Economic Contribution of the Culture Sector to Canada’s Provinces

By the Culture Statistics Program

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This report provides a descriptive analysis of the economic contribution of the culture sector to the Canadian economy. Culture sector output and employment levels are measured for each province, for the years 1996 to 2003.

The results of the study demonstrate that, on average, the culture sector accounted for 3.8% of national output and 4% of national employment, over the period under investigation. Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia were among the largest contributors to the culture sector in Canada, accounting for more than three-quarters of total output and employment.

Alberta experienced the largest growth in culture output, whereas Quebec recorded the largest increases in culture employment. Ontario dominated international trade in culture goods.

Government expenditure in culture amounted to $7.4 billion in 2003. The federal share of government spending represented almost one-half of total expenditure, followed by provincial and municipal spending that were fairly evenly split during the same year.

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