County, regional county municipality, regional district, etc., where the enumerated person lived on the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the usual census division (CD) where the person's current residence is located on the reference day, May 10, 2011. For more details on CD types, see 'Remarks' in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Not applicable

Question no.: Not applicable

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: Not applicable

City or town where the enumerated person lived on the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the usual census subdivision (CSD) where the person's current residence is located on the reference day, May 10, 2011. For more details on CSD types, see 'Remarks' in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Not applicable

Question no.: Not applicable

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: Not applicable

County, regional county municipality, regional district, etc., where the enumerated person lived on May 10, 2010, one year before the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the person's usual census division (CD) of residence on May 10, 2010, one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 23

Responses: For the one-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'municipality' and 'province' of residence one year ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a seven-digit code according to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 - see the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X. The four-digit census division code is a substring of the seven-digit SGC code. The four-digit code corresponds to a two-digit province/territory code, followed by a two-digit census division code.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived in a different city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve in Canada' one year ago (i.e., internal migrants) provided the name of the place and province. The city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve corresponds to the census subdivision (CSD), and it belongs to only one census division (CD).

The CD of residence 1 year ago reflects the 2011 Census boundaries.

For non-movers and non-migrants, the census division of residence 1 year ago is the same as the current census division of residence. Census division of residence 1 year ago is not applicable to external migrants.

For the corresponding current CD of residence and a definition of CD, refer to the variable Census division (CD) in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 1: Mobility status - Place of residence 1 year ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey mobility variables



Source: Statistics Canada,National Household Survey, 2011.

City with a population of 100,000 or more inhabitants (census metropolitan area) or city with a population of 10,000 to 99,999 inhabitants (census agglomeration) where the enumerated person lived on May 10, 2010, one year before the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the census metropolitan area (CMA), census agglomeration (CA) or non-CMA/CA where the person usually resided on May 10, 2010, one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households.

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 23

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: This is a derived variable which provides a CMA/CA code for persons whose census subdivision (CSD) of residence one year ago is a CMA/CA component, or a value of zero (0) if it is not. For information on the linkage of CMA/CA names to codes and CSD components, refer to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011, Volume I, Catalogue no. 12-571-X.

As with census subdivisions (CSDs) and census divisions (CDs), the CMA/CA of residence 1 year ago reflects the 2011 Census boundaries.

Migrants whose CSD of residence one year ago is within the same CMA/CA as the current CSD (based on 2011 Census boundaries) are classified as intra-CMA/CA migrants. Migrants whose current CSD of residence (on May 10, 2011) is in a different CMA/CA of residence from that of one year ago are classified as inter-CMA/CA migrants. Persons who resided in a CMA/CA one year ago (on May 10, 2010) with a current residence elsewhere (in a different CMA/CA or outside a CMA/CA) in Canada (on May 10, 2011) are out-migrants from that CMA/CA. Persons whose current residence is within a CMA/CA (on May 10, 2011) with a place of residence one year ago elsewhere in Canada (in a CMA/CA or outside a CMA/CA) are in-migrants to that CMA/CA.

For the corresponding current CMA/CA of residence and a definition of CMA/CA, refer to the variable Census metropolitan area (CMA) and census agglomeration (CA) in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 1 - Mobility status - Place of residence 1 year ago and Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables

City or town where the enumerated person lived on May 10, 2010, one year before the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the municipality or census subdivision (CSD) where the person usually resided on May 10, 2010, one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 23

Responses: For the one-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'municipality' and 'province' of residence one year ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a seven-digit code according to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 - see the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X. This code consists of two digits for the province/territory, followed by two digits for the census division, and ending with three digits for the census subdivision.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived in a different city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve in Canada' one year ago (i.e., internal migrants) provided the name of the municipality and province. The city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve corresponds to the census subdivision (CSD).

The CSD of residence 1 year ago reflects the 2011 Census boundaries.

For non-movers and non-migrants, the census subdivision of residence 1 year ago is the same as the current census subdivision of residence. Census subdivision of residence 1 year ago is not applicable to external migrants.

