Info Source 2026 Update

From: Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)

2026

This information represents the ISED Departmental Results Framework of June 2025, and the corresponding program inventory.

Table of contents

Introduction to Info Source

Info Source describes the programs and activities, and the information holdings related to programs and activities, of government institutions subject to the Access to Information Act to facilitate the right of access. It also provides individuals, including current and former employees of the Government of Canada, with relevant information to access personal information about themselves held by government institutions subject to the Privacy Act and to exercise their rights under the Privacy Act.

An index of institutions that are subject to the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act is available centrally.

The Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act assign overall responsibility to the President of the Treasury Board (as the designated Minister) for the government-wide administration of the legislation.

Background

ISED reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry.

The department's work is enabled by the Department of Industry Act, and through 56 other pieces of legislation that pertain to the department's operating programs, listed here: List of acts.

Mission: ISED's mission is to foster a growing, competitive and knowledge-based Canadian economy.

ISED's Info Source includes the reporting requirements for its four special operating agencies (wholly owned subsidiaries): the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the Competition Bureau, Measurement Canada, and the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy, which do not report separately.

Responsibilities

Raison d'être

ISED works with Canadians in all areas of the economy and in all parts of the country to improve conditions for investment, enhance Canada's innovation performance, increase Canada's share of global trade, and build a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace.

ISED is the federal institution that leads the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio.

Mandate and role

ISED helps Canadian businesses grow, innovate and expand so they can create good-quality jobs and wealth for Canadians. It also supports science research and the integration of scientific considerations into investment and policy choices. The Department helps small businesses grow through trade and innovation and promotes increased tourism in Canada. The Department also works to position Canada as a global centre for innovation where investments support clean and inclusive growth, the middle class prospers through more job opportunities and companies become global leaders.

ISED's efforts focus on improving conditions for investment, supporting science, helping small and medium-sized businesses grow, building capacity for clean and sustainable technologies and processes, increasing Canada's share of global trade, promoting tourism, and building an efficient and competitive marketplace.

For more information on the Department's organizational mandate letter commitments, see the Mandate Letter to Ministers.

Institutional programs and activities

Institution-Specific content:

Core responsibility 1: Companies, investment and growth

Provide support to help grow small, medium and large Canadian businesses into globally competitive, high-impact firms; ensure a fair and competitive marketplace; promote the conditions that support competitive prices and product choices, including in the telecommunication sector; simplify government programming, promote efforts to reduce red tape for businesses, putting in place the right conditions for market-driven innovation and promoting growth and an economy that works for everyone; reduce barriers to the movement of goods, services, capital and labour; and grow Canada's tourism sector.

Departmental result: Canada has a clean and sustainable economy

Departmental result indicators

  • Value of Canada's total sales in clean technologies (in dollars)
  • Clean technology employment in Canada (in numbers)
  • Number of ISED-funded projects with a clean technology component that are in progress

Program inventory

Clean Technology and Clean Growth

The Clean Technology and Clean Growth programs advance the development, scale-up and commercialization of clean technologies including industrial decarbonization, strengthening climate competitiveness, advancing low-carbon materials, and enabling strategic investments for dual use technologies. These programs work directly with firms to help them access the tools and supports needed to grow into globally competitive, high-impact companies as Canada transitions to a low-carbon economy. The Clean Technology and Clean Data Strategy contributes to strengthen federal capacity to track clean technology investments and outcomes.

Clean Growth Hub

Description: The Clean Growth Hub acts as the federal focal point for clean technology, helping clean technology innovators identify and navigate federal programs and services most relevant to their needs, improving federal clean technology program coordination, and strengthening federal capacity to track clean technology outcomes.

Note: This program concluded on March 31, 2026.

Document types: Recommendations on funding programs; business advisory supports; correspondence; newsletters; presentations; reports; dashboards; infographics; briefing notes; and agendas.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Departmental result: Canadian businesses and industries are innovative and growing

Departmental result indicators

  • Average business expenditure in research and development (BERD) by firms receiving ISED program funding (in dollars) relative to the national average
  • Revenue growth rate of firms receiving ISED funding, relative to the national average
  • BERD as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (BERD intensity)
  • Percentage of professional, science and technology-related jobs in Canada's economy
  • Number of patent application filings by ISED-supported projects

Program inventory

Business Innovation

The Business Innovation programs make it easier for Canadian businesses to access the support they need to research, develop and commercialize innovative processes and products. They ensure Government of Canada innovation programs are cohesive and responsive to the needs of innovators.

These programs include the Strategic Response Fund (SRF), replacing the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF), which is designed to support large-scale innovation and technology development, as well as projects that enable Canadian firms to adapt to tariff pressures, diversify markets, and drive long-term industrial transformation.

Beyond the SRF, Innovation Canada has a suite of funding and advisory service programs, including:

  • Accelerated Growth Service, to facilitate the growth of Canadian small and medium enterprises by providing client-centric, better-coordinated service delivery across the federal government
  • Business Benefits Finder, a "one-stop-shop" for innovators and entrepreneurs to find and access programs easier and faster
  • BizPaL, an online platform that helps companies find the permits and licences they may require when starting and/or operating their businesses
  • Innovative Solutions Canada, which provides businesses with an opportunity to contract with the Government of Canada, to develop and test new technologies and services in a government environment
  • Global Innovation Clusters, which bring together private sector, academic institutions, not-for-profits, and others, to collaborate on large-scale projects, in order to speed up growth in some of Canada's most promising industries
AI Compute Access Fund

Description: The AI Compute Access Fund provides Canadian SMEs with financial support to access the compute power they need to scale and commercialize innovative AI projects.

Through an investment of up to $300 million, the AI Compute Access Fund aims to:

  • accelerate Canadian AI innovation and commercialization by supporting the costliest component in the AI innovation value chain: compute
  • target support to Canadian AI SMEs engaging in research and development (R&D)/compute projects with a concrete pathway to commercialization
  • support use of a diverse range of external compute suppliers so companies can stay competitive in a rapidly changing industry

The Fund operates on a competitive basis and interested firms must apply to be considered. The most recent application period closed on July 31, 2025. Businesses are encouraged to check back on the Fund's website for any further opportunities.

Document types: Correspondence; Briefing notes; guidelines; proposals for funding; assessment grids; contribution agreements; claims; applicant reports, and monitoring reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Coordinated Accessible National (CAN) Health Network

Description: The CAN Health Network is a national platform that connects healthcare operators with Canadian innovators to overcome interprovincial barriers, address fragmentation and create pathways for the adoption of domestic health technologies. Initially supported through Budget 2022 with $30 million over four years, the Network was renewed in the 2026 Spring Economic Update with $24 million over three years to extend support for its activities. The CAN Health Network offers an opportunity for innovators to test, validate and refine their solution, helping health operators build assurances needed to de-risk adoption and accelerate implementation. This model also supports the growth and scaling of Canadian companies by enabling them to scale and expand into new markets through coordinated and cross-jurisdictional purchasing.

Document types: Records pertaining to the administration of the CAN Health Network contribution agreement, including briefing notes, monitoring reports, correspondence and financial records.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Innovative Solutions Canada

Description: Innovative Solutions Canada (ISC) is an innovation program that leverages procurement to support the growth, scale-up, and commercialization objectives of innovative Canadian firms. The program's collaborative model across the Government of Canada provides opportunities for departments to fund, develop, test and buy made-in-Canada technologies that meet the operational needs of government and advance key priorities in areas such as defence and dual-use, quantum, genomics, and artificial intelligence.

Document types: Information pertaining to the administration of the Innovative Solutions Canada Program, including briefing notes, agreements and contracts, reports, performance data, and financial records.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Accelerated Growth Service

Description: The Accelerated Growth Service (AGS) offers a continuum of services to help incorporated Canadian companies scale through innovation, technology adoption, increased production, and market expansion. AGS is always seeking established, innovative businesses with a growth mindset. Bold and growing fast, AGS clients span every sector and region of Canada, with a strong growth history, typically generating at least $5 million in annual revenue, and the capacity to work closely with an Innovation Advisor and government partners.

AGS provides tailored, non-digital advisory services led by Innovation Advisors, experienced former entrepreneurs and senior leaders with extensive networks and deep knowledge of the business landscape and government supports. Located across Canada, Innovation Advisors offer personalized guidance, from navigating funding programs to connecting businesses with key partners and resources.

Document types: Briefing notes; minutes of meetings; memoranda of understanding; client consent forms; client journey survey data; and Information pertaining to the administration of the AGS, and Global Hypergrowth Project, including client business information and partner data.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Strategic Response Fund

Description: The Strategic Response Fund (SRF) is a grants and contributions program administered by ISED. Established in 2017 the program focuses primarily on projects larger than $20 million, for contributions of $10 million and above, to ensure federal investments drive large-scale impact and meaningful industrial transformation. These contributions support large-scale, transformative projects and address key market gaps that build economic resilience, strengthen supply chains and protect good jobs in key sectors such as steel, aluminum, automotive, forest products, AI and advanced technologies. Through this support, the SRF helps Canadian businesses innovate, adapt and compete in a changing global economy. Building on the success of the former SIF, the SRF not only continues existing commitments but also expands support for industries affected by trade disruptions and tariff challenges. Since its inception, the SRF has funded over 150 projects with a total of $11.7 billion in funding.

By targeting high-impact investments in key sectors, the SRF also advances other policy priorities, including investments in Canada's biomanufacturing sector, clean technologies, critical minerals and the battery ecosystem, the digitization of traditional sectors, strengthening domestic supply chains, and emerging priorities such as food security and housing.

Document types: Correspondence; Briefing notes; guidelines; proposals for funding; contribution agreements; and monitoring reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

BizPaL

Description: BizPaL is an online service that benefits Canadian businesses by helping them identify which permits and licences they require and how to obtain them. Entrepreneurs simply select their location and the business activities they plan to undertake and BizPaL then automatically generates a list of all required permits and licences from all levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal), along with basic information on each, and links to government sites where the entrepreneur can learn more and, in some cases, apply online.

New this year, BizPaL launched a BETA version of its service that includes British Columbia and federal legislations (regulations and statutes) as well as AI-powered natural language semantic searches.

Document types: Briefing notes; minutes of meetings; intergovernmental Letters of Agreement; client experience and web traffic reports; statements of work; Requests for Proposals; planning documents; approvals; invoices; and marketing materials.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-010-07

Business Benefits Finder

Description: The Business Benefits Finder brings together hundreds of federal, provincial and territorial government programs and services all in one place. By answering a few quick questions, users receive a tailored list of programs and services including funding, loans, wage subsidies, tax credits, expert advice, and more. Users can also sign up to receive notifications by email alerts whenever their favourite programs change, an application deadline is coming up or a new program is launched that meets their criteria. Business Benefits Finder has recently integrated two AI-powered solutions, Daily Web Crawler and Daily Web Monitor, to improve the data quality of the program inventory and keep the program information up to date.

Document types: Information pertaining to the administration of the Business Benefits Finder initiative, including from provincial and territorial governments.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Global Innovation Clusters

Description: The Global Innovation Clusters (GIC) program is a non-repayable contribution program. Its objective is to support the acceleration of world-leading innovation clusters in Canada that translate the country's strengths into new commercial opportunities for Canadian firms. Eligible recipients are industry-led, incorporated, not-for-profit organisations.

Nearly $2 billion in funding for this program was initially provided by Budgets 2016 and 2017. The program then expanded in subsequent years, to include support for a variety of priority initiatives, such as the Pan-Canadian AI Strategy, National Quantum Strategy, Homebuilding Technology and Innovation Fund, and Canadian Genomics Strategy.

Document types: Information pertaining to the administration of the Global Innovation Clusters Program, including briefing notes, contribution agreements, project activity reports, performance data, and financial records.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Cyber Security Innovation Network

Description: The Cyber Security Innovation Network (CSIN) is a pan-Canadian network supporting the growth of Canada's cyber security ecosystem through academia-industry collaboration. The network seeks to enhance and expand cyber security research and development, increase commercialization, and further support the development of skilled cyber security talent across Canada. The National Cybersecurity Consortium (NCC) was selected through a competitive process to lead the program. The NCC is a not-for-profit organization founded by centres of expertise on cyber security at five Canadian universities including: University of Calgary; Concordia University; University of New Brunswick; Toronto Metropolitan University; and University of Waterloo.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers and research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Life Sciences Fund

Description: The Life Sciences Fund (LSF) is a newly established grants and contributions program administered by ISED. The LSF is a mission-driven program that aims to strengthen and advance Canada's scientific, technological and industrial capabilities, and grow and sustain an innovative, robust, competitive and responsive life sciences ecosystem. The program will support companies and projects, help build partnerships in the ecosystem, and support Canada in attracting investments in a flexible, nimble, and timely manner.

The LSF will leverage different funding mechanisms including procurement, grants, or contributions to support projects of interest, which may include repayable and/or non-repayable contributions. The LSF will make use of both open and targeted Calls for Proposals to seek applications, and have flexibility to fund a wide range of recipients, including for-profit, and not-for-profit organizations, academia, and research initiatives.

Document types: Information supporting the operation of the LSF; briefing notes; contribution agreements; financial information.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Spectrum and Telecom

Spectrum and Telecom programs support the development and administration of domestic regulations, procedures and standards that govern Canada's radiocommunication and telecommunications industries. These programs set legislative and policy frameworks to enable a fair and competitive marketplace and put into place the right conditions for market-driven telecommunications investment, innovation, and growth. They maximize the public benefits of spectrum by managing it efficiently and effectively, through spectrum and radio licensing including auctions, compliance monitoring and enforcement. Under these programs, Canadian interests in the radiocommunications and telecommunications industries are protected through the negotiation of international treaties and agreements.

Spectrum and Telecom programs also play a role in public safety by protecting information and communications technologies critical infrastructure, in making spectrum available for first responders, in supporting the telecommunications industry in times of emergency, in leading telecom resilience initiatives, and supporting cyber security. They are supported by research and development carried out at the Communications Research Centre (CRC), the federal centre of research excellence for advanced telecommunications, focusing on spectrum and wireless research and development. The Centre provides technical advice to enable evidence-based decision-making and spectrum program management for ISED.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

Description: The ITU Assessed Contribution Program provides funds to cover Canada's ITU annual membership fees, which amount to CHF 3,498.000 (Swiss Francs); equivalent to $6,058 CAD at the time of this Info Source publication. If additional funds from the annual contribution are available as a result of a favourable exchange rate between the Swiss Franc and the Canadian Dollar, they may be used for priority areas at the ITU in support of developing- and least-developed countries. ISED participates in the activities of the ITU, the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technology issues, by coordinating Canadian participation in the ITU. These efforts consolidate, promote and protect the interests of the Government of Canada, Canadian telecommunications carriers, users and manufacturers and other Canadian organizations concerned with the work of the ITU.

Document types: Proposals; positions; memoranda; legal opinions; statistical reports; agendas; minutes of meetings; briefing notes; membership lists; registration information; information on public or private organizations interested in the work of the ITU; and summary records of meetings in preparation for ITU meetings.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-010-07

Spectrum Management Regime Legislation and Regulation

Description: The use of spectrum in Canada is authorized pursuant to legislative and regulatory frameworks. These frameworks must be responsive to emerging trends in spectrum use as well as to the changing needs and expectations of Canadians. Furthermore they enable the continued development of a robust wireless infrastructure in Canada, supporting timely access to spectrum in all regions of the country.

