About the SME FDI

In 1996, the federal government commissioned the Task Force on the Future of the Canadian Financial Services Sector (MacKay Task Force) to examine public policies affecting this sector. With regard to SME financing, the MacKay Task Force concluded there was insufficient data available and recommended a concerted effort to improve the quality and quantity of information on SME financing.

The government’s response in 1999 mandated Industry Canada, Statistics Canada and Finance Canada to work together in an ongoing effort to gather data on SME financing. To this end, the government departments have established the SME Financing Data Initiative (SME FDI), the most current and comprehensive data collection regime on SME financing in Canada. Through this Initiative, other research and analysis, a comprehensive picture of SME financing, covering the entire spectrum of financing products and services, is provided.