Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN)

The primary role of the Canadian Research Data Centre Network (CRDCN) is to coordinate data access, training and knowledge mobilization for researchers at universities across Canada via Research Data Centres (RDCs). Each RDC within the Network provides access to confidential survey and administrative data from Statistics Canada at the individual and firm/workplace level. The level of detail in these datasets is not accessible through public channels. Significant measures are in place to ensure the protection of individual privacy. CRDCN provides funding for analysts at the RDCs, who are employed by Statistics Canada and are also active researchers who publish regularly. They provide expert advice and support to the research community, especially to students. This support includes: 

• Reviewing proposals
• Processing contracts and security clearances
• Providing access to data files including documentation
• Supporting use of software (e.g. SAS, Stata, SPSS, R, R-Studio)
• Providing support in the use of statistical methods (e.g. summary stats, modelling, GIS)
• Releasing approved output according to Statistics Canada vetting rules
• Serving as focal points for questions and issues that involve subject matter specialists at Statistics Canada

CRDCN also operates technical research infrastructure, allocates funding to RDC sites and PhD students, acts as a matchmaker for individual projects between research teams and potential funding organizations, organizes and coordinates training and guidance (e.g. in the use of data on Indigenous individuals and on various datasets and research methods), promotes research (e.g. sponsors an annual national conference, holds regular webinars), connects research to policy through policy snapshots directed at relevant government policymakers, and champions social science research and the infrastructure that supports it.