For the corresponding current CSD of residence and a definition of CSD, refer to the variable Census subdivision (CSD) in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 1 - Mobility status - Place of residence 1 year ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

Not applicable

Refers to the census subdivision (CSD) type classification of the CSD (Indian reserve, village, town, township, city or municipality) where the person usually resided on May 10, 2010, one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 23, CSD type of 2011 Census classification

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: The type indicates the municipal status of a census subdivision. Census subdivisions are classified into various types, according to official designations adopted by provincial or federal authorities. For a listing of CSD types, see Table 5 in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

For more details on CSD types, see 'Remarks' in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

The CSD type of residence 1 year ago reflects the current 2011 Census boundaries and municipal status.

This variable will allow analysis of migration flows to and from CSDs of various types. For example, data on mobility and migration may be retrieved for Indian reserves, northern villages and hamlets.

Components of migration show a portrait of in-migrants and out-migrants for different levels of geography, based on the mobility one year ago question.

The table is divided into in-migrants and out-migrants. In-migrants are further divided into intraprovincial, interprovincial and external in-migrants. Out-migrants are further divided into intraprovincial and interprovincial out-migrants.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 23

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: Not applicable

Not applicable

Refers to the person's usual country of residence on May 10, 2010, one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 23

Responses: For the one-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'country' of residence one year ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a three-digit code corresponding to the place of birth classification.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived outside Canada' (i.e., external migrants) were asked to indicate the name of their country of residence one year earlier according to that country's present boundaries. Country of residence 1 year ago is not applicable to internal migrants, non-migrants and non-movers.

There is no corresponding 'current country of residence' variable since persons residing in Canada one year ago, but not on reference Day, are not counted.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 1 - Mobility status - Place of residence 1 year ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

Information indicating whether the person lived in the same residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, as he or she did one year before, May 10, 2010. This means that we have 'movers' and 'non-movers.' There are different types of 'movers': people who moved within the same city or town (non-migrants), people who moved to a different city or town (internal migrants) and people who came from another country to live in Canada (external migrants).

Refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, in relation to the place of residence on the same date one year earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers.

Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian Reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian Reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside
Canada at the earlier reference date.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 23

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: This variable is derived from the following response categories: Lived at the same address as now; Lived at a different address, but in the same census subdivision (CSD) as now; Lived in a different CSD in Canada (respondent provides name of CSD [municipality] and province or territory); Lived outside Canada (respondent gives name of the country).

Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables

With respect to external migration, immigrants - persons who were residing outside Canada one year earlier, but within Canada on the reference day, May 10, 2011 - are counted. This is not to be confused with 'landed immigrants'; see Year of immigration. When external migrants report their country of residence one year ago, they report the country based on current geographic boundaries.

Emigrants - persons residing in Canada one year ago, but not on the reference day, May 10, 2011 - are not counted.

Different types of internal migration are derived based on various aggregations of CSDs (e.g., to census divisions, census metropolitan areas). In-migration, out-migration, net internal migration, migration streams and origin-destination matrices can be produced from the database.

In-migration is defined as a movement into a CSD (or CSD aggregation) from elsewhere in Canada, within the 12 months prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. Persons who made such a move are called in-migrants.

Out-migration is defined as a movement out of a CSD (or CSD aggregation) to elsewhere in Canada, within the 12 months prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. Persons who made such a move are called out-migrants.

Net internal migration refers to the number of in-migrants into a CSD (or CSD aggregation) minus the number of out-migrants from the same CSD (or CSD aggregation), within the 12 months prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Migration stream refers to a body of migrants having a common CSD (or CSD aggregation) of origin and a common CSD (or CSD aggregation) of destination.

Origin-destination matrix refers to data on migrants, cross-classified by area of origin (CSD or CSD aggregation) and area of destination (CSD or CSD aggregation) to form a matrix of streams, or a set of pairs of streams, each pair representing movement in opposite directions.

The concept of 'migrants' is defined at the CSD level. For geographic levels below the CSD, such as collection units (CUs), dissemination areas (DAs) and census tracts (CTs), the distinction between the migrant and non-migrant population refers to the corresponding CSD of the CU, DA or CT. For example, migrants within a CT are those persons who moved from a different CSD, while non-migrants are those who moved within the same CSD, although they moved in from a different CT in the same CSD or moved within the same CT.

When tabulating the usual place of residence one year ago by current place of residence, all geographic areas reflect the 2011 Census boundaries, even when referred to as places of residence in 2010. This applies to all boundary changes between censuses (e.g., census metropolitan areas, census divisions and census subdivisions).
The reader is directed to Figure 2.3, where the relationship between the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) question on place of residence 1 year ago and the mobility status (1 year ago) conceptual framework is illustrated.

