Canada Co-op Reported Major Economic Impact
The national co-operative apex body released a sector analysis and announced a rebranding as Canada Co-op.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Economic Indicators
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Canada Co-op released a new report detailing that the co-operative sector contributes CA$61.1 billion to the national GDP. The organization also announced its rebranding from Co-operatives and Mutuals Canada to a more streamlined identity.
Why it matters
The report aims to provide data on the economic contributions of the co-operative business model across the country. It also highlights the sector's role in supporting 745,946 jobs, representing 3.6% of Canadian employment.
The sector includes 6,173 co-ops, credit unions, caisses, and mutuals that contribute $12.3 billion in annual tax revenue. Total membership across the sector exceeds 14 million people.
The players
Canada Co-op
This is the national apex body for the co-operative sector that recently underwent a rebranding process.
Federated Co-operatives Ltd
This organization generated $11.7bn in revenue as a major player in the Canadian co-operative industry.
The details
The report utilized survey data on public perception and economic performance to evaluate the business model. While total revenues for the sector rose 20.5%, the number of active entities fell by 2.8% over the period.
Timeline
Between 2019 and 2023, the sector's GDP contribution rose 17.5%.
On October 14, 2026, the report was published and the rebrand was announced.
National Co-op Week celebrations occurred from October 11-17, 2026.
Macro View
This analysis quantifies the co-operative sector's position relative to the broader Canadian labour market and GDP frameworks. The findings mirror historical patterns of sector consolidation where revenue growth outpaces the total count of operating firms.
The report highlights the stability of the co-operative model, which currently supports 745,946 jobs across the country. Readers may observe these impacts in their local communities through the prevalence of credit unions and mutual organizations.
The takeaway
The co-operative sector continues to be a significant contributor to the national economy with over 14 million members. Consumers can support these organizations to directly influence the financial health of local businesses and Indigenous-owned enterprises.
Further reading
For more on national financial trends, visit the Economic Indicators section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Co-operative News.
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Do you believe co-operatives are better at supporting your local community than private corporations?
