Application Process

To be granted access to the data housed in the RDC, researchers are required to submit a project proposal , which serves as your RDC user application. An adjudicating committee operating under the auspices of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Statistics Canada will evaluate your proposal. Approval will be based on the merit of the research project and on the need to access these microdata. The results of the review will be communicated to the principal investigator within two months of the date of application.

Researchers from provincial and territorial departments and agencies should consult the Statistics Canada application webpage for Procedures for access to confidential household survey micro-data for the purpose of providing statistical support for policy development.

It is important to note that your contract with Statistics Canada gives you access only to the microdata specified in your approved research project and allows access to data for the purpose of completing this proposal. You must submit a proposal for each research project you wish to carry out.

There are two steps to complete the application process:

1. The first step is to prepare a project proposal (see Proposal Outline) and a Curriculum Vitae for each member of your research team. Submit your CV(s) and project proposal through the Internet using Web forms provclassed by SSHRC. The following link takes you directly to the site describing the application process: Description of the Application Proces which also contains a link to the application forms.
2. The second step is to undergo a personal security clearance. The instructions for completing the security forms are provided below.

Researchers and students from universities not currently affiliated with the CRDC Network may submit a research proposal to work at an RDC; however, it is up to the Academic Director whether or not access is granted, if compensation is a condition of access, and to what extent limitations will be imposed on access to other University facilities.

For additional information, see Statistics Canada's RDC site.

Proposal Outline

To ensure a swift review of the proposal, applicants are encouraged to include all elements of the Project Proposal Template.

The Project Proposal is a maximum of five pages and includes the following elements:

1. Title of the Project
2. Rationale and objectives of the study
   • Clearly identify the specific questions or objectives of the project
   • State how the research will contribute to the knowledge in the field of study by summarizing the current literature and identifying the gap(s) to be addressed.
3. Proposed data analysis and software requirements
   • What is the proposed statistical methodology? How is it suitable for this project?
   • What software will be utilized?
4. Data Requirements
   • An explanation of why access to the confidential data (as opposed to public use microdata files) is necessary.
   • Which survey file/files or cycles are to be used?
   • Provide a statement that the confidential data file(s) identified is (are) in fact suitable for the proposed research.
   • What is the specific population of interest in the required data set(s)?
   • What are the variables to be used?
5. Expected project start and end dates
   • When the Project is expected to be started and the date that it is expected to be completed
6. Expected Products
   • Describe products that will result from the proposed analysis including:
     • Working paper
     • Peer-reviewed journal article
     • Book or book chapter
     • Graduate level thesis or dissertation
     • Commissioned report (e.g. government report)
7. References
   • Sources used in the proposal or for specific analytical methods employed

The Analyst can assess the proposal to determine whether the required elements are present and whether the project is appropriate for access to the detailed micro data. Also, the RDC Analyst can provide information about conducting research in the RDC environment and the data holdings of the University of Alberta RDC.

Advice from an RDC Analyst before submitting a proposal does not guarantee a successful review but will mostly likely improve the chances of a timely review by ensuring all elements of the proposal are complete and clear.

Security Checks and Clearance

Researchers with accepted proposals are required to submit a Personal Screening Consent and Authorization form before access will be granted to Statistics Canada data in the RDC. The following instructions will guclasse you through this process.

• Should I submit the security check form?

  Only researchers with projects approved by Statistics Canada and will be directly accessing data in the RDC need to complete this form.

• How do I complete the form and where do I turn in the form?

  Researchers will have to complete the security check forms within the presence of the Statistics Canada Analyst at the RDC where the research will be conducted. It generally requires two pieces of photo ID when you meet with the RDC Analyst. One ID should have your current home address. You are to contact the local RDC in advance to confirm what documents are needed and to make an appointment for the seuciry check request.0

• If you are not a Canadian citizen, you also need to provide the following as part of the screening request:

  • your Student Visa/Employment authorization (EA)/Permanent Residents Document (PRD)
  • if applicable, passport used to enter Canada
  • your university card/registration/letter of employment
  • a document that shows both your name and your current address in Canada, such as, an Alberta driver's license, a healthcare statement, a utility bill, a phone bill, etc.


If you are unable to deliver the forms in person, please contact your local RDC Analyst for instructions.

To protect your confidential personal information, these forms should not be faxed or submitted electronically via E-mail.


• How long does the process take?

  To verifying the information and granting enhanced reliability status usually takes less than two weeks form the time the form is received in Ottawa, based on the presumes that a unique match of you name can be found and there are no reason to deny security clearance.

• What happens if the initial security clearance is not conclusive?

  If the initial screening does not result in a unique match based on the information that your provide, you will be asked to submit finger prints to Statistics Canada. If it is the case, the RDC Analyst will provide you further instruction on obtaining the finger prints.