Figure 2.3 Relationship between the category of mobility status and the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) question on place of residence one year ago

Figure 2.3 Relationship between the category of mobility status and the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) question on place of residence one year ago



Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Not applicable

Refers to the person's usual province or territory of residence on May 10, 2010 one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 23

Responses: For the one-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'municipality' and 'province' of residence one year ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a seven-digit code according to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 - see the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X. The two-digit province/territory code is a substring of the seven-digit SGC code.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived in a different city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve in Canada' one year ago (i.e., internal migrants) provided the name of the municipality and province.

For non-movers and non-migrants, the province or territory of residence 1 year ago is the same as the current province or territory of residence. Province or territory of residence 1 year ago is not applicable to external migrants.

For the corresponding current province or territory of residence, refer to the variable Province or territory in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary,
Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 1: Mobility status - Place of residence 1 year ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

Not applicable

Refers to the Statistical Area Classification (SAC) where the person usually resided on May 10, 2010, one year prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. The SAC groups census subdivisions (CSDs) according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a tracted or non-tracted census agglomeration
(CA), a census metropolitan area or a census agglomeration influenced zone (MIZ) or one of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Previously, CSDs were classified into either CMA/CA or non-CMA/CA areas of Canada. This concept applies to the Mobility status (1 year ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 23, SAC of 2011 Census classification

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: The Statistical Area Classification indicates the groupings of a census subdivision (CSD), according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a tracted or non-tracted census agglomeration (CA), a census metropolitan area or a census agglomeration influenced zone (MIZ) or one of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Previously, CSDs were classified into either CMA/CA or non-CMA/CA areas of Canada. For the number of CSDs by SAC, see Table 3 in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

The SAC of residence 1 year ago reflects the current 2011 Census boundaries.

This variable will allow analysis of migration flows to and from CSDs of various groupings. For example, data on mobility and migration may be retrieved for strong MIZ, moderate MIZ, weak MIZ, no MIZ or territories.

County, regional county municipality, regional district, etc., where the enumerated person lived on May 10, 2006, five years before the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the person's usual census division (CD) of residence on May 10, 2006, five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 24

Responses: For the five-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'municipality' and 'province' of residence five years ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a seven-digit code according to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 - see the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X. The four-digit census division code is a substring of the seven-digit SGC code. The four-digit code corresponds to a two-digit province/territory code, followed by a two-digit census division code.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived in a different city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve in Canada' five years ago (i.e., internal migrants) provided the name of the place and province. The city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve corresponds to the census subdivision (CSD), and it belongs to only one census division (CD).

The CD of residence 5 years ago reflects the 2011 Census boundaries.

For non-movers and non-migrants, the census division of residence 5 years ago is the same as the current census division of residence. Census division of residence 5 years ago is not applicable to external migrants.

For the corresponding current CD of residence and a definition of CD, refer to the variable Census division (CD) in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 5: Mobility status - Place of residence 5 years ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

City with a population of 100,000 or more inhabitants (census metropolitan area) or city with a population of 10,000 to 99,999 inhabitants (census agglomeration) where the enumerated person lived on May 10, 2006, five years before the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the census metropolitan area (CMA), census agglomeration (CA) or non-CMA/CA where the person usually resided on May 10, 2006, five years prior to National Household Survey (NHS) Day. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households.

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 24

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: This is a derived variable which provides a CMA/CA code for persons whose census subdivision (CSD) of residence five years ago is a CMA/CA component, or a value of zero (0) if it is not. For information on the linkage of CMA/CA names to codes and CSD components, refer to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011, Volume I, Catalogue no. 12-571-X.

As with census subdivisions (CSDs) and census divisions (CDs), the CMA/CA of residence 5 years ago reflects the 2011 Census boundaries.

Migrants whose CSD of residence five years ago is within the same CMA/CA as the current CSD (based on 2011 Census boundaries) are classified as intra-CMA/CA migrants. Migrants whose current CSD of residence (on May 10, 2011) is in a different CMA/CA of residence from that of five years ago are classified as inter-CMA/CA migrants. Persons who resided in a CMA/CA five years ago (on May 10, 2006) with a current residence elsewhere (in a different CMA/CA or outside a CMA/CA) in Canada (on May 10, 2011) are out-migrants from that CMA/CA. Persons whose current residence is within a CMA/CA (on May 10, 2011) with a place of residence five years ago elsewhere in Canada (in a CMA/CA or outside a CMA/CA) are in-migrants to that CMA/CA.

