If you want a one-stop shop for government reports try the BC Legislative Library catalogue.
Finding The Best Online Information Is Tough
In this section we have gathered some of the most reliable government and employment websites for you to use in your research.
Canadian Information:
Canadian Automotive Partnership Council (CAPC)
An industry-led organization formed in September 2002 to address the key competitive issues facing the Canadian automotive industry.
BC Stats | Current reports and statistics from British Columbia's central statistical agency including labour market information, economic statistics and bankruptcies. Start by searching their Industry section and narrowing by industry type or go to the Business, Industry & Trade page to skim all the different business-related topics.
Start here: Other Economic Statistics (see licensed motor vehicle statistics) | PDF version
WorkBC | Find current employment outlooks, labour market information, relevant links, and a geographic representation of the BC workforce. Start by searching your Industry Profile.
Start here: Industry Profile - Wholesale and Retail Trade (includes automobile salespersons)
Start here: Career Profile - Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers
Start here: Career Profile - Retail Sales Supervisors
Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Canada
Provides market research, industry statistics, licensing information for intellectual property, and information about doing business internationally. The Industry Canada site features interactive applications such as customizable trade reports, cost calculators, and online business planning guides. You can also search broad Canadian industry statistics.
Start here: The Canadian Automotive Industry
Start here: Company Directories - Used Car Dealers (NAICS 44112)
Start here: Retail Revenues and Expenses - New Car Dealers (NAICS 44111)
Start here: Establishments - Automobile Dealers (NAICS 4411)
The Daily - Statistics Canada
The premier source for Canadian statistical information, including census information. Search 'The Daily' releases by subject to identify corresponding census tables, latest news, and publications. Similarly, you can browse by data source, including surveys & questionnaires relevant to your market research, which also link to census tables, latest news and publications.
Start here: New Motor Vehicle Sales - February 2011
Start here: Over a barrel? Canada and the rising cost of energy
Job Bank - Government of Canada
The leading source for labour market information. The site is designed to assist individuals who are searching for work or looking to make career decisions but can also be useful to gage employment trends in an industry. Try using their search portal to explore careers by occupation or review the latest job market trends in your industry.
Province of Alberta - Ministry of Labour
Provides information on economic development, labour, trades and apprenticeships as well as industry descriptions and data from the Province of Alberta.
Start here: Industry Profiles
PriceWaterhouse Coopers Canada (PwC) | Global consultancy firm that produces reports on the state of various industries.
Start here: Automotive Industry
International and/or American Information:
Small Business Administration: Free Small Business Data
This site is created and managed by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) and provides a list of free sources of information that you can use to obtain data about markets in the US.
Start here: Auto Sales Industry
CareerOneStop
A good way to research trends in the US labour market. Provides detailed labour information by state.
Start here: Industry Overview - NAICS 4411 - Automobile Dealers
MarketWatch - Industry Analyzer | The Industries section contains current data on Dow Jones Industry Sectors. Aggregate data as well as company-specific data is available.
Reportlinker.com
ReportLinker is a professional search engine which gives you access to an exclusive database of 1.2 million market reports and counting. Use this search engine to find official Industry reports, Company profiles and Market Statistics. Please note: information listed on this website may be very expensive but it may be possible to get access to specific reports elsewhere.
You might want to jump ahead to the news websites listed in the next section of this Accelerator Guide for more resources. News websites can often be good sources of industry, competitive and consumer information.