Archived - Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, third quarter of 2022

Archived information

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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, environment 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, did this business or organization conduct any of the following international activities?

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.
  • 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
    • Increase
    • Stay about the same
    • Decrease
    • Not applicable
    • Don't know
  • Exports
    • 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

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
  • Recruiting employees who can work in both English and French
  • Recruiting employees who can work in French
  • 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
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If "Shortage of labour force", "Recruiting skilled employees", "Recruiting employees who can work in both English and French", "Recruiting employees who can work in French", or "Retaining skilled employees" is selected in Q5, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q7.

Labour challenges

6. Compared with 12 months ago, how would this business or organization describe its challenges with recruiting and retaining staff?

  • More challenging than 12 months ago
  • About the same
  • Less challenging than 12 months ago
  • 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 Q7. Otherwise, go to Q11.

Supply chain challenges

7. 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

8. 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
        • Specify other:
        OR
      • Don't know
  • Supply chain challenges have remained about the same
  • Supply chain challenges have improved

9. 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

Supply chain

10. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to make any of the following adjustments to its supply chain?

Select all that apply.

  • Relocate supply chain activities to Canada
  • Relocate supply chain activities outside of Canada
  • Substitute inputs, products or supplies with alternate inputs, products or supplies
  • Shift to local suppliers
  • Partner with new suppliers
  • Work with suppliers to improve timeliness
  • Implement technological improvements
  • Invest in research and development projects to identify alternate inputs, products, supplies, or production processes
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Display condition: If "Export or sell goods outside of Canada", "Export or sell services outside of Canada", "Import or buy goods from outside of Canada", or "Import or buy services from outside of Canada" is selected in Q3, display "Suppliers outside of Canada" in Q11.

11. Please provide the number of direct suppliers this business or organization has that are located in Canada (domestic) and outside of Canada (foreign).

Direct suppliers are the businesses from which materials, parts, components, goods for sale are being purchased.
Please provide your best estimate. If the business or organization does not purchase materials, parts, components, or goods from any direct suppliers, enter '0'.

Supplier(s) in Canada:
OR
Don't know

Supplier(s) outside of Canada:
OR
Don't know

Flow condition: If the number of suppliers in Canada or outside Canada is greater than 0 in Q11, go to Q12. Otherwise, go to Q13.

12. How many of this business' or organization's direct suppliers are difficult to replace?

Difficult to replace suppliers are suppliers that this business or organization would not be able to replace without significant disruption or delays to operations.
Please provide your best estimate.

Of the suppliers located in Canada, how many are difficult to replace?
Supplier(s) in Canada difficult to replace:
OR
Don't know

Of the suppliers located outside of Canada, how many are difficult to replace?
Supplier(s) outside of Canada difficult to replace:
OR
Don't know

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business or non-profit organization, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q14.

Expectations for the next year

13. 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
  • Expand this business or organization without increasing physical space
    i.e., hiring more staff who will work remotely
  • 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
  • Scale down operations of this business or organization to within a single province or territory within Canada
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business, go to Q14. Otherwise, go to Q15.

14. Over the next 12 months, are there any plans to transfer, sell or close this business?

  • Yes
    • Does this business plan to:
      • Transfer to family members without money changing hands
      • Sell to family members
      • Sell to employees
      • Sell to external parties
      • Close the business
      • Don't know
  • No
  • Don't know

Interprovincial activities

15. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization conduct any of the following interprovincial activities?

Select all that apply.

  • Export or sell goods to another province or territory
    Include both intermediate and final goods.
  • Export or sell services to another province or territory
    Include services delivered virtually and in person
    e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
  • Import or buy goods from another province or territory
    Include both intermediate and final goods.
  • Import or buy services from another province or territory
    Include services received virtually and in person.
    e.g., software, cloud services, legal services, environmental services, architectural services, digital advertising
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above due to obstacles in conducting business in another province or territory
    OR
  • None of the above due to no interest in conducting business in another province or territory

Flow condition: If at least one of the categories "Export or sell goods to another province or territory", "Export or sell services to another province or territory", "Import or buy goods from another province or territory", or "Import or buy services from another province or territory" is selected in Q15, go to Q16. Otherwise, go to Q17.

16. Over the last 12 months, which of the following provinces or territories did this business or organization directly export or import goods or services to or from?

Select all that apply.

  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Quebec
  • Ontario
  • Manitoba
  • Saskatchewan
  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
    OR
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If at least one of the categories "Export or sell goods to another province or territory", "Export or sell services to another province or territory", "Import or buy goods from another province or territory", "Import or buy services from another province or territory", or "None of the above due to obstacles in conducting business in another province or territory" is selected in Q15, go to Q17. Otherwise, go to Q18.

