News release
TOP 50 NON-FINANCIAL CO-OPERATIVES IN CANADA
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 7, 2006 - The co-operative sector has been providing valuable services to Canadians for over a century and the Government of Canada is pleased to announce the Top 50 non-financial co-operatives for 2005.
"Canada's New Government is dedicated to the economic growth and social development of Canadian society through co-operative enterprise," said the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. "The co-ops listed in the Top 50 are especially significant in rural and remote regions of the country, where they meet the economic needs of producers in agriculture, the fisheries, arts and crafts production, and manufacturing."
Federated Co-operatives Limited ranked number one on the list for the fifth straight year with revenues of almost $4.8 billion. The Saskatchewan-based co-operatives provide jobs for 3,000 employees.
La Coop fédérée, with revenues of $3.1 billion, was second on the list in terms of revenue. However, it ranked as the number one employer in the country with over 12,000 employees.
Mountain Equipment Co-operative continues to have the largest member base of all co-ops, with over 2.2 million members.
"Co-ops play an important role in Canada's economy," said Minister Strahl. "There are at least 10 co-ops listed in the top 500 companies in Canada, and several financial co-operatives have been rated the best places to work in Canada. As Canadians, we should take a moment to fully appreciate the impact these institutions have, not only in our communities but also in our country."
Co-operatives are member-owned enterprises. The 10,000 co-operatives in Canada engage 70,000 volunteers and employ 150,000 people. Across the country, an additional 250,000 independent producers rely on marketing and production co-operatives for their livelihood.
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A list of the Top-50 Canadian Co-operatives 2005 is attached.
For more information, media may contact:
Donna Seymour
Director, Co-operatives Secretariat
Telephone: 613-759-7195
or
Valérie Roy
Communications Advisor, Rural Secretariat
(506) 851-6566
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