Postal Code Federal Riding File [Canada], February 2020, Census of Canada 2016

<p>The Postal Codes by Federal Ridings File (PCFRF) is a digital file which provides a link between the six- character postal code and Canada’s federal electoral districts (which are also known as federal ridings).</p>

<p>Elections Canada defines a federal electoral district (FED) as any place or territorial area entitled to return a Member of Parliament (MP) to serve in the House of Commons. Federal electoral district legal limits and descriptions are the responsibility of the Chief Electoral Officer, and are usually revised every ten years after the results of the decennial census. There are 338 FEDs in the 2013 Representation Order, the most recent revision of the federal electoral districts limits.</p>

<p>Some postal codes straddle one or more FED boundaries. The ‘unique link’ variable indicates if the postal code is linked to one or more FEDs. Users often link the postal code in their data set to the FED in the PCFRF. When performing this link, users should be aware that the postal code in their data set may represent a mailing address used by a person, not necessarily where the person actually resides. Similarly, a postal code in a business-based mailing address may not necessarily indicate where the business activity took place.</p>

<p>The reference date for postal codes contained in the PCFRF is the same date as the postal codes contained in the Postal Code Conversion File (PCCF) product released concurrently with this version of the PCFRF</p>