17. Over the last 12 months, for this business or organization, which of the following were obstacles experienced when purchasing or selling goods or services interprovincially?

Select all that apply.

  • Differing provincial or territorial certification, permit, or licensing requirements for goods or services exported or imported by the business or organization
  • Differing provincial or territorial certification, permit, or professional licensing requirements for labour
  • Differing provincial or territorial inspection, safety or technical standards
  • Regulations limit or prohibit purchase or sale of the good or service interprovincially
  • Insufficient information available on provincial or territorial regulations
  • Tariffs or taxes on the purchase or sale of the good or service
  • Inability to keep up with demand from buyers
  • Geography or distance
  • Labour shortages
  • Lack of understanding or awareness of business operations in other provinces or territories
  • Lack of knowledge on opportunities or domestic markets in other provinces or territories
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Environmental activities

18. Which of the following environmental practices does this business or organization have currently in place or plan to implement over the next 12 months?

Select all that apply.

  • Reducing waste
  • Reducing energy or water consumption
    e.g., sensor lights, LED lights, automated faucets
  • Encouraging employees to adopt environmentally friendly practices
    e.g., teleworking, using public transit, recycling
  • Using recycled or waste materials as inputs
  • Implement green processes
    e.g., reduce transportation impacts and building impacts
  • Using one or more clean energy sources
    e.g., hydroelectricity, solar, wind
  • Choosing suppliers based on their environmentally responsible practices or products
  • Designing products or services to have a minimal impact on the environment
    e.g., eco-design that considers the product's lifecycle
  • Performing carbon sequestration activities
    e.g., planting trees, purchasing carbon credits
  • Measuring the business' or organization's environmental footprint
  • Obtaining or maintaining one or more eco-responsible certifications
  • Being zero waste
  • Having a written environmental policy
  • Hiring an external auditor to evaluate the business' or organization's environmental practices
  • Other environmental practices
    OR
  • None of the above

19. Over the next 12 months, which of the following could be barriers for this business or organization when adopting more green practices?

Select all that apply.

  • Lack of financial resources
  • Clients are not willing to pay a higher price
  • Time constraints or labour limitations
  • The business or organization has industry limitations when adopting green practices
  • Locational or on-site limitations
    Include geographic location limitations and leasing limitations.
  • Limited by corporate directives
  • Metrics to measure sustainability or going green are too confusing
  • COVID-19
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • None of the above
    i.e., the business or organization has no barriers or no plans to adopt green practices

Languages of services

20. Over the last 12 months, in which languages did this business or organization provide the following services or perform the following activities?

Website
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Marketing and advertising
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Outdoor signage
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Indoor signage
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Customer service
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Sales
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Exports
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

External communications
Include media releases.
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Internal communications
Select all that apply.

  • English
  • French
  • Other language
    OR
  • Not applicable
    OR
  • Don't know

Display condition: If "Not applicable" is selected for "Sales" in Q20, do not display "Sales positions" in Q21. If "Not applicable" is selected for "Customer service" in Q20, do not display "Customer service positions" in Q21.

Languages of work

21. For each of the employment categories below, please provide the distribution of positions in this business or organization required to be bilingual in English and French.

Note: Press the help button (?) for additional information.

(?) 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.

If the business or organization does not require bilingual employees in an employment category, please enter '0'.
Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

All positions
Percentage of employees in all positions required to be bilingual in English and French:

Senior management positions
Percentage of employees in senior management positions required to be bilingual in English and French:
OR
This business or organization does not have senior management positions

All other management positions
Percentage of employees in all other management positions required to be bilingual in English and French:
OR
This business or organization does not have other management positions

Sales positions
Exclude management positions.
Percentage of employees in sales positions required to be bilingual in English and French:
OR
This business or organization does not have sales positions

Customer service positions
Exclude management positions.
Percentage of employees in customer service positions required to be bilingual in English and French:
OR
This business or organization does not have customer service positions

Business or organization practices

22. Which of the following practices does this business or organization currently have in place or plan to implement over the next 12 months?

Select all that apply.

  • Practices to support diversity
    e.g., gender, sexual orientation, immigrants to Canada, Indigenous peoples, persons with a disability, visible minorities
  • Practices to support safety
  • Practices to support work-life balance
  • Practices to support mental health and wellness
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Long-term policies and practices

23. Does this business or organization have any policies or practices that have been implemented due to COVID-19 that will remain long-term?

