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

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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. In 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
  • 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
  • Cost of personal protective equipment (PPE), additional cleaning or implementing distancing requirements
  • 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
  • Travel restrictions and travel bans
  • Increasing competition
  • Challenges related to exporting or selling goods and services outside of Canada
  • Maintaining sufficient cash flow or managing debt
  • Entry to new markets
  • Technology sold by this business or organization becoming obsolete
  • Technology used by this business or organization becoming obsolete
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If "Shortage of labour force", "Recruiting skilled employees", or "Retaining skilled employees" is selected in Q5, go to Q6. Otherwise, go to Q8.

Labour challenges

6. Over the next three months, what are the expected impacts of labour-related obstacles for this business or organization?

Select all that apply.

  • Management working increased hours
  • Existing staff working increased hours
  • Limitation on the business's or organization's growth
  • Delays in providing orders to customers
  • Reduce goods and services offered by this business or organization
  • Hire less suitable candidates
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

7. 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 Q8. Otherwise, go to Q15.

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
        • Specify other:
        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

Supply chain

11. Over the last 12 months, did this business or organization directly source its inputs, products or supplies within Canada?

  • Yes
    • Over the last 12 months, where in Canada did this business or organization directly source its inputs, products or supplies?
      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
  • No

12. 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

Flow condition: If "Relocate supply chain activities to Canada" is selected in Q12, go to Q13. Otherwise, go to Q14.

13. Over the next 12 months, where in Canada does this business or organization plan to relocate supply chain activities?

Select all that apply.

  • Within this business's or organization's local municipality or region
    i.e., within 50 kilometres of this business or organization
  • Outside of this business's or organization's local municipality or region but within its province or territory
  • Outside of the province or territory of this business or organization
    OR
  • Don't know

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

Expectations for the next year

14. 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 this business or organization to other locations
  • 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
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business, go to Q15. Otherwise, go to Q16.

15. 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

Energy expenses

16. Over the next three months, does this business or organization expect any increases in its energy expenses?

Energy expenses are costs related to heating, cooling, fuel, etc.

  • Yes
    • Over the next three months, how would this business or organization adapt to any increases in energy expenses?
      Select all that apply
      • Raise prices of goods and services offered
      • Reduce purchases of inputs, either energy- or non-energy-related
      • Change business practices or processes to reduce energy consumption
      • Invest in or switch to energy-efficient technologies
      • Switch energy suppliers or renegotiate energy contracts
      • Begin or increase production of energy on-site
        e.g., solar panels, biofuels, wind turbines
      • Other
        • Specify other:
        OR
      • Don't know
        OR
      • None of the above
  • No
  • Don't know

Wages

17. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization expect inflation to be a bigger issue when discussing wage increases with employees?

Include union and non-union employees.

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If the business or organization is in the Crop production subsector (NAICS 111) or Animal production and aquaculture subsector (NAICS 112), go to Q18. Otherwise, go to Q21.

Local food products

18. In 2021, did this business or organization sell any local food products for human consumption through the following channels?

Local is defined as food produced in the province or territory in which it is sold, or food sold across provincial borders within a 50 km radius from where it was produced.
Select all that apply.

  • Direct-to-consumer
    e.g., on-farm, kiosk, farmer's market, online
  • Local grocery stores
  • Local retailers, food and non-food
    i.e., non-grocery
  • Local restaurants or food trucks
  • Local institutions
    e.g., hospitals, schools
  • Local caterers or meal kits
  • Local charitable community food programs
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • No local sales

Flow condition: If at least one of the categories in Q18 other than "No local sales" is selected, go to Q19. Otherwise, go to Q20.

19. How did this business's or organization's local food sales in 2019 compare with its local food sales in 2021?

  • Sales were significantly higher in 2021
  • Sales were somewhat higher in 2021
  • Sales were about the same in 2021
  • Sales were somewhat lower in 2021
  • Sales were significantly lower in 2021
  • Don't know

20. For this business or organization, which of the following are barriers to selling food products for human consumption locally?

Local is defined as food produced in the province or territory in which it is sold, or food sold across provincial borders within a 50 km radius from where it was produced.
Select all that apply.

  • High operating costs
  • Barriers to entry
    Include start-up costs and marketing.
  • Seasonality
  • Inability to keep up with demand from buyers
    e.g., retailers
  • Lack of resources
    e.g., shortage of staff, skills, financial resources, trucks, equipment, storage space
  • Too much work
  • Too many buyers to deal with
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • No barriers
    OR
  • No interest in selling locally

Business strategy

21. Over the next 12 months, which of the following changes does this business or organization plan to make?

Select all that apply.

  • Move exclusively to an online business model
  • Rely more on automation and technology and less on labour
  • Change the products or services this business or organization offers
  • Expand the products or services this business or organization offers
  • Reduce the products or services this business or organization offers
  • Improve the products or services this business or organization offers
  • Other
    • Specify other:
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Online sales

22. What percentage of total sales were made online in 2021?

Online sales, or electronic commerce (e-commerce) refers to all sales of a business's goods or services where orders were received, and the commitment to purchase was made, over the Internet.

