Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, first quarter of 2026

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

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

• Approximately how long ago was this business or organization first established?
  • 2 years ago or less
    Established in 2026, 2025, or 2024.
  • 3 to 10 years ago
    Established in 2016 to 2023.
  • 11 to 20 years ago
    Established in 2006 to 2015.
  • More than 20 years ago
    Established in 2005 or earlier.
  • 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 or services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Selling price of goods or services offered by this business or organization
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know
• Demand for goods or 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
• Online sales 
  • Increase
  • Stay about the same
  • Decrease
  • Not applicable
  • Don’t know

5. 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
• Cost of inputs
  An input is an economic resource used in a firm’s production process.
  e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
• Costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
• Inflation
• 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
• Lack of financial resources
• Technological limitations
• Regulatory constraints
• Cost of insurance
• Transportation costs
• Obtaining financing
• Increasing competition 
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services to customers in other provinces or territories
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
• Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
• Attract local investment
• Attract foreign direct investment
• Other obstacle
  • Specify other obstacle:
  OR
• None of the above

Flow condition: If at least two obstacles are selected in Q5, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q7.

Display condition: Display in Q6 the obstacles selected in Q5.

6. Of the obstacles selected in the previous question, which 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
• Cost of inputs 
  An input is an economic resource used in a firm’s production process.
  e.g., labour, capital, energy and raw materials
• Costs in real estate, leasing or property taxes
• Inflation
• 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
• Lack of financial resources
• Technological limitations
• Regulatory constraints
• Cost of insurance
• Transportation costs
• Obtaining financing
• Increasing competition 
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services to customers in other provinces or territories
• Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
• Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
• Attract local investment
• Attract foreign direct investment
• Other obstacle

Flow condition: If “Cost of inputs” is selected in Q5, go to Q7. Otherwise, go to Q8.

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

Select all that apply.

• Cost of labour
• Cost of capital
• Cost of energy
• Cost of raw materials
  OR
• Don’t know

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 Q5, go to Q8. Otherwise, go to Q11.

Display 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 Q5, display in Q8.

Supply chain challenges

8. 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

9. 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

10. Over the next three months, how does this business or organization expect supply chain challenges tchange?

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” was selected in Q1, go to Q12. Otherwise, go to Q11.
Display condition: If “Non-profit organization” is selected in Q1, do not display “Transfer the business” or “Sell the business” in Q11.

Expectations for the next year

11. 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 location within the province or territory
• 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

Flow condition: If “Export or sell goods outside of Canada” or “Export or sell services outside of Canada” was selected in Q3, go to Q12. Otherwise, go to Q13.

Trade

12. Over the last 12 months, what percentage of this business’ or organization’s sales were made directly to clients or customers in the United States?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage of sales made directly to clients or customers in the United States:
OR
Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Import or buy goods from outside of Canada” or “Import or buy services from outside of Canada” was selected in Q3, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q14.

13. Over the last 12 months, what percentage of this business’ or organization’s purchases were made directly from suppliers in the United States?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage of purchases made directly from suppliers in the United States:
OR
Don’t know

14. Over the last 12 months, what impact did each of the following have on this business or organization?

If tariffs are not relevant to this business or organization, please select “No impact”.

• U.S. tariffs on goods sold by businesses in Canada
  • Major negative impact
  • Minor negative impact
  • No impact
  • Minor positive impact
  • Major positive impact
  • Don’t know
• Canadian tariffs on goods sold by businesses in Canada
  • Major negative impact
  • Minor negative impact
  • No impact
  • Minor positive impact
  • Major positive impact
  • Don’t know
• The elimination of trade barriers between provinces or territories
  • Major negative impact
  • Minor negative impact
  • No impact
  • Minor positive impact
  • Major positive impact
  • Don’t know

15. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization take any of the following actions as a result of any tariffs applied by the United States on goods sold from Canada?

Select all that apply.

