Census subdivision (CSD)

Part A - Short definition:

Area that is a municipality or an area that is deemed to be equivalent to a municipality for statistical reporting purposes (e.g., as an Indian reserve or an unorganized territory). Municipal status is defined by laws in effect in each province and territory in Canada.

Part B - Detailed definition:

Census subdivision (CSD) is the general term for municipalities (as determined by provincial/territorial legislation) or areas treated as municipal equivalents for statistical purposes (e.g., Indian reserves, Indian settlements and unorganized territories).

Census years:

2011, 2006, 2001, 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981, 1976, 1971, 1966, 1961

Remarks:

Census subdivision type

Census subdivisions (CSDs) are classified into 54 types according to official designations adopted by provincial/territorial or federal authorities. Two exceptions are 'subdivision of unorganized' (SNO) in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 'subdivision of county municipality' (SC) in Nova Scotia, which are geographic areas created as equivalents for municipalities by Statistics Canada, in cooperation with those provinces, for the purpose of disseminating statistical data.

The census subdivision type accompanies the census subdivision name in order to distinguish CSDs from each other, for example, Balmoral, VL (for the village of Balmoral) and Balmoral, P (for the parish / paroisse (municipalité de) of Balmoral).

Changes to CSD types for 2011 include the following:

1. CSD types added
   • City / Ville (CV) in Ontario
   • Self-government / Autonomie gouvernementale (SG) in Yukon
2. CSD types deleted
   • Cité (CÉ) was replaced by Ville (V) in Quebec
   • County (municipality) (CM) was corrected to Municipal district (MD) in Alberta
   • Nisga'a village (NVL) has been included in Nisga'a land (NL) in British Columbia

Table 5 shows CSD types, their abbreviated forms, and their distribution by province and territory.

Census subdivision types associated with 'on reserve' population

On reserve population is a derived census variable that is captured by using the census subdivision (CSD) type according to criteria established by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC; formerly Indian and Northern Affairs Canada [INAC]). On reserve population includes people living in any of the six CSD types legally affiliated with First Nations or Indian bands (described below), as well as the northern village of Sandy Bay in Saskatchewan.

The following census subdivision types are based on the legal definition of communities affiliated with First Nations or Indian bands.

1. Indian reserve (IRI) - A tract of federally owned land with specific boundaries that is set apart for the use and benefit of an Indian band and that is governed by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC). Statistics Canada only recognizes the subset of Indian reserves that are populated (or potentially populated) as census subdivisions. For 2011, of the more than 3,100 Indian reserves across Canada, there are 961 Indian reserves classified as CSDs (including the 6 reserves added for 2011). Statistics Canada works closely with AANDC to identify those reserves to be added as CSDs.
2. Indian settlement (S-É) - A place where a self-contained group of at least 10 Indian (Aboriginal) persons resides more or less permanently. It is usually located on Crown lands under federal or provincial/territorial jurisdiction. Indian settlements have no official limits and have not been set apart for the use and benefit of an Indian band as is the case with Indian reserves. Statistics Canada relies on AANDC to identify Indian settlements to be recognized as census subdivisions, and their inclusion must be with the agreement of the provincial or territorial authorities. An arbitrary boundary is delineated to represent each Indian settlement as a census subdivision. (Exclusions: Champagne Landing 10, Klukshu, Two and One-Half Mile Village, Two Mile Village and Kloo Lake which have CSD type S-É are excluded from this tabulation.)
3. Indian government district (IGD) - Sechelt reserve lands in British Columbia. The Sechelt Indian Band Self-Government Act is a transfer by Her Majesty in right of Canada to the Sechelt Band in all Sechelt reserve lands, recognizing that the Sechelt Band would assume complete responsibility for the management, administration and control of all Sechelt lands. The Sechelt Indian Government District Enabling Act (British Columbia) recognizes the district Council as the governing body of the Sechelt Indian Government District. The district Council may enact laws or by-laws that a municipality has power to enact under an Act of the province.
4. Terres réservées aux Cris (TC) - Parcels of land in Quebec set aside for the permanent residence of Cree First Nations of Quebec. Terres réservées aux Cris are adjacent to villages cris. The area of a village cri is set aside for the use of Cree bands, but members of Cree bands are not permanently residing there. Note that a village cri and its adjacent terre réservée aux Cris can have the same name, e.g., the village cri of Waswanipi and the terre reservée aux Cris of Waswanipi.
5. Terres réservées aux Naskapis (TK) - Parcels of land in Quebec set aside for the permanent residence of Naskapi First Nations of Quebec. Terres réservées aux Naskapis are adjacent to village Naskapi. The lone area of village Naskapi is set aside for the use of the Naskapi band, although its members do not reside there permanently.
6. Nisga'a land (NL) - Part of the territory whose title has been transferred to the Nisga'a Nation by the Final Land Claims Agreement of 1998 between the Nisga'a Nation, the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia. Together with the four Nisga'a villages (NVL), this territory makes up the Nisga'a Lands defined by the land claims agreement.

