Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, fourth quarter of 2023

Business or organization information

1. Which of the following categories best describes this business or organization?

  • Government agency
  • Private sector business
  • Non-profit organization
    • Who does this organization primarily serve?
      • Households or individuals
        e.g., child and youth services, community food services, food bank, women's shelter, community housing services, emergency relief services, religious organization, grant and giving services, social advocacy group, arts and recreation group
    • Businesses
      e.g., business association, chamber of commerce, condominium association, environmental support or protection services, group benefit carriers (pensions, health, medical)
  • Don't know

Business or organization information

2. In what year was this business or organization first established?

Please provide the year this business or organization first began operations.
Year business or organization was first established:
OR
Don't know

3. Over the last 12 months, which of the following international activities did this business or organization conduct?

Select all that apply.

  • Export or sell goods outside of Canada
    Include both intermediate and final goods.
  • Export or sell services outside of Canada
    Include services delivered virtually and in person.
    e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
  • Make investments outside of Canada
  • Sell goods to businesses or organizations in Canada who then resold them outside of Canada
  • Import or buy goods from outside of Canada
    Include both intermediate and final goods.
  • Import or buy services from outside of Canada
    Include services received virtually and in person.
    e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
  • Relocate any Business or organizational activities or employees from another country into Canada
    Exclude temporary foreign workers.
  • Relocate any Business or organizational activities or employees from Canada to another country
  • Engage in other international Business or organizational activities
    OR
  • None of the above

4. Over the next three months, how are each of the following expected to change for this business or organization?

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

  • Number of employees
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Vacant positions
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Sales of goods and services offered by this business or organization
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Selling price of goods and services offered by this business or organization
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Demand for goods and services offered by this business or organization
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Imports of goods or services
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Exports of goods or services
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Operating income
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Operating expenses
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Profitability
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Cash reserves
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Capital expenditures
    e.g., machinery, equipment
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Training expenditures
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Marketing and advertising budget
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Expenditures in research and development
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Decrease" is selected for "Capital expenditures" in Q4, go to Q5. Otherwise, go to Q6.

Capital expenditures

5. Compared with the last 12 months, what percentage does this business or organization expect capital expenditures to decrease by over the next 12 months?

Provide your best estimate.

  • 0% to 19%
  • 20% to 39%
  • 40% to 59%
  • 60% to 79%
  • 80% to 99%
  • 100%
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Increase" is selected for "Capital expenditures" in Q4, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q7.

6. Compared with the last 12 months, what percentage does this business or organization expect capital expenditures to increase by over the next 12 months?

Provide your best estimate.

  • 0% to 19%
  • 20% to 39%
  • 40% to 59%
  • 60% to 79%
  • 80% to 99%
  • 100%
  • More than 100%
    • By what percentage does this business or organization expect capital expenditures to be higher, compared with the last 12 months?
      Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
      Percentage by which capital expenditures are expected to be higher:
      OR
      Don't know
  • Don't know

Business or organization obstacles

7. Over the next three months, which of the following are expected to be obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

  • Shortage of labour force
  • Recruiting skilled employees
  • Retaining skilled employees
  • Shortage of space or equipment
  • Rising cost of inputs
    An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
    e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
  • Rising costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
  • Rising inflation
  • Rising interest rates and debt costs
    e.g., borrowing fees, interest payments
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
  • Maintaining inventory levels
  • Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
  • Fluctuations in consumer demand
  • Attracting new or returning customers
  • Cost of insurance
  • Transportation costs
  • Obtaining financing
  • Increasing competition
  • Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
  • Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
  • Other obstacle
    • Specify other obstacle:
  • OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If at least two obstacles are selected in Q7, go to Q8. Otherwise, go to Q9.
Display condition: Display in Q8 the obstacles selected in Q7.

8. Of the obstacles selected in the previous question, what obstacle is expected to be the most challenging over the next three months?

  • Shortage of labour force
  • Recruiting skilled employees
  • Retaining skilled employees
  • Shortage of space or equipment
  • Rising cost of inputs
    An input is an economic resource used in a firm's production process.
    e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
  • Rising costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
  • Rising inflation
  • Rising interest rates and debt costs
    e.g., borrowing fees, interest payments
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
  • Maintaining inventory levels
  • Insufficient demand for goods or services offered
  • Fluctuations in consumer demand
  • Attracting new or returning customers
  • Cost of insurance
  • Transportation costs
  • Obtaining financing
  • Increasing competition 
  • Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
  • Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
  • Other obstacle

Flow condition: If "Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada", "Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad", or "Maintaining inventory levels" is selected in Q7, go to Q9. Otherwise, go to Q12.

