Statistics Canada has released the results of its first survey of pension plans in Canada, the first time historical data on pension plans has been made publicly available. The data are biennial from Jan. 1, 1974 to 1990 and annual from Jan. 1, 1992 to 2004.

The Pension Plans in Canada Survey is a census of employer-sponsored pension plans, Statistics Canada said yesterday.

This survey collects information on terms, conditions and membership, by sector (public and private), by type of plan (defined benefit and defined contribution) and contributory status, the agency said.

The information is derived from data primarily provided by the provincial and federal pension supervisory authorities, it said.