• Sought alternative customers outside the United States
• Sought alternative suppliers outside the United States
• Increased domestic sourcing
• Increased efforts to sell to customers in Canada
• Delayed major investments or expenditures
• Delayed Canadian investment or expansion plans
• Acquired or partnered with United States-based businesses as a beachhead strategy
• Explored trade-related financial tools
  e.g., currency hedging, insurance
• Established operations in the United States
• Increased inventory or stockpiled goods
• Invested in technology improvements
  e.g., technology adoption, automation
• Laid off employees
• Hired employees
• Raised prices of goods or services
• Lowered prices of goods or services
• Other action
  • Specify other action:
  OR
• None of the above
  OR
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If the percentage of sales made directly to clients or customers in the United States reported in Q12 was greater than 0, go to Q16. Otherwise, go to Q17.

16. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization sold any goods to the United States that were subject to any tariffs?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If the percentage of purchases made directly from suppliers in the United States reported in Q13 was greater than 0, go to Q17. Otherwise, go to Q18.

17. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization purchased any goods from the United States that were subject to any tariffs?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

18. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization passed on any increases in its costs due to tariffs to its customers?

• Yes
• No
• This business or organization has not experienced any cost increases due to tariffs
• Don’t know

19. Over the next 12 months, how likely is this business or organization to pass on cost increases due to tariffs to its customers?

Include increases in costs related to inputs, products, or supplies.

• Very likely
• Somewhat likely
• Somewhat unlikely
• Very unlikely
• This business or organization does not expect any cost increases due to tariffs
• Don't know

Internal trade

20. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization conduct any of the following activities within Canada?

Include transactions executed between a business in a given province or territory and a consumer or business outside that province or territory.
Select all that apply.

• Purchased goods or services from suppliers in another province or territory
• Sold goods or services to customers in another province or territory
  OR
• None of the above
  • Would this business or organization consider purchasing from suppliers or selling to customers in another province or territory in the future?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don’t know
  OR
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Purchased goods or services from suppliers in another province or territory” or “Sold goods or services to customers in another province or territory” is selected in Q20, go to Q21. Otherwise, go to next flow.

If “None of the above” and “Yes”, or “None of the above” and “Don’t know” are selected in Q20, go to Q25. Otherwise, go to Q26.

Display condition: If “Purchased goods or services from suppliers in another province or territory” is selected in Q20, display “Percentage of total purchases of goods and services” in Q21. Otherwise, do not display.

If “Sold goods or services to customers in another province or territory” is selected in Q20, display “Percentage of total sales of goods and services” in Q21. Otherwise, do not display.

21. Over the last 12 months, what percentage of this business’ or organization’s purchases from suppliers and sales to customers were made directly in or to another province or territory?

Include purchases and sales between a business in a given province or territory and a consumer or a business outside that province or territory.

For goods purchased from suppliers and for goods sold to customers, include all purchases and sales.

For goods purchased from and sold to another business within the same company located in another province or territory, only include purchases and sales of value-added or altered goods.

Exclude purchases and sales within the same province or territory where the business is operating.

Provide your best estimate.

Percentage of total purchases of goods and services:
OR
Don’t know

Percentage of total sales of goods and services:
OR
Don’t know

22. Over the last 12 months, which of the following obstacles did this business or organization experience when goods or services were purchased from and sold to another province or territory?

Select all that apply.

• Transportation regulations were difficult to abide by
• Too much paperwork to fill out
• Permits and licenses were difficult to obtain
• Provincial or territorial tax laws
• Regulations for this business’ or organization’s industry were difficult to abide by
• Limited consumer choices due to provincial or territorial regulations
• Other obstacle
  • Specify other obstacle:
  OR
• No obstacles experienced
  OR
• This business or organization did not purchase from suppliers or sell to customers in another province or territory
  OR
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If at least two obstacles are selected in Q22, go to Q23. Otherwise, go to Q24.

Display condition: Display in Q23 the obstacles selected in Q22.

