Question Period Note: Creative Export Strategy and export support for the creative industries

The Creative Export Strategy, which launched in 2018, helps Canadian creative businesses and organizations to maximize their export potential and stand out in the global market. With an annual budget of $19 million (2023-26), the Strategy provides funding for export projects, enables and facilitates participation in trade missions and international industry events, and offers practical export guidance and information. The Strategy sunsets in March 2026 and a decision on its renewal is pending.

• Canada’s creative industries are a cornerstone of our economic and cultural identity.
• The Creative export strategy helps sustain the long-term growth of creative industries by offering agile and adaptable support to help them capitalize on opportunities in key international markets.
• Over the past eight years, the Strategy has supported over 3,100 creative industry businesses and organizations across Canada through funding, trade missions, and tailored business programming. Creative exports have grown steadily, rising 8.2% per year on average, resulting in more job creation.

• Canada is recognized globally for its high-quality creative content and industries, which are an engine of economic growth and a competitive advantage. In 2024, the creative industries provided approximately 668,367 jobs and contributed to $65.3 billion to Canada’s GDP.
• Exports are a key driver of this success. The estimated value of creative exports was $26.07 billion in 2024, accounting for the equivalent of over 40% of Canada’s culture GDP and nearly 266,680 jobs.
• The potential for domestic growth for creative industries firms is limited due to Canada’s small market which is further segmented by language. Exporting is key to the long-term sustainability of the creative industry firms, allowing them to remain viable and competitive while driving job creation and economic prosperity.
• The Creative Export Strategy is the Government of Canada’s tailored suite of supports for Canada’s creative industries exporters, helping them to maximize their export potential and stand out in the global market. The Strategy launched in June 2018, and its current mandate ends in March 2026.
• The Strategy supports Canadian for-profit businesses and not-for-profit organizations operating in artistic craft, audiovisual, interactive digital media, music, publishing, performing arts, visual and applied arts, and design. It receives $19 million per year (2023 to 2026) to deliver the following:
o Creative Export Canada (CEC) – a grants and contributions program to heighten the exposure of Canadian creative works internationally and increase export revenues for Canada’s creative industries. The CEC funding program has two project streams: the Export-Ready Stream ($7 million/year) and the Export Development Stream ($4 million/year).
o Opportunities to participate in trade missions or events – Canadian Heritage leads creative industries trade missions and supports tailored business-to-business programming at key international events to facilitate market entry and advance trade and investment opportunities for Canadian businesses and organizations in global markets.
o Creative Export Navigator Service – advice and guidance to creative firms on export support and opportunities.
• Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) co-delivered the Strategy between 2018-23 and continues to be a key collaborator on its delivery. The TCS provides direct export services to Canadian creative industries companies worldwide.
• The Strategy is a proven mechanism that yields a strong return on investment on key economic indicators such as export revenues and employment, helping to grow Canada’s economy and GDP. Since its launch in 2018, creative exports have grown steadily, rising 8.2% per year on average, surpassing the previous 5.5% per year growth rate between 2010-18.
• It has supported over 3,100 creative industry businesses and organizations from across Canada in all creative sectors in accessing more than 120 international markets through nearly 11,000 market interactions. Other key metrics of success include:
o Increase in export revenues: Recipients of the CEC funding program have generated $398.9 million in export revenues – a five-fold return on investment, while trade missions have generated $157.4 million from commercial agreements signed.
o Increase in commercial opportunities: Tailored business programming at international and domestic trade events has led to over 338 commercial deals.
o Increase in jobs: Recipients of the CEC funding program have created nearly 586 jobs as a result of their projects.
o New exporters supported: 31 new exporters have been supported by the CEC program’s new Export Development Stream.
o The Strategy’s clients perform better than non-clients: A 2024 study conducted by Statistics Canada found that the Strategy’s clients had better revenue and employment growth after receiving support compared to non-clients.

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