Document types: Memoranda; procedures; policies; project plans; surveys; statistical reports; agendas; minutes of meetings; briefing notes; letters; audits; implementation reports; communiqués; licences; certifications; resolved/unresolved issue reports; proposals; applications; monitoring reports; inspection and investigation reports; information relating to the development of spectrum regulatory policies and procedures; information relating to radio spectrum utilization; and the development of technical standards and regulations for the following items, functions and activities:

  • telecommunication systems
  • international treaties and agreements (including Mutual Recognition Agreements)
  • investigations on vulnerabilities and security of telecommunications
  • certification of broadcasting facilities
  • authorization of radiocommunication and broadcasting systems
  • certification of radio operators
  • certification of radio equipment
  • registration of telecommunications equipment
  • accrediting foreign and domestic conformity assessment bodies
  • radiocommunication interference investigations
  • enforcement of the Radiocommunication Act and the Telecommunications Act and their Regulations

Disclosure summary: With respect to the certification of radio operators, personal information (professional certifications) is shared through an information sharing agreement, arrangement, or contract with the following parties:

  • Transport Canada

With respect to Radio Station and Spectrum Licencing, personal information is shared through an information sharing agreement, arrangement, or contract with the following parties:

  • Nav Canada
  • United States Federal Communications Commission
  • United States National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

  • Spectrum/Telecommunications Workflow and Documentation Management Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is used in support of managing all activities related to radio frequency and spectrum licence applications. The personal information may include name and contact information.

    Class of individuals: The information relates to applicants of radio station and spectrum licences.

    Purpose: The personal information is used to ensure regulatory requirements are met for the issuance and management of radio/spectrum licences.

    Consistent uses: For the administration of the program.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for 10 years after cancellation, expiration, withdrawal, suspension or revocation and then are destroyed.

    RDA number: 2016/07

    Related record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

    TBS registration: 004152

    Bank number: ISED PPU 083

  • Spectrum/Telecommunications Client Operation File (Radio Operator Certification Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is related to amateur and professional radio operators. The personal information may include name, date of birth, radio operator certificate number, class of certificate, and date of issue of certificate.

    Class of individuals: This information relates to radio operators.

    Purpose: The personal information is used to establish eligibility for radio operator certificates and to maintain a list of amateur and professional radio operators holding certificates of proficiency for the appropriate type of service. Concerning amateur radio operators specifically, ISED maintains a list of amateurs' certificate qualifications and call sign information for public dissemination, sharing and reproduction by anyone, in order that all amateurs would be aware that the frequencies and emissions of other amateurs with whom they may communicate have been authorized to be used pursuant to the Radiocommunication Act. Personal information is collected pursuant to the Radiocommunication Act.

    Consistent uses: There are no consistent uses for this PIB.

    Retention and disposal standards: For amateurs, files are retained two years after the certificate is invalid, for professionals, 20 years (5 active and 15 dormant). Operators' examination results are retained for five years (active for two and dormant for three). Radio Operator Certificates records are retained for 20 years (active for 5 and dormant for 15). Destruction through agreement with Library and Archives Canada.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related Record number: OS-SO-PRO-040-02

    TBS registration: 003387

    Bank number: ISED PPU 019

  • Telecommunications Engineering and Certification Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is related to memberships in various committees such as national standards committees on telecommunications and information technology. The personal information may include name, contact information and professional title.

    Class of individuals: Members of various committees, such as national standards committee.

    Purpose: The personal information is used to disseminate information on standards and administer national standards committees.

    Consistent uses: There are no consistent uses for this PIB.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for 10 years after last administrative action and then are destroyed.

    RDA number: 79/002

    Related record number: ISED SIT 925

    TBS registration: 003389

    Bank number: ISED PPU 023

  • Spectrum/Telecommunications Client Operation File (Radio Station/Spectrum Licensing) Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is related to non-broadcasting radio/spectrum licensing information, derived from applications submitted by applicants for radio/spectrum licences. It contains information such as radio frequencies, call signs, emissions, station location. The personal information may include name and contact information.

    Class of individuals: This information relates to applicants and holders of radio/spectrum licences.

    Purpose: Information was obtained in order to license and control the use of all non-broadcasting radio station systems in Canada for the planning and management of the radio frequency spectrum. In particular, this bank is used in the frequency selection process for new or existing stations and in associated electromagnetic compatibility studies. It also provides information needed for the identification of sources of interstation interference, policy formulation and frequency utilization study purposes. It is used extensively to carry out our coordination obligations as per the terms of cross-border sharing arrangements with the United States. The licensee and licence fee accounting information is used for the collection of annual licence renewal fees. In most cases, the information that appears on the face of radio/spectrum licences is available for release upon request. Information such as names and addresses of licensees, assigned radio frequencies, call signs, emissions, band width and power is provided to selected government bodies, persons or companies in connection with frequency coordination procedures for station or system planning, for reference or for similar purposes. Personal information is collected pursuant to the Radiocommunication Act.

    Consistent uses: The information may be used or disclosed for the following purposes: part of this information is shared with the following organizations, agencies and government departments: Fisheries and Oceans Canada to enable them to invoice ship-to-shore services; the Canadian Coast Guard to ascertain whether a vessel has a valid radio equipment licence prior to placing telephone calls or passing traffic; a call sign and/or name is provided to the Search and Rescue Coordination Centre so that vessel/aircraft routes may be established to facilitate the location of lost vessels or aircraft; various agencies and organizations in Canada and the U.S. for coordination of frequencies and system parameters; law enforcement agencies for investigations relating to offences under the Radiocommunication Act; organizations providing radio services to the public in order to establish that their clientele is licensed; equipment suppliers to facilitate the commissioning of their clients' communications systems; and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, National Defence and other organizations to provide information on privately operated non-directional navigation beacons in the interest of safety.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for 10 years after last administrative action (e.g. cancellation, suspension, revocation) and then are transferred to Library and Archives Canada (LAC) as archival records.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-PRO-040-02

    TBS registration: 003388

    Bank number: ISED PPU 021

Radio Advisory Board of Canada

Description: The Radio Advisory Board of Canada (RABC) provides advice and makes recommendations on the technical standards for radiocommunication and telecommunication apparatus.

Document types: Information relating to composition and administration of the Radio Advisory Board of Canada.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

International Treaties

Description: Radio spectrum crosses national borders. In order to make effective use of the resource, a variety of international frameworks and treaties govern the use of spectrum along borders, as well as around the world. As interoperability is a crucial element of information and communications technology (ICT) systems, international standardization is essential in this area. The program develops, in consultation with a variety of stakeholders, Canadian positions on issues relating to spectrum, telecom, and ICT. Subsequently, the program advocates for these positions at international fora. The outcome associated with these outputs is that international frameworks support spectrum management and telecommunications/ICTs in Canada.

Document types: Information pertaining to the development and management of international treaties and frameworks in relation to radio spectrum.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Spectrum Auctions

General: ISED makes radiofrequency spectrum available for wireless telecommunications services, including mobile, wireless broadband and satellite, with the overall objective of maximizing the benefit that Canadians derive from this resource. Auctions are typically used when demand for a particular band of frequencies is expected to exceed supply, as auctions are an efficient, fair and transparent market-based means of assigning spectrum licences. The purposes of an auction are: to have a process that leads to an efficient assignment of the spectrum; to encourage the timely deployment of services; to give Canadians a fair return on a valuable public resource; and to give effect to policy direction, such as support for competition and rural connectivity. Spectrum auctions are developed over a number of years and all decisions on the elements of the process are made following public consultations

Spectrum Auction Framework

Description: Records created during the repurposing of radiofrequency spectrum and the development of spectrum auction frameworks. This includes material related to the drafting of public consultations and decisions on the technical, policy and licensing considerations required to make spectrum available via auction or other licensing process.

Document types: Issue papers; working group documents; briefing notes; PowerPoint presentations; consultations and decision papers; comments submitted under public consultations and the related analysis of comments received; communications products; and technical and economic analyses

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Spectrum Auction Operations

Description: This program area is responsible for the development, launch and administration of spectrum auction processes.

Document types: Application forms; applicant data; financial information; applicant evaluation; tables of key dates; contracts; bidder training material; software information; consultant reports; communication products; briefing material; auction results; analysis of results; bidding data; and information created during the development of spectrum auction processes, including planning, organizing, application processes, bidder training material, development of auction software, and IT material.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-05-01

Communications Research Centre

Description: The Communications Research Centre (CRC) Canada conducts research on advanced telecommunications and information technologies to ensure an unbiased, evidence-based source of advice for public policy and the development of knowledge and tools to support the Spectrum and Telecommunications (STS) sector. Advanced wireless telecommunications research and development (R&D) activities, with core capabilities in propagation, data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, cloud computing and wireless network deployment, are carried out in support of a sustainable spectrum management program that can address evolving wireless technologies and the social and economic demands for reliable connectivity. To further the R&D, public-private and public-academic collaboration opportunities are established. To transfer the knowledge gained and help inform stakeholders, research results are made publicly available via patent licensing and publications. In addition, research facilities are maintained and shared to enable research.

The CRC houses knowledge that informs the development of policy, standards and regulations, the deployment and use of laboratory facilities, including broadband communications infrastructure for research purposes, and the explorations of new areas of wireless communications technology helping to prepare Canada for a new generation of wireless technologies and to help connect Canadians by sharing knowledge that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.

Document types: Scientific publications; technical reports; statements of work; proposals; memoranda; project plans; gating (project management) reports; surveys; statistical reports; briefing notes; assessments; contracts; evaluation criteria; procedures; policies; implementation reports; patents and copyrights; practices; business models; technical memos; and collaboration and licensing agreements.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Economic Outcomes From Procurement

The Economic Outcomes From Procurement programs implement the Defence Procurement Strategy, which includes the Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy and the National Shipbuilding Strategy Value Proposition. These policies are the Government of Canada's main tools for leveraging economic benefits from certain major defence and Canadian Coast Guard procurements to contribute to jobs, innovation, economic growth across the country.

Industrial and Technological Benefits

Description: Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) Policy, including the Value Proposition, leverages eligible defence and Canadian Coast Guard procurements to contribute to jobs, innovation and economic growth across Canada. Under the Policy, companies that are awarded defence procurement contracts are contractually required to undertake business activity in Canada equal to the value of the contracts they have won. The business activities must be in advanced technology sectors and can be either directly or indirectly related to the procured item to ensure that Canadian companies can derive benefits from federal procurements. The ITB Policy is the Canadian version of the industrial participation policies practised in over 100 countries.

Document types: Briefing notes; issue notes; Cabinet documents; correspondence; emails; Question Period cards; decks; reports; applications; reviews and audits; and reports on business transactions resulting from the ITB Policy and prime contractor investment into the economy.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

National Shipbuilding Strategy Value Proposition (NSS VP)

Description: The NSS VP is designed to benefit the greater Canadian marine industry to help ensure its long-term sustainability. Under the NSS VP, strategic partner shipyards are required to invest an amount equal to 0.5% of the value of the awarded large vessel NSS contracts to support human resources development, technology investment and industrial development.

Document types: Briefing notes; issue notes; Cabinet documents; correspondence; emails; Question Period cards; decks; reports; applications and assessments; and reports on proposed and approved programs.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Tourism

The Tourism program is responsible for federal tourism policy development and integration, including the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy, to bring greater consistency to the policies and programs that support growth in the Canadian tourism sector. The Tourism program works with other federal government departments and agencies, tourism industry representatives, and provincial and territorial governments to address current and emerging tourism issues and opportunities in support of a competitive tourism sector in Canada. The Tourism program also serves as the policy liaison between the Minister of Industry, and Destination Canada, and as the federal secretariat for the Canadian Council of Tourism Ministers (CCTM). The program includes the Indigenous Tourism Fund transfer payment.

Tourism (coordination and oversight)

Description: Research supporting federal initiatives for tourism, the analysis of tourism issues, the development of policy and program options relating to the Canadian tourism sector's interests within the Department, across the federal government, and with other jurisdictions.

Document types: Briefing notes; Cabinet documents; correspondence; emails; Question Period cards; presentation decks; industry profiles; statistical reports: meeting agendas and minutes; inventories of federal initiatives, spending, and recommendations; policy development; and research, analysis and briefings relating to Destination Canada's public and corporate planning and reporting requirements.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Support for Small Business

The Support for Small Business programs provide support and financing to small and medium sized enterprises (SME) to help ensure Canadian companies are globally competitive, achieve high growth and have access to financing that would not otherwise be available or would be available only under less favorable terms. The programs also provide oversight for the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), and promote understanding of the challenges small businesses face in adopting business practices that help them grow.

For example, these programs include loan guarantees to SMEs through the Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) and support for increased availability of venture capital through the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI) delivered by BDC. The Support for Small Business programs support the departmental results, "Canadian businesses and industries are innovative and growing" and, "Business investors and consumers are confident in the Canadian marketplace, including the digital economy" under the Companies, Investment, and Growth Core Responsibility.

The CSBFP is a statutory program designed to increase the availability of financing for the establishment, expansion, modernization and improvement of small businesses.

Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP)

Description: The Canada Small Business Financing Program (CSBFP) helps Canadian small businesses access financing that would not otherwise be available or would be available only under less favourable terms. It is a loan loss-sharing program involving partnerships with financial institutions. To be eligible, borrowers must be businesses with revenues of up to $10 million per year. Under the program, financial institutions can make term loans on real property, leasehold improvements, equipment, intangible assets and start-up costs, as well as line of credit loans for day-to-day working capital costs. In the event that a registered loan defaults, the Government of Canada pays 85% of net eligible losses. The CSBFP is a national program that operates in all provinces and territories.

Note: Budget 2025 announced that to better align its programs with current priorities and reduce redundancies, ISED Canada will transfer delivery of the CSBFP to the Business Development Bank of Canada. In the meantime, the program will continue to operate as usual, and lenders can be assured that government will maintain the integrity of the CSBFP.

Document types: Registration forms; Claims for Loss forms; contracts; requests for proposals; evaluation criteria; evaluations; memoranda; guidelines; policies; project plans; research reports; briefing notes; invoices; audits; assessments; letters/correspondence; compliance reviews; and general information on program operations and service delivery.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI)

Description: Introduced in Budget 2017 and expanded in the 2018 Fall Economic Statement, the Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative (VCCI 2017) invested $371 million through three funding streams to help Canada's innovative companies develop their ideas, market new products, and create jobs, by increasing the availability of venture capital in Canada. VCCI 2017 provided targeted support for emerging and diverse fund managers, undeserved regions and sectors, alternative fund structures, and the clean technology sector.

The renewed VCCI (VCCI 2021) was announced in Budget 2021, and is investing up to $450 million through three streams, to increase the availability of capital for Canada's most promising firms, including targeted support for those in the life sciences sector and for entrepreneurs from traditionally underrepresented groups.

In 2025-26, ISED worked to design the fourth round of the VCCI, with a $1 billion investment, as announced in the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, to leverage more private venture capital by including more enticing terms for pension funds and other institutional investors.

Document types: Briefing notes; program reports and indicators; letters/correspondence; policy materials; long-term economic and financial performance of funds, funds-of-funds, and companies backed by VCCI; information on the amount of investments from funds and funds-of-funds supported by VCCI; financial returns of the renewed VCCI; and diversity, equity and inclusion data for supported funds, funds-of-funds, underlying funds and portfolio companies.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Talent Development

The Talent Development Program aims to equip Canadians with the skills and knowledge needed by Industry to participate in an innovative economy. This is accomplished through:

  • engagement with various stakeholders
  • conducting analysis and developing policy advice related to talent development
  • delivering programs that support the development of skills solutions for Industry
  • administering the Prime Ministers Awards to honour and promote Canada's most outstanding educators and share their innovative and proven teaching practices

Delivery of these programs is guided by the overarching goals of diversity and inclusion, including gender equality. These programs include the following transfer payments: CanCode (formerly Coding for Kids), Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y), Mitacs, the Strategic Science Fund, the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, Upskilling for Industry Initiative, Prime Minister's Awards, and Computers for Schools Intern Program.

