Government Websites
In this section we have gathered some of the most reliable freely available online government and employment websites for you to use in your research.
Canadian Websites
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.
Government of Canada - Business and Industry | The Government of Canada's comprehensive page for business and industry guides you through important information on starting a business. You will find necessary permits and information on tax and regulation, as well as advice on how to protect your intellectual property through copyright or trademark, a primer for selling to the federal government, information on importing and exporting goods, and advice on managing and protecting your business operations.
- Starting a business
- Overview of federal government Services for Small Business
- Importing into Canada
Government of Canada - E-commerce | Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service’s page on e-commerce provides a variety of information and can help Canadian businesses that are looking to sell their products online in international markets.
Statistics Canada Data | Formerly known as CANSIM, Statistics Canada's key socioeconomic database is updated daily. It is free to search the data tables.
- Retail e-commerce sales (x 1,000)
- Amusement and recreation, e-commerce sales
- Electronic commerce and electronic orders, by type of payment and geography
- Online orders received and purchases made for goods and services, by industry and size of enterprise
- Wholesale trade, sales
- Annual wholesale trade survey, financial estimates
- Wholesale sales, price and volume, by industry, seasonally adjusted (x 1,000,000)
- Wholesale services price index, monthly
- Historical (real-time) releases of wholesale trade, inventories (x 1,000)
- Wholesale trade, commodities based on North American Product Classification System Canada 2017 (x 1,000)
Canadian Industry Statistics (CIS) - Industry Canada | CIS analyses industry data on many economic indicators using the most recent data from Statistics Canada. CIS looks at industry trends and financial information, such as GDP, Labour Productivity, Manufacturing and Trade data.
- Non-store retailers - 454
- Electronic Shopping and mail-order houses - 4541
- Electronic shopping and mail-order houses - 45411
- Wholesale trade - 41
- Farm product merchant wholesalers - 411
- Food merchant wholesalers - 4131
- Personal goods merchant wholesalers - 4144
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.
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.
- Digital technology and Internet use, 2021
- Annual retail trade, 2020
- Study: Retail e-commerce and COVID-19: How online shopping opened doors while many were closing
- Wholesale trade, May 2022
- Wholesale trade: Early Indicator, May 2022
- Wholesale Serves Price Index, First Quarter 2022
- Annual Wholesale Trade 2020
WorkBC | Find current employment outlooks, labour market information, relevant links, and a geographic representation of the BC workforce. Start by searching your Industry Profile.
- Wholesale Trade Industry Profile
- Retail and wholesale buyers (NOC 6222)
- Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)
US & International Websites
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.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection: E-Commerce | This U.S site provides trade information, e-commerce resources, awareness guides for online sellers and more.