As part of the International Organisation of Industrial, Artisanal and Service Producers' Co-operatives (CICOPA) survey on how the economic crisis is affecting worker co-operatives worldwide, the results of the Canadian portion that was administered by the CWCF are in. 

The results between worker co-ops in and outside of Quebec were at times strikingly large.  Most worker co-operatives in Quebec are in the forestry sector, which has been very much impacted by the economic downturn.  Those that have been affected by the economic downturn are weathering the storm by re-financing, reducing costs, reducing wages, and exploring the possibility of creating new services or diversifying product lines.

Out of the 36 worker co-ops who responded to the CWCF survey:

• 24% of co-ops outside Quebec have seen a production or sales decrease, whereas in Quebec 56% have. Overall 39% have.
• The average decrease among those who experienced a decrease in production or sales was 21.5%.
• In terms of production or sales, 12% of co-ops outside Quebec believe that their industry sector is worse off than other sectors in Canada, whereas 63% in Quebec do.
• 0% of co-ops outside Quebec have had to reduce staff; whereas 50% in Quebec have.
• 6% of co-ops outside Quebec have had difficulty in negotiating loans, whereas 31% in Quebec have. 
• 18% of co-ops outside Quebec have increased their debt load, whereas 44% in Quebec have.
• 56% of co-ops in Quebec expect their financial situation to be better than other businesses in their sector, 19% expect it to be worse and 25% did not know. Whereas 18% of co-ops outside Quebec expect their financial situation to be better than other businesses in their sector, 18% expect it to be worse and 65% did not know.
• 68% believe that their financial situation will improve in 2010. The percentage was the same for both co-ops in Quebec and those outside Quebec.

CWCF members believe that during this period the government could be improving: 1. individual income supports  2. worker co-op technical support  3. worker co-op financing, and  4. worker co-op tax incentives.

Stay tuned for CICOPA's world survey results.