Census subdivision code

The census subdivision (CSD) code is a three-digit code that is based on the Standard Geographical Classification (SGC). In order to uniquely identify each CSD in Canada, the two-digit province/territory (PR) code and the two-digit census division (CD) code must precede the CSD code. For example:

There are two municipalities in Canada that straddle provincial limits: Flin Flon (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) and Lloydminster (Saskatchewan and Alberta). Each of their provincial parts is treated as a separate CSD. Indian reserves are also treated as separate CSDs when they straddle provincial limits.

Changes to census subdivisions for the 2011 Census

The following reserve CSDs were deleted because they are not to be populated.

• Summerside 38 (1214024) in Nova Scotia
• Red Bank 7 (1309025) and St. Mary's 24 (1310035) in New Brunswick
• Whitworth (2412802), Cacouna (2412804) and Coucoucache (2490801) in Quebec
• Naiscoutaing 17A (3549079), Zhiibaahaasing 19 (Cockburn Island 19) (3551035), Whitefish River (Part) 4 (3552017), Mountbatten 76A (3552055), New Post 69 (3556104), Missanabie 62 (3557082), Lake Of The Woods 31G (3560062), Wunnumin 2 (3560072), Wapekeka 1 (3560074) and Sachigo Lake 2 (3560087) in Ontario
• Reed River 36A (4601096), Long Plain (Part) 6 (4608039), Cross Lake 19B (4622053), Cross Lake 19C (4622054), Nelson House 170A (4622060), Nelson House 170B (4622061), Nelson House 170C (4622062) and Highrock 199 (4623063) in Manitoba
• Makwa Lake 129A (4717814), Thunderchild First Nation 115D (4717818), Stanley 157A (4718804), Île-à-la-Crosse 192E (4718805), Dipper Rapids 192C (4718816), Primeau Lake 192F (4718830), Turnor Lake 194 (4718837), Clearwater River Dene Band 221 (4718838), Elak Dase 192A (4718843) and Fond du Lac 233 (4718848) in Saskatchewan
• Clearwater 175 (4816823), Devil's Gate 220 (4816825), Chipewyan 201 (4816828), Chipewyan 201B (4816834), Chipewyan 201C (4816837), Chipewyan 201D (4816840), Chipewyan 201E (4816843), Chipewyan 201F (4816845), Chipewyan 201G (4816848), Sandy Point 221 (4816851), Cornwall Lake 224 (4816853) and Collin Lake 223 (4816854) in Alberta
• Bummers Flat 6 (5901807), Aywawwis 15 (5909801), Boothroyd 5A (5909802), Boothroyd 8A (Part) (5909803), Ruby Creek 2 (5909811), Sho-ook 5 (5909813), Chaumox 11 (5909820), Swahliseah 14 (5909840), Franks 10 (5909846), Samahquam 1 (5909865), Kuthlalth 3 (5909870), Mayne Island 6 (5917806), Pacheena 1 (5917816), Claoose 4 (5919805), Lyacksun 3 (5919810), Wyah 3 (5919819), Openit 27 (5923812), Stuart Bay 6 (5923815), Keeshan 9 (5923821), Nuchatl 2 (5925808), Nuchatl 1 (5925809), Aupe 6 (5925815), Aupe 6A (5925816), Tatpo-oose 10 (5925819), Matsayno 5 (5925825), Saaiyouck 6 (5925830), Harwood Island 2 (5927805), Chekwelp 26A (5929802), Schaltuuch 27 (5929804), Seton Lake 5A (5931830), Slosh 1A (5931839), Hamilton Creek 7 (5933804), Leon Creek 2 (5933835), Spatsum 11 (5933847), Papyum 27A (5933856), Siska Flat 5A (5933862), Siska Flat 5B (5933863), Staiyahanny 8 (5933869), Cameron Bar 13 (5933890), Andy Cahoose Meadow 16 (5941824), Baezaeko River 25 (5941825), Cahoose 8 (5941826), Baezaeko River 26 (5941836), Tsunnia Lake 5 (5941853), Casimiel Meadows 15A (5941857), Kushya Creek 7 (5941867), Quattishe 1 (5943805), Karlukwees 1 (5943810), Apsagayu 1A (5943820), Compton Island 6 (5943824), Mahmalillikullah 1 (5943828), Glen-Gla-Ouch 5 (5943832), Gitzault 24 (5949831), Tsay Cho 4 (5951808), Kuz Che 5 (5951816), Bihl'k'a 18 (5951817), Isaac (Gale Lake) 8 (5951835), Maxan Lake 4 (5951837), Bihlk'a 6 (5951842) and Parsnip 5 (5953804) in British Columbia.