CanCode, Digital Skills for Youth (DS4Y), Prime Minister's Awards (PMA), and Computers for Schools Intern (CFSI) Program

Description: These four programs aim to improve digital and technical skills in youth and underrepresented groups through education and internships to enhance digital literacy, employability and marketability. The programs provide access to valuable work experience and training aimed toward developing and enhancing advanced digital skills, such as coding, data analytics, and digital content development. CanCode and PMA also support initiatives that provide teachers with the training, professional development and recognition they need to introduce digital skills into the classroom.

Document types: Information related to the development and implementation of the programs, including the launch of application intake, applications received through the intake and their assessment; records of negotiation with funding recipients; contracts; communications materials; briefing and decision notes; Treasury Board Submissions; terms and conditions; policies; guidelines; procedures; and activity reports.

Disclosure summary: The Prime Minister's Awards program, and the DS4Y program share personal information through agreement, arrangement, or contract, with:

  • Employment and Social Development Canada

Record number: IS-SI-05-02

  • National Access Program (DS4Y and CFSI Programs) Personal Information Bank

    Description of records: This bank describes information that is related to Industry Canada Youth Employment Strategy Programs, including Community Access Program, Youth Employment Program, and Computers for Schools' Technical Work Experience Program. The personal information may include name, contact information, employment equity information and rated experiences.

    Class of individuals: Youth and/or Contractors (for Canada's Digital Collections) who have or who are currently participating in Industry Canada's Youth Employment Strategy Programs.

    Purpose: The personal information is used to evaluate the programs' success and measure the impacts of the programs on youth employment and skills development over the long term.

    Consistent uses: The information may be used or disclosed for the following purposes: by program management to track the youth and to survey them at a later date. Such longitudinal information is absolutely necessary for the determination of the program's impacts, but also for ongoing management purposes, as it will provide vital information on the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the program. This will be necessary to guide management in any potential changes in program direction that may be required over time.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for up 10 years after the study or survey has ceased or been implemented and then are transferred to Library and Archives Canada (LAC) as archival records.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: IS-SI-05-02 OS-SO-PRO-030-01

    TBS registration: 005068

    Bank number: ISED PPU 067, Related Bank number: ESDC PPU 706

  • Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education (ECE) Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is related to nomination submissions for the Prime Minister's Awards, which includes signed nomination forms. The personal information may include names, contact information, teaching/training certifications, operating licenses letters of experience, and letters of support.

    Class of individuals: The personal information relates to teachers, of kindergarten to grade 12, early childhood educators and school/learning setting administrators.

    Purpose: The personal information is used to select recipients for the awards and to promote their achievement.

    Consistent uses: There are no consistent uses for this PIB.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for up to 10 years after file closure and then are destroyed.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

    TBS registration: 002915

    Bank number: ISED PPU 001

Business + Higher Education Roundtable

Description: The Business + Higher Education Roundtable (BHER) is a non repayable, single recipient contribution program. It has the objective of leveraging the strengths of Canadian businesses, universities and colleges to deepen collaboration and improve opportunities for young Canadians. The only eligible recipient of this contribution is the Business + Higher Education Roundtable, a national not-for-profit organization. The current investment is directed towards generating new, unsubsidized work-integrated learning (WIL) placements and strengthening BHER's role as a national convener in Canada's WIL ecosystem.

Document types: Briefing notes; funding proposals; performance data; strategic analysis; minutes of meetings; evaluations and assessments; claims forms; annual and quarterly reports; contribution agreements; Treasury Board documents.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Upskilling for Industry Initiative

Description: The Upskilling for Industry Initiative (UII) scales-up employer-led approaches to upskilling and redeploying workers to meet the needs of six identified high-growth sectors: digital technology; cyber security; agriculture technology; advanced manufacturing; clean technology; and biomanufacturing. This work is done by providing non-repayable contributions to the lead recipient, Palette Skills, who, along with their network and delivery partners, engages employers in the upskilling ecosystem to identify skills needs and develop new curricula and upskilling programs to meet those industry needs. Ultimately, the UII seeks to foster a more responsive skills ecosystem to changing labour demand across Canada, while meeting a goal to upskill more than 15,000 mid-career workers, including those from underrepresented groups.

Note: This program concluded on March 31, 2026.

Document types: Treasury Board documents; briefing notes; funding proposals; performance data; claim forms; evaluations and assessments; contribution agreements; meeting minutes; strategic analyses; and annual and quarterly reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Departmental result: Businesses, investors and consumers are confident in the Canadian marketplace, including the digital economy

Departmental result indicators

  • Business investment per worker in Canada (in dollars)
  • Entry rate of Canadian businesses
  • Number of patent application filings in Canada
  • Number of trademark filings in Canada
  • Number of industrial design filings in Canada

Program inventory

Intellectual Property

The Intellectual Property programs administer Canada's system of intellectual property (IP) rights, namely patents, trademarks, geographical indications, prohibited marks, copyrights, industrial designs and integrated circuit topographies.

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

Description: The Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) grants and registers IP rights, legally recognizing certain endeavours of originality and creativity. As such, CIPO is responsible for the administration and processing of the greater part of IP in Canada. It also disseminates non-biased and credible information related to these rights to businesses, educational institutions and Canadians, through a variety of mechanisms, including IP Awareness and Education (A&E) activities. CIPO's role is to ensure that IP contributes to an acceleration of Canadian economic development and that the benefits of the IP system accrue to Canadians. IP A&E activities support Canada's National IP Strategy by raising the knowledge and understanding of IP by Canadians so that they can more strategically use and leverage it for commercial and business success. This program is entirely financed through a revolving fund and is fully cost-recovered from client fees. Its clients include foreign and Canadian applicants for IP protection, users of IP information and the Canadian business community.

Document types: Information relating to the administration of copyrights, industrial designs, trademarks, geographical indications, prohibited marks, timber marks, patents, and integrated circuit topographies, including applications filed and registered in Canada; systems and procedures relating to intellectual property management; financial and budget information; corporate planning information; briefing notes; and analyses.

Disclosure summary: Personal information is disclosed under agreement, arrangement, or contract, with the following entities:

  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • European Patent Office
  • European Union Intellectual Property Office
  • United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office
  • State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China
  • World Intellectual Property Organization
  • Other (national) intellectual property offices

Record number: OS-SO-REG-010-03/CIPO

  • Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank applies to CIPO's Patent Program, Trademarks Program, Copyright Program, Industrial Designs Program, and Integrated Circuit Topographies Program.

    In respect of the patent program: This bank contains information that is related to patent applications and patents, collected pursuant to the Patent Act (paragraphs 49 and 50), the Patent Rules (sections 27.1, 37, 42, and 77), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (Article 4), and Regulations (Rule 4). Records under this program may contain personal information about applicants, inventors, patentees, legal representatives (i.e., heirs, executors, administrators, guardians, curators, tutors, assigns, and all other persons claiming through or under applicants for patents and patentees of inventions), predecessors in title, patent agents, individuals acting on behalf of patent agents or clients, assignees or personal representatives in relation to a specific patent application or patent. Information may also include titles and details of inventions, patent serial numbers and assignment registration numbers.

    The Patent Program also maintains an inventory of names of individuals who have invented, acquired by assignment, or have been granted patents of inventions under the Patent Program. The inventory is known as the Inventor, Assignee and Patentee Index. The information includes names of inventors, assignees or patentees, titles of their inventions, patent serial numbers, and assignment registration numbers. This index covers the period from 1927 through 1997, to the exclusion of applications filed prior to October 1989. Personal information is collected pursuant to the Patent Act (paragraphs 49 and 50), the Patent Rules (sections 27.1, 37, 42, and 77), the Patent Cooperation Treaty (Article 4), and the Patent Cooperation Treaty Regulations (Rule 4).

    In respect of the trademarks program: This bank contains information that is related to Trademark applications which the Registrar of Trademarks administers pursuant to the Trademarks Act and Regulations, the Boy Scouts of Canada Act, the Girl Guides of Canada Act, the Canadian Nurses Association Act, the Royal Canadian Legion Act, the Plant Breeders Rights Act, the Olympic and Paralympic Marks Act, and any previous trademark legislation that was superseded by the Trademarks Act and Regulations, including An Act Pertaining to Trademarks, the Trademark and Design Act, the Unfair Competition Act, marks under the laws of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canada Post Corporation Act, the Bank Act, and all other legislation pertaining to trademarks in Canada. These records contain personal information about trademark applicants, owners of registered trademarks, opponents, assignees, assignors, licensees, licensors, and Trademark Agents and representatives for services in relation to a specific trademark application or registrations. Information is collected pursuant to the Trademarks Act (paragraphs 30, 38, 41, 44, 45 and 48) and Regulations (sections 6 through 10, 25, 51, and 52).

    In respect of the copyright program: This bank contains information that is related to copyright applications and copyrights, which the Copyright Office administers pursuant to the Copyright Act and Regulations. These records contain personal information about applicants and/or owners of copyrights, assignees, assignors, licensees, authors of written works, and legal representatives representing a specific copyright application or copyright. Personal Information is collected pursuant to the Copyright Act (subsections 55(2) and 56(2)) and Regulations (section 6(1)).

    In respect of the industrial designs program: This bank contains information that is related to Industrial Design applications and Industrial Designs, which the Industrial Design Section of the Office of the Commissioner of Patents administers pursuant to the Industrial Designs Act and Regulations. These records contain personal information about applicants, registered proprietors, assignees, licensees, agents of representatives for services in relation to a specific industrial design application or industrial design. Personal information is collected pursuant to the Industrial Designs Act (subsections 4(1) and 13(1)(2)(3)) and Regulations, (subsections 9(2), and 19).

    Class of individuals: Applicants, inventors, registrants, patentees, assignors, assignees, licensees, licensors, trademark opponents, copyright owners, authors of written works, creators of topographies, owners of registered topographies, authorized users registered proprietors, or personal legal representatives or agents, successors-in-title, and requesting parties.

    Purpose: This bank is used to administer CIPO's IP Programs, including the Patent, Trademarks, Copyright, Industrial Designs, and Integrated Circuit Topography Programs.

    Consistent uses: Information may be used to identify applicants in order to allocate them with intellectual property (IP) rights, communicate with them about their IP rights applications, to establish ownership in assignment situations, and to process the payment of fees. Depersonalized information may also be used to inform the ongoing design and operation of CIPO's IP programs, and to inform ISED Canada's statistical reporting, including reporting on GBA+ and EDI metrics.

    Retention and disposition: The following unique Retention and disposition rules apply to each IP program:

    In respect of the patent program: For applications and patents filed or granted since October 1, 1989 that have been laid open for public inspection, and where patents have been granted to Canadian citizens or corporations under those applications, the information has been transferred to Library and Archives Canada. Records that have not been laid out for public inspection are destroyed ten years after the date the application is withdrawn. For information filed prior to October 1, 1989, records are retained indefinitely. Information contained in the Inventor, Assignee and Patentee Index is retained indefinitely.

    In respect of the trademarks program: Trademark documents and case file records, as well as registered user files and indices are presently retained by the Register of Trademarks, indefinitely.
    In respect of the copyright program: An application case file where a copyright or assignment/license has not been registered, is kept for seven years from the date the application was rejected or withdrawn, and is then destroyed. A case file where a copyright and/or assignment or license was registered, is retained indefinitely.

    In respect of the industrial designs program: An application case file where an Industrial Design has not been registered, is kept for seven years from the date the application was refused, withdrawn, or made inactive, and is then destroyed. A case file where an Industrial Design was registered, is retained indefinitely.

    In respect of the integrated circuit topography program: An application case file where a Circuit Topography has not been registered, is kept for seven years from the date the application was refused, withdrawn, or made inactive, and is then destroyed. A case file where an Integrated Circuit Topography was registered, is retained indefinitely.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record numbers:

    OS-SO-REG-010-03/CIPO (General)
    IC CIP 100 (Patents)
    IC CIP 105 (Trademarks)
    IC CIP 570 (Copyrights)

    TBS registration: 000126

    Bank number: ISED PPU 041

Intellectual Property Clinics Program

Description: The Intellectual Property (IP) Clinics Program, one of the elements of the IP Strategy, is a grant program intended to encourage the establishment or enhancement of IP clinics within Canadian law and business schools. Program funding in the amount of $400,000 per year (as of 2024-25) supports the provision of free or low-cost access to basic IP advisory services, and fosters the development of future IP experts by increasing the exposure of university students to IP issues.

The Program enables students to learn more about IP, helps businesses get a sense of their IP needs, and facilitates access to the professionals that can provide quality IP advice. This improves the understanding of IP among those served by the IP clinics, and increases access to IP services for SMEs, women, and Indigenous peoples as they seek to develop effective IP strategies and protect their innovations. This program contributes to the objectives of the IP Strategy by helping Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs better understand, protect, and commercialize IP.

Document types: Information relating to the operation of the Intellectual Property Clinics Program Grant; application forms; Program Guide; evaluation/assessment forms for each application received; briefing notes; funding agreements; payment documents; correspondence; and reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Patent Collective Program

Description: The Patent Collective, one of the key initiatives of the Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy, was originally launched as a $30 million pilot program intended to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with their patent and other IP needs.

Budget 2024 announced an additional $14.5 million over two years, starting in 2024-2025, to continue supporting the Patent Collective. More recently, Budget 2025 provided an additional $22.5 million over three years, starting in 2026-2027, to renew support for the Patent Collective.

The Patent Collective program aims to help Collective members better leverage IP in their drive to grow to scale. This program contributes to the objectives of the IP Strategy which is intended to help Canadian innovators and entrepreneurs better understand, protect, and commercialize IP.

Document types: Information related to the operation of the Patent Collective Program; application from eligible applicants; Program Guide; evaluation/assessment forms for each application received; briefing notes; contribution agreement; payment documents; correspondence; and reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Indigenous Intellectual Property Program

Description: The Indigenous Intellectual Property Program (IIPP) Grant funds eligible Indigenous organizations to support participation in World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) sessions, small-scale initiatives and projects related to intellectual property (IP), Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cultural expressions.

The grants are a part of a suite of IIPP initiatives, which were developed under Canada's Intellectual Property Strategy. The IIPP initiatives aim to promote a more inclusive IP system for Indigenous peoples, through initiatives focused on education, awareness raising and capacity building. It also seeks to provide opportunities for Indigenous peoples to advocate their interests through engagement activities, increase their participation in discussions on IP and Indigenous knowledge, and on IP and Indigenous cultural expressions at the WIPO, and explore ways to make the IP system more accessible to Indigenous peoples.

In addition, IIPP grants facilitate Indigenous peoples' use of the IP system to protect their innovations and creations, including those based on Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous cultural experiences, as well as to develop tools, guidelines or protocols with respect to the protection and use of IP and Indigenous-related knowledge and cultural experiences.

The IIPP aligns with Government's broader commitments towards reconciliation, recognition of Indigenous rights, the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and measure 101 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.

