincorporated businesses and government business enterprises. They also include government institutions and agencies engaged in the production of marketed and non-marketed services, as well as organizations such as professional associations and unions and charitable or non-profit organizations and the employees of households.

The associated NAICS should reflect those activities conducted by the business or organizational units targeted by this questionnaire only, as identified in the 'Answering this questionnaire' section and which can be identified by the specified legal and operating name. The main activity is the activity which most defines the targeted business or organization's main purpose or reason for existence. For a business or organization that is for-profit, it is normally the activity that generates the majority of the revenue for the entity.
The NAICS classification contains a limited number of activity classifications; the associated classification might be applicable for this business or organization even if it is not exactly how you would describe this business or organization's main activity.
Please note that any modifications to the main activity through your response to this question might not necessarily be reflected prior to the transmitting of subsequent questionnaires and as a result they may not contain this updated information.
The following is the detailed description including any applicable examples or exclusions for the classification currently associated with this business or organization.

• : Description and examples
  This is the current main activity
  This is not the current main activity
  Provide a brief but precise description of this business or organization's main activity
  e.g., breakfast cereal manufacturing, shoe store, software development

Main activity - Question identifier:5.

You indicated that is not the current main activity. Was this business or organization's main activity ever classified as?

• : Yes
  When did the main activity change?
  Date
• : No

Main activity - Question identifier:6.

Search and select the industry classification code that best corresponds to this business or organization's main activity.
Select this business or organization's activity sector (optional)

• : Farming or logging operation
  Construction company or general contractor
  Manufacturer
  Wholesaler
  Retailer
  Provider of passenger or freight transportation
  Provider of investment, savings or insurance products
  Real estate agency, real estate brokerage or leasing company
  Provider of professional, scientific or technical services
  Provider of health care or social services
  Restaurant, bar, hotel, motel or other lodging establishment
  Other sector

Reporting period information - Question identifier:1.

What is the start and end date of this business or organization's reporting period for the month of reference?
Start date
End date

Reporting period information - Question identifier:2.

What is the reason the reporting period does not cover at least 28 days?
Select all that apply.

• : Seasonal operations
• : New business
• : Change of ownership
• : Temporarily inactive
• : Change of fiscal year
• : Ceased operations
• : Other
  Specify the other reason the reporting period does not cover at least 28 days

Method of collection - Question identifier:3.

Indicate if you will be completing the questionnaire or attaching files with the required information.
Complete the electronic questionnaire
Attaching files

Type of operation - Question identifier:5

What type of smelter or refinery is this plant?

• : Aluminum
• : Secondary lead
• : Other products
  e.g., copper, refined; zinc, refined; silver, refined; etc.

Aluminum - Question identifier:6.

Select the unit of measure in which you would like to report the quantity of aluminum.

Metric tonne
Kilogram

Aluminum - Question identifier:7.

For the month of reference, please provide the following for aluminum.

Quantity

• a: Stock at the beginning of the month
  Production
  b: Molten metal
  e.g. metal from pots or electrolysis baths
  c: Alloys
  e.g. melting or holding furnaces, reclaimed metals
  Total Production
  Sum of b + c
• d: Transfers
  Note: report net transfers, transfers out minus transfers in
  . include intra and inter company transfers
  . include receipts from outside sources
  
  Include:
  . transfers out: minerals transferred out, but not yet sold, from this establishment to another, e.g., minerals sent to another location that belongs to this establishment (warehouse), minerals transferred out for further processing.
  . transfers in include minerals transferred (not sold) to your establishment from other establishments of your own company.
  
  Exclude:
  . transfers of minerals produced by this establishment under contract for another facility.
  . minerals sold to another establishment; transfers to establishments operating outside of Canada.
• e: Melt Loss
  
  Note: Melt loss has to be reported as a positive value, as the loss is accounted for in the stock at the end of the month. Melt loss results from the oxidation of aluminum.
• f: Inventory Adjustment
  i.e., variation in molten stock that is awaiting casting
• : Shipments
  . Include minerals this establishment owns that were sold to another establishment, whether it is intra or inter company
  . transfers to establishments operating outside of Canada.
  
  Exclude:
  . minerals transferred (transfers in or out), but not yet sold, from this facility to another site whether it is intra or inter
  company.
• g: Domestic
• h: Exports
• : Total shipments
  Sum of g + h
• i: Stock at the end of the month
  Sum of a + (b + c) - d - e + f - (g + h)

Smelters and refineries of secondary lead - Question identifier:10.

For the month of reference, what output did this plant produce?
Select all that apply.