For the corresponding current CMA/CA of residence and a definition of CMA/CA, refer to the variable Census metropolitan area (CMA) and census agglomeration (CA) in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 5 - Mobility status - Place of residence 5 years ago and Figure 2.2.

Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables

City or town where the enumerated person lived on May 10, 2006, five years before the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the municipality or census subdivision (CSD) where the person usually resided on May 10, 2006, five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 24

Responses: For the five-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'municipality' and 'province' of residence five years ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a seven-digit code according to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 - see the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X. This code consists of two digits for the province/territory, followed by two digits for the census division, and ending with three digits for the census subdivision.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived in a different city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve in Canada' five years ago (i.e., internal migrants) provided the name of the municipality and province. The city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve corresponds to the census subdivision (CSD).

The CSD of residence 5 years ago reflects the 2011 Census boundaries.

For non-movers and non-migrants, the census subdivision of residence 5 years ago is the same as the current census subdivision of residence. Census subdivision of residence 5 years ago is not applicable to external migrants.

For the corresponding current CSD of residence and a definition of CSD, refer to the variable Census subdivision (CSD) in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 5 - Mobility status - Place of residence 5 years ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

Not applicable

Refers to the census subdivision (CSD) type classification of the CSD (Indian reserve, village, town, township, city or municipality) where the person usually resided on May 10, 2006, five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 24, CSD type of 2011 Census classification

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: The type indicates the municipal status of a census subdivision. Census subdivisions are classified into various types, according to official designations adopted by provincial or federal authorities. For a listing of CSD types, see Table 5 in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

For more details on CSD types, see 'Remarks' in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

The CSD type of residence 5 years ago reflects the current 2011 Census boundaries and municipal status.

This variable will allow analysis of migration flows to and from CSDs of various types. For example, data on mobility and migration may be retrieved for Indian reserves, northern villages and hamlets.

Components of migration show a portrait of in-migrants and out-migrants for different levels of geography, based on the mobility five years ago question.

The table is divided into in-migrants and out-migrants. In-migrants are further divided into intraprovincial, interprovincial and external in-migrants. Out-migrants are further divided by intraprovincial and interprovincial out-migrants.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 24

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: Not Applicable

Not applicable

Refers to the person's usual country of residence on May 10, 2006, five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 24

Responses: For the five-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'country' of residence five years ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a three-digit code corresponding to the place of birth classification.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived outside Canada' (i.e., external migrants) were asked to indicate the name of their country of residence five years earlier according to that country's present boundaries. Country of residence 5 years ago is not applicable to internal migrants, non-migrants and non-movers.

There is no corresponding 'current country of residence' variable since persons residing in Canada five years ago, but not on reference day, May 10, 2011, are not counted.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 5 - Mobility status - Place of residence 5 years ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables.

Information indicating whether the person lived in the same residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, as he or she did five years before May 10, 2006. This means that we have 'movers' and 'non-movers.' There are different types of 'movers': people who moved within the same city or town (non-migrants), people who moved to a different city or town (internal migrants) and people who came from another country to live in Canada (external migrants).

Refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, in relation to the place of residence on the same date five years earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers.

Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian Reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian Reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside
Canada at the earlier reference date.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 24

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: This variable is derived from the following response categories: Lived at the same address as now; Lived at a different address, but in the same census subdivision (CSD) as now; Lived in a different CSD in Canada (respondent provides name of CSD [municipality] and province or territory); Lived outside Canada (respondent gives name of the country).

Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) mobility variables

With respect to external migration, immigrants - persons who were residing outside Canada five years earlier, but within Canada on the reference day, May 10, 2011 - are counted. This is not to be confused with 'landed immigrants'; see Year of immigration. When external migrants report their country of residence five years ago, they report the country based on current geographic boundaries.

Emigrants - persons residing in Canada five years ago, but not on the reference day, May 10, 2011 - are not counted.

Different types of internal migration are derived based on various aggregations of CSDs (e.g., to census divisions, census metropolitan areas). In-migration, out-migration, net internal migration, migration streams and origin-destination matrices can be produced from the database.

In-migration is defined as a movement into a CSD (or CSD aggregation) from elsewhere in Canada, within the five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. Persons who made such a move are called in-migrants.