Measure 101: Work in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to ensure appropriate measures are in place for Indigenous peoples to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, including working in partnership with responsible government departments to ensure that Canada's intellectual property legislative and regulatory frameworks (e.g., Copyright Act, Trademarks Act, Patent Act) are consistent with the UN Declaration.

Document types: Information related to the operation of the Indigenous Intellectual Property Program (IIPP) Grant; application forms and/or funding plans from eligible participants; Program Guides; program evaluation forms for each application received; application database; briefing notes and decks; funding agreements; payment documents; correspondence; reports; and program feedback.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

ExploreIP

Description: ExploreIP: Canada's Technology and IP Marketplace, serves as a free, online platform and a single, comprehensive marketplace connecting businesses, entrepreneurs, and innovators with publicly funded technologies and IP. Launched in 2019 under Canada's National Intellectual Property Strategy, the platform supports commercialization, fosters innovation, and strengthens Canada's innovation ecosystem by facilitating greater awareness, access, and uptake of Canadian innovations.

The platform focuses on making posted technologies easily searchable by businesses, through a user-friendly interface, multiple search options and the integration of new AI technology. ExploreIP facilitates a direct connection to the IP holder, enabling discussions regarding potential licensing or collaboration opportunities.

Document types: Correspondence; briefing notes; and data related to platform performance.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-06-02

ElevateIP

Description: ElevateIP builds on the National Intellectual Property Strategy that was launched in 2018. Announced in 2021 as a $90 million program, and renewed in Budget 2025 for an additional $84.4 million investment over four years (2026-2030) to provide the tools Canadian SMEs and innovators need to understand, strategically manage and leverage their Intellectual Property (IP) through a Canada-wide network of Business Accelerators and Incubators. The program aims to support Canadian innovators, SMEs, and technology intensive businesses by:

  • facilitating IP supports to innovators and SMEs in Canada
  • increasing IP capacity in the business and innovation ecosystem in Canada through IP education for non-profit business and innovation organizations including BAIs and technology transfer organizations, and their client innovators and SMEs
  • enabling business and innovation organizations, including BAIs, to provide supports that are customized to the unique requirements of each innovator and SME, in helping them secure and maintain IP rights

By providing these key supports, ElevateIP aims to continue to increase IP capacity within the Canadian business and innovation ecosystem, to ensure supports are accessible and inclusive, and to assist innovators and SMEs in the development and implementation of IP strategies.

Document types: Correspondence; briefing notes; presentations; guidelines; proposals for funding; contribution agreements; recipient strategies; recipient financial statements; audit summaries; and monitoring reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

IP Centre of Expertise

Description: The IP Centre of Expertise was created as part of the National Intellectual Property Strategy. The National IP Strategy is a series of initiatives designed to help Canadian innovators reap the full rewards of their inventions and creations. The IP Centre of Expertise consists of a team of IP advisors and analysts who offer a wealth of IP experience and knowledge from a wide variety of professional and academic backgrounds, including law, business, engineering, science, policy and economics.

The IP Centre of Expertise works with federal organizations and programs to help them address and manage IP in a way that adds value for Canadian businesses and the Canadian public. It provides professional IP advice and training to federal public servants, while also leading important IP discussions and actions across the federal public service. In pursuit of that mandate, the IP Centre of Expertise provides public servants with the necessary IP resources to carry out their federal duties.

Document types: Information on IP resources.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Competition Law Enforcement and Promotion

The Competition Bureau is an independent law enforcement agency with a mandate to protect Canadian consumers and businesses by enforcing laws and promoting competition in Canada. It upholds and fosters competition to advance priorities such as enhancing the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy and protecting competitive markets. The Competition Bureau also promotes equitable opportunities for all businesses to participate in the Canadian economy to provide consumers with competitive prices and product choices.

The Competition Bureau's role is to maintain and encourage competition to drive lower prices and innovation while fueling economic growth for the benefit of Canadian consumers and all Canadian businesses.

Competition Bureau (CB)

Description: The Competition Bureau, an independent law enforcement agency, is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Textile Labelling Act and the Precious Metals Marking Act. Through the enforcement of these acts, it seeks to ensure that businesses and individuals comply with the legislation under its jurisdiction by taking action to stop and remedy anti-competitive conduct, from litigation and criminal prosecutions, through to negotiated settlements, where appropriate. The Competition Bureau encourages reliance on market forces through its enforcement actions, as well as its work advocating for competition at all levels of government. It provides advice to government legislators and policy-makers and/or makes representations before federal and provincial boards, commissions and tribunals to encourage competition as a means of achieving policy or regulatory objectives.

Document types: Information related to the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act, the Textile Labelling Act, the Precious Metals Marking Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (except as it relates to food); information on detecting, investigating, and addressing civil anti-competitive behaviour, criminal anti-competitive behaviour, false or misleading representations and deceptive representations; reviews of merger transactions; enquiries; complaints; market studies; correspondence; information relating to legal proceedings or alternative case resolutions; policies and procedures; economic research; international agreements, cooperation and liaison; information on interventions and representations before Boards, Commissions and/or Tribunals; bids and bid-rigging processes; memoranda; assessments; briefing notes; contracts; statements of work; evaluation criteria; project plans; surveys; agendas; minutes of meetings; letters; invoices; and communications.

Disclosure summary: This program discloses personal information through information sharing agreement, arrangement, or contract, with the following entities:

  • City of Laval
  • Transport Canada
  • Royal Canadian Mounted Police
  • Public Services and Procurement Canada
  • Public Prosecution Service of Canada
  • Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator
  • Ontario Securities Commission
  • Ontario Provincial Police
  • Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services
  • Ontario Energy Board
  • Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
  • Market Surveillance Administrator of Alberta
  • Inspector General of Montreal
  • ISED Canada: Spectrum and Telecommunications Sector
  • ISED Canada: Investment Review Division
  • Health Canada
  • Government of Yukon
  • Defence Construction Canada
  • Competition Tribunal
  • Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission
  • Canadian Intellectual Property Office
  • Canadian Digital Regulators Forum
  • Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority of British Columbia
  • BC Financial Services Authority
  • Government of the United States of America (including: Federal Trade Commission; Department of Justice Antitrust Division; and United States Postal Inspection Service)
  • Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including: United Kingdom Competition and Markets Authority)
  • Taiwan Fair Trade Commission
  • Competition Commission of Singapore
  • Korea Fair Trade Commission
  • National Institute for the Defence of Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property of Peru
  • New Zealand Commerce Commission
  • Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
  • Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (Mexico)
  • Japan Fair Trade Commission
  • Competition Commission of India
  • Competition Commission of Hong Kong
  • European Commission Directorate General for Competition
  • Industria y Comercio Superintendencia (Colombia)
  • La Fiscalía Nacional Económica (Chile)
  • Conselho Administrativo de Defesca Econômica (Brazil)

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

  • Competition Bureau Enquiries and Complaints Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is related to enquiries, feedback, and complaints made by the public, concerning the mandate and services of the Competition Bureau, and suspected offences under the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Precious Metals Marking Act and the Textile Labelling Act. These acts, together with subsections 4(1)(f) and (i) of the Department of Industry Act, form the basis of the authorities that permit the collection of personal information, which may include name, contact information, occupation, the subject matter of interest to the individual, the opinions of the individual, the basis of complaints or suspicions raised by the individual, and the individual's GBA+ demographic information, should the individual wish to volunteer it.

    Class of individuals: General public.

    Purpose: The personal information is used to communicate with an individual in relation to feedback they provide, or information they request. It is also used to investigate complaints and suspicions raised by an individual, received as part of the administration and enforcement of the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, the Precious Metals Marking Act and the Textile Labelling Act.

    Consistent uses: The information may be used or disclosed for the following purposes: specific investigation files may be disclosed to the Attorney General or Competition Tribunal for the purpose of administration and enforcement of the Acts and to other law enforcement agencies. GBA+ information, when volunteered, may also be used in aggregate, to measure the level of services being provided to diverse populations and to satisfy Government of Canada GBA+ reporting requirements.

    Retention and disposal standards: Information is retained for up to 15 years after the relevant case is closed, after which, select files may be transferred to Library and Archives Canada if deemed to contain enduring/archival value.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-REG-030-01

    TBS registration: 002709

    Bank number: ISED PPU 034

  • Competition Bureau Digital Forensic Activity (Electronic Evidence Unit) Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that supports the Competition Bureau's Digital Forensic Activity (DFA) (Electronic Evidence Unit), relating to investigations conducted pursuant to the Competition Act. The personal information may include: name; contact information; employment history; employee identification number; criminal background history; date of birth; financial information; language preferences; opinions and views; identity documentation; photographs; locations; cursive signatures; and other information that may be relevant to an investigation (an exhaustive list of which, cannot be practically enumerated). The Competition Bureau is not an authorized collector or user of the Social Insurance Number (SIN). Regardless, the Bureau's requirement to collect forensically whole and intact evidence to support its investigations necessitates the occasional collection of SINs, on incidental bases, when they are inextricably linked to (or form a part of) other information that is being collected. In most cases the information is collected pursuant to a warrant issued by a court of competent and relevant jurisdiction; however, in some cases, information may be remitted to the Bureau voluntarily, without a court warrant.

    Class of individuals: Individuals present at, or employed by entities subject to Competition Bureau investigations.

    Purpose: Forensically intact copies of personal information are used as evidence to investigate offences pursuant to sections 11, 15, 16 and 30 of the Competition Act, as further enabled through subsection 4(1)(f) of the Department of Industry Act.

    Consistent uses: Information may be shared with law enforcement authorities, including competition regulators in extranational jurisdictions, through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties, to support investigations of competition offenses.

    Retention and disposal standards: Information will be retained for up to 15 years, following which, information deemed to possess archival value will be transferred to Library and Archives Canada, with information deemed to possess no archival value being destroyed through electronic purging.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related Record number: OS-SO-REG-030-01

    TBS registration: 20260030

    Bank number: ISED PPU 033

Marketplace Protection and Promotion

These programs regulate and provide oversight to a number of aspects of the Canadian marketplace, including trade measurement, insolvency, corporate governance, including federal incorporation, intellectual property, market access and consumer affairs. They develop and administer framework statutes, regulations, policies and procedures, assure compliance with related regulatory reforms and standards, and consult with a variety of stakeholders and portfolio organizations. Overall, the Marketplace Protection and Promotion programs benefit Canadian businesses and consumers by ensuring the integrity of the marketplace and providing a competitive environment that contributes to Canada's innovation performance. These programs include the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative.

Office of Consumer Affairs

Description: The Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) promotes the interests and protection of Canadian consumers. Well-informed and confident consumers help stimulate competition and innovation in the Canadian marketplace.

Document types: General information can be found on the OCA website with regard to consumer research and development (Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative), information for consumers (i.e., buying and leasing big-ticket items; staying secure while shopping online and using connected devices; the modern marketplace; being a green consumer; product safety, recalls and labelling; etc.), complaints, and legislation.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative

Description: The program aims to strengthen the consumer's role in the marketplace through the development and promotion of sound research and analysis, fostering innovative solutions to issues impacting consumers, and enhancing the overall capacity of ecosystem organizations to support and protect consumer interests.

Document types: Information pertaining to the administration of the Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative. General information on the operation of the program; service delivery information; contribution agreements; application-related and assessment-related documents including letters/correspondence, emails, claims-related documents, studies completed by recipients, grant and contribution proposal summary forms; program analyses; policy materials including briefing notes and other briefing documents, decks, Treasury Board submissions, reports, program development documents, program management documents, communications-related documents, legal opinions, and process documents.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Format: Consumer Policy Research Database: The Consumer Policy Research Database is a collection of Canadian research references on consumer related topics. Its objective is to increase knowledge transfer across the consumer policy research community and includes summaries of reports from research funded by the Office of Consumer Affairs' Canadian Consumer Protection Initiative.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Corporations Canada

Description: This program allows Canadians and businesses to incorporate at the federal level in accordance with Canada's laws, such as the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, the Boards of Trade Act and the Canada Cooperatives Act (with the exception of financial institutions). It also issues and registers official documents under the Great Seal of Canada. The program's main lines of business include incorporation and related services (such as amalgamation or corporate charter amendments), the dissolution of corporations, rulings on the use of corporate names, the collection and dissemination of information on federal companies, and compliance and enforcement activities related to the statutes it administers. The program's activities mostly affect Canadian businesses, not-for-profit organizations and other corporate entities.

Document types: Information concerning incorporation of federal companies; applications; charters; financial statements; annual reports; enquiries; liaison with companies; compliance actions; exemptions; court applications and arrangements; and documents related to boards of trade.

Disclosure summary: This program shares personal information, including publicly available personal information, through agreement, arrangement, or contract, with the following parties:

  • The Canada Revenue Agency
  • The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
  • The Competition Bureau
  • Groupe OnScope Inc.
  • Government of Quebec
  • Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
  • Government of Alberta
  • Government of British Columbia
  • Government of Manitoba
  • Government of Saskatchewan
  • Government of Ontario

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

  • Inquiries and Compliance Activities Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information on individuals and corporations that have filed a complaint or are the subject of an inquiry or a compliance activity under the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (NFP Act), the Canada Cooperatives Act (Coops Act) or the Canada Corporations Act (CCA). The personal information may include names.

    Class of individuals: Shareholders, creditors, directors, officers or members of the corporation that have filed a complaint or who are the subject of an inquiry or a compliance activity.

    Purpose: Personal information is collected pursuant to the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (NFP Act), the Canada Cooperatives Act (Coops Act), the Canada Corporations Act (CCA). The personal information is used in the context of an inquiry or a compliance activity with respect to possible non compliance with the CBCA, NFP Act, Coops Act or CCA.

    Consistent uses: The information may be used or disclosed for the following purposes: pertaining to the nature of the complaint, the identification of the complainant, the complainant's letter and also information obtained in the context of an inquiry or a compliance activity can be referred to other federal or provincial agencies (securities commissions, police authorities: e.g., the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police, the Sûreté du Québec, etc.) and also, with the consent of the complainant, to the corporation or individual person who is the object of a complaint or a compliance activity.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for 6 years after the last administrative action and then are destroyed.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

    TBS registration: 003304

    Bank number: ISED PPU 050

  • Notices of Directors of Corporations Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank describes information that is about individuals who became or ceased to be directors of boards of trade and corporations in accordance with the Boards of Trade Act, the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act), the Canada Cooperatives Act (Coop Act), the Canada Corporations Act (CCA). Names and addresses of directors are available to the public by request from Corporations Canada. Copies of notices, which may include the residential addresses of directors, are made available to the public upon request. The information is available through the corporation file. The bank also records any personal information obtained through the Corporate Name Information Form. The personal information may include name and contact information.

    Class of individuals: Directors of corporations and incorporators.

    Purpose: The personal information is obtained in compliance with the reporting requirements of the Boards of Trade Act (BOTA), the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA), the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (NFP Act), the Canada Cooperatives Act (Coop Act), and the Canada Corporations Act (CCA). The information regarding directors of corporations is obtained in compliance with the reporting requirements of the CBCA, the NFP Act, the CCA, and the Coop Act. The information obtained through the Corporate Name Information Form is to enable the Director appointed under the CBCA, the NFP Act, and the Coop Act, to make a name decision. Personal information is collected pursuant to the BOTA, the CBCA, the NFP Act, the Coop Act, and the CCA.

