Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, third 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

Business or organization obstacles

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
• Attracting local investment
• Attracting 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
• Attracting local investment
• Attracting 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
  e.g., land, real estate, machinery, or tools
• 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 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” 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, approximately what percentage of this business’s 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, approximately what percentage of this business’s 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 next 12 months, what is the expected impact for each of the following 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 purchased from businesses in the U.S.
  • 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 next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to 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.

• Seek alternative customers outside the United States 
• Seek alternative suppliers outside the United States 
• Increase domestic sourcing
• Increase efforts to sell to customers in Canada
• Delay major investments or expenditures
• Delay Canadian investment or expansion plans
• Acquire or partner with United States-based businesses as a beachhead strategy
• Explore trade-related financial tools
  e.g., currency hedging, insurance
• Establish operations in the United States
• Increase inventory or stockpile goods
• Invest in technology improvements 
  e.g., technology adoption, automation
• Lay off employees
• Hire employees
• Raise prices of goods or services
• Lower 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?

Include both indirect cost increases and direct cost increases due to tariffs.

• 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 both indirect cost increases and direct cost increases due to tariffs.

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

Canadian goods and services

20. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization changed its marketing practices to promote Canadian goods and services?

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

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

21. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization experienced an increase in sales of Canadian goods and services?

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

• Yes
• No
• This business or organization did not sell any Canadian goods or services
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Private sector business” was selected in Q1, go to Q22. Otherwise, go to Q29.

Business sale or transfer

22. Does the current owner or operator of this business intend to sell or transfer ownership of this business within the next 10 years?

• Yes
  • When does the owner or operator of this business intend to sell or transfer ownership of this business?
    • Within the next 2 years
    • Within 3 to 5 years
    • Within 6 to 10 years
    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Yes” and then “Within the next 2 years” were selected in Q22, go to Q23. Otherwise, go to Q26.

23. Which of the following statements describe expectations related to the selling or transferring of this business?

Select all that apply.

• There are likely to be qualified buyers for this business
• A fair market price would be received for this business
• There is sufficient time and resources to pursue a sale or transfer of this business
• Professional or advisory support, such as a broker or accountant, would be consulted
• Government programs or supports for facilitating a sale or transfer would be used
  e.g., Succession Ontario, Repreneuriat Quebec
  OR
• None of the above
  OR
• Don’t know

24. When considering the sale or transfer of this business, what is the level of importance for each of the following?

• Finding a buyer in Canada
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Don’t know
• Protecting employees
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Don’t know
• Maintaining presence in the local community
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Don’t know
• Obtaining the highest price
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Don’t know
• Preserving the business’s culture or values
  • Very important
  • Somewhat important
  • Not important
  • Don’t know

25. If this business is unable to find a suitable buyer or successor, how likely are each of the following scenarios?

• Continue operating under current ownership
  • Very likely
  • Somewhat likely
  • Somewhat unlikely
  • Very unlikely
  • Don’t know
• Sell at a reduced value or under less favorable terms, including to a less preferred buyer
  • Very likely
  • Somewhat likely
  • Somewhat unlikely
  • Very unlikely
  • Don’t know
• Scale down or close operations
  • Very likely
  • Somewhat likely
  • Somewhat unlikely
  • Very unlikely
  • Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Yes” was selected in Q22, go to Q26. Otherwise, go to Q28.

26. What is the primary source of this business’s value?

• Ongoing operations
• Real estate or physical assets

27. Has this business been profitable in each of the past three years?

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

Buyer demand

28. Over the last five years, has this business received any expressions of interest or offers to purchase, solicited or unsolicited?

• Yes
  • From whom has this business received any expressions of interest or offers to purchase, solicited or unsolicited?
    Select all that apply.
    • Employees or management
    • An individual or family in Canada
    • A business in Canada
    • A private equity firm or investment fund in Canada
    • A foreign buyer

    • Other buyer

      • Specify other buyer:

      OR

    • Don’t know
• No
• Don’t know

Information theft

29. Over the last 12 months, has this business or organization experienced theft of sensitive business data such as intellectual property, business intelligence, or customer or employee data?

Theft of sensitive business data could include unauthorized access to systems or data; theft or attempted theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, or sensitive information; suspicious requests or engagements; or insider-related activity.

