Analysis

Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely recognized as a transformative technology with the potential to reshape business operations and drive productivity growth. Understanding the relationship between AI adoption and business performance is critical for shaping policies that foster innovation, technology diffusion and sustainable economic growth, especially given Canada’s persistent productivity challenges. This article summarizes key findings from the study “The Role of Complementary Capabilities in AI Adoption and Productivity: Firm-Level Evidence from Canada” by Li and Liu (2026), published in Canadian Public Policy. Using a novel firm-level database that links multiple waves of the Survey of Digital Technology and Internet Use (SDTIU) to administrative business microdata, the study examines factors influencing AI adoption among Canadian businesses and explores the relationship between AI adoption and firms’ labour productivity.

Description: This paper provides an update on the dynamics of entry into and exit from (unincorporated) self-employment and (incorporated) business ownership in Canada from 2005 to 2020.

Description: Canada has one of the highest shares of immigrants among developed countries. In 2021, immigrants made up nearly one-quarter (23.0%) of the population—the largest proportion among G7 nations. Therefore, understanding the impact of immigrant-owned businesses on the Canadian economy is essential. This article highlights key findings from two recent studies that explore the labour productivity and fiscal contributions of immigrant-owned firms.

Description: Technology adoption is essential for improving the growth, productivity and competitiveness of businesses. This paper links two cycles (2017 and 2019) of the Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy with the Canadian Employer–Employee Dynamics Database to study the use of advanced and emerging technologies by women- and men-owned businesses in Canada.

Description: Immigrant-owned businesses were more likely to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than other businesses, as they were more concentrated in industries requiring in-person contact and were smaller in scale. To support businesses affected by the pandemic, the Government of Canada launched various COVID-19 liquidity support programs, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). These programs were designed to help affected businesses by partially covering their main expenses, such as wages, rent and property expenses.

Description: To alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, the Government of Canada launched various liquidity support programs. This study examines the use of four emergency government support programs—the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)—by the child care businesses that qualified for them.

Description:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on businesses in 2020. In response, the Government of Canada introduced measures to support both individuals and businesses through the pandemic. The largest program for businesses was the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). This paper presents firm-level evidence on the relationship between the usage of the CEWS programs and the survival and growth of businesses controlling for the pre-pandemic characteristics of businesses and where possible, their use of two other important programs, the Canada Emergency Business Account and the Canada Emergency Commercial Rental Assistance programs.

Description:

The purpose of this article is to provide information on how the Government of Canada’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program has been used by employer businesses, how the usage differs by industry and business size, and characteristics of businesses who used the CEWS. This information can help Canadians better understand the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on Canadian businesses and how businesses made use of government’s financial supports.

Description:

While Canada has embraced digital technologies rapidly and broadly over the past two decades, there is no doubt that the adoption of digital technologies has been amplified and accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. This article compares the economic performance of sectors where digital inputs have been used more intensively in the production process (digitally-intensive sectors) to that of remaining sectors (non digitally-intensive sectors).

Description:

Over the past two decades, Canadians have embraced digital technologies at an unprecedented pace and breadth. The objective of this study is to develop statistical indexes to measure the intensity of digitalization in Canadian industries. Because of the ubiquitous presence of digitalization and businesses’ and individuals’ increasing reliance on digital products and services, it is essential to measure the digitalization in the Canadian economy to better understand its impact so that governments, businesses and other stakeholders can make informed decisions.

Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely recognized as a transformative technology with the potential to reshape business operations and drive productivity growth. Understanding the relationship between AI adoption and business performance is critical for shaping policies that foster innovation, technology diffusion and sustainable economic growth, especially given Canada’s persistent productivity challenges. This article summarizes key findings from the study “The Role of Complementary Capabilities in AI Adoption and Productivity: Firm-Level Evidence from Canada” by Li and Liu (2026), published in Canadian Public Policy. Using a novel firm-level database that links multiple waves of the Survey of Digital Technology and Internet Use (SDTIU) to administrative business microdata, the study examines factors influencing AI adoption among Canadian businesses and explores the relationship between AI adoption and firms’ labour productivity.

Description: This paper provides an update on the dynamics of entry into and exit from (unincorporated) self-employment and (incorporated) business ownership in Canada from 2005 to 2020.

Description: Canada has one of the highest shares of immigrants among developed countries. In 2021, immigrants made up nearly one-quarter (23.0%) of the population—the largest proportion among G7 nations. Therefore, understanding the impact of immigrant-owned businesses on the Canadian economy is essential. This article highlights key findings from two recent studies that explore the labour productivity and fiscal contributions of immigrant-owned firms.

Description: Technology adoption is essential for improving the growth, productivity and competitiveness of businesses. This paper links two cycles (2017 and 2019) of the Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy with the Canadian Employer–Employee Dynamics Database to study the use of advanced and emerging technologies by women- and men-owned businesses in Canada.

Description: Immigrant-owned businesses were more likely to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic than other businesses, as they were more concentrated in industries requiring in-person contact and were smaller in scale. To support businesses affected by the pandemic, the Government of Canada launched various COVID-19 liquidity support programs, including the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA). These programs were designed to help affected businesses by partially covering their main expenses, such as wages, rent and property expenses.

Description: To alleviate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses, the Government of Canada launched various liquidity support programs. This study examines the use of four emergency government support programs—the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), the Canada Emergency Rent Subsidy (CERS) and the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA)—by the child care businesses that qualified for them.

Description:

The COVID-19 pandemic had a major impact on businesses in 2020. In response, the Government of Canada introduced measures to support both individuals and businesses through the pandemic. The largest program for businesses was the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS). This paper presents firm-level evidence on the relationship between the usage of the CEWS programs and the survival and growth of businesses controlling for the pre-pandemic characteristics of businesses and where possible, their use of two other important programs, the Canada Emergency Business Account and the Canada Emergency Commercial Rental Assistance programs.

Description:

The purpose of this article is to provide information on how the Government of Canada’s Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program has been used by employer businesses, how the usage differs by industry and business size, and characteristics of businesses who used the CEWS. This information can help Canadians better understand the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis on Canadian businesses and how businesses made use of government’s financial supports.

Description:

While Canada has embraced digital technologies rapidly and broadly over the past two decades, there is no doubt that the adoption of digital technologies has been amplified and accelerated as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. This article compares the economic performance of sectors where digital inputs have been used more intensively in the production process (digitally-intensive sectors) to that of remaining sectors (non digitally-intensive sectors).

Description:

Over the past two decades, Canadians have embraced digital technologies at an unprecedented pace and breadth. The objective of this study is to develop statistical indexes to measure the intensity of digitalization in Canadian industries. Because of the ubiquitous presence of digitalization and businesses’ and individuals’ increasing reliance on digital products and services, it is essential to measure the digitalization in the Canadian economy to better understand its impact so that governments, businesses and other stakeholders can make informed decisions.