    Consistent uses: There are no consistent uses for this PIB.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for a minimum of 6 years after last administrative action related to the corporation and then are destroyed.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

    TBS registration: 001947

    Bank number: ISED PPU 049

  • Beneficial Ownership Transparency Personal Information Bank

    Description: This personal information bank contains:

    1. Information about individuals who possess significant control over federally incorporated companies. The personal information collected includes (in connection with the identity of the individual): date of birth; residential address; non-residential address for service; country of citizenship; country of residence for income tax purposes; the dates on which the individual became and ceased to be an individual with significant control over a corporation; and a description of how the individual has significant control over a corporation. In circumstances where information is provided by a third-party who is an authorized agent of a federally incorporated company, the personal information collected will also include the identity of the third party who provided the information in respect of the individual who has significant control of a corporation, and that person's contact information, and role as an authorized agent.
    2. Discrepancy report information reported by reporting entities regulated under the Proceeds of Crime, (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCTFA). The personal information collected includes: (a) in respect of a reporting entity: person's or entity's name, type of person or entity as described in any of paragraph paragraphs 5(a) to (h.1) and (k) of the PCTFA or, if person or entity is referred to in paragraph 5(i), (j) or (l) of the PCTFA, the type of prescribed business, profession or activity referred to in that paragraph, identification number assigned to the person or entity by FINTRAC, number that identifies place of business, address of place of business, person's or entity's email address, if provided, contact person's name, contact person's email address, contact person's telephone number; and (b) in respect of the material discrepancy: name of reported company, identifying number on its certificate of incorporation, amalgamation or continuance, date on which the discrepancy was identified, description of discrepancy (selected individual with significant control information fields for which the reporting entity identified a material discrepancy between the beneficial ownership information obtained and the individuals with significant control information in Corporations Canada's database).

    Class of individuals: (1) Individuals who possess significant control (controlling interest) over a private federally incorporated company, (2) third-party individuals who are agents of said corporations, and who are authorized to provide the information and (3) contact persons (who represent persons and entitles regulated under the PCTFA who are authorized to report a material discrepancy).

    Purpose: The personal information collected is used to help combat income tax evasion, money laundering, terrorist financing, other financial crimes and the use of corporations as vehicles for illegal activities. It is also used to validate the identities of individuals who possess significant control over corporations across multiple jurisdictions, to inform marketplace decision-making, to support research, and to manage investment risks. The information is collected pursuant to subsections 21.21(1) and (2) of the Canada Business Corporations Act (CBCA). Discrepancy reporting information is collected to help Corporations Canada maintain an accurate and reliable Individuals with Significant Control (ISC) register. The information is collected pursuant to sections 138(1) and (2) and 138.1(1) of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Regulations (PCTFR).

    Consistent uses: Some of the personal information is made public pursuant to the requirements of the CBCA, including, to the exclusion of minors: (the name of the individual who exercises significant control of a corporation; that individual's residential address, if it was the only address provided by the individual; the dates on which that individual became and ceased to be an individual with significant control; and a description on how that individual exercises or possesses significant control). Any of the personal information that is not in the public domain may be shared with the Canada Revenue Agency, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada, other investigative bodies detailed in the CBCA legislation (which may be foreign or domestic), and with Canada's provinces and territories, all for the purposes of validating the integrity of information across multiple jurisdictions, and for investigating and combatting financial crimes and other illegal activities.

    Retention and disposal standards: New personal information collected by ISED for the purpose of beneficial ownership transparency will be retained in electronic format only, for a minimum of six years, (pursuant to the CBCA legislation) when superseded. Information that is not superseded with new information will be retained indefinitely. Discrepancy reporting report information will be kept for a minimum of five years after it is created given that reporting entities are required under the PCTFR to keep a copy of the notice of acknowledgment sent by Corporations Canada for five years from the day the record was created.

    RDA number: 2016-007

    Related record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

    TBS registration: 20240002

    Bank number: ISED PPU 051

Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB)

Description: For the benefit of investors, lenders and consumers, and in the public interest, the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) supervises the administration of estates and matters under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA). The OSB provides leadership in protecting the integrity of the bankruptcy and insolvency system by maintaining an efficient and effective insolvency regulatory framework, promoting awareness of the rights and responsibilities of stakeholders, ensuring compliance with the legislative and regulatory framework through supervision of stakeholders, and by being an integral source of information on Canadian insolvency matters.

Specific business lines include:

  • insolvency estate registration and administrative supervision:
    • maintenance of registration documents and other records relating to the administration of proceedings filed under the BIA and, since September 18, 2009, proceedings filed under the CCAA
  • compliance and enforcement:
    • investigations of a regulatory or criminal nature, focused on debtors, Licenced Insolvency Trustees (LITs) or other stakeholders
  • licensing:
    • licensing of LITs, the private-sector professionals who administer insolvency estates. (In limited circumstances, some individuals who are not LITs and who may be public-sector professionals, are permitted to administer only consumer proposals.)
  • stakeholder awareness promotion:
    • public enquiries, records searches, outreach activities, provision of bulk data and the publishing of statistical and general information
  • regulatory framework maintenance:
    • stakeholder and public consultations to inform ongoing program design

Document types: Insolvency estates including initial filing documents and other prescribed forms, court documents, minutes of creditor and inspector meetings, reports, certificates, requests and authorizations, correspondence, and miscellaneous documents. Records of examinations under oath including associated notices, questionnaires and reports, court intervention documents including court decisions, investigation orders, complaints, evidence gathered in the course of an investigation and monitoring records gathered in the course of regular monitoring activities, worksheets and other working papers, reports, directions for conservatory measures, delegation documents, professional conduct decisions and associated mediation and hearing documents. Documents related to the qualification process to become or remain an LIT or related professional, documents related to changes to the firm within which the trustee is working, applications, bonds, incorporation documents, insurance and financial documents, credit and criminal record checks, letters of support, licence service requests.

Enquiries from stakeholders or the public, submissions related to consultation processes, general administration files and other documents which may include contracts, memoranda, legal opinions, minutes of meetings, briefing notes, letters, invoices, audits, assessments, charts, reports and other documents.

Disclosure summary: Personal information is disclosed under agreement, arrangement or contract, with the following entities:

  • The Canada Revenue Agency
  • Equifax Canada Inc.
  • TransUnion of Canada Inc.

Record number: IS-SI-010-07

  • Bankruptcy Detection/Investigation Files Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank contains information about individuals being investigated, the initial complaint, the investigation order from the Superintendent of Bankruptcy to the RCMP indicating the issue requiring investigation and possible offences that have been committed, RCMP investigation reports, investigation results, court decisions, and fines or jail terms imposed. Personal information may include individuals' names.

    Class of individuals: Individuals in bankruptcy, who have filed a proposal or who are involved in a bankruptcy or proposal.

    Purpose: Personal information is used to begin an investigation. The investigation then monitors the actions of individuals in bankruptcy or who have filed a proposal or who are involved in a bankruptcy or proposal. Personal information is collected pursuant to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

    Consistent uses: : The information may be used to monitor the progress, result and backlog of investigations initiated by the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy and investigated by the RCMP under the authority of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

    Retention and disposal standards: Files are kept open until the investigation is closed. Files are retained within division offices indefinitely.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-REG-010-03/OSB

    TBS registration: 000122

    Bank number: ISED PPU 035

  • Fees and Levies Under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act Personal Information Bank

    Description: This data bank contains information related to funds received or payments made under various sections of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, except those related to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Records Financial System, namely filing fees by practitioners, levies from trustees, assets undistributed by trustees and dividends unclaimed by creditors. Personal information may include the estate number, name of the estate (individual or corporation), name of the trustee, and names of creditors to whom money may be owed and amounts involved.

    Class of individuals: Individuals in bankruptcy, who have filed a proposal or against whom a receivership was filed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Creditors to whom money is owed in relation to a bankruptcy or proposal under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.

    Purpose: Personal information is used to administer the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act program or activity. Personal information is collected pursuant to the legislative requirements of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and the Financial Administration Act.

    Consistent uses: The information is used to create and maintain a public database that is searchable online by creditors so they can identify and then claim funds owed to them by a debtor in relation to a bankruptcy or proposal.

    Retention and disposal standards: Records will be retained for no less than six years after the last administrative action. For those estates where not all funds have been distributed, records will be retained indefinitely as there is no time limit for creditors to claim funds owed to them.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-REG-010-03/OSB

    TBS registration: 003554

    Bank number: ISED PPU 061

  • Estate Files Under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act Personal Information Bank

    Description: This data bank contains information related to all bankruptcies, proposals and receiverships filed under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada. Files are arranged by the estate number, but can be queried by the estate name. Other information contained in estate files includes assignment, statement of affairs, notice of intention, cash flow statement, requests for extension, proposals, minutes of the meetings of creditors, notes and reports related to examination under oath, bonds, complaints, enquiries, correspondence, court intervention documents, various notices, reports required under the administration of the BIA by the trustee, and statement of receipts and disbursements, including trustee fees and expenses. Personal information may include the name, contact information, date of birth, financial information, and total assets and liabilities of the individual filing for bankruptcy or filing a proposal, and the date of the bankrupt's discharge.

    Class of individuals: Individuals and corporations that have filed for bankruptcy or filed a proposal, or against whom a receivership was filed.

    Purpose: Personal information is used to facilitate regulatory control of insolvency processes and for trustee monitoring and auditing purposes. Statistical reports are also run against the bank. Part of the information in the data bank also serves as the public record that the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy must maintain under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. This information is accessible to the public online, by phone and by fax for a fee.

    Consistent uses: Although personal, the information is considered public under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. The information, or part of the information, may be used or disclosed to facilitate regulatory control of insolvency processes, for trustee monitoring and auditing purposes, to create the public record that the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy must maintain under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act and make it available to the public (the information is accessible to the public online, by phone and by fax for a fee), to facilitate treatment of income tax returns of individuals and corporations that have filed for bankruptcy or filed a proposal by providing part of the information to the Canada Revenue Agency, and to enable updating of credit files by providing part of the information to credit bureaus and Dun & Bradstreet (the information is provided for a fee).

    Retention and disposal standards: For individuals, records will be retained for 10 years after the date of the trustee's discharge if the bankrupt has obtained an absolute or deemed discharge. Records will be retained indefinitely if the bankrupt has not received an absolute discharge. For consumer proposals by individuals, records will be retained for 10 years after the date of the certificate of full performance. For corporations, records will be retained for 10 years after the date of the trustee's discharge and then they will be destroyed. For receiverships, records will be retained for 10 years after the date the notice is received by the OSB. The electronic public record created from part of the information in estate files is kept indefinitely for all estates.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-REG-010-03/OSB

    TBS registration: 003550

    Bank number: ISED PPU 058

  • Trustee System Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank contains an electronic record of licensing information regarding individual and corporate trustees under the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Information concerns initial license issuance, renewals, extensions or restrictions, license removals, and the educational background and financial guarantors of each trustee. The bank also includes personal information on designated proposal administrators and receivers, such as names, addresses and employers. The files are arranged by trustee number and are maintained electronically at the head office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada.

    Class of individuals: Bankruptcy trustees, proposal administrators, and receivers.

    Purpose: The information is used to monitor trustee licensing, including the annual renewal of licenses.

    Consistent uses: No consistent uses.

    Retention and disposal standards: Rules 122(1)(e) and (d) of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act requires the Superintendent of Bankruptcy to keep a record of all licenses for at least 30 years after the designation ceases to be valid. Destruction through agreement with Library and Archives Canada.

    RDA number: 78/005

    Related record number: IC OSB 275

    TBS registration: 003551

    Bank number: ISED PPU 059

  • Trustee Files Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank contains a record of the initial issuance of a trustee license or consumer proposal administrator designation, the renewal and extension thereof, and the restrictions or any removal of a designation. The information content of this bank includes the personal history of each trustee relating to education, financial portfolio, professional status, character enquiries made prior to the issuance of the license and any complaints and investigations against the individual. The files are kept in alphabetical order at the head office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada, in Ottawa.

    Class of individuals: Bankruptcy trustees and consumer proposal administrators.

    Purpose: The purpose of this bank is to provide a repository for data used for the licensing of trustees in bankruptcies. Licenses are issued by the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada who, under section 13 of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, investigates the character and qualifications of any applicant.

    Consistent uses: The information is used to assess the qualifications of all applicants, the maintenance-in-good-standing of the designation, and the renewal thereof.

    Retention and disposal standards: The files are retained for 30 years after the designation is no longer valid. Destruction through agreement with Library and Archives Canada.

    RDA number: 78/005

    Related record number: IC OSB 275

    TBS registration: 000123

    Bank number: IC PPU 036

Measurement Canada (MC)

Description: Measurement Canada (MC), a regulatory, special operating agency, ensures the integrity and accuracy of trade measurement in Canada. The agency's legislative mandate, programs and services, protect consumers and businesses and help to promote economic growth by verifying the accuracy of measuring devices and systems used to measure goods throughout various supply chains. MC contributes to a fair and competitive marketplace by maintaining domestic and international consumer and business confidence in the accuracy of goods bought and sold, based on measurement, and protects Canadians against loss due to inaccurate measurement at all levels of trade. Confidence in marketplace measurement-based financial transactions is achieved by ensuring scales, and gas pumps, as well as electricity, natural gas and thermal energy meters, electric vehicle charging devices, and other measuring devices used in Canada meet legislative standards for accuracy, reliability and performance.

Document types: Information pertaining to the administration and enforcement of the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act and the Weights and Measures Act [including: accreditation and/or registration; audit and evaluation of Authorized Service Providers recognized to deliver inspection services; calibration and certification of physical measurement standards and/or measuring apparatus; testing and certifying compliance of electricity and natural gas meters and measuring devices (e.g., gas pumps, retail and commercial scales); approvals and certifications of existing and emerging measurement technologies, such as electric vehicle charging devices, and dimension measuring devices; investigation of complaints of suspected inaccurate measurements; investigation of alleged offences under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act or the Weights and Measures Act; testing, developing and implementing requirements for the accurate and reliable measurement of energy at retail zero-emission vehicle charging/fuelling stations and for commercial transactions of hydrogen and other clean fuels; evaluation and approval of prototype electricity and natural gas meters and measuring devices; and renewing or maintaining a sound legislative and regulatory framework to ensure the integrity and accuracy of trade measurement in the Canadian marketplace]; meter and measuring device specifications; policies and test procedures; minutes of meetings; briefing notes; letters; audits and assessments; information bulletins; Notices of Approval; meter and measuring device inspection certificates; physical measurement standard certification certificates; inspection data; and user and device manuals.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-REG-050-01

  • Measurement Canada Complaints and Disputes Process Personal Information Bank

    Description: This bank contains information pertaining to complaints filed with Measurement Canada in respect of matters governed by the Weights and Measures Act, and the Gas and Electricity Inspection Act. The personal information collected includes the complainant's identity and contact information, the basis of the complaint, actions taken by the complainant to resolve the underlaying issue, and any supporting documents involving measurement transactions, such as a receipt, or other proof of purchase documents. The information is indexed and retrievable by the name of the complainant.

    Class of individuals: The public-at-large, including business owners.

    Purpose: The information provided helps facilitate Measurement Canada's ability to meet its core responsibilities under the Weights and Measures Act, the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, and the related regulations; specifically, to ensure accuracy in the sale of measured goods in Canada, and to enforce laws pertaining to measurement accuracy and measurement devices, by investigating complaints raised by the pubic-at-large, and rendering decisions on those complaints, which may be consequential for the party against whom a complaint is made. The information is not used to make any administrative decisions in respect of the complainant. All information is collected pursuant to subsection 4(1)(j) [Legal Metrology], and section 7 [Inspection Services] of the Department of Industry Act.