23. Of the obstacles selected in the previous questions, please indicate this business’ or organization’s most challenging obstacle over the last 12 months.

• Transportation regulations were difficult to abide by
• Too much paperwork to fill out
• Permits and licenses were difficult to obtain
• Provincial or territorial tax laws
• Regulations for this business’ or organization’s industry were difficult to abide by
• Limited consumer choices due to provincial or territorial regulations
• Other obstacle

Flow condition: If at least one obstacle is selected in Q22, go to Q24. Otherwise, go to Q25.

Display condition: If “Purchased goods or services from suppliers in another province or territory” is selected in Q20, display “Changed suppliers” in Q24. Otherwise, do not display.

24. Over the last 12 months, which of the following measures has this business or organization taken to reduce the impact of this business’ or organization’s most challenging obstacle?

Select all that apply.

• Chose to pursue fewer or no out-of-province opportunities
• Changed suppliers
• Increased selling price of goods or services
• Hired or consulted a specialist
  e.g., lawyer, accountant, broker
• Purchased software to simplify processes
• Other measure
  • Specify other measure:
  OR
• This business or organization has not taken any measures to reduce the impact of its most challenging obstacle
  OR
• Don’t know

25. What would be the most effective measure to encourage this business or organization to increase its purchases or sales within another province or territory?

Increasing this business’ or organization’s purchases or sales could be from current levels or from 0.

• Harmonized or mutually recognized standards and regulations
• Accessible financial support
  e.g., tax incentives, loans, and grants
• Better availability of logistics and shipping options
• Increase awareness of opportunities
  e.g., help with finding vendors or customers
• Streamlined testing and certification processes for employees
• Expediting permit and license approvals
• Other measure
  • Specify other measure:
• None of the above
• Don’t know

Canadian products

26. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization changed its marketing practices to promote Canadian products?

e.g., labeling products that are either “Canadian”, “Made in Canada” or are a “Product of Canada”

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

27. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization experienced an increase in sales of Canadian products?

e.g., products that are either “Canadian”, “Made in Canada” or are a “Product of Canada”

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

2025 revenues compared with 2024

28. Compared with 2024, how did the revenues of this business or organization change in 2025?

Compared with 2024:

• Revenues were higher in 2025
  • Compared with 2024, by approximately what percentage were revenues higher in 2025?
    Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
    • Percentage revenues were higher by in 2025:
      OR
    • Don’t know
• Revenues were the same in 2025
• Revenues were lower in 2025
  • Compared with 2024, by approximately what percentage were revenues lower in 2025?
    Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
    • Percentage revenues were lower by in 2025:
      OR         
    • Don’t know
• Don’t know

Wages

29. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization expect the average wages paid per employee to change?

• Average wages are expected to increase
  • By what percentage are average wages expected to increase?
    Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
    • Percentage:
      OR
    • Don’t know
• Average wages are expected to decrease
  • By what percentage are average wages expected to decrease?
    Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
    • Percentage:
      OR
    • Don’t know
• Average wages are expected to stay approximately the same
• Not applicable
  e.g., this business or organization does not pay wages
• Don’t know

Training

30. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization provided any job-related training about client interaction or service delivery?

Training includes peer mentoring, job shadowing, workshops, lessons, self-learning, team discussions, and webinars.

• Yes
  • Did any of this training include information on how to interact with persons with disabilities?
    A disability refers to any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation.
    Persons with disabilities refers to a person who has any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation —  whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

31. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization provided any job-related training about communication?

e.g., writing, presenting, listening
Include communication with internal and external parties such as customers, clients, suppliers, and employees.
Training includes peer mentoring, job shadowing, workshops, lessons, self-learning, team discussions, and webinars.