Supply chain challenges

9. How long does this business or organization expect the following to continue to be an obstacle?

  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada
    • Less than 3 months
    • 3 months to less than 6 months
    • 6 months to less than 12 months
    • 12 months or more
    • Don't know
  • Difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from abroad
    • Less than 3 months
    • 3 months to less than 6 months
    • 6 months to less than 12 months
    • 12 months or more
    • Don't know
  • Maintaining inventory levels
    • Less than 3 months
    • 3 months to less than 6 months
    • 6 months to less than 12 months
    • 12 months or more
    • Don't know

10. Over the last three months, how have supply chain challenges experienced by this business or organization changed?

Supply chain challenges include difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada or abroad and difficulty maintaining inventory levels.

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

  • Supply chain challenges have worsened
    • Which of the following factors have contributed to these challenges?
      Select all that apply.
      • Increased prices of inputs, products or supplies
      • Increased delays in deliveries of inputs, products or supplies
      • Supply shortages resulted in fewer inputs, products or supplies being available
      • Supply shortages resulted in no inputs, products or supplies available
      • Other factor
        • Specify other factor:
      • OR
      • Don't know
  • Supply chain challenges have remained about the same
  • Supply chain challenges have improved

11. Over the next three months, how does this business or organization expect supply chain challenges to change?

Supply chain challenges include difficulty acquiring inputs, products or supplies from within Canada or abroad and difficulty maintaining inventory levels.

Exclude seasonal factors or conditions.

  • Supply chain challenges are expected to worsen
  • Supply chain challenges are expected to remain about the same
  • Supply chain challenges are expected to improve

Flow condition: If "Government agency" is selected in Q1, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q12.
Display condition: If "Non-profit organization" is selected in Q1, do not display "Transfer the business" or "Sell the business" in Q12.

Expectations for the next year

12. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to do any of the following?

Select all that apply.

  • Expand current location of this business or organization
  • Expand operations of this business or organization internationally
  • Expand operations of this business or organization into a new province or territory within Canada
  • Move operations of this business or organization to another province or territory within Canada entirely
  • Expand this business or organization to other locations within the same province or territory
  • Expand this business or organization without increasing physical space
    i.e., hiring more staff who will work remotely, or expanding online sales capacity
  • Restructure this business or organization
    Restructuring involves changing the financial, operational, legal or other structures of the business or organization to make it more efficient or more profitable.
  • Acquire other businesses, organizations or franchises
  • Invest in other businesses or organizations
  • Merge with other businesses or organizations
  • Reduce the physical space of this business or organization
  • Scale down operations of this business or organization to within a single province or territory within Canada
  • Transfer the business
  • Sell the business
    OR
  • Close the business or organization
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Labour mobility

13. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization employ individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence regulated within the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Include regulated occupations, professions, and skilled trades overseen by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.

e.g., doctors, engineers, welders, roofers, industrial mechanics, electricians

  • Yes
    • Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization hire or consider individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located?
      Exclude individuals in regulated occupations from outside of Canada.
      • Yes, this business or organization hired individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
      • Yes, this business or organization considered hiring individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located but did not hire any
      • No, this business or organization neither hired nor considered hiring individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
      • Don't know
  • No
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Yes, this business or organization hired individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located" or "Yes, this business or organization considered hiring individuals with a professional certification or provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located but did not hire any" is selected in Q13, go to Q14. Otherwise, go to Q18.

14. Over the last 12 months, which of the following obstacles did this business or organization experience when hiring or considering hiring individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence from outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Include regulated occupations, professions, and skilled trades overseen by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.
e.g., doctors, engineers, welders, roofers, industrial mechanics, electricians
Exclude individuals in regulated occupations from outside of Canada.

Select all that apply.

  • Level of effort required to verify individuals' certification or licence with the appropriate regulatory body
  • Time waiting for candidates to become certified or licensed in the province or territory of the business or organization
  • Concerns over scope of knowledge or skills due to their certification or licence coming from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
  • Amount of paperwork or forms to fill out
  • Cost associated with hiring an individual from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    e.g., moving expenses, training costs
  • Concerns over individuals' language proficiency
  • Other obstacle
    • Specify other obstacle:
    OR
  • None of the above
    OR
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If at least 1 obstacle was selected in Q14, go to Q15. Otherwise, go to Q16.
Display condition: Display in Q15 the obstacles selected in Q14, from "Level of effort required to verify individuals' certification or licence with the appropriate regulatory body" to "Other obstacle".

15. Over the last 12 months, what impact did each of the following obstacles experienced have on this business's or organization's decision to hire or consider hiring individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence from outside of the province or territory of the business or organization?

Include regulated occupations, professions, and skilled trades overseen by a provincial or territorial regulatory body.

e.g., doctors, engineers, welders, roofers, industrial mechanics, electricians

Exclude individuals in regulated occupations from outside of Canada.

