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 Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC). 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 may be 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 the PopData/HDPBC data access process may be found in the Data access section of this website. For more information on data access for the DI Program, visit the DI Program website.
Core vs. Non-Core Data
- Core Data: Some BC Ministry of Health data sets available through PopData and HDPBC are called ‘Core Data’. A Core Data set is a standardized ‘bundle’ of commonly requested variables. A Core Data set may not include ALL the variables available in the data set. For example, some Core Data variables, such as geography or organisational codes, are suppressed to meet privacy legislation requirements.
- Non-Core Data: Non-Core Data are variables that are NOT included in the standardized Core Data set. Non-Core Data is available for request as an addition to the Core Data set.
For the majority of DARs, requesting access to Core Data ONLY may make the data access approval process quicker and may expedite data provision. Data requests that include Non-Core Data will be subject to regular rather than expedited processes, both for application review and data provisioning.
Please note that the overall data access request is subject to meeting ALL of the Five SAFEs requirements. For more detail on the Five SAFEs, visit the Eligibility and the Five SAFES model page of our website.
The tables below show the data sets available by category.
Please note: Variables available for a particular data set may differ across the DI Program, PopData and HDPBC streams, so always check to make sure that what you need is available.
Demographic
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| BC Vital Events and Statistics Births |
✓ view |
✓ view |
✓ view |
| BC Vital Events and Statistics Deaths | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| BC Vital Events and Statistics Marriages | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| BC Vital Events and Statistics Stillbirths | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| Central Demographics File (MSP Registration and Premium Billings, Client Roster and Census Geodata)/Consolidation File | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| Client Roster (CR) Snapshot | ✓ view | ||
| Population Extrapolation for Organizational Planning with Less Error (PEOPLE) | ✓ view | ||
| Registration and Premium Billings (RBP Lite) | ✓ view | ✓ | |
Education
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| K to 12 Socio Economic Index (SES) | ✓ view | ||
| K to 12 Student Assessments | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| K to 12 Student Demographics and Achievements | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| K to 12 Student Learning Surveys | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
Environment and Resources
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| The Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE) | ✓ view | ||
Justice
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| Corrections - Adult Community and Custody | ✓ view | ||
Health
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| BC Cancer Registry | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| BC Cardiac Service Registry | ✓ view | ||
| BC Perinatal Data Registry | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| BC Renal | ✓ view | ||
| Chronic Disease Registry | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| CIHI Population Grouping Methodology (CPOP) | ✓ view | ||
| COVID-19 Hospitalization and Critical Care Reports | ✓ view | ||
| COVID-19 Test Lab Data | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| COVID Census (Hospitalizations) | ✓ view | ||
| Discharge Abstracts Database | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| HealthIdeas Common Dimensions | ✓ view | ||
| Health Ideas Reference Dimensions | ✓ view | ||
| HealthLink 811 | ✓ view | ||
| Health System Matrix | ✓ view | ||
| Home and Community Care | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| Medical Services Plan (MSP) | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| Mental Health Services | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| Patient-Centered Measurement (PCM) | ✓ view | ||
| PharmaCare | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| PharmaNet | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| Post-Covid Recovery Clinic | ✓ view | ||
| Residential Assessment Instrument | ✓ view | ✓ view | ✓ view |
| Surgical Wait Times (SWT) | ✓ view | ||
| VPP Clinical OMOP Data | ✓ view | ||
Social
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| Affordable Child Care Benefit | ✓ view | ||
| BC Employment and Assistance | ✓ view | ||
| BC Family Maintenance | ✓ view | ||
| Canadian Index of Multiple Deprivation (CIMD) | ✓ view | ||
| Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH | ✓ view | ||
| Child Care Subsidy | ✓ view | ||
| Child Welfare Program | ✓ view | ||
| Community Living Programs | ✓ view | ||
| Early Development Instrument | ✓ view | ✓ view | |
| Middle Years Development Instrument | ✓ view | ||
| Permanent Residents | ✓ view | ||
| Private Market Rent Supplements for Eligible Seniors and Working Families | ✓ view | ||
| Shelter and Homeless Outreach Private Market Rent Supplements | ✓ view | ||
| Supportive Housing | ✓ view | ||
Transportation
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| ICBC – Contraventions | ✓ view | ||
| ICBC – Crashes | ✓ view | ||
| ICBC - Driver Licensing | ✓ view | ||
| ICBC - Traffic Accident System (TAS) | ✓ view | ||
| ICBC - Vehicle Population | ✓ view | ||
Work and Income
| Data set | Availability | ||
| DI Program | PopData | HDPBC | |
| Income Band | ✓ view | ||
| Income Bands - Custom | ✓ view | ||
| Income Bands by Postal Code | ✓ view | ||
| Labour Market Programs | ✓ view | ||
| WorkSafe Claims, Injury and Firm Level files | ✓ view | ||
| Career Paths for Skilled Immigrants | ✓ view | ||
| Provincial Nominee Program | ✓ view | ||
