Data access streams

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

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

Researchers will be routed to a data access stream based on a range of qualifying criteria which includes the data required to answer the research question and the tools required for analysis.

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.

What data sets are available in which stream?

Demographic

Data set	Availability
	DI Program	PopData	HDPBC
BC Population Projections 2018 to 2041	✓  view
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 Census Hospitalizations and Critical Care Reports			✓  view
COVID-19 Test Lab Data	✓  view	✓  view	✓  view
Discharge Abstracts Database	✓  view	✓  view	✓  view
HealthIdeas Common and Reference Dimensions			✓  view
HealthLink 811-COVID			✓  view
Health System Matrix			✓  view
Home and Community Care	✓  view	✓ view
Home and Community Care Minimum Reporting Requirements			✓ view
Medical Imaging Wait Times			✓  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
Provincial Immunization Registry			✓  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

What tools are available in each stream for statistical analysis?

Tool	Availability
	DI Program	PopData	HDPBC
ArcGIS	✓	✓
DataBricks			✓
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 are linkable to each other, and to other externally-managed data sets (including Researcher-collected data), where approved by the data provider.

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)

HDPBC Secure Environment (SE)

 

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 Secure Environment 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)