Canadian Commercial Aerospace, Defence, Industrial Marine and Industrial Security Sector Survey, 2007

This survey was conducted by Statistics Canada on behalf of Industry Canada to produce new statistical information on domestic and export sales, product lines, expenditures, research and development and employment of the four sectors. The results are based on a survey sent to 1547 firms. As such, while the survey results provide indications of economic activity and employment, they are not industry-wide results and do not provide cumulative totals for all Canadian activity in each sector.

The data from this survey will be used by Industry Canada to better understand the position of these sectors and to support policy and program development and activities.

The aerospace sector reported total sales of $18.9 billion in 2007, according to the results of the Canadian Commercial Aerospace, Defence, Industrial Marine and Industrial Security Sector Survey. This figure includes domestic sales of $4.9 billion and exports valued at $14.0 billion. Employment in the sector totalled 73 750. The aerospace sector includes both commercial aerospace activities and aerospace activities related to defence.

The Canadian defence sector — including both products and services related to aerospace and those not related to aerospace — had total sales of $7.6 billion, of which $4.1 billion was exported. Employment in the sector totalled 31 750. The industrial marine sector had sales valued at $1.3 billion, while the industrial security sector had sales of $684 million.

These four sectors were grouped together for the purposes of this survey because they have significant overlap. Many companies involved in one sector are also involved in one of the others.

Sales and employment in the aerospace sector were concentrated in Quebec, while in the defence and industrial security sectors, sales and employment were concentrated in Ontario.

Sales of aircraft and aircraft structures accounted for the largest percentage of sales in the aerospace sector (39 percent), while combat vehicles and components were the leading product sold by the defence sector, representing 29 percent of all sales. In the industrial marine sector, 43 percent of all sales were of products and services related to repairs and fabrication, while detection and surveillance systems represented the single largest portion of sales by the industrial security sector, accounting for 29 percent of all sales.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, please contact Statistics Canada, Client Services (toll-free 1-877-679-2746), Business Special Surveys and Technology Statistics Division, Statistics Canada. Information on definitions, data sources and methods can also be found at http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily-quotidien/091109/dq091109b-eng.htm.

For information about the implications of these data for the aerospace, defence, industrial marine or industrial security sectors in Canada, contact Richard Ryczanowski (613-954-3200), Aerospace, Defence and Marine Branch, Industry Canada.