Researchers interested in using the British Columbia Interuniversity Research Data Centre or any of the other Research Data Centres should visit the SSHRC web site. The application includes a research project proposal that is peered reviewed on the basis of academic merit and need for access to the confidential microdata. Researchers who propose a project that can be accomplished using a public use microdata file will be asked to contact the Data Liberation Initiative staff at their university. Since the application process can take up to eight weeks, researchers should submit their applications well before planning to begin accessing the centre. More information is available in the detailed application instructions.

SSHRC will notify each researcher when the application for access has been approved. The RDC staff person will provide an orientation session to familiarize the researcher with the facility and the requirements for doing research at the RDC.

Researchers will have access to the RDC during normal business hours. For the duration of the approved project, each researcher is a 'deemed employee' of Statistics Canada, and makes an Oath of Office under the Statistics Act.

At the completion of the project, the researcher is required to produce a report of the empirical findings for Statistics Canada. This report may be included in a Statistics Canada research paper series. The researcher retains full right to publish their findings in any journal or other publication.

For further information on the required project report, please see the Researcher's Guides