How to Choose a Region of Study

When choosing a region of study for a given report, you may have the option to choose between census subdivision, census division, and CMA.  A CMA, which stands for Census Metropolitan Area, is a grouping of census subdivisions (municipalities) or census divisions; not all census divisions and subdivisions, however, are part of CMAs. 

For example, Edmonton (in Alberta) is considered a census subdivision by itself, but the Edmonton CMA includes the cities of Beaumont, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, St. Albert, and Spruce Grove, plus several smaller towns and districts. A report generated for a CMA will often include a much higher concentration of data than one generated for a specific municipality, as CMAs are usually more highly populated.