    Consistent uses: Depersonalized information may be shared in aggregate, with Statistics Canada, when requested by that agency, to inform national statistics and trends.

    Retention and disposal standards: Consistent with Industry Canada's Records Disposition and Authority schedule, as approved by Library and Archives Canada, all Measurement Canada information is retained for ten years, and then destroyed.

    RDA number: 2016/007

    Related record number: OS-SO-REG-050-01

    TBS registration: 20250075

    Bank number: IC PPU 401

Investment Review

Description: This program area administers the Investment Canada Act, conducting reviews of non-Canadian investment proposals to determine if investments are likely to be of net benefit to Canada, and whether or not proposed investments should undergo national security reviews.

Document types: Prescribed forms; certificates of receipt; correspondence with investors, including revised plans and undertakings; consultations with relevant provincial governments and federal departments; third party representations; statutory documentation to the Minister; advice; and results of monitoring the performance of investors' plans and undertakings; submissions to the Governor-in-Council; legal analysis and opinions; and memoranda for the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, or the Director of Investments.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-040-01

  • Investment Canada Act Reviews Personal Information Bank

    Description: This personal information bank contains information about two groups of people: (1) Persons who are not Canadian citizens who are private investors, or owners, or employees of foreign businesses that seek to invest in an established Canadian business or to create a new Canadian business; and (2) Persons who complete Investment Canada Act forms on behalf of people belonging to group (1) who themselves may also belong to group (1). In the case persons belonging to group (1), the personal information collected will include the name, date of birth, business and professional contact information (residential and business address, email address, telephone number), and whether the individual is one of the five highest-paid officers of the foreign business seeking to make the investment. In the case of persons belonging to group (2) who themselves may also belong to group (1), the personal information collected will include the name, title and signature of the person completing the Investment Canada Form, as well as the date on which that individual completed said form.

    Class of individuals: (1) Individuals who are not Canadian citizens who are private investors, or owners, or employees of foreign businesses that seek to invest in an established Canadian business or to create a new Canadian business, and (2) individuals completing Investment Canada Act forms on behalf of those individuals.

    Purpose: All personal information collected is used solely to determine if an investment (i) will be of likely net-benefit to Canada and/or (ii) would be injurious to national security. The information is collected pursuant to paragraph 2 of the Investment Canada Act, and paragraph 4 (1)(m) of the Department of Industry Act.

    Consistent uses: The personal information collected is shared with Public Safety Canada for the purpose of determining if a proposed investment could present any potential national security concerns. The Public Safety Canada PIB detailing its collection of personal information for this purpose is PS PPU 026 (National Security Records).

    Retention and disposal standards: The personal information collected by ISED for the purpose of investment reviews will be retained by ISED for the following periods of time, and then destroyed:

    • 20 years after the file's last administrative activity, in relation to applications
    • 15 years after the file's last administrative activity, in relation to notifications
    • 10 years after the file's last administrative activity, in relation to the regulatory framework

    The most recent records Retention and disposition authority issued to ISED by Library and Archives Canada is 2016/007.

    RDA number: 2016-007

    Related record numbers:
    OS-SO-REG-010 01 (Non-complex applications or notifications)
    OS-SO-REG-010-02 (Complex applications or notifications)
    OS-SO-REG-010-03 (Very complex applications or notifications)

    TBS registration: 20230037

    Bank number: ISED PPU 301

Internal Trade Secretariat Corporation

Description: The Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) is an intergovernmental internal trade agreement that came into force on July 1, 2017. The Internal Trade Secretariat provides administrative and operational support to the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT), to its Chair and to other committees or working groups established under the CFTA or by the committee. The Secretariat supports the CIT in preparing the reports, compiling, and disseminating information from parties and ensuring appropriate support for the dispute resolution process. As a neutral third party, the Secretariat has facilitated ongoing negotiations to broaden and deepen the scope of the CFTA. 

The Secretariat's work requires close and continuous contact with federal, provincial, and territorial governments to facilitate the smooth and effective operation of the committees and working groups. The Secretariat plays an important role in assisting parties to fully implement the CFTA, to pursue negotiations mandated by the CFTA and to meet their outstanding obligations under the CFTA. All parties share the Secretariat's operating costs. As a Party to the CFTA, the federal government has a legislated requirement to contribute to the annual operating plan and budget of the Secretariat. ISED delivers this funding on behalf of the Privy Council Office (PCO) through a Grant Agreement with the Secretariat. The federal government's share of the Secretariat's budget is 50 percent.

Note: This initiative falls under the responsibility of the King's Privy Council for Canada.

Document types: Information relating to the implementation of the Agreement on Internal Trade and the payment of ISED's grant to the Investment Trade Secretariat Corporation.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Core responsibility 2: Science, technology, research and commercialization

Support and enable business-led investment and strategic collaborations for leading-edge technology development and commercialization; maintain and strengthen Canada's research excellence, including support for fundamental science, experimentation and exploration to address global challenges.

Departmental result: Canadian science, technology and innovation research contributes to knowledge transfer

Departmental result indicators

  • Average relative citation (ARC) of publications from Canadian-based researchers in the sciences
  • Percentage of Canada's higher education research and development (HERD) financed by the business sector

Program inventory

Science and Research

The Science and Research Program inventory supports the development of talent, research, research infrastructure and innovation in Canada's science and research sector and aims to enhance Canada's science, technology and innovation (STIn) excellence by mobilizing the expertise and resources of non-governmental science- and research-focussed organizations. The program provides analysis and advice, and develops policies and programs to maintain, safeguard and strengthen Canada's knowledge foundation and research excellence. This is accomplished by supporting research and development activities within the post-secondary sector, by consulting and collaborating with various stakeholders such as universities and colleges, ISED Portfolio partners (e.g., the granting agencies), science-based departments and agencies, and the private sector, and by developing and administering strategic funding agreements with third-party organizations.

Canada's Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE)

Description: CANARIE is funded under the Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy via a non-repayable contribution agreement. CANARIE is the national organization responsible for coordinating the digital network for research in partnership with regional advanced networks and post-secondary institutions. This infrastructure connects to more than 125 international research and education networks around the world, facilitating the sharing of technologies, research facilities, and data, and enabling global research collaborations. CANARIE also implements and supports vital cybersecurity initiatives to safeguard Canadian research and protect against IP theft.

Data is collected from various sources to document ISED's oversight and monitoring of funding agreements with the recipient organizations of the CANARIE Contribution Program. These records include policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; and progress reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS)

Description: The Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) is a not-for-profit corporation under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act. CIFAR supports advancements in science by facilitating international and interdisciplinary collaboration and high-impact research to address emerging fields of discovery and advanced thinking on future-focused questions across the sciences and humanities.

This funding is provided through the Pan-Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS), to advance the talent and research pillar of the Strategy. Funding supports: activities that aim to retain and attract top academic talent in artificial intelligence (AI); increasing the number of post-graduate trainees and researchers studying in AI; promoting collaboration among the national AI institutes; advancing understanding of the ethical, legal, political, and societal implications of AI; and positioning Canada as a world-leading destination for companies seeking to invest in AI and innovation.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information, progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) and Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI)

Description: The Canadian Artificial Intelligence Safety Institute (CAISI) is a national initiative that supports the safe and responsible development, understanding, and use of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. CAISI is led by ISED Canada, leveraging the research capabilities of the National Research Council of Canada and the broader Canadian research community through the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR). To advance the science of AI safety, CAISI provides a non-repayable contribution to CIFAR to establish and implement a mission-oriented program that enables collaborative, multidisciplinary research.

CIFAR is a not-for-profit organization that supports the advancement of science through international and interdisciplinary collaboration and high-impact research to address emerging fields of discovery and advance thinking on future-focused questions across the sciences and humanities.

The CAISI-funded program, delivered through CIFAR, supports research activities aimed at achieving concrete objectives, including responding to emerging challenges, solving problems, and developing practical solutions across both the technical and social or conceptual dimensions of AI safety. These activities enable the creation, sharing, and application of AI safety knowledge, including the development of new methods, practices, benchmarks, and guidelines, and contribute to informing standards and regulatory development.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information, progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI)

Description: The Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) is a non-repayable, single recipient contribution program, established by the Government of Canada. It has the objective of funding research infrastructure in order to help attract and retain talent, train researchers, support private-sector innovation and commercialization, and enable researchers to undertake world-class research. The only eligible recipient of this contribution is the CFI, an independent not-for-profit corporation. Ultimate recipients are universities, colleges, hospitals, and not-for-profit research organizations that are situated in Canada and are capable of carrying on meaningful research. Data is collected from various sources to document ISED's oversight and monitoring of funding agreements with the recipient organizations of the Contribution Program. These records include policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; and progress reports.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy (DRI)

Description: Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) refers to the integrated tools, resources, and services that support the entire research lifecycle, from the initial stages of data collection to the final stages of data dissemination and preservation. DRI is essential for modern scientific research, enabling researchers to tackle increasingly complex scientific questions and collaborate across disciplines and geographic boundaries. The DRI Strategy aims to increase access to these essential resources to meet researcher needs, offer world-class tools to support collaborative and leading-edge research, and support a cohesive national vision for future investments, ensuring clarity among national, regional and local (institutional) roles and responsibilities.

In order to achieve these objectives, two primary recipients are funded via non-repayable contribution agreements. The DRI Strategy comprises four pillars. CANARIE is the national organization responsible for the first: coordinating and securing an ultra-high-speed network that connects Canada's researchers, educators, and innovators to each other and to the data and technology of global colleagues.

The Digital Research Alliance of Canada is the national organization responsible for the three other pillars, namely, advanced research computing, including the supercomputers used for big data analysis and simulations; research software, which allows researchers to access, share and utilize data, and research data management.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Horizon Europe

Description: In 2024, Canada associated with Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, the world's largest collaborative research and innovation funding program, administered by the European Commission (EC), with a total budget of €93.5 billion over the period 2021-2027. Of the €93.5 billion, approximately €53.5 billion is allocated to fund calls under Pillar 2. Association is the closest form of participation for Canada within European research and innovation programming. It provides greater opportunities for Canadian researchers and innovators to gain access to valuable European research networks, expand their reach and influence, and use the results of supported projects to deliver solutions to global challenges through international collaborations. Canadian researchers, universities, enterprises, non-profit organizations and institutions can lead projects, retain intellectual property rights, participate in Pillar 2 calls for proposals and receive funding.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; committee meeting materials; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; treaty; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

National Artificial Intelligence Institutes

Description: The National Artificial Intelligence Institutes is a named recipient, non-repayable contribution program. As part of the Pan Canadian Artificial Intelligence Strategy (PCAIS) the program's objectives are to:

  • accelerate the translation of artificial intelligence research into commercial or other innovations
  • grow the capacity of Canadian businesses, not-for-profit organizations, health providers (including hospitals), or other public corporations and agencies to develop, adopt, use, or commercialize artificial intelligence
  • encourage the responsible development and use of artificial intelligence based in human rights, inclusion, diversity, innovation and economic growth

The only eligible recipients of funds under the program are the Mila - Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute in Montreal, Quebec, the Vector Institute in Toronto, Ontario, and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute in Edmonton, Alberta.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

National Quantum Strategy

Description: In 2023, the Government of Canada announced the National Quantum Strategy (NQS), which aims to support Canada's quantum sector and solidify Canada's position among leaders in this fast-growing field. Backed by an investment of $360 million, the NQS is driven by three missions: computing hardware and software; communications and post-quantum cryptography; and sensors. These missions are advanced through investments in three pillars: research, talent, and commercialization. A Quantum Advisory Council has also been established to provide impartial advice to the government to help grow the quantum sector and ensure that the strategy remains on track.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Canada Quantum Champions Program

Description: In support of Canada's National Quantum Strategy and the Defence Industrial Strategy, the Canadian Quantum Champions Program (CQCP) is intended to anchor top Canadian quantum companies and talent at home, helping Canada stay ahead in this transformative field and ensuring the benefits of quantum computing reach all Canadians. The CQCP will support Canadian companies as they advance toward fault-tolerant, industrial-scale quantum computers capable of solving real-world problems across industries. 

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board submissions; funding agreements; annual reports, technical data and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding. 

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts. 

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Quantum Industry Canada

Description: ISED administers a non-repayable contribution agreement to Quantum Industry Canada (QIC) in support of Canada's National Quantum Strategy. QIC is a consortium of Canadian quantum companies aiming to translate Canadian quantum strengths into business success and economic prosperity. The consortium plays an industry-led role in supporting research and development, attracting and retaining talent, and fostering international connections with strategic partners. 

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding. 

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts. 

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Dedicated Computing Capacity in Artificial Intelligence

Description: The near- and medium-term initiatives of the new Canadian AI Sovereign Compute Strategy (SCS) includes an investment amount of $935 million that was approved in Budget 2025 to improve compute capacity to researchers and innovators to accelerate discovery and innovation enabled by compute. To achieve the SCS's objective, the following initiatives are being carried out:

  • a new "AI Compute Access Fund" (Access Fund) for Canadian SMEs needing immediate high-intensity compute capacity
  • a "Compute Challenge" launched through the Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) to attract new investments in commercial or non-profit (but financially sustainable) AI data centres and compute technologies to encourage domestic demand and supply of compute capacity
  • an "AI Compute Infrastructure Program" including near- and long-term initiatives to enhance Canada's computing capacity

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts. 

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) and Centre of Expertise in Montreal on Artificial Intelligence (CEIMAI)

Description: GPAI is an international multi-stakeholder initiative integrated within the OECD with the mission of promoting the responsible development and use of AI through practical projects. Canada is host to one of GPAI's three expert support centres (ESCs) through the International Centre of Expertise in Montreal on Artificial Intelligence (CEIMAI), leading applied, evidence-based projects within the GPAI framework by mobilizing its research and innovation ecosystem.

Budget 2024 announced new funding of $3.5 million over 2 years to advance Canada's international AI objectives at GPAI through CEIMAI. This funding supports the responsible development, governance, and use of AI technologies with likeminded partners, and is expected to end in 2026-27. 

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; correspondence; annual reports from recipients; audits and evaluations; program design information, progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts. 

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Talent Innovation Canada Initiative

Description: The 2024 Fall Economic Statement allocated $29.2 million for the Talent Innovation Canada (TI-Can) pilot initiative to attract, train, and deploy research and development talent to key sectors to conduct advanced technology road mapping for Canadian firms. The initiative also connects graduate students and post-graduate fellows with companies to assist in the implementation of technology roadmaps while benefiting from training opportunities. Aligning with the Government of Canada's economic priorities, the TI-Can pilot will initially focus on four strategic sectors employing dual-use technologies/applications: electric vehicles and next-generation mobility infrastructure; clean growth and technology; biomanufacturing and biosciences; and microelectronics and information and communication technologies.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Strategic Science Fund (SSF)

Description: The Strategic Science Fund (SSF) aims to mobilize the expertise and resources of independent science and research not-for-profit organizations to enhance Canada's science, technology and innovation excellence. SSF competitions are launched periodically to support organizations for five-year funding cycles. Competitions use a two-phase application process, which includes letters of intent, and full applications.

Note: The document types described below are also available for Genome Canada and Mitacs activities that fall under an agreement outside the SSF agreement.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Description: The OECD Grants Program funds specific OECD research projects that advance ISED's policy agenda. The OECD Grant Program provides funding above the fees Canada pays for general membership, in order to support priority areas. These grants allow ISED to leverage OECD expertise and resources to respond to specific economic and policy analysis gaps that would benefit from international expertise and provide a better understanding of Canada's positioning within a global context by ensuring Canada is represented in OECD datasets and economic trend analysis, and target longer-term research on emerging trends and persistent economic challenges. OECD projects provide Canada with examples of best practices, lessons learned, and benchmarks against other OECD countries.

