Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the map shown in the data record? This map indicates the extent of data coverage. The red box is covering all of Canada if the data is for all of Canada. If the data is only for a single province, the red box will only cover that province. No data can be accessed or downloaded through this map.
• How can I view Data on a map? Look for the “View on Map” button when searching the open data catalogue. To view multiple datasets on the map, look for the green Add to Map List button following the item description on the search page, and then access your map with the View on Map button at the top of the page. Not all datasets can be viewed on the map viewer, due to missing web services or incompatible file types.
• How can I add my own data to a map? You can import data by using the "add data" feature within the visualizer. To find this function, first press the button to view your current map layers. Then, press the button to start the "add data" process. Possible file types that can be imported by users include shapefiles, CSV files, or web services. This function will only display this data on the local browser and does not make it available to the broader community through the catalogue.
• Can I save a map and return to it? You can create a map and share it using the button located in the main menu shown by clicking or by sending an exported image of the map (e.g., .jpeg, .png). You can return to the link at any time and it will include all of the layers that were added, except for any manually imported data. Currently, Open Maps does not have a save function for maps that have been created.

More Information

• Who do I Contact? Once you located the dataset of interest but need more information, email the contact under Additional Information on the right hand menu of the dataset page. For general comments about a dataset, please feel free to Add New Comment at the bottom of the page.

Open Information

• What is Open Information? Open Information is unstructured information that is freely shared without restrictions.
• How do I search for Open Information? You may find information on the Open Data portal by using the « Search » box to search via keyword, and/or browse by organization, catalog type, tags, subject, or file format.
• Where can I find information on government spending? The Government of Canada proactively discloses all contracts awarded over $10,000. These are now aggregated on Canada’s Open Government portal, as a central platform for users to search and access this information. We also launched InfoBase, which is an interactive online database that provides financial and human resources information on government operations.
• How I find summaries of previous Access to Information Requests? You can search, browse, or even download a full dataset of summaries of Completed Access of Information Requests.
• How do I make an Access to Information Request if I can’t find the information I’m looking for? You have multiple options from the Access to Information Form.

Open Data Inventory and Open Government Implementation Plans

• When will all of the datasets listed in the open data inventory be published? Some of the datasets listed in the inventory are already available and can be accessed via the provided links on the data record. For those datasets that have not yet been released, Departments and Agencies will be working to prepare prioritization and release plans to publish all of the remaining datasets. You can help us prioritize the publication of a dataset by using the voting functionality on the inventory, and we will work to release datasets with the most "Likes" first.
• Which of these datasets will be published first? Departments and Agencies will be prioritizing inventoried datasets for release. Some factors that are evaluated when prioritizing data include; Accuracy The dataset contains values that are free from errors in spelling or interpretation, Completeness The data contains all values (including appropriate metadata) necessary to support its intended use (e.g. can be used to track trends over an extended timeframe or across multiple stakeholders, etc.) Formats The data, and any associated resources (e.g. data dictionaries, etc.) is in open and accessible formats. Readiness The data is, or can be made, publically available. Responds to a Public Need The data, or a similar resource, has been requested by members of the public. Timeliness The data contains values that reflect the current state of the entity and can be updated at a frequency that aligns the nature of the content and its intended use. Uniqueness The data contains values that are collected by a limited number of institutions. You can help us prioritize the publication of a dataset by using the voting functionality on the inventory. We will work to release datasets with the most "Likes" first!
• If a dataset isn’t included in the inventory, how can I ask for it? If there are particular datasets that you think should be made available, but are not published on open.canada.ca or captured in the open data inventories, please us the suggest a dataset form.
• What is the difference between the ’Date Published’ and ’Date Released’ fields? ’Date Published’ is the date of issuance (e.g., publication) of the dataset. This is when the dataset was first made publically available, which may or may not have been when it was published on open.canada.ca. ’Date Released’ is the date on which the metadata record was released, made available, on the Open Government portal; only if applicable.
• When will Open Government Implementation Plans from all Government of Canada departments and agencies be published? The Open Government Implementation Plans submitted by Government of Canada departments and agencies can be found on our site. We are currently working to facilitate the publication of additional Open Government Implementation Plans. However, if there is a Department or Agency Open Government Implementation Plan that you can’t find, email us and we’ll provide a status update.

Assistance

• Who can I contact for assistance? If you encounter any difficulties or notice any errors while using the Open Government Portal, or if you require assistance, please Contact Us.
• How do I report a broken link or corrupted file? Let us know about any broken links, corrupt files, or any other technical issues you may be experiencing on the site by using the Contact Us page.

Other Information

• Are other Frequently Asked Questions available? Yes. You can also read the GeoGratis FAQM to learn more about geographic datasets and geospatial data.
• How can I stay up-to-date on Open Government activities in Canada? Please leave your email if you’d like occasional updates from us.