• Yes
  • Did any of this training include information on how to communicate with persons with disabilities?
    e.g., alternate formats options, accessible presentation formats, using inclusive language, providing visual cues, extra time for responding to questions
    A disability refers to any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation.
    Persons with disabilities refers to a person who has any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation —  whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

32. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization provided any technical job-related training?

e.g., using systems, equipment, applications or websites
Training includes peer mentoring, job shadowing, workshops, lessons, self-learning, team discussions, and webinars.

• Yes
  • Did any of the technical job-related training include information on accessibility for persons with disabilities?
    e.g., accessible font types and size, accessibility features in an application, web accessibility standards, assistive technology
    A disability refers to any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation.
    Accessibility refers to ensuring that persons with disabilities can easily use, access, and navigate services and opportunities.
    Persons with disabilities refers to a person who has any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

33. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization provided any job-related training about diversity, equity and inclusion?

e.g., mental health awareness, disability inclusion, cultural awareness, unconscious bias, 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, respecting confidentiality, inclusive hiring, bias awareness, inclusive conflict resolution
Training includes peer mentoring, job shadowing, workshops, lessons, self-learning, team discussions, and webinars.

• Yes
  • Did any of this training include information on inclusivity or accessibility for persons with disabilities?
    e.g., disability inclusion, promoting accessibility practices, safe and welcoming spaces
    A disability refers to any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment, or a functional limitation.
    Accessibility refers to ensuring that persons with disabilities can easily use, access, and navigate services and opportunities.
    Persons with disabilities refers to a person who has any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

34. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization provided any job-related training on workplace accommodations?

Workplace accommodations are measures that support employees by reducing barriers in the workplace. Examples of workplace accommodations are flexible work schedules, assistive devices, or ergonomic workstations.

e.g., available accommodations options, how to support colleagues or clients who require accommodations

Training includes peer mentoring, job shadowing, workshops, lessons, self-learning, team discussions, and webinars.

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

35. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization provided any other job-related training related to accessibility for persons with disabilities?

Exclude client interaction and service delivery training; communication training; technical training; diversity, equity, and inclusion training; and workplace accommodation training.

Training includes peer mentoring, job shadowing, workshops, lessons, self-learning, team discussions, and webinars.

Accessibility refers to ensuring that persons with disabilities can easily use, access, and navigate services and opportunities.

Persons with disabilities refers to a person who has any impairment, including a physical, mental, intellectual, cognitive, learning, communication or sensory impairment — or a functional limitation — whether permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, or evident or not, that, in interaction with a barrier, hinders a person’s full and equal participation in society.

• Yes
  • Specify other job-related training:
• No
• Don’t know

Skills gaps

36. What percentage of this business’ or organization’s employees are fully proficient in their current job?

Fully proficient employees are those that consistently demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform job duties.

• 100% – All employees are fully proficient
• 80 to 99%
• 60 to 79%
• 40 to 59%
• 20 to 39%
• 1 to 19%
• 0% – No employees are fully proficient
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “80 to 99%”, “60 to 79%”, “40 to 59%”, “20 to 39%”, “1 to 19%”, or “0% – No employees are fully proficient” was selected in Q36, go to Q37. Otherwise, go to Q38.

37. Among the employees identified as not being fully proficient, improving which of the following skills would have the greatest positive impact on the operations of this business or organization?

Fully proficient employees are those that consistently demonstrate the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform job duties.

• Reading comprehension
• Oral and written communication
• Basic computer and digital skills
• Basic math and calculating
• Critical thinking
• Problem solving
• Technical, practical or job specific
• Developed capabilities that relate to the practical or mechanical side of an activity.
• Management skills
• Team working
• Customer service
• Other skill
  • Specify other skill:
• Don’t know

38. Over the last 12 months, which of the following actions did this business or organization take to address skills gaps or employee skill deficiencies?

Select all that apply.

• Provided in-house training using internal resources and staff
• Provided feedback to staff
• Recruited new staff with qualifications, skills, and competencies
• Implemented mentoring or coaching
• Provided external training using a third-party provider
• Other action
  • Specify other action:
  OR
• None of the above
  OR
• Don’t know

39. Over the last three years, has this business or organization adopted any new technologies?

New technologies: Equipment or software that performs a new function or improves an existing function significantly better than the technologies that were commonly used by this business or organization in earlier periods.