The following reserve and settlement CSDs in British Columbia were combined in order to provide more meaningful statistics.

• Alert Bay 1 (5943801) and Alert Bay 1A (5943802) to Alert Bay (5943837)
• Alexandria 1 (5941815), Alexandria 1A (5941870), Alexandria 3 (5941816) and Alexandria 3A (5941814) to Alexandria (5941882)
• Anahim's Meadow 2 (5941822) and Anahim's Meadow 2A (5941823) to Anahim's Meadow (5941883)
• Chuchhriaschin 5 (5933816) and Chuchhriaschin 5A (5933822) to Chuchhriaschin (5933810)
• Cowichan 1 (5919807) and Cowichan 9 (5919806) to Cowichan (5919822)
• Garden 2 (5941830) and Garden 2A (5941832) to Garden (5941884)
• Halhalaeden 14 (5933818) and Halhalaeden 14A (5933815) to Halhalaeden (5933813)
• Inkluckcheen 21 (5933820) and Inkluckcheen 21B (5933894) to Inkluckcheen (5933833)
• Kanaka Bar 1A (5933826) and Kanaka Bar 2 (5933827) to Kanaka Bar (5933882)
• Little Springs 8 (5941874) and Little Springs 18 (5941875) to Little Springs (5941885)
• Mount Currie 1 (5931803), Mount Currie 2 (5931811), Mount Currie 6 (5931838), Mount Currie 8 (5931837) and Mount Currie 10 (5931804) to Mount Currie (5931843)
• Nanaimo River 2 (5921802), Nanaimo River 3 (5921801) and Nanaimo River 4 (5921803) to Nanaimo River (5921807)
• Nequatque 1 (5931805), Nequatque 2 (5931840) and Nequatque 3A (5931810) to Nequatque (5931844)
• Neskonlith 1 (Neskainlith 1) (5933883) and Neskonlith 2 (5933885) to Neskonlith (5933838)
• North Tacla Lake 7 (5951812) and North Tacla Lake 7A (5951841) to North Tacla Lake (5951848)
• Sachteen 2 (5909855) and Sachteen 2A (5909860) to Sachteen (5909883)
• Siska Flat 3 (5933860) and Siska Flat 8 (5933864) to Siska Flat (5933849)
• Skowkale 10 (5909822) and Skowkale 11 (5909823) to Skowkale (5909884)
• Spences Bridge 4 (5933867) and Spences Bridge 4C (5933871) to Spences Bridge (5933881)
• Squiaala 7 (5909828) and Squiaala 8 (5909829) to Squiaala (5909885)
• Switsemalph 6 (5939809) and Switsemalph 7 (5939810) to Switsemalph (5939811)
• Telegraph Creek 6 (5949826) and Telegraph Creek 6A (5949827) to Telegraph Creek (5949847)
• T'Sou-ke 1 (Sooke 1) (5917817) and T'Sou-ke 2 (Sooke 2) (5917818) to T'Sou-ke (5917819)
• Aiyansh (Kitladamas) 1, NVL (5949836); Gingolx, NVL (5949842); Gitwinksihlkw, NVL (5949838); Laxgalts'ap, NVL (5949840) and New Aiyansh, NVL (5949834) to Nisga'a, NL (5949035).

