Buy Social Canada has released the first nationwide snapshot of Canada’s social enterprise sector in ten years. The 2026 Canadian Social Enterprise Sector Survey report, titled “Built for Impact, Ready for Market,” represents data from over 400 social enterprises across all provinces and territories.

This report demonstrates that social enterprise is a critical driver of socio-economic resilience and innovation in Canada. It calls for a coordinated shift toward social procurement, tailored capacity building, and patient capital to unlock the sector’s full contribution to inclusive economic growth.

Key Findings:

  • Growth & Innovation: Nearly a quarter (22%) of respondents launched a new enterprise or service offering in the past year, with some exploring models like social franchising and social acquisition.
  • Economic Scale: The sector reported over $6.5 billion in revenue in 2025 and paid more than $250 million in wages.
  • Employment: The sector reportedly employs over 18,000 people, with more than 5,600 of those being individuals facing barriers to employment.
  • Underreported Impact: Both the employment and economic data are likely significantly underreported, as not all enterprises surveyed shared financial data or track employment of equity-deserving groups, and there are likely closer to 20,000 social enterprises operating in Canada (based on CRA data).
  • Primary Barriers: Despite strong demand, the sector faces systemic constraints in three areas: access to markets (procurement), access to capacity building, and access to finance. Social enterprises achieve significant contributions to community and economic wellbeing while working in a system that is not built for their unique business model.

Core Message:
Social enterprises are a vital, growing part of Canada’s small and medium-sized business (SME) economy, delivering essential services in healthcare, construction, technology, and housing. However, their potential is capped by systems that are not designed for their blended social and economic business model. The report calls for a coordinated shift toward social procurement, tailored capacity building, and patient capital to unlock the sector’s full contribution to inclusive economic growth.

For further information and to access the report, click here.