Include sales made on this business's or organization's website and third-party websites and apps.

Exclude the delivery of digital products and services for which orders were not made online and orders received or commitments to purchase made by telephone, facsimile or email.

If there were no sales made online, enter '0'.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage of total sales in 2021 made online:

OR

Don't know

23. Over the next 12 months, how likely is this business or organization to make investments in online sales or e-commerce capabilities?

  • Very unlikely
  • Somewhat unlikely
  • Somewhat likely
  • Very likely
  • Not applicable

Cybersecurity

24. Over the next 12 months, does this business or organization plan to take any new or additional cybersecurity actions?

Cybersecurity actions include:

  • managing, monitoring, evaluating or improving the security of business networks, web presence, e-mail systems or devices;
  • patching or updating the software or operating systems used by the business or organization for security reasons;
  • completing tasks related to recovery from previous cyber security incidents.
  • Yes
  • No
    • What is the primary reason this business or organization has not taken any new or additional cybersecurity actions?
      • This business or organization does not need cybersecurity measures
      • COVID-19 has delayed the business's or organization's cybersecurity plans
      • This business or organization does not have the necessary financial resources
      • This business or organization has already implemented any necessary cybersecurity actions
      • Other
        • Specify other:
  • Don't know

New innovations

25. Since 2020, has this business or organization introduced any new goods or services innovations, or any new business process innovations?

An innovation must be new to this business or organization, but it does not need to be new to its market.

Select all that apply.

  • Goods or services innovation
    This refers to a new or improved good or service that differs significantly from the business's or organization's previous goods or services, with respect to its characteristics, functions or performance specifications and that has been introduced on the market.
  • Business process innovation
    This refers to a new or improved process that differs significantly from the business's or organization's previous business processes and that has been brought into use.
    Include innovations in distribution or logistics, marketing or sales methods, information and communication systems, strategic and general business management practices, or process related to product or business process development.
    OR
  • Don't know
    OR
  • None of the above

Flow condition: If "Goods or services innovation" is selected in Q25, go to Q26. Otherwise, go to Q27.

26. By whom were these new goods or services innovations primarily developed?

  • Primarily by this business or organization or Canadian parent, subsidiary, affiliate businesses or organizations
  • Primarily by a foreign parent, subsidiary or affiliate businesses or organizations
  • Collaboratively, this business or organization together with other businesses or organizations
    Exclude outsourcing, contracting and granting out work.
  • Primarily by other businesses or organizations
    Include outsourcing, contracting and granting out work.
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If "Business process innovation" is selected in Q25, go to Q27. Otherwise, go to Q28.

27. By whom were these new business process innovations primarily developed?

  • Primarily by this business or organization or Canadian parent, subsidiary, affiliate businesses or organizations
  • Primarily by a foreign parent, subsidiary or affiliate businesses or organizations
  • Collaboratively, this business or organization together with other businesses or organizations
    Exclude outsourcing, contracting and granting out work.
  • Primarily by other businesses or organizations
    Include outsourcing, contracting and granting out work.
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If at least one of the categories "Goods or services innovation" or "Business process innovation" is selected in Q25, go to Q28. Otherwise, go to Q29.

28. Since 2020, did this business or organization introduce innovations as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic or to the conditions caused by it?

Select all that apply.

  • Yes, innovations were introduced to address the health impacts and prevention of the COVID-19 virus
    e.g., development of drugs, tests, personal protective equipment or sanitizers
  • Yes, innovations were introduced to address changed business conditions or restrictions due to COVID-19
    e.g., online work, shift to e-commerce or automatization, applications designed to deliver food
    OR
  • No, innovations were not introduced in reaction to COVID-19
    OR
  • Don't know

Innovations

29. Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected any of this business's or organization's activities related to innovation?

  • Mostly accelerated
  • Mostly unchanged
  • Mostly delayed
  • Most innovation activities were cancelled
  • Don't know

Debt

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

  • Yes
  • No
  • Don't know

Working arrangements

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

Exclude 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:

Business or organization outlook

32. Is this business or organization in a better overall position today than it was in 2019?

  • Yes, this business or organization is in a better overall position now
  • This business or organization is in about the same overall position now compared with 2019
  • No, this business or organization is in a worse overall position now
  • Don't know

Flow condition: If the business or organization is a private sector business, go to Q33. Otherwise, go to "Contact person".

Ownership

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

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

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 First Nations, Métis or Inuit peoples?

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 immigrants to Canada?

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 persons with a disability?

Include visible and non-visible disabilities.

Provide your best estimate rounded to the nearest percentage.

Percentage:

OR

Don't know

37. 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

38. 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 Q39. Otherwise, go to "Contact person".

39. 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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