The CRN is based on the road network from the Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI). Statistics Canada maintains the CRN to support the census and other activities. The relative position of road network features is important for census enumeration and reference purposes; therefore, topological accuracy takes precedence over absolute positional accuracy. The CRN does not contain street information required for route optimization. For example, data on one-way streets, dead-ends and other street obstacles are not included in the CRN. Consequently, this file is not recommended for engineering applications, emergency dispatching services, surveying or legal applications.

The road network file contains street arcs with either 'true' address ranges, imputed address ranges, or no address range. Imputed address ranges are not meant to replace true address ranges for any purpose other than address geocoding. Thus, if the files are to be used for computer-aided dispatch or similar purposes (that require an address to be matched to a block or street), it may be necessary to supplement the file with local knowledge by updating existing true addresses and replacing imputed addresses.

The limitations of the CRN should be recognized for uses other than the mapping, analysis and retrieval of census data.