  • Level of effort required to verify individuals' certification or licence with the appropriate regulatory body
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Time waiting for individuals to become certified or licensed in the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Concerns over scope of knowledge or skills due to their certification or licence coming from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Amount of paperwork or forms to fill out
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Cost associated with hiring individuals from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located
    e.g., moving expenses, training costs
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Concerns over individuals' language proficiency
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all
  • Other obstacle
    • Major impact
    • Moderate impact
    • Minor impact
    • No impact at all

16. Over the last 12 months, which temporary measures did this business or organization implement to allow individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence from another province or territory outside of the province or territory where the business or organization is located to work while they were becoming certified or licensed in the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Select all that apply.

  • Provided the individual with another role that did not require certification or licence
  • Allowed the individual to work under a limited scope of practice until they received certification or licence
  • Other temporary measure
    • Specify other temporary measure:
    OR
  • Individuals for this business or organization only begin working once their certification or licence is recognized by the regulator for their occupation
    OR
  • Don't know

17. Over the last 12 months, in which of the following occupational categories did this business or organization experience the most challenges when hiring individuals with a professional certification or a provincial or territorial or industry licence certified in another province or territory outside the province or territory where the business or organization is located?

Select all that apply.

  • Health and mental health professions
    e.g., doctor, nurse, dentist, psychotherapist
  • Veterinary medicine
  • Trades performed in the construction industry
    e.g., electrician, plumber, carpenter
  • Trades performed outside the construction industry
    e.g., hair stylist, truck driver, mechanic, welder, chef
  • Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Financial services
    e.g., mortgage broker, accountant, securities agent, financial planner
  • Law and legal services
  • Education
    e.g., teacher, early childhood educator
  • Social services
    e.g., social worker, interpreter, translator
  • Other occupation
    • Specify other occupation:
    OR
  • Don't know

Labour and wages

18. Over the next 12 months, at what rate does this business or organization expect to increase wages?

  • At a slower rate than last year
  • At a similar rate as last year
  • At a faster rate than last year
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "At a faster rate than last year" is selected in Q18, go to Q19. Otherwise, go to Q20.

19. Over the next 12 months, what are the expected reasons for this increase in wage?

Select all that apply.

  • Current rate of inflation
  • Expected rate of inflation
  • Labour market tightness
  • Labour productivity
  • Fear of losing labour to competing firms
  • Capacity to attract labour
  • Retaining talent
  • Other cause
    • Specify other cause:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Skills gap

20. Taking into account the skills needed to do their current job, what percentage of employees are fully proficient in this business or organization?

A proficient employee is someone who is able to do the job to the required level.

  • 100%
  • 80% to 99%
  • 60% to 79%
  • 40% to 59%
  • 20% to 39%
  • 1% to 19%
  • 0% - No employee has all the necessary skills
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If a percentage less than 100% is selected in Q20, go to Q21. Otherwise, go to Q22.

21. Over the next 12 months, which of the following actions does this business or organization plan to take to address skills gaps or employee skill deficiencies?

Select all that apply.

  • Provide internal training or on-the-job (in-house training)
  • Provide external training
  • Implement a mentoring or coaching scheme
  • Increase performance monitoring
  • Provide feedback to staff
  • Recruit new staff with suitable qualifications, skills and competencies
  • Change work practices
  • Reallocate work
  • Automate production
  • Implement outsourcing or offshoring
  • Drop some activities
  • Other action
    • Specify other action:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • No plans to take any action

Flow condition: If "Non-profit organization" is selected in Q1, go to Q22. Otherwise, go to Q24.

Donations

22. Does this organization typically receive revenue in the form of donations from the public?

  • Yes
    • Which of the following challenges is this organization facing in seeking donations from the public?
      Select all that apply.
      • Finding new donors
      • Retaining existing donors
      • Donors not giving as much as they used to
      • Lack of time or resources for this organization to seek donations
      • Other challenge
        • Specify other challenge:
      • OR
      • Don't know
      • OR
      • No challenges have been experienced
  • No
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If at least 1 challenge is selected in Q22, go to Q23. Otherwise, go to Q24.

23. Which of the following are impacts or expected impacts of challenges related to donations?

Select all that apply.

  • Reduction of programs and services offered
  • Cancellation of programs and services offered
  • Inability to accept new participants in programs or services
  • Reduction in staff
  • Increased reliance on volunteers
  • Reduction in spending on things other than staff
  • Exploring alternative revenue sources
  • Organization at risk of closing
  • Other impact
    • Specify other impact:
  • OR
  • Don't know
  • OR
  • No impacts on this organization are expected

Interest rates

24. What is the level of impact interest rates have on this business or organization?

  • No impact
  • Low impact
  • Medium impact
  • High impact
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Low Impact", "Medium impact", or "High impact" is selected in Q24, go to Q25. Otherwise, go to Q26.