Document types: Written recommendations; working papers; research documentation; agendas; briefings; supporting documentation; meeting minutes; payment documents; correspondence; Treasury Board Submissions; funding agreements; annual reports and corporate plans from recipients; contracts; audits and evaluations; program design information; progress reports; and policy and analytical materials concerning the management, performance, and outcomes of funding.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Core responsibility 3: People, skills and communities

Support the creation, transfer and diffusion of knowledge to ensure that Canadians, including underrepresented individuals, are equipped with the skills and tools to participate in an innovative high-growth economy; advance a culture of innovation where Canadians are driven to address local, regional, national and/or global challenges; benefit from growth of the middle class across communities; have increased access to affordable broadband and mobile internet, including in rural and remote regions; and are protected and informed consumers.

Departmental result: People and communities from all segments of Canadian society participate in the economy

Departmental result indicators

  • Number of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs
  • Percentage of Canadian households that have access to minimum internet speeds of 50/10 Mbps
  • Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by Indigenous people
  • Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by persons with disabilities
  • Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by women
  • Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by youth
  • Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by visible minorities
  • Percentage of entrepreneurs and businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises, receiving business support from ISED programs that are led or majority-owned by 2SLGBTQI+ individuals

Program inventory

Support for Underrepresented Entrepreneurs

In-line with ISED's objective to ensure that people and communities from all segments of Canadian society participate in the economy, the Department will continue supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, including women, Black Canadians, members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community, youth and Indigenous peoples, through providing access to financing, and business support services, such as mentoring, and business financial training, as well as supporting research and facilitating knowledge exchange.

Futurpreneur

Description: Futurpreneur is a non-repayable contribution sub-program, with Futurpreneur Canada (FC), a not-for-profit organization, being the sole recipient. It has the objective of providing loans, mentoring and business support tools, including advisory services, to young Canadian entrepreneurs, who have been traditionally underserved by mainstream lending institutions. Eligible recipients are entrepreneurs aged 18-39 who are operating or about to operate a business in Canada.

FC programs include the Core Startup Program, the Black Entrepreneur Startup Program (funded by the Royal Bank of Canada, with additional financing from the BDC), the Indigenous Entrepreneur Startup Program, the Side Hustle Program, and other offerings for young entrepreneurs.

Budget 2024 provided $60 million over five years, starting in 2024-25, for FC to continue to deliver financial and non-financial supports to young entrepreneurs. FC will match this federal investment with funding received from other orders of government and private sector partners.

This transfer payment program will end in March 2029, and is appropriated annually through Budget estimates.

Document types: General information on program operations and service delivery; contribution agreements; information on the number of businesses supported, and the funding delivered to those businesses; recipient diversity metrics; briefing notes, program reports and indicators; letters/correspondence; and policy materials.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01, OS-SO-PRO-040-01

Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP)

The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) aims to help Black Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs start, grow and/or maintain their businesses and succeed now and into the future. As part of this program, the Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund provides loans to Black business owners and entrepreneurs.

Description: The BEP, through its three components, aims to break down systematic and systemic barriers faced by Black entrepreneurs and business owners, by providing targeted support to enhance overall sustainability and drive growth, competitiveness, innovation, and productivity toward broader economic and social benefits.

The BEP Ecosystem Fund, delivered by the Regional Development Agencies, provides financial support to Black-led support organizations across the country, that provide mentorship, financial planning services, and business training to Black business owners and entrepreneurs.

The Knowledge Hub conducts research on the state of Black entrepreneurship in Canada, and helps identify Black entrepreneurs' barriers to success as well as opportunities for growth.

The Loan Fund, delivered by the Federation of African Canadian Economics, in partnership with the BDC, provides loans of up to $250,000 for Black business owners and entrepreneurs.

Investments through these streams contribute to creating more favorable conditions for Black entrepreneurs and businesses for starting, maintaining and growing a business.

The BEP was renewed through the 2024 Fall Economic Statement, with an investment of $189 million over five years, starting in 2025-2026, to continue to help Black entrepreneurs and business owners thrive.

Document types: General information on program operations and service delivery; contribution agreements with the Knowledge Hub recipient and the Loan Fund administrator (note: the Ecosystem Fund is delivered through the Regional Development Agencies); information on the number of businesses supported; information on research projects conducted; recipient diversity metrics; other contribution agreements; briefing notes; program reports and indicators; letters/correspondence; and policy materials.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01, OS-SO-PRO-040-01

Business Data Lab (BDL)

Description: The Business Data Lab, provides Canadian small businesses and entrepreneurs, including under-represented entrepreneurs, with high-quality statistical information and tools to help them understand evolving market conditions, conduct research on Canadian Business competitiveness, and support education through hosting seminars and conferences. This is a single recipient transfer payment program. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce is the only eligible recipient. Budget 2024 announced up to $7.2M over three years, starting in 2024-25, for ISED to support the Chamber's BDL. Although the objectives of the first version of BDL were met, renewing support to the BDL will allow for continuance of (and expansion on) what has already been done, in preserving the current data assets, scaling the reach and impact of its tools and insights, and continuing experimentation with high frequency data.

Document types: Contribution agreements; briefing notes; program reports and indicators; letters/correspondence; and policy materials.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01, OS-SO-PRO-040-01

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development Program (SBED)

Description: The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development (SBED) sub-program aims to break down barriers for SMEs across Canada, particularly focused on entrepreneurs from equity deserving groups, to starting, maintaining, and growing a business, by providing targeted support to enhance overall sustainability, and to drive growth, competitiveness, innovation, and productivity toward broader economic and social benefits.

The 2SLGBTQI+ Entrepreneurship Program is a flagship program launched under SBED, which also supports other priorities aligned with one or more of the following objectives:

  • strengthening Canada's entrepreneurship ecosystem to be more accessible for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including those owned by equity deserving groups
  • increasing opportunities for SMEs to start, scale, grow, and maintain a business and/or adjust to new economic realities
  • building awareness of issues faced by entrepreneurs, particularly equity deserving groups, to improve coordination of supports and close gaps in service

Assistance for the SBED is in the form of non-repayable contributions.

Documents types: Contribution agreements; briefing notes; program reports and indicators; letters/correspondence; and policy materials.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Canada Digital Adoption Program (CDAP)

Note: The Canada Digital Adoption Program concluded on March 31, 2025. Personal information collected by this program will be retained by ISED in the following Personal Information Bank until March 2035:

  • CDAP Clients and Digital Advisors Personal Information Bank

    Description: This personal information bank contains information about two groups of people: (1) Persons who self-identify as the authorized business contact for clients (businesses) participating in the CDAP (who may also be self-representing sole proprietors, or individuals delegated to act on behalf of business contacts), and (2) Persons who wish to serve as Digital Advisors, working with the aforementioned business clients to deploy digital adoption plans for the respective businesses. In the case of business contacts, the personal information collected will include the name, date of birth, business telephone number, business email, physical address, and views/opinions provided in experience feedback surveys. In the case of Digital Advisor applicants, the personal information will include the name, the individual's employer (unless the individual is a sole proprietor of self-employed), the individual's business contact information, and curriculum vitae, including professional references.

    Class of individuals: Individuals who are the authorized representatives of business clients participating in the CDAP, and individuals who wish to serve as Digital Advisors to those businesses.

    Purpose: In the case of the business contacts of CDAP clients, the personal information is used solely to contact the individual in order to conduct business with them in respect of the business client they represent. In the case of Digital Advisor applicants, the curriculum vitae is used to assess the candidate's professional qualifications and ability to serve as a Digital Advisor, and the criminal records check is used to assess the candidate's reliability and suitability to serve as a Digital Advisor. All personal information is collected pursuant to subsections 4 (1)(n), 5 (d) and (f) and 6 (a) and (c) of the Department of Industry Act.

    Consistent uses: In the case of the business contacts of CDAP clients, the personal information will be shared with Business Development Canada (BDC) so that BDC can deal with the business representative to establish loans for the business clients they represent. The BDC PIB detailing its collection of personal information for this purpose is BDC PPU 050 (Loan Application – Client Files). The business contact information will also be shared with third party delivery organizations, such as grant administration organizations (for the purpose of dealing with the business contact to disburse grant funding on behalf of the business they represent), student placement organizations (for the purpose of working with the business contact to arrange for a student placement for the business they represent) and Digital Advisor candidates and their employers (for the purpose of engaging with a Digital Advisor on behalf of the business they represent). Business contact information may also be shared with third parties within the ISED Portfolio group of agencies (i.e., with Canada's Regional Development Agencies, for the purpose of offering CDAP clients additional networking opportunities or services that may be beneficial to their respective businesses) which includes Pairing clients with Digital Advisors, Connecting clients with delivery partners that can arrange for student placements for their businesses, and Providing CDAP clients with marketplace awareness and networking opportunities. Depersonalized and aggregated information about CDAP clients, will be used to inform gender-based analysis reporting, as well as equity, diversity and inclusion statistical reporting, internally, and will also be shared with Statistics Canada for those purposes. In the case of curricula vitae and criminal records checks of Digital Advisor candidates, there is no onward-sharing and no other consistent uses; such information will not be disclosed to any other parties once received by ISED.

    Retention and disposal standards: Business contact personal information as well as Digital Advisor personal information are both considered to be program delivery information and will be retained by ISED ten years, and then destroyed. Digital Advisor information may be destroyed sooner than as prescribed by the retention schedule, at the request of a Digital Advisor who wishes to withdraw their participation in the CDAP.

    RDA number: 2016-007

    Related record number:   OS-SO-PRO-010-01
    (CDAP Program Design Information)

    OS-SO-PRO-020-01

    (CDAP Communications Information)

    OS-SO-PRO-030-01

    (CDAP Program Delivery)

    TBS registration: 20210082

    Bank number: ISED PPU 201

Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES)

Description: The Women Entrepreneurship Strategy (WES) is a whole-of-government strategy to help increase women-owned business' access to the financing, networks, and expertise they need to start-up, scale-up, and access new markets. ISED delivers the following initiatives:

  • WES Ecosystem Fund: A sub-program designed to help not-for-profit, third-party organizations strengthen capacity within the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and offer business supports, such as training, mentorship, and financial literacy for diverse women entrepreneurs
  • Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund: This program is designed to provide loans of up to $50,000, through not-for-profit delivery organizations, to women entrepreneurs, particularly for start-ups, equity deserving groups, or sole proprietorships, which may experience more difficulty in accessing financing
  • Inclusive Women Venture Capital Initiative: The initiative is funding projects led by not-for-profit organizations that will increase Canadian women entrepreneurs' access to venture capital funding, contribute to increasing the representation of women in the Canadian venture capital industry, and reduce biases in the Canadian venture capital industry

These transfer payment programs launched in 2018-19 (WES Ecosystem Fund) and 2022-23 (Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund and Inclusive Women Venture Capital Initiative) and were scheduled to sunset on March 31, 2025. The WEKH launched in 2018 and was scheduled to sunset in 2025-26. These initiatives are appropriated annually through Budget Estimates. At the time of publication of this Info Source update, no information is available on the potential refunding of these initiatives.

Document types: General information on program operations and service delivery; contribution agreements; information on the research projects supported; recipient diversity metrics; briefing notes; program reports and indicators; letters/correspondence; and policy materials.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01, OS-SO-PRO-040-01

Bridging Digital Divides

These programs provide Canadians with the necessary access, tools and skills to participate in a digital economy. They contribute to a highly-skilled workforce that is equipped for jobs in an innovative and high-growth economy and ensure communities are connected, digitally engaged and economically diverse. Under these programs, current maps of broadband coverage across Canada are maintained, and used to support the extension of broadband infrastructure in undeserved areas. In addition, these programs refurbish computers donated from government, private business and individuals for use by schools, libraries, registered not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous communities. These programs support digital connectivity, tools and skills development for undeserved and under-represented people, including those with low-incomes, rural and remote households, seniors, people with disabilities, youth and Indigenous people.

Computers for Schools Plus

Description: Through the Computers for Schools Plus (CFS+) program, donated surplus computer equipment and devices are refurbished, then distributed to schools, libraries, not for profit organizations, Indigenous communities and eligible low-income Canadians across Canada. Through this national partnership-based network, the program ensures improved access for Canadians to technology. The technical work experience program (TWEP), now known as the CFS Intern program (CFSI), provides the in-house workforce for the CFS+ program. Results stemming from CFSI are reported by Employment and Social Development Canada under the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

Note: This program concluded on March 31, 2026.

Document types: Applications; project summary forms; audits; evaluations; Treasury Board Submissions; statistical reports; briefing notes; letters of notification; assessments; risk analyses; claims; agreements; communications material; Memoranda to Cabinet; terms and conditions; policies; guidelines and procedures; environmental assessments; activity reports; project plans; surveys; and plans.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-010-01

Connecting Families Initiative

Description: The Connecting Families Initiative is a part of the suite of digital skills, accessibility and internet affordability sub-programs that aim to bridge the "digital divide" experienced by those in certain regions, sectors and socio-economic status groups. This initiative continues to help ensure that low-income families and low-income seniors who face affordability barriers can access home internet with an improved service that offers a broadband standard of 50/10 Mbps and 200 GB of data at affordable monthly rates.

Document types: Materials relating to the administration, delivery, design, development and communications of the Connecting Families Initiative; external reports; dashboard reports; program terms and conditions; guidelines and procedures; activity reports; project plans; briefing notes; and contribution agreements.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: IS-SI-01-010-07

Telesat Low Earth Orbit Satellites

Description: ISED has entered into an agreement with Telesat to secure high-speed internet capacity on the company's Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. This capacity will be made available to internet service providers at a reduced rate in order to provide high-speed, reliable internet access to the most challenging rural and remote communities in Canada, including satellite-dependent communities.

Document types: Records related to negotiations with Telesat, including government decision making, legal opinions and final agreements; Treasury Board Submissions; contracts; and communications material.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Universal Broadband Fund

ISED's Universal Broadband Fund (UBF) is a pillar of Canada's Connectivity Strategy that supports investments in high-speed internet projects across the country. It is helping bridge the digital divide by building and improving connectivity in rural and remote regions. The UBF launched in November 2020 as a $1.75 billion initiative aiming to bring high speed internet access to 98% of Canadian households by the end of 2026, and all Canadian households by 2030. Budget 2021 increased its funding by $1 billion, and a further $475 million was added in the fall of 2022, for a total funding envelope of $3.225 billion. The UBF includes a $750 million funding stream for high-impact projects, a $50 million stream for mobile connectivity projects in areas that primarily benefit Indigenous Peoples, and a Rapid Response Stream that funds shovel-ready projects that could connect households quickly.

Document types: Material relating to the administration, delivery, design, development and communications of the program; news releases; speeches; presentations; application guide; information decks; project summary forms; recommendations; approval and rejection notifications; letters of offer; contribution agreements; contracts; financial documents; Memoranda of Understanding; Treasury Board Submissions; reports; dashboards; and audit and evaluation information.

Disclosure summary: No disclosure of personal information through information sharing agreements, arrangements, or contracts.

