Canadian Statistics

1
Canadian Statistics

• Evidence for enlightened democracy
• IASSIST, Edinburgh 2005

2
Introduction

• Importance of literacy for all
• Literacy is fundamental for complex modern
  societies, but
• concept of literacy is broader and
• we still have a way to go

3
The informed citizen and the public good

• Professional, independent, accurate information
  on economy and society
• Official statistics as a public good
• Public interest
• Public right to know
• Public funds
• Public dissemination
• Public accountability
• Societal development

4
Engaging users media

• The Daily
• Guided by former journalists, for journalists
• Stories about data in the context of trends
• Answer the So what? question
• Media Room
• Online contact info to reach experts
• Free download of publications
• Calendar of upcoming releases
• Notices, links for regional data

5
Engaging users education

• Education Outreach / Learning Resources
• Online teaching aids / lesson plans Bulletin
• Secondary schools E-Stat access to CANSIM
• Post-secondary DLI and University Liaison
• Classroom Outreach
• Volunteers in-class Expert Speaker Program
• Education Liaison Officers
• Curriculum monitoring
• Regional workshops

6
Engaging users compendia

• Canada Year Book
• Data tables and prose (returning to roots)
• Canada A Portrait
• A coffee-table presentation of Canada (no tables)
• Canada at a Glance
• Free overview brochure very wide distribution
• Canada e-Book
• 2001 CYB online being entirely reworked
• Canadian Statistics
• Online summary tables approx. 500 unique titles

7
Redesigning public good products

• Redesigning the Canada e-Book
• Get information on our audience
• Be realistic about our resources
• Produce a much leaner e-Book
• Remember the e in e-Book
• Aim at minimizing maintenance costs

8
Facing new challenges

• Audience diversification and expectations
• Selection of public good content
• Coherence of contents
• Costs of online compendia
• Lifespan of compendia publications

9
So what?

• Literacy a key to development
• Public good info can help promote statistical
  literacy
• Equip citizens for participation in society
• Close the loop between data providers and data
  users
• Help answer the So what? questions

10

• Thank you for your attention
• Alan Bulley
• Analysis and Compendia Publishing
• alan.bulley_at_statcan.ca