• Yes
  • Did this business or organization provide training to employees to support the adoption of new technologies?
    • Yes
    • No
    • Don’t know
  • Which of the following best describes the ability of employees to adapt to the new technologies?
    • Employees were able to make full use of the new technologies
    • Employees were able to make significant use of the new technologies
    • Employees were able to make limited use of the new technologies
    • Employees were not able to make use of the new technologies
• No
  • Was concern about training employees the primary reason that this business or organization did not adopt new technologies? 
    • Yes
      • Which of the following best describes the concern about training employees?
        • The cost of training employees in new technologies was too high for this business or organization
        • Employees had a high workload and limited time available for training
        • Suitable training programs were not available or accessible to this business or organization
        • Employees lacked the necessary skills or capacity to adopt new technologies, even with training
    • No
    • Don’t know
• Don’t know

40. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization experience difficulties finding candidates who possess the skills needed to do their current job?

• Yes
  • What was the main difficulty experienced when finding candidates who possess the skills needed to do their current job?
    • Wages and compensation offered by this business or organization are lower than in similar businesses or organizations
    • Geographic location of candidates
    • Geographic location of this business or organization
    • Qualifications, credentials educational background of candidates are not recognized in the jurisdiction of this business or organization
    • Challenging working conditions
      e.g., contract durations, working hours, career progression
    • Low number of applicants or not enough people interested in doing this type of work
    • Other main difficulty
      • Specify other main difficulty:
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

Liquidity

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

Debt

42. Over the next three months, does this business or organization plan to apply to a financial institution 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
  • What are the intended uses of this funding?
    Select all that apply.
    • Refinancing of existing debt
    • Non-residential investments
      e.g., machinery, equipment, R&D
    • Current expenditure
    • Business expansion
    • Financing the acquisition of another business
    • Other use
      • Specify other use:
      OR
    • Don’t know
• No
  • Does this business or organization have the ability to take on more debt?
    Answer based on this business’ 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
          • Specify other reason:
          OR
        • Not applicable
          OR
        • Don’t know
    • Don’t know
• Don’t know

Future outlook

43. 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

Employment information

44. For each of the employment categories below, please provide the proportion of employees of this business or organization that are women and men.

For a smaller business or organization, a senior management position could be the owner or operator.

For a larger business or organization, senior management positions may include: Executive Director, President, Vice-President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, General Manager, Chairperson, or Corporate Controller.

Employees in senior management positions are responsible for developing and establishing the directions and goals for the business or organization. They are responsible for managing the staff and finances of the business or organization. They may also plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of the business or organization in relation to established objectives.

All other management positions are defined as all other managers, excluding senior managers.

All non-management positions are defined as employees in non-management positions.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

• In senior management positions
  • Percentage of employees that are women:
  • Percentage of employees that are men:
• In all other management positions
• If not applicable, leave this line blank.
  • Percentage of employees that are women:
  • Percentage of employees that are men:
• In all other positions
  i.e., employees who do not occupy a management position
  • Percentage of employees that are women:
  • Percentage of employees that are men:

Flow condition: If “Private sector business” was selected in Q1, go to Q45. 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.

45. 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 owned by women:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don’t know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?
Percentage owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don’t know

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

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by persons with a disability?
Include visible and non-visible disabilities.
Percentage owned by persons with a disability:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don’t know

What percentage of this business or organization is owned by Two-Spirited, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (2SLGBTQ+) people?
Percentage owned by 2SLGBTQ+ people:
OR
Prefer not to say
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 owned by members of visible minorities:
OR
Prefer not to say
OR
Don’t know

Flow condition: If more than 50% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities, go to Q46. Otherwise, go to “Contact person”.

46. 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