Out-migration is defined as a movement out of a CSD (or CSD aggregation) to elsewhere in Canada, within the five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. Persons who made such a move are called out-migrants.

Net internal migration refers to the number of in-migrants into a CSD(or CSD aggregation) minus the number of out-migrants from the same CSD (or CSD aggregation), within the five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Migration stream refers to a body of migrants having a common CSD (or CSD aggregation) of origin and a common CSD (or CSD aggregation) of destination.

Origin-destination matrix refers to data on migrants, cross-classified by area of origin (CSD or CSD aggregation) and area of destination (CSD or CSD aggregation) to form a matrix of streams, or a set of pairs of streams, each pair representing movement in opposite directions.

The concept of 'migrants' is defined at the CSD level. For geographic levels below the CSD, such as collection units (CUs), dissemination areas (DAs) and census tracts (CTs), the distinction between the migrant and non-migrant population refers to the corresponding CSD of the CU, DA or CT. For example, migrants within a CT are those persons who moved from a different CSD, while non-migrants are those who moved within the same CSD, although they moved in from a different CT in the same CSD or moved within the same CT. When tabulating usual place of residence five years ago by current place of residence, all geographic areas reflect the 2011 Census boundaries, even when referred to as places of residence in 2006. This applies to all boundary changes between censuses (e.g., census metropolitan areas, census divisions and census subdivisions).

The reader is directed to Figure 2.4, where the relationship between the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) question on place of residence 5 years ago and the mobility status (5 years ago) conceptual framework is illustrated.

Figure 2.4 Relationship between the category of mobility status and the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) question on place of residence five years ago

Figure 2.4 Relationship between the category of mobility status and the 2011 NHS question on place of residence five years ago



Source: Statistics Canada, National Household Survey, 2011.

Not applicable

Refers to the person's usual province or territory of residence on May 10, 2006, five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Direct variable: Question 24

Responses: For the five-year ago mobility question, respondents were asked to write the name of the 'municipality' and 'province' of residence five years ago. This write-in response has been subsequently converted to a seven-digit code according to the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) 2011 - see the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X. The two-digit province/territory code is a substring of the seven-digit SGC code.

Remarks: Respondents who indicated that they 'Lived in a different city, town, village, township, municipality or Indian reserve in Canada' five years ago (i.e., internal migrants) provided the name of the municipality and province.

For non-movers and non-migrants, the province or territory of residence 5 years ago is the same as the current province or territory of residence. Province or territory of residence 5 years ago is not applicable to external migrants.

For the corresponding current province or territory of residence, refer to the variable Province or territory in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary,
Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

See also 'Remarks' under Mobility 5: Mobility status - Place of residence 5 years ago and Figure 2.2 2011 National Household Survey (NSH) mobility variables.

Not applicable

Refers to the Statistical Area Classification (SAC) where the person usually resided on May 10, 2006, five years prior to the reference day, May 10, 2011. The SAC groups census subdivisions (CSDs) according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a tracted or non-tracted census agglomeration
(CA), a census metropolitan area or a census agglomeration influenced zone (MIZ) or one of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Previously, CSDs were classified into either CMA/CA or non-CMA/CA areas of Canada. This concept applies to the Mobility status (5 years ago) subuniverse only.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households

Question no.: Derived variable: Question 24, SAC of 2011 Census classification

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: The Statistical Area Classification indicates the groupings of a census subdivision (CSD), according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area (CMA), a tracted or non-tracted census agglomeration (CA), a census metropolitan area or a census agglomeration influenced zone (MIZ) or one of the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Previously, CSDs were classified into either CMA/CA or non-CMA/CA areas of Canada. For the number of CSDs by SAC, see Table 3 in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

The SAC of residence 5 years ago reflects the current 2011 Census boundaries.

This variable will allow analysis of migration flows to and from CSDs of various groupings. For example, data on mobility and migration may be retrieved for strong MIZ, moderate MIZ, weak MIZ, no MIZ or territories.

Province or territory of Canada where the enumerated person lived on the reference day, May 10, 2011.

Refers to the major political division of Canada where the person's current residence is located on the reference day, May 10, 2011. For the corresponding province or territory of current residence, refer to the variable Province or territory in the section on geography in the 2011 Census Dictionary, Catalogue no. 98-301-X.

Reported in: 2011

Reported for: Not applicable

Question no.: Not applicable

Responses: Not applicable

Remarks: Not applicable