25. Which of the following has been most impacted by interest rates for this business or organization?

  • New borrowing costs
  • Cost of existing debt
  • Capital expenditures
  • Sales of products and services offered by this business or organization
  • Financing for customers
  • Exchange rates
  • Investments made by this business or organization
  • Don't know

Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)

26. Did this business or organization receive a repayable loan from the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)?

The CEBA program offered interest-free loans of up to $60,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits.

  • Yes
    • Has it been paid back fully?
      • Yes
      • No
        • Does this business or organization anticipate having the liquidity available or the access to credit to repay the CEBA loan by December 31, 2026?
          • Yes
          • No
          • Don't know
      • Don't know
  • No
  • Don't know

Marketplace lending

27. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization request financing using marketplace lending?

Marketplace lending is a form of financial technology that allows people to lend or borrow money from one another without going through a bank using online websites that connect borrowers directly to lenders.

  • Yes
    • What was the reason behind using this type of lending source?
      Select all that apply.
      • Competitive interest rates
      • Could not obtain financing using traditional financing such as loans from banks or credit unions
      • Faster turnaround time
      • No spending stipulations
      • Accessibility
      • Other reason
        • Specify other reason:
      • OR
      • Don't know
      • OR
      • None of the above
  • No
  • Don't know

28. Over the next 12 months, will this business or organization request financing using marketplace lending?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't know

Liquidity

29. Does this business or organization have the cash or liquid assets required to operate for the next three months?

  • Yes
  • No
    • Will this business or organization be able to acquire the cash or liquid assets required?
      • Yes
      • No
      • Don't know
  • Don't know

Debt

30. Over the next three months, does this business or organization plan to apply for a new line of credit, a new term loan, a new non-residential mortgage, or refinancing of an existing non-residential mortgage?

Include commercial mortgages.

Exclude residential mortgages.

  • Yes
  • No
    • Does this business or organization have the ability to take on more debt
      Answer based on this business's or organization's ability, even if there are no plans to take on   
      more debt.
      • Yes
      • No
        • For which of the following reasons is this business or organization unable to take on more debt?
          Select all that apply.
          • Cash flow
          • Lack of confidence or uncertainty in future sales
          • Request would be turned down
          • Too difficult or time consuming to apply
          • Interest rates are unfavourable
          • Payment terms are unfavourable
          • Credit rating
          • Other reason
          • OR
            • Specify other reason:
          • Not applicable
            OR
          • Don't know
      • Don't know
  • Don't know

Working arrangements

31. Over the next three months, what percentage of the employees of this business or organization is anticipated to do each of the following?

Exclude contractors.

Exclude employees that are primarily engaged in providing driving or delivery services or employees that primarily work at client premises.

Working on-site refers to working from an office or job site.

Working remotely refers to an employee working from home or another location of the employee's choosing, other than their regular on-site location.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
If the percentages are unknown, leave the question blank.

  • a. Work on-site exclusively
    Percentage of employees:
  • b. Work on-site most hours
    Percentage of employees:
  • c. Work approximately the same number of hours on-site and remotely
    Percentage of employees:
  • d. Work remotely most hours
    Percentage of employees:
  • e. Work remotely exclusively
    Percentage of employees:

Future outlook

32. Over the next 12 months, what is the future outlook for this business or organization?

  • Very optimistic
  • Somewhat optimistic
  • Somewhat pessimistic
  • Very pessimistic
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Private sector business" is selected in Q1, go to Q33. Otherwise, go to "Contact Person".

Ownership

(i) The groups identified within the following questions are included in order to gain a better understanding of businesses owned by members of various communities across Canada.

33. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by each of the following groups?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

If the business or organization is not owned by anyone that falls under that group, please enter '0'.

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by women?
Percentage of business or organization owned by women:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?
Percentage of business or organization owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by immigrants to Canada?
Percentage of business or organization owned by immigrants to Canada:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by persons with a disability?
Percentage of business or organization owned by persons with a disability:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or two-spirited (LGBTQ2) people?
Percentage of business or organization owned by LGBTQ2 people:
OR
Don't know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities?
A member of a visible minority in Canada may be defined as someone (other than an Indigenous person) who is non-white in colour or race, regardless of place of birth.
Percentage of business or organization owned by visible minorities:
OR
Don't know

Flow condition: If more than 50% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities, go to Q33. Otherwise, go to "Contact person".

34. It was indicated that at least 51% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities. Please select the categories that describe the owner or owners.

Select all that apply.

  • South Asian
    e.g., East Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan
  • Chinese
  • Black
  • Filipino
  • Latin American
  • Arab
  • Southeast Asian
    e.g., Vietnamese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai
  • West Asian
    e.g., Afghan, Iranian
  • Korean
  • Japanese
  • Other group
    • Specify other group:
  • OR
  • Prefer not to say
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