Introduction—Public Opinion Research in the Government of Canada—Annual Report 2014 to 2015

Departments and agencies of the Government of Canada conduct public opinion research studies to gather the views of their stakeholders as a means of understanding and effectively serving their diverse needs and expectations. Knowledge gained from public opinion research allows the Government of Canada to develop and tailor its programs and services to better serve and communicate with Canadians.

Research studies conducted by departments and agencies in 2014 to 2015 provided valuable information needed to support a diverse range of activities in areas such as public health and safety, economic development, employment, training, electronic service delivery, client satisfaction, immigration and programs for veterans. Beyond the general public, key audiences that participated in this research included seniors, youth, parents, small and medium business owners, Aboriginal persons, newcomers, and veterans.

Under the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada^{Footnote 1}, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) is responsible for activities such as coordinating and providing methodological advice on public opinion research studies, developing and maintaining the Standards for the Conduct of Government of Canada Public Opinion Research, promoting best practices in public opinion research and publishing an annual report on government public opinion research activities. Our work supports departments and agencies to help ensure that public opinion research activities are well coordinated, transparent and managed in a way that provides value for money.

The Public Opinion Research in the Government of Canada, Annual Report 2014 to 2015, is PWGSC’s 14th annual report on public opinion research. The publication provides an overview of government-wide^{Footnote 2} contracted public opinion research activities coordinated on behalf of federal departments and agencies for the period from April 1, 2014 through March 31, 2015. It includes an overview of the role of public opinion research in the Government of Canada and how it is used. It also explains how public opinion research is managed by the Government of Canada and includes appendices with business volumes and other information on public opinion research activities.