Data access streams

There are currently three streams available for academic researchers to access data on the population of British Columbia: 

• Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC)
• Population Data BC
• The Data Innovation Program (DI Program)

Researchers will be routed to a data access stream based on the data sets required to answer the research question.

Effective August 15, 2025, all new research projects requesting any Ministry of Health (MoH) data will be considered under the Health Data Platform BC (HDPBC) Program.

Projects that are non-health focused and requesting multiple cross-sector data sets will be considered under the DI Program.

Please review the information below to see what data sets are available through each stream.

What data sets are available in which stream?

For information on what data sets are available in each stream, go to: Data available

 

What tools are available in each stream for statistical analysis?

Tool	Availability
	DI Program	PopData	HDPBC
ArcGIS	✓	✓
Epi Info	✓	✓
GeoDa	✓	✓
Gephi	✓	✓
graphViz	✓	✓
JoinPoint	✓	✓
MPlus	✓	✓
MSOffice	✓	✓	✓
MS Project	✓	✓
MS Visio	✓	✓
Python	✓	✓	✓
R	✓	✓	✓
Rstudio	✓	✓	✓
Rtools	✓	✓	✓
SAS	✓	✓	✓
SaTScan	✓	✓
SPSS	✓	✓
SQL			✓
Stat Transfer	✓	✓
Stata	✓	✓
WinBUGS	✓	✓

 

Can data sets be linked to external data sets (including Researcher-collected data?)

DI Program

PopData

HDPBC

Linking external and Researcher-collected data is assessed on a case by case basis.

Note: Applications must involve linkage of data sets from more than one Ministry, e.g. a data set(s) from the BC Ministry of Health with a data set(s) from the BC Ministry of Education. Data sets from one Ministry are not available for request.

Yes. Data sets available through PopData are linkable to each other, and to other externally-managed data sets (including Researcher-collected data), where approved by the data provider. However, if you are planning to link the PopData data sets to data sets available through HDPBC, your project will likely go through the HDPBC stream, and the PopData data sets may be able to be brought in via ‘bring your own data’ (BYOD). 

• E.g. CANUE + MECC + Research Collected = PopData
• E.g. CANUE + MECC + Researcher Collected + MSP = HDPBC

Yes. Data sets are linkable to each other, and to other externally-managed data sets (including Researcher-collected data), where approved by the data provider.

 

Are students allowed to access data?

DI Program

PopData

HDPBC

Not available at this time

Yes 
Go to: Data access for students

Yes 
Go to: Data access for students

 

Can I choose/customise the variables in a data set?

DI Program

PopData

HDPBC

Variables for the entire data set are provided (sensitive variables are masked)

Core* (standard variables)
Non-Core* (sensitive variables) available by request

Core* (standard variables)
Non-Core* (sensitive variables) available by request

*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.

Are sensitive variables available?

DI Program

If excluded variables are required for the project, a special request can be submitted to the DI Program for consideration.

PopData

Sensitive variables available by request.

HDPBC

Sensitive variables available by request.

Where is the data stored for analysis?

DI Program

PopData

HDPBC

DI Program Secure Analytics Environment (SAE)

Note: The PopData Secure Research Environment (SRE) and the DI Program Secure Analytics Environment (SAE) refer to the same virtual computing workspace.

The PopData Secure Research Environment (SRE)

Trusted Analysis Environment (TAE-BC)

 

How is the data provisioned for analysis?

DI Program

PopData

HDPBC

For DI Program projects the researcher receives CSV files on the DI Program Secure Analytics Environment with standard extracts.

Note: The PopData Secure Research Environment (SRE) and the DI Program Secure Analytics Environment (SAE) refer to the same virtual computing workspace

For PopData projects the researcher receives flat ASCII files (a format that can be imported into a wide variety of software) on the PopData Secure Research Environment, with either a custom extract based on their data access request, or a standard Core extract.

For HDPBC projects the researcher accesses a relational database in its Trusted Analysis Environment (TAE-BC) to create their own cohort and perform analyses.

 

Where do I go to apply for data?

DI Program

PopData

HDPBC

The DI Program.

For further information visit the DI Program website.

PopData

PopData

 

What legislation covers the use of the data?

DI Program

PopData/HDPBC

BC Statistics Act

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)

 

We are here to help!

The Data Access Unit (DAU) at Population Data BC (PopData) provides help and guidance to Researchers throughout the Data Access Request Process. Contact us at: dataaccess@popdata.bc.ca.