Population Data BC (PopData) facilitates access to data from PopData partners, including both federal and provincial sources, and through partnerships with the Government of British Columbia to support the delivery of the Data Innovation Program (DI Program) and the Health Data Platform (HDP). A wide range of data, from both federal and provincial sources is available across these access streams.
It is important to note that data is shared differently by data providers and, as a result, there are slight variations in eligibility criteria, data access request processes, requirements in the project lifecycle and whether linkage of data sets across programs/providers is permitted. PopData, the BC Government and other data providers, have worked hard to harmonise processes for Researchers as much as is possible.
More detailed information on data access processes may be found in the Data access section of this website, but here a a few key things to bear in mind when looking at the data available listings.
Data available through PopData and the HDP
- Data sets are linkable to each other, and to other externally-managed data sets (including Researcher-collected data), where approved by the data provider.
- PopData supports access to data sets from other data sources, for example a data set from a provider that is not currently a data partner, and with whom PopData would need to negotiate an information sharing agreement.
- Spatial data may also be used in conjunction with many data sets available through PopData.
Core vs. Non-Core Data
- Core Data: Some data available through PopData and the HDP are ‘Core Data’. Core Data are data identified by the data provider as 'Safe Data' and eligible for pre-approved release, with the exception of PharmaNet data. Core Data includes commonly-requested data columns, but not necessarily all of the columns available in a data set. For example, some Core Data fields, such as geography or organisational codes, have been suppressed for increased privacy.
Please note that the overall data access request is subject to meeting ALL of the Five SAFEs requirements, not just the Safe Data component. For more detail on the Five SAFEs, visit the HDP website.
- Non-Core Data: Non-Core Data are data NOT identified by the data provider as 'Safe Data' and thus are NOT eligible for pre-approved release. Access to Non-Core Data follows the usual processes and will not follow expedited review procedures.
For the majority of DARs, requesting access to Core Data may make the data access approval process quicker and reduce the wait time for data access. It may also reduce the need for time-consuming data amendments related to a request for additional data fields or changes to study populations.
Data available through the DI Program
- Case-level analysis of DI Program data is not allowed. Researchers will have access to individual-level data that is de-identified, but are not permitted to create analytic products or reports that focus on, or may identify, specific individuals or organizations.
- For academic projects, at this time, data sets may only be linked to other data sets within the DI Program.
- Single DI Program data sets are not available.
- Data sets are provided in their entirety - there is no need for checklists or cohort creation.
- For DI Program data listed in the BC Data Catalogue, the temporal range is for a whole data set, file temporal range is in the description.
Go to Data set listings
