I started GraphCan because Canadian data deserved better.

I'm Alex Fraser, a software developer based in British Columbia. I originally built GraphCan because I wanted better charts. Canada publishes an enormous amount of useful statistical data, but finding the right numbers, understanding what they measure, and turning them into something clear and readable can be surprisingly difficult.

GraphCan is a solo project that I build and maintain through Cordillera Labs. I care about making the charts beautiful, the underlying numbers trustworthy, and the research accessible to anyone who's curious. You can read more about me at cordilleralabs.ca/about.

I want people to be able to explore the data, question the conclusions, and share what they find. The core public charts are free to use, and basic sharing will stay free. I want them to be easy to embed in articles and other websites.

I may eventually charge for specialized tools, custom visualizations, and automated data access. But GraphCan started as something I wanted to exist, not as a subscription business looking for something to sell.

Where the data comes from

Most charts are built from open data tables published by Statistics Canada, including its customs-based merchandise trade statistics (CIMT). Some charts, mainly the skilled-trades comparisons with the United States, also use data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (including its Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages) and the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, and the tariff-exposure chart also draws on the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Each chart page names its own sources and links to the original table where one exists.

Where I transform the data, for example adjusting wages for CPI inflation or indexing a series to a base year, the chart says so. GraphCan is not affiliated with or endorsed by Statistics Canada, the Government of Canada, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US Bureau of Economic Analysis or any other data provider. Any errors in how the data is presented are mine.

Corrections and contact

If you spot a mistake, a chart that doesn't match its source, or something unclear, I'd like to hear about it. This is a one-person project, so replies may take a little while. The best way to reach me is by email at info@cordilleralabs.ca.