• : Refined lead
• : Antimonial lead
• : Other output
  Specify other output
• : Other output
  Specify other output
• : Other output
  Specify other output
  OR
  No output produced

Smelters and refineries of secondary lead - Question identifier:11.

Select the unit of measure in which you would like to report the quantity of the product selected in Q10.

• : Metric tonne
• : Short ton
• : Kilogram
• : Pound

Smelters and refineries of secondary lead - Question identifier:12.

For the month of reference, please provide the following for the product selected in Q10.
Quantity

• : Shipments of the product selected in Q10
  a)Domestic
  b)Export
  Total
  Sum of a + b

Smelters and refineries of secondary lead - Question identifier:31.

For the month of reference, what input was used by this plant?
Select all that apply.

• : Lead-bearing scrap
• : Refined pig lead
• : Antimonial pig lead
• : Other input
  Specify other input
• : Other input
  Specify other input
• : Other input
  Specify other input
  
  OR
  No input used

Smelters and refineries of secondary lead - Question identifier:32.

Select the unit of measure in which you would like to report the quantity of the product selected in Q31.

• : Metric tonne
• : Short ton
• : Kilogram
• : Pound

Smelters and refineries of secondary lead - Question identifier:33.

For the month of reference, please provide the following for the product selected in Q31.
Quantity

• : Source of purchases of the product selected in Q31.
  a) Domestic
  b) Import
• : Total
  Sum of a + b

Monthly production - Question identifier:203.

You have reported that this establishment shipped (quantity & unit of measure) of the product selected.
What was the value of the shipments?
If precise figures are not available please provide your best estimates.
Value of shipments (CAN$ '000)

Monthly production - Question identifier:204.

Indicate whether the value of shipments for the product selected is reported at final selling price or using another method of valuation.

Please report value of shipments using the same valuation method every month.
If your firm consists of only a single business unit, sales must be reported at your final selling price.
If you are part of a multi-business unit firm:
sales to your firm's non mining business units must be reported at your final selling price
sales to your firm's mining business units sales branches, selling warehouses or head offices should be reported at the value shown on your books of account (i.e., book transfer value).

• : Final selling price
• : Production cost
• : Transfer value
• : Other method of valuation e.g., combination of production cost and final selling price
  Specify other method of valuation

The following section will ask questions on the production capacity of this establishment.

Production capacity is defined as the maximum level of production that this establishment could reasonably expect to attain under realistic labour and operating conditions, fully utilizing the machinery and equipment in place.

The industrial capacity utilization rate represents the intensity with which industries use their production capacity. The rates give insight into the overall slack that is in the economy or a firm at a given point in time. It is an important economic indicator, useful to predict investment and price pressures.

Production capacity - Question identifier:205.

In (reference month), this establishment has been operating at what percentage of its production capacity?
Percentage
%

Production capacity - Question identifier:206.

This establishment has been operating at less than its full production capacity in (reference month), what were the reasons?
Select all that apply.

• : Weather
• : Commodity prices
• : Temporary plant shutdown
• : Lack of materials or supplies
• : Sufficient inventory
• : Storage limitation
• : Equipment failure
• : Environmental restrictions
• : Insufficient labour available
• : Seasonal operations
• : Financial constraints
• : Quality issues
• : Insufficient orders
• : Strike or work stoppage
• : Other
  Specify other reason

Production capacity - Question identifier:207.

This establishment has been operating above its full production capacity in (reference month), what were the reasons?
Select all that apply.

• : Exchange rate impact
• : Commodity prices
• : New contract
• : Acquisition of business or business units
• : Merge of business or business units
• : Increased market demand
• : Weather
• : Plant expansion or contraction
• : Technology changes
• : Process changes
• : Other
  Specify other reason

Changes or events - Question identifier:208.

Indicate any changes or events that affected the reported values for this business or organization, compared with the last reporting period.
Select all that apply.

• : Strike or lock-out
  How many days in the reference month was your plant open?
• : Contracting out
• : Natural disaster
  How many days in the reference month was your plant open?
• : Recession
• : New or lost contract
• : Plant closures
  How many days in reference month was your plant open?
• : Vacation or maintenance periods
  How many days in reference month was your plant open?
• : Equipment failure
  How many days in reference month was your plant open?
• : Seasonal operations
  How many days in reference month was your plant open?
• : Plant expansion or contraction
• : Other
  Specify the other changes or events
  OR
  No changes or events

Contact person - Question identifier:209.

Statistics Canada may need to contact the person who completed this questionnaire for further information.
Is First name and Last name the best person to contact?
Yes
No

Feedback - Question identifier:210.

How long did it take to complete this questionnaire?
Include the time spent gathering the necessary information.
Hours
Minutes