Non-financial co-operatives in Canada, 2022
Released: 2024-11-04
In 2022, there were a total of 5,616 active non-financial co-operatives in Canada, up slightly (+0.2%) from 2021. This represents the second consecutive yearly increase since the decrease recorded in 2020, following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A non-financial co-operative is a corporation that is legally incorporated under specific federal, provincial or territorial co-operative acts, and that is owned by an association of persons seeking to satisfy common needs, such as access to products or services, sale of products or services, or employment.
Quebec continues to have the largest number of active non-financial co-operatives with 44.6% operating in that province, followed by Ontario (19.2%) and Alberta (8.8%). Nova Scotia (+5.5%) had the largest growth in the number of active co-operatives in 2022.
Chart 1
Counts of active non-financial co-operatives in Canada, by province and for the territories
In 2022, among the non-financial co-operatives, 63.2% were non-profit. Non-profit organizations do not distribute surpluses which is often the case when the aim of the co-operative is to address social needs. Some examples include housing, daycare, and healthcare co-operatives.
Co-operative sector financial indicators continue to grow after a downturn in 2020
In 2022, non-financial co-operatives in all provinces and the territories, except Nova Scotia, experienced an increase in revenues totalling $66.1 billion, a 20.1% increase from 2021. Surpluses rose 13.3% to $9.2 billion in 2022.
Total assets held by non-financial co-operatives were up from $47.3 billion in 2021 to $50.5 billion in 2022 (+6.7%). This is in line with the overall upward trend in the Canadian non-financial industry which saw a 7.5% increase during the same period.
Total expenses paid by non-financial co-operatives in all industries rose to $64.1 billion in 2022, up 22.0% from 2021, following an increase of 11.5% in 2021 and a decline of 6.8% in 2020.
Chart 2
Financial performance variables of non-financial co-operatives
Co-operative employment rebounds after decrease in 2021
In 2022, non-financial co-operatives employed approximately 102,038 people, up 1.3% from 2021, the majority of which are employed in the wholesale and retail trade (49.0%) and construction and manufacturing (23.0%) industries.
Over half (52.0%) of non-financial co-operatives were non-employers which were operated by unpaid members. In the case of non-financial co-operatives with employees, 44.9% of all non-financial co-operatives were small enterprises (1 to 99 employees). Medium-sized co-operatives (100 to 499 employees) represented 2.6% of the total, and large enterprises (500+ employees) accounted for 0.5% of all non-financial co-operatives.
Salaries and wages were up 7.1% to $2.9 billion in 2022, contributing to growth in overall expenses paid by non-financial co-operatives.
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Note to readers
A cooperative is defined as "active" if it has employees on the payroll, generates revenues or incurs expenses in a given year.
Estimates are based on domestic financial and employment data as reported to the Canada Revenue Agency.
All non-financial co-operatives included are legally incorporated under specific non-financial co-operative acts; they do not include financial co-operatives, such as credit unions and caisses populaires, which are governed by separate legislation.
Total assets include all current, capital, long-term assets, and assets held in trust.
Products
The infographic "Non-financial co-operatives in Canada, 2022," which is part of the series Statistics Canada — Infographics (11-627-M), is now available.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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