The Policy Research Data Group (PRDG) is an interdepartmental forum for the identification of data gaps and for collaboration in the development of new data products for research in priority horizontal policy areas.

The PRDG was formed in early 1998 as part of the PRI. Its membership made up of approximately 30 senior managers drawn from departmental research policy branches in the federal government, as well as from the Privy Council Office, the Department of Finance, and the Treasury Board Secretariat. The PRI's Executive Director also chairs the Group.

The PRDG supports data projects (listed below) through a $18.34 M/yr fund at Statistics Canada. Supported projects range from small one-off surveys to ongoing programs. The common thread is broad horizontal interest in the data across several federal departments.

In addition to these projects, the PRDG supports interdepartmental workshops on data issues.

PRDG Data Projects

1. Information System for Science and Technology
2. Environmental Statistics Program
3. General Social Survey
4. Changing Lifepaths and Time Allocation Patterns
5. Socio-Economic Indicators of “Connectedness”
6. Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Canada
7. Postsecondary Transition Surveys
8. Enhanced Student Information System
9. Exporter Registry
10. Workplace and Employee Survey

Projects started in 2006:

1. General Business Panel Survey
2. Measuring Fraud Experience by Household
3. Expansion of Industrial Water Survey
4. Aging and Retirement Longitudinal Survey