'Province' and 'territory' refer to the major political units of Canada. From a statistical point of view, province and territory are basic areas for which data are tabulated. Canada is divided into 10 provinces and 3 territories. Statistics Canada uses standard codes and abbreviations to represent provinces and territories. The two-digit code that uniquely identifies each province/territory is based on the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC). The code is assigned from east to west. The first digit represents the geographical region of Canada in which the province/territory is located and the second digit denotes one of the 10 provinces and 3 territories.

The 2021 Census Boundary Files depict the boundaries of all standard geographic areas established for the purpose of disseminating census data. They contain information such as unique identifier (UID), name and type where applicable, as well as land area and province or territory unique identifier (PRUID). Each boundary file can be linked to all higher level geographic areas using its DGUID and the new 2021 Dissemination Geographies Relationship File. They are available for download or viewing in two types: cartographic and digital. Both cartographic and digital boundary files are portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]). The purpose of the 2021 Census Boundary Files is to provide a framework for mapping and spatial analysis, and to support Geographic Information System (GIS) applications used for land use and demographic studies, or social, economic and market research. Geographic unique identifiers permit linkage of statistical data to geographic areas depicted in the boundary files. Boundary files can also be used to create new geographic areas by combining standard geographic areas. The boundary files are positionally consistent with the 2021 Road Network File, which provides additional reference for geographic context for mapping applications. Each 2021 Census Boundary File contains the UID, DGUID, name and type where applicable, and land area of the geographic level the file represents. It also contains the PRUID. A 2021 Census Boundary File is available for each of the following geographic areas: • Provinces and territories (PRs) • Census divisions (CDs) • Federal electoral districts (2013 Representation Order) (FEDs) • Census subdivisions (CSDs) • Designated places (DPLs) • Economic regions (ERs) • Census agricultural regions (CARs) • Census consolidated subdivisions (CCSs) • Census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations (CMA/CAs) • Census tracts (CTs) • Population centres (POPCTRs) • Dissemination areas (DAs) • Dissemination blocks (DBs) • Aggregate dissemination areas (ADAs) • Census Forward Sortation Areas© (CFSAs©) • Population Ecumene

The purpose of this feature class is to show areas that are National Parks (NPs), National Park Reserves (NPRs) and National Marine Conservation Area (NMCAs). Parks Canada manages more than 43 NPs. (See: https://parks.canada.ca/voyage-travel/recherche-tous-parks-all) for a list of PCA administered parks. By using this data, it is important to understand and accept that the data is not to be used for defining boundaries. Administrative decisions should be based on legal documents and legal survey plans. Canada Lands Surveys: https://clss.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/clss/plan/search-recherche

The 2023 Road Network File depicts the digital road line coverage for Canada. It contains information such as street arc unique identifier (UID), name, type, direction and address range, as well as class. It also includes province or territory (PR) and census subdivision (CSD) information for each side of a street arc (where applicable).The Road Network File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]). The 2023 Road Network File is available as a national file.

The 2023 Census Subdivision Boundary File depicts the boundaries of all 5,173 census subdivisions (CSDs), which combined, cover all of Canada. It contains the unique identifier (UID), name and type, as well as the UIDs, names and types (where applicable) of selected higher geographic levels. The 2023 Census Subdivision Boundary File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]). The 2023 Census Subdivision Boundary File is available as a national file.

Group of neighbouring municipalities joined together for the purposes of regional planning and managing common services (such as police or ambulance services). These groupings are established under laws in effect in certain provinces of Canada. Census division (CD) is the general term for provincially legislated areas (such as county, municipalité régionale de comté and regional district) or their equivalents. In other provinces and the territories where laws do not provide for such areas, Statistics Canada defines equivalent areas for statistical reporting purposes in cooperation with these provinces and territories. Census divisions are intermediate geographic areas between the province/territory level and the municipality (census subdivision). Census divisions (CD) have been established in provincial law to facilitate regional planning, as well as the provision of services that can be more effectively delivered on a scale larger than a municipality. In Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, provincial or territorial law does not provide for these administrative geographic areas. Therefore, Statistics Canada, in cooperation with these provinces and territories, has created equivalent areas called CDs for the purpose of disseminating statistical data. In Yukon, the CD is equivalent to the entire territory. Next to provinces and territories, census divisions (CD) are the most stable administrative geographic areas, and are therefore often used in longitudinal analysis.

The 2022 Census Subdivision Boundary File depicts the boundaries of all 5,180 census subdivisions (CSDs), which combined, cover all of Canada. It contains the unique identifier (UID), name and type, as well as the UIDs, names and types (where applicable) of selected higher geographic levels. The 2022 Census Subdivision Boundary File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]). The 2022 Census Subdivision Boundary File is available as a national file.

The 2022 Census Subdivision Boundary File depicts the boundaries of all 5,180 census subdivisions (CSDs), which combined, cover all of Canada. It contains the unique identifier (UID), name and type, as well as the UIDs, names and types (where applicable) of selected higher geographic levels. The 2022 Census Subdivision Boundary File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]). The 2022 Census Subdivision Boundary File is available as a national file.

The 2024 Census Subdivision Boundary File depicts the boundaries of all 5,028 census subdivisions, which combined, cover all of Canada. It contains the unique identifier (UID), name and type, as well as the UIDs, names and types (where applicable) of selected higher geographic levels. The 2024 Census Subdivision Boundary File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]) and is available as a national file.

The 2024 Road Network File depicts the digital road line coverage for Canada. It contains information such as street arc unique identifier (UID), name, type, direction and address range, as well as class. It also includes province or territory (PR) and census subdivision (CSD) information for each side of a street arc (where applicable). The Road Network File is portrayed in Lambert conformal conic projection (North American Datum of 1983 [NAD83]) and is available as a national file.