Record number: OS-SO-PRO-030-01

Personal Information Banks linked to multiple departmental operating programs

  • Identity and Credential Management Personal Information Bank

    Description: This personal information bank contains information about two groups of individuals: (1) those who are registering to participate in one or more ISED operating programs, and (2) those who wish to open an electronic account to conduct e-commerce transactions with one or more ISED operating programs, some of whom may require ISED to provide and host their user account credentials. In both cases, the relevant individuals may be acting on their own behalf or as an authorized representative of a private sector enterprise. In either case, ISED will use one of or more of the following six IT solutions to facilitate the required transactions: the Canada Post Validation Service; the Interac Identity Validation Service (for Financial Institutions); the Interac Identity Validation Service (Document Validation Service); the Fraud Detection Service; the Simplified Credential for the Canada Digital Adoption Program; or the CRA Identity Validation Service.

    The personal information collected depends on which of the aforementioned IT solutions are used, but collectively, includes: physical address, postal address, date of birth, email address, risk-level of fraud associated with using a given email address as an account user ID, home and business telephone numbers, type of document used to prove identity, the unique serial number of the document used to prove identity, the jurisdiction that issued the document used to prove identity, the expiration date of the document used to prove identity, the date on which an individual proves their identity to a third party, an identity confirmation indicator either in the positive or the negative, postal code, a meaningless-but-unique-number in connection with an identity validation transaction, IP address, that an individual consented to a temporary waiver of two-factor authentication, and chosen password for accessing online systems. Individual's names are also collected, in connection with all of the aforementioned information elements.

    Class of individuals: Individuals who register for and/or conduct business with one or more ISED operating programs, either on their own behalf of as an authorized representative of a private sector enterprise.

    Purpose: All personal information collected is used (i) to positively identity an individual who wishes to conduct business with one or more ISED operating programs, either on their own behalf or as an authorized representative of a private sector enterprise, and/or (ii) to understand the risk of fraud associated with using a proposed email address as a user ID credential for filing e-commerce transactions with an ISED operating program, and to take action to further reduce that risk, and/or (ii) to host user ID and password combinations that serve as credentials for individuals who wish to open online accounts for one or more ISED operating programs and use those accounts to file e-commerce transactions.

    The legal authority that permits any and all identity management solutions for ISED programs is tied to the relevant ISED operating program and rooted in the following subsections of Part I of the Department of Industry Act:

    • 4 (1) Powers, Duties and Functions
    • 4 (2) Additional Powers, Duties and Functions
    • 5 Objectives
    • 6 Functions
    • 7 Inspection Services

    Consistent uses: To the exclusion of an individual's email address, which is shared with the Fraud Detection Service when that IT solution is applicable, personal information is not shared directly by ISED with other third parties. When it is necessary for a third party to collect personal information, it is collected by the respective third party, directly from the concerned individual. In turn, ISED receives some of that personal information, and other personal information, back from the respective third party for the purposes of identity confirmation and fraud detection.

    Retention and disposal standards: The personal information collected by ISED will be retained by the relevant departmental operating program for a period consistent with the records disposition authority applicable to that program. The retention period varies from program to program.

    For some of the transactional details received when using the Canada Post Validation Service, or either of the two Interac Identity Validation Services, ISED's retention of the information, in connection with the relevant individual and transaction, is compelled by the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada.

    RDA number: 2016-007

    Related record numbers: Multiple, depending on the applicable ISED operating program.

    TBS registration: 20220115

    Bank number: ISED PPU 501

Internal Services

Internal Services are groups of related activities and resources that are administered to support the needs of programs and other corporate obligations of an organization. These groups are: Acquisitions; Communications Services; Financial Management; Human Resources Management; Information Management; Information Technology; Legal Services; Management and Oversight Services; Material; Real Property; Travel and Other Administrative Services.

Internal Services include only those activities and resources that apply across an organization and not to those provided specifically to a program.

Acquisition Services

Acquisition Services involve activities undertaken to acquire a good or service to fulfil a properly completed request (including a complete and accurate definition of requirements and certification that funds are available) until entering into or amending a contract.

Procurement and Contracting Class of Record

Communications Services

Communications Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that Government of Canada communications are effectively managed, well-coordinated and responsive to the diverse information needs of the public. The communications management function ensures that the public, internal or external, receives government information, and that the views and concerns of the public are taken into account in the planning, management and evaluation of policies, programs, services and initiatives.

Communications Class of Record

Financial Management

Financial Management Services involve activities undertaken to ensure the prudent use of public resources, including planning, budgeting, accounting, reporting, control and oversight, analysis, decision support and advice, and financial systems.

Financial Management Class of Record

Hospitality Class of Record

Human Resources Management

Human Resources Management Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, allocating resources among services and processes, as well as activities relating to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Awards (Pride and Recognition) Class of Record

Classification of Positions Class of Record

Compensation and Benefits Class of Record

Employment Equity and Diversity Class of Record

Human Resources Planning Class of Record

Labour Relations Class of Record

Occupational Health and Safety Class of Record

Official Languages Class of Record

Performance Management Reviews Class of Record

Recruitment and Staffing Class of Record

Relocation Class of Record

Training and Development Class of Record

Information Management

Information Management Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective information management to support program and service delivery; foster informed decision making; facilitate accountability, transparency, and collaboration; and preserve and ensure access to information and records for the benefit of present and future generations.

Access to Information and Privacy Class of Record

Information Management Class of Record

Information Technology

Information Technology Services involve activities undertaken to achieve efficient and effective use of information technology to support government priorities and program delivery, to increase productivity, and to enhance services to the public.

Information Technology Class of Record

Legal Services

Legal Services involve activities undertaken to enable government departments and agencies to pursue policy, program and service delivery priorities and objectives within a legally sound framework.

Legal services Class of Record

Management and Oversight Services

Management and Oversight Services involve activities undertaken for determining strategic direction, and allocating resources among services and processes, as well as those activities related to analyzing exposure to risk and determining appropriate countermeasures. They ensure that the service operations and programs of the federal government comply with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and/or plans.

Cooperation and Liaison Class of Record

Executive Services Class of Record

Internal Audit and Evaluation Class of Record

Planning and Reporting Class of Record

Material Services

Material Services involve activities undertaken to ensure that material can be managed by departments in a sustainable and financially responsible manner that supports the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Materiel Management Class of Record

Real Property

Real Property Services involve activities undertaken to ensure real property is managed in a sustainable and financially responsible manner, throughout its life cycle, to support the cost-effective and efficient delivery of government programs.

Real Property Management Class of Record

Travel and Other Administrative Services

Travel and Other Administrative Services include Government of Canada travel services, as well as those other internal services that do not smoothly fit with any of the internal services categories.

Administrative Services Class of Record

Boards, Committees and Council Class of Record

Business Continuity Planning Class of Record

Disclosure to Investigative Bodies Class of Record

Proactive Disclosure Class of Record

Security Class of Record

Travel Class of Record

Classes of personal information

Ombuds Office Class of Personal Information

Note: The ISED Ombuds Office was formerly named, Office of the Ombud for Mental Health and Employee Wellbeing. This Class of Record was formerly named, Office of the Ombud for Mental Health and Employee Wellbeing Class of Record.

Description: The Ombuds Office is mandated by the Deputy Minister of ISED to:

  • offer confidential, independent, impartial, and informal professional services to employees and managers who are facing any workplace issues, including harassment
  • deliver informal conflict management and professional coaching services through expert conflict resolution/management practitioners
  • detect systemic workplace issues and provide recommendations on how to address them
  • offer recommendations to the Deputy Minister, and Senior Management Committee through the Ombuds Annual Report
  • develop resources, tools, and tailored support, including the delivery of training and learning activities

Document types: Documents and information that relate to the mandate of the Ombuds Office, including MOUs, contracts, recommendations, annual and ad hoc reports, confidential summaries, recordings of training sessions, and the unstructured, personal information of employees that is not accounted for in a Personal Information Bank, and not organized or retrievable by the name of the relevant individual.

Disclosure summary: Not applicable. The Ombuds Office shares with partners and stakeholders, only that information that cannot be linked to identifiable individuals.

Format: This Class of Record contains audio-visual recordings.

Record number: IS-SI-04-09

Program Participation Class of Personal Information

Description: This class of record contains personal information about individuals who act as the authorized representatives of private sector businesses and organizations that conduct business with ISED, where the collection of the personal information is not referenced in an ISED Personal Information Bank and in many cases, not organized or retrievable by the name of the relevant individual.

The personal information collected includes: details on the role (level of authority) of the individual within the business or organization; business contact information, including physical address, mailing address, email address, telephone and facsimile numbers; and information that would inform gender-based analytics, such as whether individuals self-identify as Black, women, Aboriginal, disabled or LGBT+ entrepreneurs.

Document types: Various, depending on the relevant ISED operating program or activity.

Disclosure summary: Various, depending on the relevant ISED operating program or activity.

Format: Not applicable.

Record number: Various, depending on the relevant ISED operating program or activity.

Manuals

In alphabetical order, by function or program area

Access to Information and Privacy Services (ISED Internal)

  • Access to Information Act: Plain Language Guide to Exemptions and Exclusions
  • Alleged or Suspected Obstructions Under the Access to Information Act
  • Appropriate Safeguards for Contracts, Information-Sharing Agreements and Information-Sharing Arrangements
  • ATIP 101 at ISED
  • ATIP Checklist for Sector ATIP Liaison Officers
  • ATIP Considerations in the Context of Labour Relations Issues
  • ATIP Extensions of Time Limits
  • ATIP Guide for Sectors
  • ATIP Mythbusters
  • ATIP Professional Development Program (PDP) Guide
  • ATIP PDP Competency Dictionary PM-1 to PM-4, 2015
  • ATIP Q&A in the Context of Workplace Incident Investigations
  • ATIP Sector Approval Template
  • Audio-Visual Recordings and Privacy
  • Briefing Note Proactive Publication Validation Process
  • Checklist for Sector Program Officers
  • Departmental Access to Information Process for GCdocs
  • Enhanced Policy on Using Personal Information for Non-Administrative Purposes
  • Enhanced Training for ATIP Practitioners
  • Identifying Cabinet Confidences Contained in Briefing Notes
  • ISED Annotated Guide to Personal Information Banks and Classes of Personal Information
  • ISED Annotated Guide to Privacy Impact Assessments and Privacy Protocols
  • ISED Privacy Management Framework
  • Managing ATIP Callouts and Retrievals
  • Managing Briefing Notes in ccmEnterprise and the Link to Proactive Publication
  • MS Teams and ATIP
  • New Requirements for Processing Briefing Notes in ccmEnterprise
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements
  • Notice Concerning Microsoft Co-Pilot
  • Personal Information Boot Camp for ISED
  • Policy on Accessing Outlook Accounts for Absent Employees
  • Privacy Act: Plain Language Guide to Exemptions and Exclusions
  • Privacy Breach Management Tools
  • Correcting or Annotating Personal Information
  • Procedures for ISED Employees to Access Their Personal Information
  • Understanding and Applying ATIP Exemptions and Exclusions

Canadian Intellectual Property Office (and other Intellectual Property Programs)

  • Indigenous Intellectual Property Grant Program Guide (Other)
  • Industrial Design Office Practices Manual (CIPO)
  • Intellectual Property Clinics Program Guide (Other)
  • Manual of Patent Office Practice (CIPO)
  • Trade-marks Examination Manual (CIPO)
  • Trade-marks Goods and Services Manual (CIPO)
  • Specificity Guidelines for Goods and Services (CIPO)
  • Madrid Examination and Procedures Manual (CIPO)
  • Manual of Patent Appeals Board Procedures for Rejected Patent Applications (CIPO)

Competition Bureau

Consumer Affairs

Industry (and related programs)

  • Industrial and Technological Benefits Model Terms and Conditions
  • Industrial and Technological Benefits Value Proposition Guide

Measurement Canada

  • Accreditation Standard (S-A-01)
  • Accreditation Standard Guide (S-A-01-G) (complementary to S-A-01)
  • Alternative Service Delivery: Work Instruments
  • Measurement Canada Bulletins
  • CATS and DTCS User Manual
  • Delegation of Authorities Standard (C-D-01)
  • Delegation of Authority Program Guide (C-D-01-G)
  • Employee Orientation Manual
  • Laboratory Manual for the Evaluation of Non-automatic Weighing Devices
  • MCIS: ASP User Guide
  • Measurement Canada Legislation Manual
  • Preparation and Use of an Ice Point Bath
  • Recommended Practices: Calibration of Mass Standards
  • Registration Guide (complementary to Registration Terms and Conditions)
  • Registration Terms and Conditions
  • STARS Forms Completion Manual

Small Business and Marketplace Services (and related programs)

  • Canada Small Business Financing Program Guidelines, April 2024

Spectrum and Telecommunications

  • Broadcasting Circulars (BC) (STS)
  • Broadcasting Equipment Standards Procedures (STS)
  • Broadcasting Procedures (STS)
  • Broadcasting Procedures and Rules (STS)
  • Canadian National Organization Manual for the International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication Standardization Sector (STS)
  • Client Procedures Circulars (STS)
  • Intellectual Property Policy (for the Communications Research Centre)
  • Internal Procedures Circulars (STS)
  • Manual for the Canadian National Organization for the International Telecommunication Standardization Sector
  • Procedures for Conformity Assessment Bodies (STS)
  • Radio Standards Procedures (STS)
  • Terminal Attachment Program Procedures (STS)

Additional information

For general information about making a request for access to information or personal information, see Make an access to information or personal information request.

To make a request for information online, access the Access to Information and Personal Information Online Request Service.

To make a request for information under the Access to Information Act or the Privacy Act by mail, mail your letter or completed Access to Information Request Form (Access to Information Act) or Personal Information Request Form (Privacy Act), along with any necessary documents (such as consent or the $5 application fee for a request under the Access to Information Act), to the following address:

Anik Meredith
Director, ATIP Services
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
C.D. Howe Building
235 Queen Street 4th Floor, East Tower
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0H5

In accordance with the Access to Information Act and the Privacy Act, an area on the premises will be made available to review original materials on site if that is the applicant's preference (and it is practical to do so), or if it is not practical to create copies of the material.

Please note: Each request made to ISED under the Access to Information Act must be accompanied by an application fee of $5. For requests made online, this is paid at the time of application via credit card. For requests made by mail, this should be paid by enclosing cheque or money order made payable to "The Receiver General for Canada".

The Government of Canada encourages the release of information through requests outside of the formal request processes. To make an informal request, contact:

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
C.D. Howe Building
235 Queen Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1A 0H5
Telephone: 613-954-5031
Toll Free: 1-800-328-6189 (Canada)
Toll Free Hearing Impaired only TTY: 1-866-694-8389
Facsimile: 613-954-2340

Alternatively, you may contact one of ISED's regional offices, as specified below.

You may also wish to search summaries of completed access to information requests for which ISED has already provided responses, as this information may be more easily obtained. You may also wish to review available open data regarding ISED.

ISED conducts privacy impact assessments (PIAs) to ensure that privacy implications will be appropriately identified, assessed and resolved before a new or substantially modified program or activity involving personal information is implemented. Summaries of completed PIAs are available.

Regional offices

Quebec region

1155 Metcalfe Street, Room 950
Montréal, Québec
Canada H3B 2V6
Email: ic.servicesadminqc-qcadminservices.ic@ised-isde.gc.ca

Ontario region

151 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5C 2W7
General telephone: (416) 973-5000
General facsimile: (416) 973-8714

Prairie and Northern region

400-400 St Mary Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Canada R3C 4K5
General telephone: (204) 983-5851
General facsimile: (204) 984-4205

Pacific region

2000-300 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V6B 6E1
General telephone: (604) 666-5000
General facsimile: (604) 666-8330

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