From supplying Europe with much-needed commodities in the years immediately following World War Two to helping deliver foreign-aid projects, CCC has a rich history of generating successful export sales since its inception in 1946. Our roles have been many over the years: participating in the U.S. space and defence program; providing access to pre-shipment financing for smaller exporters; facilitating government-to-government export arrangements. CCC's growth and development reflect Canada 's industrial coming of age and its evolution into one of the world's great trading nations.
1946: At the end of World War II , Canada has the means but not the mechanism
to provide assistance to countries overseas. The wartime government's "Minister
of Everything," C.D. Howe, responds by creating the Canadian Commercial
Corporation.
1956: Through the Canada/U.S. Defense Production Sharing Arrangement
with the U.S. Department of Defense (U.S. DoD), Canadian companies gain
privileged access to the U.S. aerospace and defence markets.
1960: The space race begins in earnest. CCC signs an agreement with the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to accept Canadian
suppliers on the same basis as other U.S. government suppliers.
1962: The total value of U.S. military department contracts placed in
Canada by CCC surpasses the $1 billion mark. Contract enquiries from
U.S. military departments double to more than 6,000 (they reach
9,000 in 1963).
1968: With the growth of external aid programs comes a need for Canadian
products and services for export. The Canadian International Development
Agency (CIDA) is established to manage most of Canada 's development
assistance budget. Since CCC has been directly involved in providing
assistance to foreign countries since 1946, it is the natural choice
to act as purchaser to meet CIDA's growing requirements. In CIDA's first
year, CCC purchases more than $6 million worth of Canadian goods and
services for overseas development.
1970: CCC's role as CIDA's Procurement Agency for the World Food and
International Food programs is expanding. The Corporation spends more
than $20 million on Canadian wheat for distribution overseas. Meanwhile,
Spar Aerospace and CCC negotiate a five-year agreement to develop a "Remote
Manipulator System." It will soon become known as Canada 's famous
Canadarm.
1976: CCC's projects are a showcase for Canadian technological know-how:
flight simulators, aircraft, equipment for a technical teacher's college
in Kenya , technology for the Canada/France/U.S. telescope project in
Hawaii , among others.
1980: In its first year under a new management structure, CCC's new orders
rise, billings increase and administrative costs are reduced. CCC staff
travel the country to outline the benefits of the Canada/U.S. Defense
Production Sharing Arrangement (DPSA).
1981: CCC serves 550 Canadian companies, an increase of more than 100
over the previous year. More than half the firms have sales of less than
$5 million or fewer than 100 employees.
1986–1996: Canada signs a Free Trade Agreement with the United States
. Worldwide trade is liberalized under the GATT and WTO, and new markets
emerge in the Pacific Rim . CCC is now a strong, vibrant export agency
eager to develop new opportunities for Canada 's exporters.
1990: While the Gulf War halts certain projects in the Middle East ,
the volume and pace of other orders increases. In total, CCC helps 33
Canadian companies enter into contracts valued at $100 million during
the Gulf conflict.
1994: CCC's Progress Payment Program (PPP) is introduced. Operating in
conjunction with financial institutions from Canada , the PPP helps smaller
exporting companies gain access to pre-shipment financing through their
particular financial institution. In just three years, the program generates
$150 million in sales.
1996: CCC celebrates its golden anniversary.
1997: Orders from CCC's largest customers—U.S. DoD and NASA—hit $663
million. CCC assumes the prime responsibility to keep Canadian exporters
informed and well-positioned in this vast market. CCC's efforts focus
on three key areas: the Central Contractor Registry; Electronic Data
Interchange; and helping Canadian suppliers make sales to U.S. Prime
Contractors. CCC serves a record 1,759 Canadian companies.
1999: In only its third year of operation, CCC's U.S. Bid Matching Service
sets records. Based on an electronic version of the U.S. Commerce Business
Daily, the service provides Canadian companies with an up-to-the-minute
filtered list of all the U.S. government opportunities.
2000: CCC welcomes the millennium with record sales of more than $1.1
billion. While it continues to specialize in aerospace and defence sales,
particularly in the U.S. market, CCC sells a greater variety of products
and services in a wider range of sectors. Working closely with Canadian
exporters, CCC helps open new markets around the world. The Corporation
signs a Memorandum of Understanding to create the Sourcecan.com partnership
with Industry Canada .
2002: Amendments to the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC) Act allow CCC to borrow funds in commercial markets and provide for the separation of the positions of President and Chairman. The legislation also calls
for CCC to become less appropriation-dependent, and to sharpen its commercial focus. As a result, CCC implements a commercial fee-for-service regime. By unbundling its Prime Contractor service, CCC offers clients a flexible
menu of service options.
2003: The General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules Submission Service is launched to facilitate access to the civilian government procurement market in the U.S.
2004: CCC launches the first Federal Government Procurement Conference of the Americas with the U.S. General Services Administration to provide increased market access to Canadian companies.
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