In the Northwest Territories, Inuvik, Unorganized, NO (6107063) and Fort Smith, Unorganized, NO (6106097) were reorganized into Region 1, Unorganized, NO (6101063); Region 2, Unorganized, NO (6102063); Region 3, Unorganized, NO (6103097); Region 4, Unorganized, NO (6104097); Region 5, Unorganized, NO (6105097) and Region 6, Unorganized, NO (6106097).

The boundaries, names, codes and status of census subdivisions reflect those in effect on January 1, 2011, the geographic reference date for the 2011 Census of Canada. Information about any CSD changes that were effective on or before the January 1, 2011 reference date must have been received by Statistics Canada prior to March 1, 2011, in order to be processed in time for the census.

Refer to the related definition of Standard Geographical Classification (SGC) and to the 2011 Standard Geographical Classification (SGC), Volume I (Catalogue no. 12-571-X) for summaries of the intercensal census subdivision changes to codes, names and status.

Changes prior to the current census:

Municipal restructuring between 2001 and 2006 resulted in two noteworthy provinces: Quebec, with 282 dissolutions and 100 incorporations, and Saskatchewan, with 29 dissolutions and 11 incorporations.

The following census subdivisions had their Standard Geographical Classification code revised:

Newfoundland and Labrador: due to the creation of a new census division, Division No. 11, to represent the Inuit Settlement Area; see related census division definition

• Rigolet, T - 1010021 to 1011010
• Postville, T - 1010059 to 1011015
• Makkovik, T - 1010044 to 1011020
• Hopedale, T - 1010048 to 1011030
• Nain, T - 1010056 to 1011035

Quebec: primarily due to the dissolutions caused by amalgamations and subsequent reconstitutions of the CSDs (municipalities) listed:

• Charette, MÉ - 2436005 to 2451080
• Saint-Boniface-de-Shawinigan, VL - 2436020 to Saint-Boniface, MÉ - 2451085
• Saint-Élie, PE - 2436010 to Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, MÉ - 2451075
• Saint-Étienne-des-Grès, PE - 2437080 to 2451090
• Saint-Henri, MÉ - 2424005 to 2419068
• Saint-Lambert-de-Lauzon, PE - 2425005 to 2426070
• Saint-Mathieu-du-Parc, MÉ - 2436015 to 2451070
• Waterville, V - 2443005 to 2444080
• Batiscan, MÉ - 2437025 to 2437210
• Champlain, MÉ - 2437030 to 2437220
• Notre-Dame-du-Mont-Carmel, PE - 2436040 to 2437235
• Saint-Luc-de-Vincennes, MÉ - 2437035 to 2437225
• Saint-Maurice, PE - 2437045 to 2437230
• Saint-Narcisse, PE - 2437040 to 2437240
• Saint-Prosper, PE - 2437010 to 2437250
• Saint-Stanislas, MÉ - 2437015 to 2437245
• Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, MÉ - 2437005 to 2437205
• Sainte-Geneviève-de-Batiscan, PE - 2437020 to 2437215
• Petit-Saguenay, MÉ - 2494005 to 2494205
• L'Anse-Saint-Jean, MÉ - 2494010 to 2494210
• Rivière-Éternité, MÉ - 2494015 to 2494215
• Ferland-et-Boilleau, MÉ - 2494020 to 2494220
• Saint-Félix-d'Otis, MÉ - 2494025 to 2494225
• Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, PE - 2494030 to 2494230
• Saint-Fulgence, MÉ - 2494035 to 2494235
• Saint-Honoré, MÉ - 2494060 to 2494240
• Larouche, MÉ - 2494080 to 2494265
• Saint-Charles-de-Bourget, MÉ - 2494085 to 2494260
• Saint-Ambroise, MÉ - 2494090 to 2494255
• Saint-David-de-Falardeau, MÉ - 2494095 to 2494245
• Bégin, MÉ - 2494100 to 2494250
• Lalemant, NO - 2494902 to 2494926
• Lac-Ministuk, NO - 2494904 to 2494928
• Mont Valin, NO - 2494906 to 2494930