• Yes
• No
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Yes” was selected in Q29, go to Q30. Otherwise, go to Q33.

30. Over the last 12 months, which of the following events has this business or organization experienced?

Select all that apply.

• Unauthorized access to systems or data
  e.g., cyber intrusion, phishing
• Theft or attempted theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, or sensitive information
• Suspicious requests or engagements
  e.g., partnerships, clients, research collaboration
• Insider-related event
  e.g., employee or contractor misuse of access

• Other event

  • Specify other event:

  OR

• Don’t know

31. What impacts did these events have on this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

• Financial losses
  e.g., lost revenue, contracts, or market share
• Increased cybersecurity or security-related costs
• Loss of intellectual property or competitive advantage
• Reputational damage or loss of customer trust
• Operational disruption
  e.g., downtime, supply chain impacts
• Reduced willingness to engage in international partnerships or investment

• Other impact

  • Specify other impact:

  OR

• No impact
  OR
• Don’t know

32. As a result of these events, did this business or organization take any of the following actions?

Select all that apply.

• Increased investment in cybersecurity or data protection
• Restricted or reconsidered partnerships, investments, or clients
• Enhanced employee screening, training, or monitoring
• Limited sharing of sensitive information
• Changed R&D, innovation, or commercialization strategies

• Other action

  • Specify other action:

  OR

• No actions were taken
  OR
• Don’t know

33. How many measures has this business or organization implemented to protect its sensitive business data?

e.g., intellectual property, business intelligence, or customer or employee data

• Several measures
• Some measures
• No measures

Artificial intelligence

34. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) in producing goods or delivering services?

e.g., machine learning, virtual agents, voice recognition

• Yes
  • What type of AI applications is this business or organization planning to use in producing goods or delivering services?
    Select all that apply.
    • Machine learning
    • Natural language processing
    • Virtual agents or chat bots
    • Speech or voice recognition using AI
    • Recommendation systems based on AI
    • Large language models
      e.g., ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot
    • Text analytics using AI
    • Data analytics using AI
    • Neural networks
    • Augmented reality
    • Decision making systems based on AI
    • Deep learning
    • Image or pattern recognition
    • Machine or computer vision
    • Robotics process automation
    • Biometrics
    • Marketing automation using AI

    • Other type

      • Specify other type:

      OR

    • Don’t know
• No
  • Why does this business or organization not plan to use AI in producing goods or delivering services over the next 12 months?
    Select all that apply.
    • Too expensive
    • AI is not a mature enough technology yet
    • Lack of knowledge on the capabilities of AI
    • Concerns about privacy or security
    • Concerns about bias
    • Lack of skilled workforce
    • Lack of required data
    • Laws and regulations prevent or restrict use of AI
    • Previous or current use of AI did not meet expectations

    • Other reason

      • Specify other reason:

      OR

    • AI is not relevant to the goods produced or services delivered by this business or organization
      OR
    • Don’t know
• Don’t know

Flow condition: If “Yes” was selected in Q34, go to Q35. Otherwise, go to Q37.

35. How does this business or organization expect AI to affect total employment?

• Increase
• Decrease
• No change
• Don’t know

36. Which of the following changes will this business or organization make when using AI to produce goods or deliver services?

Select all that apply.

• Train current staff to use AI
• Hire staff trained in AI
• Purchase computing power or specialized equipment
• Purchase cloud services or cloud storage
• Change data collection or data management practices
• Develop new workflows
• Use vendors or consulting services to install or integrate AI

• Other change

  • Specify other change:        

  OR

• Don’t know
  OR
• None of the above

Liquidity

37. 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

38. 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’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

          • Specify other reason:

          OR

        • Not applicable
          OR
        • Don’t know
    • Don’t know
• Don’t know

Future outlook

39. 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” was selected in Q1, go to Q40. Otherwise, go to “Contact Person”.

Ownership

(i) The following questions are included for statistical purposes in order to gain a better understanding of businesses owned by members of various communities across Canada.

40. 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 persons aged 65 or older?

Percentage owned by persons aged 65 or older:
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 Q41. Otherwise, go to “Contact person”.

41. 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