Statistics Canada is the national statistics agency. As such, Statistics Canada carries out hundreds of surveys each year on a wide range of matters, including education.

In order to carry out such studies, Statistics Canada asks all colleges and universities to provide data on students and graduates. Institutions collect and provide to Statistics Canada student identification information (student's name, student ID number, Social Insurance Number), student contact information (address and telephone number), student demographic characteristics, enrolment information, previous education and labour force activity.

The Federal Statistics Act provides the legal authority for Statistics Canada to obtain access to personal information held by educational institutions. The information may be used only for statistical purposes, and the confidentiality provisions of the Statistics Act prevent the information being released in any way that would identify a student.

Students who do not wish to have their information released are able to ask Statistics Canada to remove their identification and contact information from the national database. For further information, please see Statistics Canada's web site at <http://www.statcan.ca> or write to the Postsecondary Section, Centre for Education Statistics, 17th Floor, R.H. Coats Building, Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0T6.