Keywords: administrative data, citizen-data, data disaggregation, data governance,, data integration, data interoperability, equity, human-rights, inclusion, official statistics, record linkage
In Canada, the growing emphasis on disaggregated data reflects a broader shift toward understanding the diverse and intersecting realities of populations and communities. Led by Statistics Canada, initiatives such as the Disaggregated Data Action Plan (DDAP) or the Quality of Life Indicators aim to expand the availability, accessibility, and use of detailed, intersectional data to support more equitable and evidence-based decision-making.
While official statistics remain foundational—offering methodological rigor, comparability, and public trust—they face persistent challenges related to timeliness, granularity, and the representation of certain populations. At the same time, a growing ecosystem of citizen-related data—including administrative records, digital service interactions, and community-generated data—creates new opportunities to complement official statistics and enrich the analytical picture of Canadian society and the economy.
This presentation examines how these diverse data sources can be brought into dialogue. Drawing on some Canadian examples such as health and socio-economic data during COVID-19, housing and homelessness measurement, Quality of Life Indicators, and Indigenous data contexts, it highlights how citizen data can help address gaps, improve coverage of underrepresented groups, and enable more granular and intersectional insights. Particular attention is given to the role of data linkage, interoperability, and evolving statistical standards in enabling such complementarities.
The presentation also reflects on key considerations that shape this evolving data landscape, including data quality, representativeness, privacy, consent, and trust, as well as broader governance and stewardship frameworks. These issues are examined in light of Canada’s policy context, including human rights, equity, and inclusion objectives embedded in disaggregated data strategies.
Rather than prescribing solutions, the talk aims to contribute to an ongoing discussion on how official statistics and citizen data can jointly support more inclusive, timely, and policy-relevant insights in an increasingly complex data ecosystem.