Select all that apply.

  • Health and safety policies and practices
    Include policies and practices on illness, cleaning, and disinfecting.
  • Option to work from home or hybrid
  • Online ordering
  • Adjusting travel policies
  • Reduce the physical space used by this business or organization
  • Increase the physical space used by this business or organization
  • Online training
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Digital technologies

24. Over the next 12 months, how likely is it that this business or organization will adopt automation and digital technologies which may reduce hiring?

e.g., on-line sales and social media platforms, kiosks and robots, which may reduce hiring

  • Very likely
  • Somewhat likely
  • Somewhat unlikely
  • Very unlikely
  • Don't know

Increased demand

25. Over the next three months, how challenging would it be for this business or organization to meet an increase in demand?

  • A major challenge
  • A moderate challenge
  • A minor challenge
  • Not a challenge
  • Don't know

Business growth

26. Over the next three years, what is the expected average yearly growth for this business or organization?

Please provide your best estimate.

Round yearly growth to the nearest whole number.

The next three years refer to 2022, 2023 and 2024.

  • Less than 0%
    i.e., negative revenue growth
  • 0%
    i.e., no growth
    • Why is this business or organization not expecting any growth?
      Select all that apply.
      • Satisfied with current level of revenue
      • Don't think economic environment can support significant growth
      • Intense competition
      • Challenging to hire staff
      • Other
        • Specify other:
          OR
      • Don't know
  • Between 1% and 5% per year
  • Between 6% and 10% per year
  • Between 11% and 15% per year
  • Between 16% and 19% per year
  • 20% or more per year
  • Not applicable
    i.e., this business or organization will not exist
  • Don't know

COVID-19 Rapid Testing

(i) COVID-19 Rapid Test kits are self-testing kits that are used to assess and monitor the infection status of individuals with or without symptoms. Typically such kits provide a result within 15 minutes and can be used by employers to screen for COVID-19 among employees in settings where in-person work is required. Positive test results typically require confirmation by more accurate laboratory-based tests administered by public health authorities.

27. Over the last month, has this business or organization used COVID-19 Rapid Test kits to test on-site employees for COVID-19 infection?

e.g., periodic testing of employees with or without symptoms

  • Yes
    • Over the last month, what percentage of this business' or organization's on-site employees was tested using a COVID-19 Rapid Test kit at least once?
      Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.
      • Percentage:
      • Don't know
    • Over the last month, on average, how frequently were employees at this business or organization tested using COVID-19 Rapid Test kits?
      • Less than once a week
      • Once a week
      • Twice a week
      • More than twice a week
    • Over the last month, what benefits of using COVID-19 Rapid Test kits has this business or organization experienced?
      Select all that apply.
      • Reducing and monitoring transmission of COVID-19 in the workplace
      • Earlier detection of positive cases
      • Employees felt more confident coming to work on-site
      • Preventing outbreaks
      • Avoiding business closure
      • Other
        • Specify other:
      • Don't know
      • None of the above
    • How likely is this business or organization to continue rapid testing in the workplace if the business or organization needs to purchase COVID-19 Rapid Test kits?
      • Very likely
      • Somewhat likely
      • Somewhat unlikely
      • Very unlikely
      • Don't know
  • No
    • In the next three months, does this business or organization plan to use COVID-19 Rapid Test kits to test on-site employees for COVID-19 infection?
      • Yes
      • No
      • Don't know
  • Not applicable to this business or organization
    e.g., all employees work remotely

Debt

28. Does this business or organization have the ability to take on debt?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't know

Working arrangements

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

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

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

If the percentages are unknown, leave the question blank.

  1. Work on-site exclusively
    Percentage of employees:
  2. Work on-site most hours
    Percentage of employees:
  3. Work the same amount of hours on-site and remotely
    Percentage of employees:
  4. Work remotely most hours
    Percentage of employees:
  5. Work remotely exclusively
    Percentage of employees:

Future outlook

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

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

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business, go to Q31. 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.

31. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by women?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:
OR
Don't know

32. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:
OR
Don't know

33. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by immigrants to Canada?

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:
OR
Don't know

34. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by persons with a disability?

Include visible and non-visible disabilities.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:
OR
Don't know

35. What percentage of this business or organization is owned by LGBTQ2 individuals?

The term LGBTQ2 refers to persons who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or two-spirited.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:
OR
Don't know

36. 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.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:
OR
Don't know

Flow condition: If more than 50% of this business or organization is owned by members of visible minorities, go to Q37. Otherwise, go to "Contact person".

37. It was indicated that 51% or more 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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