The Government of Canada is one of the largest publishers of open data in the country. Through its open government initiative, federal departments and agencies publish thousands of datasets covering virtually every aspect of Canadian life.
open.canada.ca
The central portal for federal open data is open.canada.ca. It aggregates datasets from across the federal government, making them searchable in one place. You can filter by department, topic, format, and licence.
Key Federal Data Sources
Statistics Canada
Statistics Canada (statcan.gc.ca) is the national statistical agency. It publishes census data, economic indicators, labour market statistics, health surveys, and much more. The Census of Population provides detailed demographic data down to the dissemination area level.
Natural Resources Canada
NRCan publishes extensive geospatial data including topographic maps, elevation data, land cover, and administrative boundaries. The GeoGratis portal provides free geographic data for all of Canada.
Environment and Climate Change Canada
ECCC publishes weather station data, climate normals, air quality monitoring data, and environmental assessment information.
Canada Revenue Agency / Finance Canada
Federal financial data including government spending, contracts, and grants is published through the proactive disclosure requirements of the Access to Information Act.
Most federal datasets are published under the OGL-C, which allows free use, modification, and redistribution with attribution. This makes federal data highly usable for research, journalism, and product development.
Complete the path with Responsible Data Use.