Strategis History

Strategis is produced by Industry Canada, a department of the Federal government which employs over 5,500 people across Canada.

The department's mission is to work with Canadians to build a growing competitive, knowledge-based economy. Industry Canada hopes to improve conditions for investment, enhance Canada's innovation performance, help make Canada the most connected nation in the world, increase Canada's share of global trade, and build a fair, efficient and competitive marketplace.

Strategis was launched on March 27, 1996 in order to harness the power of the Internet to provide business and consumer information to all Canadians without the constraints of time and geography.

The site has allowed Industry Canada to shift from a paper-based information culture to a more efficient electronic one. Before Strategis, the department produced over 5,000 information products on paper. The information available on Strategis results in significant savings and improved service to Canadians.

Since 1996 Strategis has grown and evolved as the Internet develops. Headlines, our weekly email newsletter, helps users stay up-to-date on Strategis. Over 30,000 Strategis users subscribe to this service.

Strategis makes use of new technologies to offer interactive applications such as customizable benchmarking tools, cost calculators, and online business planning. Many of Industry Canada's services (such as filing an application for patent) can now be completed online through Strategis.

If you would like to know more about Industry Canada, consult the Ministerial Web site.